Latvian FM State Secretary: five properties should be returned to Jewish community

Returning certain buildings to the Latvian Jewish community would testify to Latvia's consistent policy in regard to overcoming historical injustices, Foreign Ministry State Secretary Andrejs Pildegovics said during a Saeima Foreign Affairs Committee meeting today.

Pildegovics pointed out that, over the past 25 years, Latvia has been able to revive itself as a democratic country based on the rule of law.

''There is no reason to criticise Latvia for anything. With regards to the current discussion, we believe that such a decision by the Saeima would testify to Latvia's consistent policy with regards to overcoming historical injustices. Previous parliaments, in 1998, 2003 and 2007, approved three separate bills, after which properties were returned. We already have these historical precedents, which we believe were fair,'' Pildegovics explained.

Pildegovics also admitted during today's discussions that the issue of property restitution also has a foreign policy dimension to it.

''Latvia is a part of various international forums related to WWII. Similar discussions are taking place in other countries. We are part of a Europe-wide process. We wish to give our support to the Jewish community, which suffered horribly during the occupation,'' Pildegovics said, explaining that Latvia will continue to work to find the most suitable solutions to overcome historical injustices.

As reported, Saeima forwarded several draft bills to committees in January that deal with the restitution of five Jewish properties which are to be returned to the Council of Jewish Communities of Latvia.

The legislation proposes returning five sites in Latvia to the Council of Jewish Communities of Latvia - a former Jewish school at 2 Abrenes Street in Riga, a former Jewish religious school at 12 Ernesta Birznieka-Upisa Street in Riga, a former Jewish nursing home at 25 Ludzas Street in Riga, a former synagogue at 13 Klavu Street in Jurmala, and another former synagogue at 31 Liela Street in Kandava.

These properties are to be returned in order to mitigate the injustice Latvia's Jewish communities suffered during World War II.

Parliamentary committees will also decide whether to revoke restrictions on the property of the Jewish Community of Riga - namely, a prohibition on alienating or mortgage the property. Amendments also stipulate that the property would not have to be returned to the state if the Community ceases to exist. The amendments concern a 1,122 square meter land plot and building at 6 Skolas Street.

The draft bills were submitted by MPs Ojars Eriks Kalnins (Unity), Atis Lejins (Unity), Artis Rasmanis (Greens/Farmers), Solvita Aboltina (Unity), Lolita Cigane (Unity), and Rihards Kols (All For Latvia-For Fatherland And Freedom/LNNK).