U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman

STATEMENT BY RICHARD BOUCHER, SPOKESMAN
U.S. Court Decision on Holocaust-Era Payments
March 7, 2001

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York Judge Shirley Wohl Kram decided March 7 to deny a motion by the plaintiffs to dismiss voluntarily their claims against German banks. The motion was part of an effort to implement a newlycreated German Foundation that would provide payments to a million survivors and other victims of the Nazis during World War 11.

The United States facilitated negotiations to create the German Foundation, and strongly believes that implementation should move forward. The U.S. Government Bled a Statement of Interest with Judge Kram supporting the voluntary dismissal of the litigation. All the parties to the litigation, and an independent Special Master appointed by the Judge, supported the voluntary dismissal. The decision is contrary to the recommendations of all parties having an interest in the case and will delay justice and payments to Holocaust victims, a significant number of whom are dying each month.

The United States is currently studying the decision to determine what option might be available for further judicial review. We continue to support the German Foundation, and will do all we can to implement it and to bring some measure of justice to the long-waiting survivors.