Det danske Fredsakademi
Kronologi over fredssagen og international politik 12. April 2005 / Time Line April 12, 2005
Version 3.011. April 2005, 13. April 2005
04/12/2005
Den polske regering meddeler, at Polens soldater i Irak
trækkes hjem.
04/12/2005
East Africa Standby Brigade for Peacekeeping Force
Formed
By Cathy Majtenyi
Nairobi
12 April 2005
http://www.voanews.com/english/2005-04-12-voa27.cfm
Seven African countries have agreed to contribute personnel to an
East African brigade that is to be part of a larger African Union
peacekeeping force. The East African Standby Brigade, which is
expected to be fully operational by June of next year, is to have a
minimum of 5,500 troops and civilians from 11 African
countries.
The regional Inter-governmental Authority on Development, known as
IGAD - the same body that coordinated the recently concluded
Sudanese and Somali peace talks - is overseeing the brigade's
formation.
IGAD's chief of Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution,
Peter Marwa, says the East African Standby Brigade is one of five
regional brigades that will form the African Union's African
Standby Force, which will have at least 15,000 personnel.
Mr. Marwa says the African Union could ask the brigade to perform a
number of peacekeeping and peace enforcement activities in
conflicts around the continent. "The region could be tasked by the
African Union to go for peacekeeping operations in their own
region, or they could be used in another place," he said. "Also, in
an event of gross violation of human rights, it could actually be
used in peace enforcement."
On Monday in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, an agreement to
contribute to the East African Standby Brigade was signed by
Djibouti, Kenya, Rwanda, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda, and Ethiopia. Mr.
Marwa says he expects the remaining countries - Comoros, Eritrea,
Madagascar, and the Seychelles to pledge their support for the
brigade soon.
The countries are also expected to fund the brigade, which is to
have an annual administrative budget of $2.5 million.
04/12/2005
The State of New York today dismantled its death penalty apparatus
by declining to correct problems that had caused its law to be
declared unconstitutional.
04/12/2005
Independent Commission of Historians Liechtenstein –
Second World War
Details Vaduz, 13 April (pafl) – After nearly four years of
work, the Independent Commission of Historians Liechtenstein
– Second World War has presented its Final Report on its
research concerning Liechtenstein's role in the Second World War.
The Final Report is supplemented by individual studies on special
topics. On 22 May 2001, the Government appointed an Independent
Commission of Historians, pursuant to various initiatives and
questions raised in public, and mandated it to investigate
questions concerning the role of Liechtenstein in the Second World
War in depth. The Independent Commission of Historians, under the
presidency of Peter Geiger, consisted of historians from
Liechtenstein, Israel, Austria, and Switzerland. Financial
resources in the amount of 3.5 million Swiss francs were available
for the research work.
"Never has a chapter in the history of the Principality of
Liechtenstein been illuminated so meticulously, thoroughly, and
unsparingly as the era of the Second World War in the submitted
study," Liechtenstein Foreign Minister Ernst Walch stated at the
press conference on 13 April 2005 in Vaduz, in which the Government
and the Independent Commission of Historians presented the Final
Report and conclusions to the public. "Both the State and business
circles had a particular interest in a complete analysis of this
era in history. Confronting the past strengthens a country for
coming to terms with future problems," Dr. Walch continued. An
approximately 40-page summary of the Final Report and the
Government's conclusions are available as of today and can be
accessed online at the Internet Portal www.liechtenstein.li. A
complete print version of the Final Report, encompassing several
hundred pages, and the individual studies of the Independent
Commission of Historians will be published in the summer of
2005.
Peter Geiger, President of the Independent Commission of
Historians, noted with satisfaction that free and unimpeded access
to all archives and documents made an in-depth and detailed
analysis possible. "All archives were open to us. We were able to
work undisturbed and entirely without interference," the historian
confirmed.
Most important research results
The two Liechtenstein banks existing during the Nazi era, the
Liechtensteinische Landesbank (LLB) and the Bank in Liechtenstein
(BiL) did not serve as a capital haven or currency hub for the
German Reich or for major Nazi figures. They did not trade in gold
with the Reich. To a limited extent, they maintained business
relationships with partners in the territory of the Reich. They
administered assets of persons persecuted by the Nazis.
A single dormant account belonging to a victim of Nazi persecution,
who had fled to New York in 1938 and died in Jerusalem in 1949, was
found at the Bank in Liechtenstein. In the meantime, the bank has
paid out the account balance, recalculated to its present value, to
the identified beneficiary. In the case of six other dormant
accounts since 1945, there is no indication of Nazi persecution.
The banks acted correctly.
Liechtenstein domiciliary and holding companies generally kept
their assets with Swiss banks. Many companies were closed beginning
in 1938. The owners, often Jews or other victims of Nazi
persecution, had to register their assets and deliver them to the
German Reich. There is evidence that companies formed during the
war years for the purpose of trading with German partners were able
to help conceal ownership status, finance problematic transactions,
avoid listing by the Allies, or move Nazi capital; there is no
unambiguous proof. Numerous company formations beginning in 1940
served to avoid the Swiss war profit tax. As in Switzerland, German
assets in Liechtenstein were blocked and made subject to the
Washington Agreement in 1945 and afterwards. The Swiss Clearing
Office did not discover any movements of Nazi assets. There have
been no restitution claims or proceedings in Liechtenstein.
Forcible seizure of Jewish assets, "Aryanization", and forced labor
did not take place in Liechtenstein or through Liechtenstein
enterprises. However, the Princely House bought individual
operations or shares from Jewish properties in annexed Austria and
German-occupied Czechoslovakia beginning in 1938, such as to round
off the Elbemühl paper factory, which was owned by the
Princely House. Also, Jewish concentration camp inmates from
Hungary, whom the SS rented out from the Strasshof camp near
Vienna, were used as forced labor on three Princely agricultural
estates in Austria from July 1944 to the end of the war.
No looted art assets were identified in Liechtenstein collections.
There is no evidence that looted art was transferred through
Liechtenstein. A few Jewish refugees and new citizens were able to
rescue art assets. The Princely Collections, which were being kept
in Vienna at the time, purchased about 270 art objects in the
period from 1938 to the end of the war; almost all were household
furnishings. They include a number of objects of problematic
origin, since they were purchased from institutions or dealers who
also dealt in looted assets. One valuable desk was shown to have
originated in "Aryanized property", but the dealer had indicated an
incorrect, unproblematic origin to the Reigning Prince.
Liechtenstein's refugee policy was largely determined by and
coordinated with that of Switzerland. Between 1933 and 1945 (not
counting the surge of refugees in the last days of the war), about
400 refugees, the large majority of whom were Jews, found shelter
in Liechtenstein; 250 of these stayed for a shorter or longer
period, and about 150 were officially passed through to
Switzerland. In addition, a total of 144 Jewish persons between
1933 and 1945 received Liechtenstein citizenship, in return for
high fees. Especially in 1938/39, however, an unknown number of
refugees were turned away at the border; some were also deported
from Liechtenstein across the border. In the last weeks and days of
the war in April and May 1945, about 8,000 refugees were able to
reach Switzerland through Liechtenstein. On 3 May 1945, just under
500 persons of a Russian unit of the German Armed Forces crossing
the border were interned.
Three Liechtenstein industrial operations, all formed in the late
autumn of 1941, delivered armament goods or strategic goods of
importance to the war: The Press- und Stanzwerke AG produced 20mm
shells for Oerlikon Bührle anti-aircraft artillery; the Hilti
oHG machine company delivered parts for engines and vehicles; the
Präzisions-Apparatebau AG manufactured measurement
instruments.
Liechtenstein – very different then and now
In his presentation, Geiger drew attention to the special situation
of Liechtenstein at that time. "The focuses on Liechtenstein then
and now are very different. Current perceptions of Liechtenstein
– as a rich country overall and as a financial center –
are often too easily projected back to the period from 1930 to
1945. The Liechtenstein of the 1930's and 1940's cannot be compared
with the Liechtenstein of today. In addition, the special context
in which Liechtenstein existed played a role, both at the side of
Switzerland – with which it was very closely linked –
and in the vicinity of Austria and, beginning in 1938, of the Third
Reich."
As a State, Liechtenstein was in a special position; it was
sovereign but not independent, instead partially dependent on
Switzerland. With respect to foreign economic policy, Liechtenstein
was completely integrated into the Swiss system through the Customs
Treaty. At the Liechtenstein border to Austria, Swiss border
authorities controlled the border. After the annexation of Austria,
Liechtenstein was situated at the border to the Third Reich and was
constantly under threat. Persecuted individuals were also living in
Liechtenstein, and Liechtenstein had to face this situation. A
political factor was the small size of the country; it carried no
political weight. The question therefore had to be asked how the
inhabitants and the authorities acted in this special
situation.
Conclusions of the Government
The Government has taken note of the results of the investigation
of the Independent Commission of Historians and has drawn its
conclusions. "Liechtenstein is conscious of its responsibility for
this chapter of its history. We will not only look back, however,
but also forward, and will do everything in our power to ensure
that the events during the Second World War and in particular the
Holocaust cannot be repeated in any way. For this purpose, it is
indispensable to inform the population, and especially our young
people, about what happened and to raise awareness against racism
and anti-Semitism," Prime Minister Otmar Hasler stated, summarizing
the political assessment by the Government. In its conclusions, the
Government therefore also draws attention to the diverse measures
that have already been initiated and taken in recent years to
effectively combat racism and anti-Semitism. The Government
believes it to be useful for the future to initiate new measures
for appropriate projects with long-term effects. These various
projects should primarily serve ongoing awareness-raising.
Consideration by Parliament
The Government has received the results of the investigation with
great respect and in the spirit of common responsibility, as it did
with regard to the entire investigation process and the underlying
concerns. The Government has forwarded the reports to the
Liechtenstein Parliament, so that the representatives of the People
can consider the results of the investigation as soon as
possible.
All documents and detailed information on the Independent
Commission of Historians can be found on the Internet at
www.liechtenstein.li.
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