Fw: Text: U.S. Statement on IBM Suit and Legal Peace for German Companies]

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Fw: Text: U.S. Statement on IBM Suit and Legal Peace for German  Companies]
Datum:  23.02.01 15:35:32 (MEZ) Mitteleuropäische Zeit
 


> US Dept of State Listserv Manager wrote:
>
> > Text: U.S. Statement on IBM Suit and Legal Peace for German Companies
> > (U.S. wishes to reassure Germany and German companies, Boucher
> > says)  (630)
> >
> > The State Department issued a statement February 21 seeking to
> > reassure the government of Germany and German companies that
> > "the United States will seek legal peace for claims against
> > German companies in accordance with the Executive Agreement that
> > Germany and the United States signed on July 17, 2000."
> >
> > State Department Spokesman Richard Boucher said concern has been
> > raised in Germany that a lawsuit filed against IBM in federal
> > court will endanger the legal peace sought by last year's
> > Foundation Agreement, thereby holding up payments to victims of
> > Nazi-era wrongs.
> >
> > "If it is determined that the IBM suit is a suit against a U.S.
> > company unrelated to actions of a German company, then it is
> > irrelevant to the Foundation and to 'legal peace' for German
> > companies," Boucher said.
> >
> > "We have been fully implementing our commitments under the
> > Agreement and we will continue to do so," he said, adding: "We
> > have every confidence that the last few cases will soon be
> > dismissed; that the German companies will fulfill their
> > obligation to contribute to the Foundation; and -- most
> > importantly -- that the victims who have waited so long for some
> > measure of justice will soon receive payments."
> >
> > Following is the text of the statement:
> >
> > (begin text)
> >
> > U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
> > Office of the Spokesman
> > February 21, 2001
> >
> > Statement by Richard Boucher, Spokesman
> >
> > IBM SUIT AND LEGAL PEACE FOR GERMAN COMPANIES
> >
> > Concern has been raised in Germany recently that the lawsuit
> > filed by class action claimants against IBM in federal court
> > will endanger the legal peace for German companies sought by
> > last year's Foundation Agreement.  The United States wishes to
> > reassure the government of Germany and German companies that the
> > United States will seek legal peace for claims against German
> > companies in accordance with the Executive Agreement that
> > Germany and the United States signed on July 17, 2000.
> >
> > The Foundation covers all Nazi-era claims against German
> > companies, and the U.S. will file a statement of interest in all
> > such cases.  The Foundation does not cover claims against U.S.
> > companies for actions unrelated to that of German companies. The
> > lawyers who filed the suit against IBM have indicated that they
> > have no intent to raise claims against German companies.  If it
> > is determined that the IBM suit is a suit against a U.S. company
> > unrelated to actions of a German company, then it is irrelevant
> > to the Foundation and to "legal peace" for German companies.
> >
> > There is no reason why the IBM lawsuit should hold up payments
> > to victims.  It was not a case pending when the Foundation
> > Agreement was signed.  New claims were expected to be filed
> > after the Agreement, and commitment of the U.S. Government to
> > file Statements of Interest in future cases was designed to deal
> > with that eventuality.  The United States believes that payments
> > to the victims should begin promptly after the last class
> > actions listed in the agreement are dismissed. The United States
> > will continue to live up to its obligations in connection with
> > subsequent litigation.
> >
> > We have been fully implementing our commitments under the
> > Agreement and we will continue to do so.  We have every
> > confidence that the last few cases will soon be dismissed; that
> > the German companies will fulfill their obligation to contribute
> > to the Foundation; and -- most importantly -- that the victims
> > who have waited so long for some measure of justice will soon
> > receive payments.  A measure of justice for the victims should
> > remain the primary focus of all parties.
> >
> > (end text)
> >
> > (Distributed by the Office of International Information
> > Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site:
> > http://usinfo.state.gov)
> > NNNN
> >
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