Latvia can follow Lithuania's lead,but compensation from Russia unlikely

RIGA (BNS) - Foreign policy experts questioned by BNS believe that
Latvia, like Lithuania, should demand a compensation for damage
caused by the Soviet occupation, but the right time for the move has
not come yet.

The Lithuanian parliament this month adopted a law on compensations
for the damage caused to Lithuania by the Soviet occupation ordering
the Lithuanian government to assess the damage and form a delegation
for talks with Russia.

Historians believe that Latvia could demand compensation for ethical
reasons but there are absolutely no chances to get it.

Latvian Foreign Policy Institute head, Atis Lejins, said Latvia could
demand compensation from Russia for damage caused by the occupation,
but he doubts if the right time has come for the move.

"Russia will have to return to this issue sooner or later. There
already is a precedent - Germany's compensations about the Holocaust.
Therefore Russia too will have to think... But I doubt if the present
is the right moment - Putin is at power in Russia for a very short
while," said Lejins.

He said the guilt of Russia is undisputable.

"They entered with their army, with their people and began
establishing their law," said Lejins.

Latvian University political science lecturer and expert in
Latvian-Russian relations, Karlis Dauksts, believes Latvia could
demand compensation for the damage caused by the occupation but it is
absolutely unlikely to be successful.

"Russia has never agreed and never will agree to such talks on
compensations, because Russia is stressing it is now another country
that does not carry responsibility for the Soviet period," said
Dauksts.

The only thing Russia could do would be joining diplomatic talks that
would yield no result.

He said Latvia even has had estimates about the scope of the
compensations - these could be some $25 billion.

Lithuania, too, actually does not have any chances to get any funds,
said Dauksts.

Historian Aivars Stranga also said Latvia can demand compensation
from the ethical point of view, but success is not likely.

"The chances are lower than zero," said Stranga who also is a member
of Latvia's historians commission.

Stranga believes Latvia does not have to waste time and forces for
solving such issues. The parliament should work very seriously on the
top priorities that are aligning of legislation for accession to the
European Union and NATO.