Press Release

23 June 1997

"A moral responsibility to clarify and settle the terrible crimes against the Jewish people", says Norway's Prime Minister

"It is the responsibility of my generation to see to it that the terrible crimes committed against the Jewish people during World War II are fully clarified and settled", says Norway's Prime Minister, Thorbjørn Jagland. His comment follows the release of a report on the fate of Jewish property confiscated by the Quisling Nazi Government in Norway during World War II.

"This is a moral responsibility", says Mr. Jagland. "The losses of the Jewish population cannot be limited to an estimation of material sacrifice. The organized arrest, deportation and liquidation of Jews amount to genocide and the elimination of an entire cultural community", he says.

"We cannot rectify what happened", the Norwegian premier says, "but we can set a moral standard to remind present and future generations of this dark chapter in Europe's history".

"This attitude will guide my Government's approach when we now receive the report on the fate of Jewish property confiscated by the Quisling Nazi Government in Norway during World War II. In preparing our report to Parliament we will maintain close contact with the Jewish Community in Norway", Prime Minister Thorbjørn Jagland says.