Lithuanian president leaves for Holocaust remembrance forum in Sweden

VILNIUS – Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda is on Tuesday leaving for the Swedish city of Malmo to attend the International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance and Combating Antisemitism.

On Wednesday, Nauseda is scheduled to take part in the forum's plenary session and speak at a break-out session on protecting memory and fighting distortion, his office said in a press release.

"We still deeply feel the loss of our fellow Lithuanian Jewish citizens. We must ensure that future generations remember and reflect on the painful lessons of the Holocaust," it quoted the president as saying on the eve of his visit.

"Realizing that the nightmares of the past cannot be repeated, we must fight all attempts to distort history and incite hatred," he said. 

Participants of the Malmo forum also include European Council President Charles Michel, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Latvian President Egils Levits, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto, and others.

"Countries, including Lithuania, will present specific pledges at the Forum to preserve and promote Holocaust remembrance and to combat antisemitism," according to the press release.

On Wednesday evening, Nauseda will travel to the Danish capital of Copenhagen to meet with the local Lithuanian community.