Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05VIENNA3651
2005-11-16 13:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:  

PARLIAMENT APPROVES ACCELERATED PAYMENTS TO

Tags:  PGOV PREL KNAR AU 
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UNCLAS VIENNA 003651 

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/OHI, L/LEI AND EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PGOV PREL KNAR AU
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT APPROVES ACCELERATED PAYMENTS TO


HOLOCAUST VICTIMS

UNCLAS VIENNA 003651

SIPDIS

STATE FOR EUR/OHI, L/LEI AND EUR/AGS

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PGOV PREL KNAR AU
SUBJECT: PARLIAMENT APPROVES ACCELERATED PAYMENTS TO


HOLOCAUST VICTIMS


1. On November 16, the Austrian parliament unanimously

approved advance payments to Holocaust victims from the

General Settlement Fund (GSF). A Green-sponsored motion

to decouple the government-funded portion of the GSF from

attainment of legal peace in the U.S. attracted no

support from the other parties, however. Chancellor

Schuessel stressed that he had "great interest in

concluding this chapter in a positive way as soon as

possible." Noting that legal peace might be imminent,

Schuessel remarked, "We are just a few centimeters away

from the finish line." The amendment also extends the

application period for in-rem restitution of publicly

held real property to December 31, 2006.


2. Parliamentary President Khol (OVP) recalled

Chancellor Schuessel's and Stuart Eizenstat's roles in

bringing about the Washington Agreement and expressly

thanked the Austrian Jewish Community (IKG) for urging

dismissal of the Whiteman suit in the U.S. Khol appealed

to legislators to pass the amendment unanimously so that

"we can initiate advance payments for the first 6,000 to

7,000 victims." He also thanked the Austrian business

community for participating in establishing the USD 210

million fund. Speakers from all parties hoped for a

disposition of the last remaining U.S. class action suit

so that payments can begin "before the end of the year."

van Voorst