Lithuania's Jewish community said April 19 it was concerned over a growing number of anti-Semitic incidents following the more positive attitude of the authorities toward the restitution of pre-World War II Jewish property.
"The Lithuanian Jewish community wants to draw attention to the increasing number of manifestations of anti-Semitism," said a statement signed by the community's chairman, Simonas Alperavicius.
The community believes the anti-Semitic manifestations were "provoked by positive statements on restitution of Jewish property made by the country's authorities," the document added.
Lithuanian Prime Minister Algirdas Brazauskas on April 16 asked the international Jewish community to select representatives to open talks with Lithuania on the issue of property restitution.
The radical Freedom Union party then accused the government of "groveling to Jews," while another radical group ripped up an Israeli flag at a protest on April 17.
The community warned that such anti-Semitic incidents are damaging Lithuania's international image, just as the country hopes to conclude this year negotiations to join the EU and receive an invitation to join NATO.
About 90 percent of Lithuania's 220,000 prewar Jewish community perished during the Holocaust.
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