Relatives of the Holocaust victims,
Guests of the commemoration,
More than 60 years have passed after the cruel events of World War II. It seems a really long time, during which a few generations have grown up. However, even today it is hard to comprehend how such a tragedy could have taken place in the middle of the 20th century, a tragedy that annihilated the majority of sons and daughters of the Jewish Nation. I kindly ask you to observe a moment of silence to honour their memory. Thank you.
The crimes committed against the Jewish Nation, scope, cruelty and senselessness of the crimes raises a question again and again: how could it have happened? Moreover, how could it have happened in Europe, referring to itself as the Old Continent and the cradle of global culture? Unfortunately, at that time, the history and culture of Europe suffered a great loss, degradation and disgrace. Can anything be more disgraceful than the fact that multitudes of people closed their eyes pretending not to see the deaths of their fellow people? What was more appalling in this situation the deaths of the millions or the indifference of the millions? Where was the Christian culture at that time and the ideals stated more than once? I have no answers to these questions, but I know where justice and a human right to call ourselves humans were hiding. It was in the cellars of Lithuanian farmers and flats of intelligentsia, in the families and church presbyteries, i.e. in the places where victims of war found hideout and survival.
The people who survived the Holocaust are elderly today. Many of them have diseased, hopefully, still believing in the enlightened and righteous side of the human soul. I see burning pain in the eyes of the living Holocaust witnesses and their relatives, but I hope that their hearts still harbour trust in those who provided hideout to them and rescued them from death, thanks to whom we can still remain human trusting and having confidence in others, asking for forgiveness and forgiving, living with heartache and with hope as well.
I sincerely bow my head to honour all those who cherished that hope and rescued the very essence of humanity by rescuing the Jewish people. In my thoughts I sincerely embrace everyone who still feels the pain, whose memory keeps drifting back to the middle of the 20th century, to the time of death of their parents, brothers, friends and relatives. I sincerely offer my condolence to them and I bow my head in the memory of the Holocaust victims here and in all the cemeteries worldwide.
I bow my head to the living; I bow my head to the deceased.
Irena Degutienė
Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
