Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
05VIENNA3651
2005-11-16 13:47:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Vienna
Cable title:
PARLIAMENT APPROVES ACCELERATED PAYMENTS TO
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
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
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