ESTONIA'S JEWISH COMMUNITY AGAINST BUILDING MONUMENT TO ESTONIAN SS MEN

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TALLINN, August 17 (RIA Novosti's Nikolai Adashkevich) - Zilya Daud, head of Estonia's Jewish community, said that the community was against a monument to Estonians who sided with the Nazis during WWII that will be unveiled on August 20. She said that such actions were incompatible with the European values.

According to her, this is impermissible especially now that Estonia is a member of the European Union. She added that the Jewish community would not make official statements.

"It is great that the Estonian prime minister does not support the monument, though this will not change things," she said.

The authorities of the Lihula region will build the monument in a cemetery next to one honoring Soviet soldiers who died during WWII.

Eesti Paervaleht, a newspaper, reported on Tuesday that in response to criticism from Prime Minister Juhan Parts, local elder Tiit Madisson said recently that the bas-relief of a soldier in a German uniform would not contain Nazi symbols and that the legend would be changed to Estonians Fighting in 1940-1945 Against Bolshevism for the Restoration of Estonia's Independence.

Earlier, it was to read: To All Estonian Soldiers who Died During WWII for the Freedom of the Motherland and Europe in 1940-1945.

The prime minister has called the intention of the Lihula authorities to build a monument to Estonians who fought in the 20th SS division a provocation.

The legend on the monument is impermissible as it "misrepresents the history of Estonia, the sufferings of the people of Estonia and Europe," Mr. Parts said.

"The Lihula authorities should understand that they will bear responsibility before the state, people and the constitution," he said.

In 2002, a similar monument was built in the center of the city of Parnu but was dismantled a few days later.

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