Lithuania passes Jewish restitution bill

VILNIUS -- Lithuanian parliament has passed a bill that will allow for extensive repayments to the Jewish community for properties that were seized around the time of the second world war.

The bill foresees the creation of a fund worth 53 million USD to be administered by Lithuania's Jewish community organizations over the next decade.

"With its step Lithuania has sent a message to the world that it had fulfilled its commitments to a certain ethnic minority in a nice and civilized manner," Faina Kukliansky, deputy chairperson of the Jewish Community of Lithuania, told reporters.

"I would also like to underline that I was really moved by the adoption of this law in the parliament, the way it was adopted, as I couldn’t even foresee that some MPs would talk so nice about Jews, as a Jew I haven’t heard so many nice words in one place."

Lawmakers hope the bill will put an end to the ongoing conflict between the government and the country's Jewish communities over the issue of restitution for stolen property.

The fund will focus on financing religious, health care, education, and cultural programs.