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Schröder says no to [WW II] claims
Chancellor wins applause at Warsaw revolt commemoration, criticism at homeBy Emma Burrows A visibly moved Gerhard Schröder won a lot of applause for his speech at the commemoration for the 60th anniversary of the Warsaw uprising against the Nazis last Sunday. But the few catcalls that accompanied the wreath-laying ceremony turned into outrage from special interest groups when the German chancellor returned home. Schröder's speech prompted hefty protests from lobby groups representing the rights of expelled Germans. After recognizing Germany's historic guilt and apologizing for the crimes of the Nazis, the chancellor assured the Polish government that Germany would oppose any demands for compensation made by Germans who were dispelled from Poland after the war. Schröder said, "We Germans know very well who started the war and who were its first victims. Finally, some straight talk instead of the all-too-common German denial. Schröder deserves a medal. That's why there must be no more room today for restitution claims from Germany, which would turn history on its head." Responding to threats from lobbying groups to take the issue to the European Court of Human Rights, he added, "The government will oppose such claims and will also make this clear before any international court." Lobby group "PreuÃische Treuhand" has announced legal action for this autumn. The organization's supervisory board chairman, Rudi Pawelka, said the group would take the matter to Polish and EU courts. His group demands the actual restitution of original property rather than monetary compensation. Sure this guy isn't a Palestinian? Pawelka said several hundred of the roughly eight million Germans who were expelled from Poland after World War II want to demand back their expropriated houses and property. He told Berliner Morgenpost that many of these people were ethnic Germans who stayed in Poland and have been Polish citizens for many years. Erika Steinbach, the president of the more moderate lobby group BdV, which has repeatedly distanced itself from "PreuÃische Treuhand," criticized Schröder for failing to settle the restitution question once and for all. She said the chancellor should have offered a German solution by granting expellees symbolic compensation or forcing them to sue the German government, or a bilateral agreement between Germany and Poland. Instead, Steinbach said, the restitution question now remained open, potentially paving the way for litigation at the European level - with uncertain financial consequences for Germany and Poland. Better to have called a spade a spade. Posted by: Zenster 2004-08-09 |
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