| Press Statement Richard Boucher, Spokesman Washington, DC March 15, 2001 Contribution of German Industry to German Foundation,The United States welcomes the announcement by the Foundation Initiative of German Industry that it has succeeded in raising DM 5 billion as its contribution to the German Foundation "Remembrance, Responsibility and the Future." This is an important step toward making it possible for the German Foundation to begin payments to Holocaust victims. In a March 13 letter to Foreign Minister Fischer, Secretary Powell reaffirmed the commitment of the United States government to fulfill its obligations under the July 17 Executive Agreement. The Secretary pointed out that since July 17 the United States government has met its obligations under the Executive Agreement by filing statements of interest in all lawsuits covered in that agreement. US courts have dismissed approximately 55 cases. The policy of the United States is that these claims should not be resolved in the courts but instead should be submitted to the Foundation, which the United States wishes to have function as the exclusive remedy for such claims. The United States will also file statements of interest in the event of future lawsuits that fall under the provisions of the Executive Agreement. The Executive Agreement expresses strongly the desire of both the United States and Germany for legal peace and the promise of expeditious payments to victims. Once the banking cases have been dismissed, the vast majority of survivors will have dismissed their lawsuits, and it is important that they begin to see the benefits of this historic agreement through the distribution of payments. |
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