(6 Nov 1999) Eng/Ger/Nat
German and U-S negotiators have decided to go ahead with talks this month to discuss compensations to forced labourers who worked for Nazi-era industries during World War Two.
Since the war, Germany has paid about 60 (b) billion U-S dollars in reparations, pensions and other benefits to various categories of victims, but has never paid people specifically for being forced into labour.
The German government and companies, recently suggested setting up a foundation aimed at raising 3.3 (b) billion U-S dollars to be paid out to victims.
Victims' attorneys say the amount was insufficient and have asked for 12 (b) billion U-S dollars.
Chief German negotiator, Otto Lambsdorff, announced that the German government has decided to increase its offer of compensation for former labourers forced to work during the Nazi era.
Speaking ahead of November's negotiating session in Bonn, he said it was important for both sides to reach a final agreement.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We have made significant progress in some very important issues. And these important issues are especially in the field of legal closure. Legal closure is very important to the German companies. The simple expression was: we do not want to pay twice."
SUPER CAPTION: Otto Lambsdorff, German negotiator
Lambsdorff however cautioned that the higher contribution to the compensation fund may not be sufficient to reach agreement with the victims who want more.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We know, I know, that the last German offer made here in Washington of six (b) billion Deutsche Mark has to be improved. The federal government does know that. The federal government has decided to offer a significant improvement of its constitution to find a solution. I am convinced that on the business side, the corporate case, the amount of money has to be increased too, and that is still a difficult business because corporations don't find it easy to collect the first four (b) billion Deutsche Mark, which have been committed and underwritten."
SUPER CAPTION: Otto Lambsdorff, German negotiator
The top U-S negotiator, Deputy Treasury Secretary Stuart Eizenstat, who earlier held a meeting with Lambsdorff said they did make progress on other parts of the compensation plan and hoped that a successful compensation fund would prevent further lawsuits in the United States.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"A key objective of our negotiations has been to achieve legal closure, which we recognize as a legitimate interest of the German companies and fundamental to the establishment of the foundation. As I indicated in my statement, any action at any level which is inconsistent with legal closure will be harmful to the process and would cause us significant concern."
SUPER CAPTION: Stuart Eizenstat, U-S Deputy Treasury Secretary
German Industry as a whole hasn't mounted a substantial effort to compensate people it used for little or no pay to keep its factories and businesses running during the war.
That's a fact which Lambsdorff is working to change.
SOUNDBITE: (German)
"I am in constant contact with the German industry and in terms of legal closure just yesterday we sat together in Frankfurt and came to the conclusion that we have made quite a bit of progress which in turn satisfy the demands of the German economy."
SUPER CAPTION: Otto Lambsdorff, German negotiator
An estimated 12 (m) million people were forced in Hitler's Germany to work in industry and on farms to maintain the war effort and keep German society going.
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