Vilnius March 31, BNS—The American Jewish Committee supports the idea of establishing a Jewish history museum in Vilnius, representative Sam Kliger says.

Speaking at a press conference Friday, the committee director of Russian affairs said his organization believes it is an important initiative which could become real with the Lithuanian Government’s help. He recalled his delegation’s visit to a museum in Warsaw a few days prior and called it impressive. A Jewish museum would be a good start or a good continuation of Lithuanian-Jewish relations, he told reporters. He also said Israeli ambassador to Lithuania Amir Maimon expressed support for the idea during a meeting Friday.

Chairwoman of the AJC board of directors Harrieta P. Schleifer said the museum should cover more than the Holocaust and include Lithuania’s rich Litvak legacy. It should include history from the beginning through the present to the future, not just the Holocaust, she said.

Lithuanian prime minister Saulius Skvernelis and Vilnius mayor Remigijus Šimašius presented an idea to set up a Jewish history museum at the former Palace of Sports building Thursday. The prime minister said the museum should concentrate on 600 years of Jewish history in Lithuania and not the Holocaust. He said the current project to renovate the building would have to be changed.

AJC reps met with the PM Thursday. They also met with parliament and Foreign Ministry officials.

This week the AJC opened up a new office in Warsaw in addition to four other offices already located across Europe. The Warsaw division will represent the AJC in Poland and the Baltic states.