Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08BERLIN399
2008-03-31 12:58:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Berlin
Cable title:  

DEMARCHE RESPONSE: URGING FASTER PROCESSING OF

Tags:  PREL KNAR PHUM GM 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXYZ0210
PP RUEHWEB

DE RUEHRL #0399 0911258
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 311258Z MAR 08
FM AMEMBASSY BERLIN
TO SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0792
C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000399 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018
TAGS: PREL KNAR PHUM GM
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: URGING FASTER PROCESSING OF
RESTITUTION CLAIMS

REF: SECSTATE 23500

Classified By: Acting Political Minister-Counselor Stanley Otto for rea
sons 1.4 (b) and (d).

C O N F I D E N T I A L BERLIN 000399

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/31/2018
TAGS: PREL KNAR PHUM GM
SUBJECT: DEMARCHE RESPONSE: URGING FASTER PROCESSING OF
RESTITUTION CLAIMS

REF: SECSTATE 23500

Classified By: Acting Political Minister-Counselor Stanley Otto for rea
sons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Poloff met March 12 with the head of the German
Finance Ministry's Nazi-era restitution section, Dr.
Hermann-Josef Rodenbach, to deliver reftel points. Dr.
Rodenbach welcomed USG efforts to encourage the Finance
Ministry to move faster on processing restitution claims
stemming from the Nazi-era. He readily agreed that it is in
the German government's interest to settle accounts sooner
rather than later since, as he claimed, the German government
pays 6% interest on cases in which it owes claimants. He
also confirmed that restitution cases stemming from former
East Germany tend to take a longer period of time to be
resolved.


2. (C) Dr. Rodenbach also expressed concern about overall
planned personnel reductions in the Finance Ministry and in
his section in particular. To help him maintain his
section's personnel level, Rodenbach suggested that the
appropriate USG official send a short letter to Onno
Hueckmann at the MFA's Legal Department -- who would then
pass it on to the Finance Ministry -- describing our interest
in speedy restitution and our concern that restitution cases
could drag on beyond the lifetime of claimants. Poloff spoke
to Federal Chancellery Liaison desk to religious communities
Rudolf Teuwsen on March 19 regarding reftel and possibility
that Washington would be sending a letter to the Ministry of
Finance on this issue. Teuwsen took these points in and said
he would refer the message to higher levels in the
Chancellery. He also indicated that the rate of claim
dispensation was currently problematic.
TIMKEN JR