(XXX)
Thank you for your e-mail of 21 April 1999 to the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs. I have been asked to reply.
The purpose of the International Fund for Needy Victims of Nazi Persecution, set Up at the London Conference on Nazi Gold in December 1997, is flot to provide compensation as such. Its aiffi is rather to pro vide relief and assistance to needy survivors of Nazi persecution regardless of race, religion or political beliefs.
I should perhaps explain how the fund works. It is structured to avoid the need for an expensive central administration; ail the money pledged to it will go to those who need it. Therefore, donations to the fund are paid to non-goverfimental organisations (NGOs) involved in providing assistance to needy survivors. Also, cach donor country is responsiblefor deciding to which NGOs its contributions will go. For example, the UK's £1 million contribution to the fund has been allocated to two NGOs: the American Jewish Joint Distribution Cornmittee for projects providing medîcal care to needy Jewish and non-Jewish survivors in Ukraine, Belarus, Russia and Moldova, and the Board of Deputies of British Jews for needy Jewish and non- Jewish survivors in the UK.
I understand the Polish contribution of US$3 S6,S15 has not yet been allocated. You may therefore like to approach the Polish govemment to find out more about how they hope to allocate their contribution. Contact details are:
Ambassador Krzysztof Sliwinski
Ambassador at Large for Contacts with
Jewish Diaspora
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Warsaw
Poland
Tel: +48226239593
Fax: +48226295003
You will also be interested to know that on 16 February
1999 the German Chancellor held talks with representatives of German industry
as a resuit of which they have agreed to compensate victims of Nazi. persecution,
in particular forced labourers. I attach a copy of the German statement.
Details of the size of this fund, how it will process daims, and who wiIl
benefit, are not yet available.
(podpis)
Alex Clark
Chancery