Hillary Clinton

USA supports the restitution of the Jewish property, and a swift resolution of this issue is in the interest of all sides, said the US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, during a joint Press Conference with Latvian Foreign Affairs Minister Edgars Rinkevics on Thursday, June 28.

«USA strongly supports those, whose property was confiscated and irrelevant by whom – by Nazis or Communists,»- Clinton said, adding, that this issue was discussed with on all meetings with Latvian officials.

«It is an unfinished historical case. I respect the efforts with which the Latvian government is addressing this matter,»- says the US Secretary of State.

Clinton pointed that this issue needs to be resolved swiftly and fairly.

Foreign Affairs Minister Edgars Rinkevics explained that Latvia has a good dialog with the local Jewish community. Those individuals, whose ancestors owned property before the Second World War, can request its return in the process of denationalization. Current negotiations concern property that once belonged to organizations – religious buildings, Jewish community buildings, clubs, etc.

«We support he Jewish community and we discussed that not always a building can be returned,»- said the minister, adding, that compensation can do in such a case.

Rinkevic also admitted that discussions are on-going because this problem has a historical, judicial and emotional relation to it, and it varies in different political circles. He assures that the dialog will continue, for both sides to find an optimal solution.

Ref: 104.109.109.2293