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The Federal Council regrets delay in payments from the Holocaust Special Fund

Declaration

The Federal Council regrets delay in payments from the Holocaust Special Fund

The Federal Council was forced to acknowledge that the representatives
appointed by the World Jewish Restitution Organisation (WJRO) were not present
at today´s meeting of the management bodies of the Holocaust Special Fund.
Moreover, the concrete proposal for benefiting Holocaust victims in Eastern
Europe which had been promised by the WJRO was not presented.

The Federal Council deeply regrets these absences and the lack of a proposal.
As a result, necessary help to thousands of elderly victims in need will
unfortunately be further delayed.

These absences defy comprehension since the date for today´s meeting was set by
mutual agreement on July 7. At this meeting the Fund management had already
released a first tranche of SFr. 17m for distribution.

The Federal Council made an urgent appeal to the WJRO representatives to honour
the agreement they undertook to work constructively with the Special Fund.

The Federal Council supports the members of the Fund management and advisory
board present at today´s meeting in their efforts to be able to formulate a
decision on the definitive distribution by the end of September 1997 at the
latest following submission of the WJRO´s proposal. In particular, it called
upon the WJRO representatives to present their proposals by September 25.

Switzerland has had the necessary preparatory work completed for some time
already, so that the Special Fund would become active and needy victims of the
Holocaust finally receive some help.

Federal Chancellery

15.09.97