Mayor Cehok said that, because of the recession, there were not enough funds for the demanding repair work on the synagogue, while the Israeli diplomat urged Croatia to do its utmost to preserve the building as the living memory of the Jewish community that had existed in Varazdin.
"The synagogue should be converted into a gallery or a culture centre and should become a centre of life, not just of Jewish life, but of life in general," Amrani said.
Earlier in the day, the ambassador visited Vindija, which he praised as an impressive food factory.