| 18.01.1999 |
Publication
of a List
of approximately 500 names, primarily those of
persons in Eastern Europe whose accounts in Switzerland were
confiscated and transferred to humanitarian organizations. (Press
release; ) |
| 22.01.1999 |
Attorneys
for the major Swiss banks, the joint action suit plaintiffs as
well as representatives of Jewish organizations reach
agreement on the definitive joint action suit settlement
contract (Declaration
of the Federal Council) |
| 26.01.1999 |
The
contact office "Stolen Art" in the Federal Office
for Culture begins operations. (Press
release: Contact: andrea.rascher@bak.admin.ch). |
| 30.01.1999 |
In
a joint statement the Federal Council and the US government
confirm their will to strengthen and deepen their relations in
political, economic and cultural areas. (Declaration) |
| End
January 1999 |
The
Volcker Commission sets the accumulated interests of the
unclaimed assets at 10 times its original value. |
| 09.02.1999 |
A
Swiss parliamentary delegation appraised its USA visit as the
beginning of a new chapter in joint relations and asks for
regular contacts (Press Agency release, german,
french) |
| 16.02.1999 |
12
German Firms announce the establishment of a foundation
"Remembrance, Responsibility und Future" for the
benefit of victims of National Socialism. The German
Chancellor pledges accompaniment by the German federal
government. (Press
release) |
| 01.03.1999 |
The
Council of States, in contrast to the National Council,
resolves not to suspend the parliamentary immunity of National
Councillor Rudolf Keller (SD, BL) by a vote of 27 to 15.
(See entries of 3.7.98 and 4.7.98.) |
| 11.03.1999 |
The
Norwegian Parliament resolves "to grant compensation to
the survivors, as well as to the Jewish community and the
Jewish people." (in the amount of $60 million) (see entry
of 26.6.98) (Address
of the Prime Minister in Yad Vashem) |
| 15.03.1999 |
The
Federal Council issues a resolution making the guidelines
concerning the handling of confidential information by the
Independent Expert Commission UEK more precise. (Press
release: german version only) |
| 24.03.199 |
The
French Banking Association "Association française des
banques" (AFB) declares its willingness to compensate
Jewish victims of the Nazis. |
| 25.03.1999 |
The
(Swiss) National Bank publishes the study "The Currency
Politics Background of the Gold Transactions of the Swiss
National Bank During World War II" by Vincent Crettol und
Patrick Halbeisen. (Press
release and study) |
| 31.03.1999 |
The
Federal Council has reached a decision to dissolve the
"Task Force Switzerland - World War II" at the end
of March 1999 (Press
release). |
| 14.04.1999 |
The
Federal Council would like to initiate umcomplicated
application procedures for former refugees, who were interned
during World War II and whose compulsorily managed accounts
and deposits were never recalled, to have their balance paid
out. (Press
release german, french) |
| 24.04.1999 |
The
National Council confirms its decision to suspend the immunity
of National Councillor Keller. |
| 30.04.1999 |
A
short version of the Interim Gold Report fo the Bergier
Commission is issued free of charge in 5 languages. (http://www.uek.ch/) |
| 16.06.1999 |
The
Council of States renews its decision, not to suspend the
immunity of National Councillor Keller. Since the
National Council and the Council of States could not reach
agreement, immunity will definitely not be suspended in this
case. - The Commission for Legal Matters of the Council of
States plans to examine the question of immunity in general.
(Press Release: german,
french) |
| 16.06.1999 |
The
president of the "Radgenossenschaft der Landstrasse"
(...Sinti/Roma...), Robert Huber, is stepping down
from the Advisory Board of the Special Fund for
Holocaust Victims in protest. |
| End
of June 1999 |
Advertisements
directed at victims and survivors of the Holocaust appear in
500 newspapers in 40 countries. Those addressed are informed
of the conditions under which they can apply for compensation
from the settlement of 1.25 billion (US) dollars paid by the
large Swiss banks. Informations: www.swissbankclaims.com |
| 04.08.1999 |
The
Portugese Investigatory Commission comes to the conclusion in
its report that there are no legal, political or moral grounds
to revise the previous agreement with the Allies in the matter
of Nazi gold. |
| 11.08.199 |
US
President Clinton honors the president of the Jewish World
Congress (WJC), Edgar Bronfman with the highest civilian award
of the government, the Presidential Medal of Freedom. (White
House, Remarks by the President) |
| 07.10.1999 |
In
negotiations on compensation for slave labor in the Third
Reich the German side has offered $3.3 billion (US).
Representatives of Jewish organizations had put damages at $20
billion. Negotiations have been adjourned until the middle of
November. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| November
1999 |
Final
Report of the Volcker
Commission |
| autumn
1999 |
Second
interim report of the Bergier Commission (on refugee policy) |
| 2001 |
Final
report of the Bergier Commission |
Document compiled by Dr S D
Stein