Re: [Cz-L] Property in Cz

I read recently that Ukraina ,not only does not restitute private homes but
also public buildings
like Synagogues and Temples are not restituted ,the pretext being that
these buildings now
house public offices like Museums which cannot be replaced.
   In Czernowitz we know what official functions the Temple serves - keeping
seasonal clothes sales
 and a cinema.
   Hardy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Andrew Halmay" <venivici_at_rogers.com>
To: <czernowitz-l_at_cornell.edu>
Sent: Saturday, July 05, 2008 8:58 PM
Subject: [Cz-L] Property in Cz


In 1994 I flew from L.A. to Bucharest, a long flight, and had a pleasant
lady sitting next to me who was flying to Prague. The reason for her trip
was to get back from the present Czech government her home that the
Communists confiscated after WW II.

Around the same time I met a Romanian, Professor Florescu, whose father had
been a Minister in King Carol's government. They were a well off family and
had four or five homes around Bucharest, Sinaia, etc. As all the other
ex-Communist states, Romania also returned property. The last time I spoke
to Florescu over five years ago they had repatriated most of their homes.
One of these had been leased out to an Asian government as an Embassy so he
simply took back the title and collected rent from the Embassy.

It would be a difficult thing for Russia or most of the Ukraine to return
property to pre-Communism owners because that goes back to the Bolshevic
Revolution in 1917 over 90 years ago. But our properties in Czernowitz and
half of Bucovina that are now part of the Ukraine don't fall into that
category and there is no reason why, if the Ukraine wants to join NATO that
they don't display some responsible attitudes and return confiscated
properties.

U.S. AID since 1992 has given the Ukraine $1.6 Billion.

Most of that money has been spent for good causes to cement the friendship
of the Ukrainian people. You can read about it at this link:
http://www.usaid.gov/locations/europe_eurasia/countries/ua/index.html
But friendship must be a two-way street and I am wondering
HOW MANY IN THE CZ GROUP HAVE BEEN ROBBED OF THEIR PROPERTIES IN CZ?

I have dual US-Canadian citizenship and haven't checked yet to see what
Canada has been throwing into the Ukrainian pot. Since I vote in both
countries I would like to take this matter up with my Congressman and my
Member of Parliament. I was born in a lovely home in Cz that was built by my
grandmother in the early 1920s.
I'm not planning on moving back to live there but it bothers me to have my
tax dollars go to a country that won't give me back what's mine.
I'd like to hear from all of you who feel the same way.

Andy Halmay

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Received on 2008-07-05 18:49:52