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U.S. Department of State Office of the Spokesman Press Statement

Press Statement by James P. Rubin, Spokesman
March 29, 1999

Relief for Neediest Holocaust Survivors in
Eastern Europe and Former Soviet Union

The United States is allocating $4 million from FY1998 Economic Support Funds to the "Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany" to provide basic relief to Holocaust survivors in eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.

This is the first tranche of a three-year $25 million pledge by the United States to the international Nazi Persecutee Relief Fund. Under Secretary of State Stuart E. Eizenstat joined British Foreign Secretary Cook in announcing the opening of the Fund at the December, 1997 London Conference on Nazi Gold. The initiative came in the context of Under Secretary Eizenstat's efforts on behalf of President Clinton and Secretary Albright for measures that bring justice to Holocaust survivors. The Fund provides relief to survivors of Nazi persecution who have received little compensation. Over 17 countries have pledged over $61 million to the Fund.

The Fund allows donor countries to decide how and by whom their funds will be spent. Under the direction of Under Secretary Eizenstat, the Department of State decided that providing support to the neediest "double victims" (of both Nazism and Communism) abroad would be the first funding objective, and asked NGOs for project proposals. On March 5, the Department selected a proposal by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, an organization representing 23 Jewish NGOs globally. The Claims Conference, using its expertise in this field and its pre-existing contacts with local aid networks in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, will apply the U.S. funds to bring food, medicine and clothing to needy survivors there.

The Department of State looks forward to working with the Claims Conference to help ensure that Holocaust survivors in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union do not live out their remaining years in need. We hope this effort will have the kind of immediate, humanitarian impact that the Fund was created to encourage. The Department of State looks forward to working with Congress to obtain funding for the balance of the U.S. pledge.

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