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World Jewish News
Lithuanian Jews unhappy with the suggested draft of restitution project
24.04.2009
The property which belongs to the Lithuanian Jews by law will be returned, as the Lithuanian State is obliged to do so. This was stated by Prime Minister of Lithuania Andrius Kubilius the day before.
"I hope these discussions will not last, and we will find a common decision on how the process will be performed, through which fund or other instruments. We have a principal position that restitution is Lithuania's constitutional duty. Its volume and cost have almost been determined, but how this will be implemented is another issue." Said Kubilius after the meeting with a group of
Litvaks visiting Lithuania.
The head of the Lithuanian Government added that he had an idea of reconstructing the Great Synagogue in Vilnius. According to Kubilius, if the Palace of the Rulers is being rebuilt, then, of course, the history of the capital should be marked by the restoration of the important monuments of the Jewish community and the history of Lithuania, and the Great Synagogue is among them.
However, according to the chairman of the Jewish community of Lithuania Simonas Alperavicius, the community is unhappy with the draft law on restitution.
According to Alperavicius, first of all the question about the restorative fund arises. "It is unclear how the state will allocate the fund. If the state allocates the fund, then it manages that property. So what kind of restitution
are we talking about?" Said the head of Lithuanian Jews, adding that the amount to be returned is not clear either. According to the Jewish community representatives, the property should be returned not only in money, but also in
kind.
"This is a matter for debate, and no one has explained us where this amount - 113 million litas in ten years - comes from. This is an understated amount, as in Vilnius and Kaunas in the non-crisis times, one building is worth 30-40
million litas. We would like to talk about this amount," said Alperavicius.
The head of the Jewish community also doubts the initiative of the Premier which concerns the restoration of the synagogue. According to him, this project will cost more than a billion litas. He suggested to perpetuate this shrine at least symbolically - put up the column or to at least restore the basement.
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