Foundations have been set up, and payments to aging victims have begun. A consensus has emerged that a framework for reaching a credible resolution of those aspects of the Holocaust that relate to mass theft should be completed as this century comes to an end, so that the new Millennium can begin with a slate that takes into account that the greatest crime in human history is neither forgotten nor financially rewarded. All precepts of Western justice require that victims, not victimizers, should be compensated for crimes against humanity. On each of these fronts, considerable progress has been made. Although class action suits are pending on the first two matters, and disagreements persist about insurance claims, there can be no doubt of the moral imperative to compensate Holocaust victims which overrides any procedural ambiguities that might stand in the way.
History has no statute of limitations.
If negotiations are taking time it is because compensation questions 50 years after the fact are exceedingly complex. The mundane problems of proper documentation, exchange rates and present value are difficult enough by themselves. But parties in these talks must deal with profound moral judgements for which there are no precedents. We have today five distinguished panels of witnesses. This morning, we will start with Stuart Eizenstat, now the Deputy Treasury Secretary, who has done so much to advance the process of restitution.