Narva Mayor Seeks to Discuss New Lease Terms with Concert Hall Operator Geneva

The Narva city government plans to meet with the company Geneva to negotiate new terms for leasing the concert hall, aiming to prevent the termination of the contract. Geneva sent a letter to the city government on July 1 announcing the lease termination, which has been in effect for over 20 years. The letter cited proposed contract changes that impose significant financial obligations on the lessee. Mayor Katri Raik stated she is ready to discuss the issue and understand which specific clause the lessee finds unacceptable. She emphasized that the city has no intention of taking over the building and hopes to meet on the 14th. Raik expressed her belief that the company is trying to pressure the city. However, Vladimir Aret, a board member of Geneva, expressed doubts that negotiations would alter their plans. He noted that the decision was influenced not only by the new contract terms but also by the overall economic situation in the country, describing it as a "crisis carousel." Geneva has been operating the concert hall since early 2004 and plans to terminate the lease as of January 2 of next year.