| 1998 |
|
| 13.01.1998 |
The
Simon Wiesenthal Centre publishes a study about
Internment-Camps for refugees in Switzerland. The study
maintains that the people were forced to work like slaves
behind barbed wire. - The Task-Force immediately denies the
accusations |
|
The
former watchman Christoph Meili sues the UBS for 2,56 billion
dollars (almost 3,8 billion francs) |
| 21.01.1998 |
The
offices of the Special Fund approve payments to homosexual
victims of the Nazis for the first time |
| 28.01.1998 |
Two
bills are submitted in the US House of Representatives which
would force European insurance companies to pay benefits to
victims of the Nazis. [link: http://thomas.loc.gov/
"Search by Bill Number": H. R. 3121] |
| 01.02.1998 |
Understate
Secretary Eizenstat announces investigations about the
whereabouts of Holocaust assets in the USA |
| 05.02.1998 |
US-Senator
D'Amato asks the US-authorities to temporarily block the
merger of the Swiss Bank Corporation (SBC) and the Union Bank
of Switzerland (UBS) in the United States. (Press
Release) |
| 06.02.1998 |
The
"Jubilee-Fund Switzerland 98" founded by Christoph
Blocher isn't followed through as there was not enough
response (Press
Release) |
| 09.02.1998 |
Approximately
600 former refugees declare their gratitude for being granted
asylum in Switzerland (NZZ 9.2.1998) |
| 12.02.1998 |
Hearing
of the Banking
Committee of the US House of Representatives on looted
assets and insurance policies |
| 16.02.1998 |
Basler
and Winterthur insurances deny US Insurance Authorities access
to their archives |
| 19.02.1998 |
The
Federal Council denies compensation based on legal grounds to
the former Jewish refugee Charles Sonabend (Press
Release, german
/ french) |
| 03.03.1998 |
The
Council of States confirms its decision by a vote of 29 to 4
not to consider the question of legal protection for persons
testifying before the Bergier Commission. As a consequence,
the Parliamentary Initiative is removed from the agenda |
| 04.03.1998 |
A
Swedish Government Commission publishes a report and a list of
649 names of holders of accounts with unclaimed assets |
| 10.03.1998 |
The
president of the World Jewish Congress declares in an interview:
"If the Swiss are going to keep digging their heels in,
then I'll have to ask all the U.S. shareholders to suspend
their dealings with the Swiss". "It's coming to a
point where it has to resolve itself or it has to be total
war." |
| 16.03.1998 |
During
the question hour in the National Council Federal President
Cotti characterizes the statement of Edgar Bronfman as highly
astonishing, shocking and out of place |
| 18.03.1998 |
In
Parliament, an interpellation from the Radical Faction raises
the question of countermeasures in the case of a boycott of
Swiss Banks by States of the U.S.A. On 19.3.98 the Liberal
Faction introduces a similar motion. |
|
For
the first time Gypsies receive compensation from the Special
Fund for Holocaust Victims (Press
Release) |
| 26.03.98 |
The
Swiss and American governments consider the calls for
sanctions and boycotts in the U.S.A. "unjustified and
counterproductive". In a joint statement the Swiss
Federal Council and the government of the U.S.A. call for
cooperation in the sense of moderation. (Joint
Swiss-American Statement on Sanctions) |
|
The
financial authorities of several states and cities of the
U.S.A. decide for the time being not to impose sanctions
against the major banks of Switzerland. The
"Moratorium", which was to expire at the end of
March, is extended through 1 May. In a letter the three major
banks of Switzerland had informed the General Secretary of the
WJC, Israel Singer, that in discussions with the WJC and the
attorneys of Holocaust Survivors they had offered to work
towards an "honorable and moral" solution |
| 01.04.1998 |
The
US Congress, with the support of the White House, intends to
institute a "Presidential Advisory Commission on
Holocaust Assets". The commission should submit its
report and recommendation to President Clinton by 31 December
1999 (Press
Release )
("http://thomas.loc.gov/"
indicate by "Search by Bill Number": H.R.3662) |
| 03.04.1998 |
The
British Government intents to compensate Jewish Holocaust
Victims who brought their assets to Britain to save them from
confiscation from the Nazis during the Second World War and
who never saw their assets again. (Press
Release) |
| 08.04.1998 |
All
16 members of the International Arbitration Committee which is
to render judgement on claims to unclaimed assets in Swiss
banks have been chosen. Chair of the Committee is the Zurich
law professor Hans-Michael Riemer. |
| 09.04.1998 |
In
San Francisco, insurance officials of American States and
representatives of four large insurance companies, including
"Zurich" Insurance, agreed to cooperate in finding a
solution to the problem of "Unclaimed Policies". An
international commission will be created for the purpose. |
| 17.04.1998 |
Hans
Kaufmann of the Bank Bär estimates the total costs for the
search for unclaimed assets in Swiss banks at approximately
one billion francs. This includes the contribution of 200
million to the Special Fund for Holocaust Victims. |
| 27.04.1998 |
Meeting
between Swiss Banks, the World Jewish Congress and the lawyers
of the class actions suit with Stuart Eizenstat as
mediator to find a comprehensive solution. The background
information on the discussion was published in the NZZ (Neue
Zürcher Zeitung) on 25.4.98. |
| 04.05.1998 |
The
Holocaust Survivor Estelle Sapir reaches a settlement with
Credit Suisse concerning her claims for unclaimed assets. |
| 05.05.1998 |
The
Executive Council of the Canton of St-Gall approves a credit
of 1.3 million francs for the establishment of a Paul
Grüninger Foundation. |
| 07.05.98 |
A
Contact Office (Anlaufstelle) for Holocaust Survivors is
established in Switzerland. It provides representation to
persons who make claims on money from the Special Fund to the
responsible restitution organisation WJRO. |
| 12.05.1998 |
The
administration of the Special Fund for Victims of the
Holocaust clarifies the modalities of the distribution of
money to former "political prisoners" and victims of
the Nazis in the U.S.A. A total of approximately 60 million
Francs will be released. |
|
The
General Secretary of the World Jewish Congress (WJC), Israel
Singer, participates in a session of the Foreign Affairs
Commission (FAC) of the National Council |
| 14.05.1998 |
According
to an investigation of the Federal Department of Culture, the
art objects which came into Switzerland between 1933 and 1945
and which are property of the Federal government are not of
doubtful origin. |
|
The
British government issues an appeal to register to persons
with claims to assets which were confiscated during the war
and not returned afterwards (http://www.enemyproperty.gov.uk/). |
| 18.05.1998 |
The
Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu declares Israel's
appreciation for the steps Switzerland and the Swiss
government have taken towards a search for the truth and
towards the restoration of justice for survivors of the
Holocaust and their descendents. |
|
US-President
Bill Clinton acknowledges the Swiss efforts in investigating
the role of the country during the Nazi era and opposes
threats of boycotts against Switzerland. |
|
The
House of Representatives of the US State of New Jersey is the
first legislature to approve a boycott against Swiss banks. |
| 25.05.1998 |
Publication
of the first interim report of the "Bergier-Commission"
("Switzerland and Gold Transactions in World War
II") Internet-Publication: http://www.uek.ch/.
Position of the Federal
Council and the National
Bank. |
| 02.06.1998 |
Publication
of the second "Eizenstat
Report" ("U.S. and Allied Wartime and
Postwar Relations and Negotiations With Argentina, Portugal,
Spain, Sweden, and Turkey on Looted Gold and German External
Assets [...]"). Declaration
of the Federal Council |
| 03.06.1998 |
A
further joint action suit for billions of dollars has been
filed in New York by Holocaust victims. It is directed against
the Deutsche Bank and the Dresdner Bank. |
| 08.06.1998 |
Possible
reactions to boycott measures in the USA are debated in the
Council of States. |
|
The
Federal Reserve Board (Fed) of the USA approves the merger of
the Bankgesellschaft and the Bankverein to form the UBS (Press
Release) |
| 09.06.1998 |
The
study "A
Survey of Nazi and Pro-Nazi Groups in Switzerland: 1930-1945"
published by the Simon-Wiesenthal-Centre in Los Angeles is
heavily criticized in Switzerland and in other countries. |
| 18.06.1998 |
Comments
of the National Bank on the Gold Report of the Bergier
Commission. |
| 19.06.1998 |
The
three large Swiss banks confirm that they have offered 600
million dollars in the joint action suit negotiations. (Press
Release) |
| 23.06.1998 |
The
legal foundations for the "Solidarity Fund
Switzerland" are released by the Federal Council for
hearings (until mid-September) (Press
release). |
|
The
Federal Council denies the demand for compensation of former
Jewish refugee and Holocaust survivor Joseph Spring. (Press
release german
/ french).
(Dokumentation
WoZ) |
| 24.06.1998 |
According
to a report in the "Beobachter", authorities and
police prevented hundreds of Swiss from returning to
Switzerland from foreign countries during World War II. (Article) |
| 26.06.1998 |
The
Norwegian Parliament resolves to make $60 million available to
the Jewish community and the Jewish people for Holocaust
survivors. (Report) |
| 30.06.1998 |
The
joint action suit against the National Bank of Switzerland (SNB),
which was announced formerly, is filed in the US Court in the
name of five Holocaust victims. (Position
of the SNB on 3. April 1998) |
|
The
foundation of the "Working Group "Real-Life
History" (Arbeitskreis Gelebte Geschichte -- AGG) is
announced; the AGG intends to emphasize the
"Real-Life-History" of actual witnesses. |
| 01.07.1998 |
In
California four Holocaust survivors file a claim against the
three major Swiss banks. |
| 02.07.1998 |
The
US-finance officials assembled in the «Hevesi-Committee»
lift the moratorium on boycotts against the major Swiss banks.
Decisions concerning boycotts are left to the individual
states and cities. In New York and other states, sanctions
should be applied progressively. The Federal Council expects
the US government to prevent such sanctions in fulfillment of
its international obligations. (Position
of the Federal Council) |
| 03.07.1998 |
The
"Swiss Democratic" party calls for a boycott of
"all American and Jewish goods, restaurants and vacation
arrangements". (original
text) On 7.7. the appeal is changed to
"US-Jewish" in the internet. |
| 04.07.1998 |
Charges
of violations of the Antiracism Article are filed against the
central president of the "Swiss Democrats", Rudolf
Keller (See call for boycott of 3.7.). |
| 22.07.1998 |
In
a personal letter to US President Bill Clinton, the President
of the Confederation Flavio Cotti expresses the expectation
that the US-President and his administration act decisively
against sanctions. (Press release: german,
french) |
|
Hearing
of the Banking Committee of the US-Senate on: Swiss banks and
the Washington Treaty of 1946. The Swiss government declines
to participate. (Press
release) (Testimony
in the hearing) |
| 31.07.1998 |
Independent
Historical Commission presents its report on the history
of "Deutsche Bank" in the period of National
Socialism
(Press
release: german / Report) |
| 12./13.8.1998 |
Major
Swiss banks, US joint action plaintiffs and Jewish
organizations have arrived at a comprehensive settlement in
the amount of 1.25 billion (US) dollars. With this agreement
the demands on the Swiss government as well as Christoph
Meili's suit against the UBS are no longer valid. Only
insurance companies are excluded from the settlement. The
banks assume "that other Swiss businesses and
institutions will participate in financing the
settlement". (Press
release CS/UBS), (detailed
informations NZZ: german) |
| 13.8.1998 |
Mr.
Ernst Leuenberger and Mr. Ulrich Zimmerli, respectively
president of the National Council and of the Council of States
have learnt with great interest of the conclusion of the
global agreement between the Swiss banks and the authors of
the collective claims in the USA
(Press release german,
french) |
| 14.08.1998 |
Zurich
Insurance reaches an agreement with the US insurance
regulators: an international commission is to clear up open
questions within two years.
(Press
release: german)
|
| 19.08.1998 |
The
Federal Council expresses understanding for the settlement of
the major banks with the plaintiffs in the USA. However the
Swiss government is not part of this settlement and will
not participate financially. The Swiss National Bank will
decide autonomously. |
| 19./20.08.1998 |
The
Italian insurance company Assicurazioni Generali reaches a
settlement in the amount of 100 million dollars with the
attorneys of the Jewish joint action plaintiffs and the World
Jewish Restitution Organization. |
| 21.08.1998 |
The
board of the Swiss National Bank decides not to contribute to
the costs of the settlement between the Swiss banks and
representatives of the class action suits. (Press
release) |
| 25.08.1998 |
Various
European insurance companies, including Wintherthur and Basler,
have reached an agreement with US-insurance regulatory
authorities and Jewish organizations on a common
procedure for clarification and settlement of open claims on
insurance policies. (Press
release) |
| 27.08.1998 |
The
strategy of the Federal Council finds broad support in the
Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council. (Press
release: german) |
| 21.09.1998 |
The
agreement for the settlement between the insurance company
Generali and the joint action plaintiffs could not be reached. |
| 24.09.1998 |
Publication
of a first activity
report of the "Volcker Commission". (Overview of
the Bankers' Union [Bankiervereinigung]) |
| 07.10.1998 |
The
Federal Court denies a complaint against the "Nazigold
und Judengeld" broadcast of the BBC coproduction,
primarily on formal grounds. |
| 10.10.1998 |
The
Bergier Commission responds to criticism of its gold-interim
report (NZZ,
10.10.98), particularly the article by Jean-Christian
Lambelet (NZZ,
31.7.98) |
| 28.10.1998 |
The
interim report of the Bergier-Commission on gold transactions
as an easily readable summary shall be distributed free of
cost. (Press
Release) |
| 05.11.1998 |
The
Austrian National Council approves the Federal
Law on the Return of Art Objects from the Austrian
Federal Museum and Collections |
| 09.11.1998 |
The
Judiciary Committee of the National Council approves 14 to 7 a
motion to suspend the immunity of National
Councillor Rudolf Keller . A court should decide
whether his call of 3 July 1998 to boycott Jewish goods,
restaurants and vacation arrangements violated the Antiracism
Law. (Press Release sda: german,
french) |
| 12.11.1998 |
6
European Insurance Firms assure an increase of $ 90 million in
the resources of a Holocaust Fund. The former US Secretary
of State Lawrence Eagleburger will chair the internation
commission, which will investigate the claims of Holocaust
victims. |
| 17.11.1998 |
The
Knesset, the Israeli Parliament honors eight men for their
activities towards the restoration of Jewish property:
Edgar Bronfman, Stuart Eizenstat, Alfonse D'Amato, Alan Hevesi,
Avraham Burg, Israel Singer, Zwi Barak und Bobby Brown. Prime
Minister Netanyahu, who conferred the awards on the honorees,
acknowledged himself the Swiss efforts. |
| 18.11.1998 |
In
spite of annoyance over the Israeli award ceremony the Federal
Council goes ahead with the visit of Prime Minister Netanyahu
in Switzerland planned for 25.11.(Declaration of the Vice-Chanceller:
german,
french) |
| 21.11.1998 |
Jewish
Organizations and the Israeli Government agree on a plan for
the distribution of the 1.25 billion $ (US) from the major
banks. |
| 23.11.1998 |
In
accord with the agreement of 12./13.9.98, the major Swiss
banks transfer a first payment of 250 million $ to a frozen
account. |
| 24.11.1998 |
Israel's
head of government Netanyahu cancels his visit to Switzerland
on short notice. |
| 30.11.-3.12.1998 |
International
Conference in Washington on goods stolen by the Nazis (US
Department of State). More than 40 countries agree on
non-binding guidelines for the search for and return of stolen
art. - The "Bergier-Commission" publishes short
reports on the subjects of gold, insurance and refugees. |
| 11.12.1998 |
The
study "Looted Art - Theft of Art: Switzerland and
Trade with Stolen Art Objects at the Time of the Second World
War", by Thomas Buomberger, will be published. (Press
release) |
|
The
Holocaust Special Fund expands the group of
"political" survivors of concentration camps to
receive benefits. |
| 18.12.1998 |
The
National Council removes the parliamantary immunity of National
Councilor Rudolf Keller (D, BL) by a vote of 94 to 45.
(See the entries from 3. und 4.7.98.) |
Document
compiled by Dr S D Stein