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On the Issue of the Former Jewish Cemetery in the City of
Grodno
May 2004
The old Jewish cemetery located at the Gorky Street in Grodno was closed in
April 1949. A decision to build a stadium at a 10-hectare site including the
territory of the old cemetery was made in March 1958. During the
construction of the stadium, the cemetery was demolished. The construction
of the stadium was completed in December 1964. Thus, the problem the Grodno
local authorities have been recently facing is not the destruction of the
cemetery and the construction of a new stadium at the site but the
reconstruction of the stadium that has functioned as such since December
1964.
Grodno local authorities have undertaken numerous measures to solve the
issues related to the reconstruction of the stadium taking into
consideration the interests and wishes of all the parties concerned.
On July 8, 2003, representatives of Jewish communities and local authorities
carried out a ceremony of reburying the remains found during the
reconstruction works at the “Nyoman” stadium in Grodno.
On August 18, 2003, Mr. Vladimir Savchenko, Chairman of the Grodno Regional
Executive Committee, and Mr. Yury Dorn, Chairman of the Board of the Jewish
Religious Association in the Republic of Belarus, signed an agreement
regulating the issues related to the reconstruction of the “Nyoman” stadium.
According to the agreement, all construction works, involving earth moving,
except for filling up soil, were discontinued. It was agreed that the soil,
excavated earlier and located within the territory of the sports complex,
would be placed on the territory of the former Jewish cemetery; all land
improvement works would be conducted without moving the natural soil, with
fill-up soil not included into this category; and any works on the territory
of the former Jewish cemetery around the stadium would be carried out only
as mutually agreed upon by the parties.
The agreement further states that, after the reconstruction of the sports
complex has been completed, a memorial sign will be erected at the site of
the former Jewish cemetery, as suggested by the Jewish Religious
Association. The Grodno Historical Archives have also undertaken to hand
over copies of all available archival documents about the cemetery and about
the persons buried there to the Jewish Religious Association in the Republic
of Belarus.
The agreement came into force immediately upon its signing.
On October 22, 2003, Mr. Anatoliy Kunash, First Deputy Chairman of the
Grodno City Executive Committee, had a meeting with Mr. Eduard Parizh,
Chairman of the Council of the Association of Jewish Communities in the
Republic of Belarus, and representatives of “Atra Kadisha” Rabbi H.
Kalmanovich and Rabbi R. Rotshild. The parties discussed important issues,
related to the reconstruction of the stadium, and signed a Protocol, which
stated that the local authorities undertook to coordinate all future
construction activities with “Atra Kadisha” and that any such activities
would be carried out in the presence of “Atra Kadisha” representatives. Mr.
Eduard Parizh and representatives of “Atra Kadisha” specifically thanked the
efforts and assistance of Mr. Vladimir Savchenko, Chairman of the Grodno
Regional Executive Committee, whose direct participation made it possible to
start work on reburying, according to Jewish traditions, the remains
evacuated from the territory of the stadium under reconstruction where the
former Jewish cemetery had been located until 1947.
On November 6, 2003, Mr. Vladimir Savchenko, Chairman of the Grodno Regional
Executive Committee, had a meeting with Mr. Eduard Parizh, Chairman of the
Council of the Association of Jewish Communities in the Republic of Belarus.
According to the Protocol, signed at the meeting, a foreign representative
of “Atra Kadisha” was invited to immediately come to Grodno to oversee the
construction works as agreed upon in the Protocol dated 22 October 2003. The
Protocol also stated, that the lists of issues, contained in the Protocols
dated 22 October 2003 and 6 November 2003 as well as the steps to solve
these issues as suggested in the same Protocols and agreed upon by the
parties, are final and exhaustive and that neither party would insist on
reexamining the above issues and decisions after construction works had been
completed.
On November 18, 2003, H.E. Mr. George Krol, US Ambassador to Belarus,
visited Grodno. At a meeting in the Grodno Regional Executive Committee,
Ambassador Krol was provided with all the necessary information concerning
the situation around the reconstruction of the stadium and the steps taken
by local authorities and Jewish communities in this regard.
Since December 1, 2003, in full conformity with the above agreements, “Atra
Kadisha” representatives have been present at all the construction works at
Grodno sites. Under their proposal, the earth, earlier evacuated from the
stadium, is being moved to the territory of the Jewish cemetery on the left
bank of the Nyoman River. Respective construction organizations have been
provided with all the necessary equipment for moving the earth to a special
site allocated for this purpose within the limits of the cemetery.
Grodno authorities are actively pursuing cooperation with representatives of
Jewish communities and organizations and are implementing in good faith all
the agreements reached earlier. They are also ready and willing to continue
constructive contacts with Jewish representatives on any related issues.
On May 6, 2004, Mr. Vladimir Savchenko, Chairman of the Grodno Regional
Executive Committee, confirmed that no construction at the “Nyoman” stadium
is not carried out, all the works have almost been completed. Only the
stadium stands are being reconstructed, with old structures being replaced
by new. Earth works are not conducted, earth is not moved from the territory
of the stadium.
All works being done are in full compliance with the agreements previously
reached between Grodno Regional and City Executive Committees and
representatives of “Atra Kadisha”. Reconstruction works are carried out in
full compliance with the Belarusian legislation and international
obligations of Belarus. Requests and wishes of Jewish communities and
religious organizations are being taken into account. No complaints
concerning the works being done have recently been received by Grodno City
and regional authorities.
Embassy of the Republic of Belarus
Washington, DC
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