Lithuanian Deputy Consul General Vilkauskas supports landmark designation

Thank you so much, thank you members of the Council for being here.

And I'm Gedris Vilkauskas, I'm Deputy Council General of Lithuania here in New York.

On behalf of the Consulate of Republic of Lithuania in New York, I would like to strongly support the application by the Lithuanian Alliance to designate

Lithuanian Alliance building as a New York City individual landmark.

The Lithuanian Alliance is the oldest continuously operating Lithuanian organization in the world.

It provides vital link with United States at crucial historical junctures for Lithuania and remains a respectable part of Lithuanian American history.

It sheltered first waves of Lithuanian immigrants in the late 19th century, promoted the cognition of newly established Lithuanian state in 1918, supported efforts to oppose Soviet occupation right until

1990, and was a crucial pillar for the strengthening of newly established Lithuania.

In the last couple of decades, the importance of alliance building grew beyond the roots in the Lithuanian American community.

Just as Lithuanian relations with the United States developed into deep strategic alliance, the Lithuanian alliance building become a place

from which our heritage is shared to the city and the community, opening the art space, opening art space.

Made Alliance Building accessible to all New Yorkers, and the arts team makes a consistent effort to involve local artists into their programming.

A decision to designate Alliance Building as a New York City individual landmark would not just recognize

architectural and cultural significance of the building, but would remain, reaffirm New York's becoming welcoming, tolerant, and multicultural character.

Thanks so much.

Thank you.

You may begin.