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“This is a day of triumph of democracy, when we see that negotiations and dialogue can solve conflicts by way of good will and understanding. This has been done between nations with different opinions, attitudes and religions," Rabbi Elyokim Schlessinger, chairman of the Rabbi Council of the Committee for the Preservation of Cemeteries in Europe, said at the ceremony of unveiling a memorial plaque at the former cemetery.

The ceremony next to the old Jewish cemetery of Snipiskes, a neighborhood in central Vilnius, was attended by Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius Kubilius, Vilnius City Mayor Arturas Zuokas, other officials, foreign diplomats and representatives of the Jewish community.

Schlessinger expressed gratitude to Lithuania's government, embassies of the United States and the United Kingdom, the capital city's administration and residents.

In his words, it is a historic event when Vilnius can be recalled as a once center of Jewish life.

Faina Kukliansky, deputy chairman of the Lithuanian Jewish Community, said that, regardless of a far smaller population of Jews in Lithuania now, as compared with the pre-WWII era, "the independent state of Lithuania has preserved respect and understanding of the Jewish nation."

"On behalf of the Lithuanian Jewish Community, I want to thank all those who helped solving the long-term clash between the Jewish religious community and the state. (...) Today I want to deliver special thanks to director of the Cultural Heritage Department Diana Varnaite who translated into reality things that some wanted to see in theory," she added.

The Lithuanian prime minister said that Lithuania had succeeded in settling the disagreements.

"We are gathered here today to remind ourselves and the future generations about presence of a Jewish cemetery here 180 years ago, their importance to the Jewish community of Vilnius and the rest of the world. A few years ago, the Snipiskes Jewish ceremony was subject to heated discussions, however, together with the international Jewish community Lithuania was able to find ways of solving the conflicts and pay due respect to the important place," Kubilius said.

"For this I am thankful to (…) Rabbi Schlessinger and all those who brought us to the day of respect and memory," said the head of the government.

A few years ago, Lithuania was locked in a new scandal amid suspicions that new commercial building were constructed in the location of the old Jewish cemetery. The cemetery had been cleared by the Soviet administration, however, historians noted lack of clear evidence about removal of all remains.

In response to the criticism, Lithuania's administration had invited Jewish representatives to perform tests at the site in 2008. Following international tests and cartographic clashes, the vague outline of the cemetery was reborn in a green lawn. Lithuania's government approved the boundaries of the cemetery in 2009.

Cabinet representatives said Jews had agreed with the government-approved boundaries and did not object leaving the apartment buildings and the Sports Center located in the questionable territory untouched, although historic sources showed them within the cemetery boundaries.

The Jewish cemetery in central Vilnius were functional from the 16th century before they were closed in the 18th century.