Baltic States – CIS, Latvia, Legislation, Real Estate

According to Dombrovksis, representatives from the Jewish community will meet with all political groups in the parliament, and the results of these meetings will determine the pace at which the problem will be tackled, as the premier's press secretary Martins Panke told LETA.

"But it is obvious that we are steadily moving forward. We have achieved certain unanimity about the restitution amount – these include public buildings and areas, for instance, synagogue buildings, cemeteries, schools and others," notes Dombrovskis.

Restitution of Jewish properties is a "complicated and sensitive problem" in all countries where it is being solved, including Latvia, emphasizes Dombrovskis.

All For Latvia-For Fatherland And Freedom/LNNK (VL-TB/LNNK) co-chairman Gaidis Berzins told LETA he thought it regrettable that the problem was back on the agenda every year ahead of the Holocaust Remembrance Day – possibly due to various economic interests. VL-TB/LNNK has already said that the denationalization process in Latvia has concluded and the results thereof must not be revised, said Berzins.

The Reform Party's Saeima group chairman Edmunds Demiters stressed that his group would not change its opinion. He also said, expressing his personal opinion, that reopening the denationalization process would mean that any ethnicity or public organization could claim that its former properties be returned.

Independent MPs' representative Viktors Valainis said he agreed with his colleagues, although he did not rule out further discussions on the matter.

As reported, discussions about the Jewish restitution issue will resume in September, when the matter will be discussed with MPs, LETA was informed by Council of Jewish Communities of Latvia Executive Director Gita Umanovska.

U.S. Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues Douglas Davidson told LETA during a visit to Latvia last week that it would be good for Latvia to close this chapter in the country's history. No one can be held responsible for the problem now, but if the state is able to solve it, it would do a great deal of good for both Latvia and the local Jewish community.

LETA also reported, the Council of Jewish Communities of Latvia has established that Jewish organizations owned around 270 real estate properties in Latvia until June 17, 1940.

A year ago, the Jewish restitution issue led to the resignation of then Justice Minister Berzins.