> January 21, 2003 > For Immediate Release > > Commissioners Urge Kwasniewski on Prompt > Passage of Polish Property Compensation Law > "Every single day matters." > > (Washington) - Four Members of the United States Helsinki > Commission have urged Poland's President Aleksander > Kwasniewski to ensure prompt passage of > a non-discriminatory property restitution law. > > In a meeting last year with congressional leaders, > Kwasniewski assured Commission Co-Chairman Rep. > Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ) that > a draft law on confiscated property would be ready > at the beginning of 2003 and that it > would not discriminate on the basis of citizenship. > > "Having a fair and just property restitution law passed > expeditiously would be enthusiastically welcomed," the > Commissioners wrote in a January 13 letter to > Kwasniewski. "We are concerned, however, by reports > suggesting that consideration of the draft may be > delayed until after a referendum on European Union > accession is held sometime later this summer." > > Signing the letter with Co-Chairman Smith were Commission > Ranking Member Rep. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), Commissioners > Rep. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD) and Senator > Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY). > > "Bearing in mind that more than a decade has already passed > since the restoration of democracy in Poland, that numerous > laws on confiscated private property have been > drafted but never adopted, and that Holocaust survivors are > passing away each year, we urge you to ensure that passage > of this law does not face any further delays," the letter > reads. "Every single day matters." > > "We also hope that, as your government proceeds with the > drafting process, officials will consult actively and > widely with those most affected by property confiscations," > the Commissioners continue. "We believe that a successful > outcome of this process requires strong public outreach > and that, conversely, a process of limited consultations > is likely to foster the frustration and anger of those > who have already waited decades for some measure of justice." > > A central element of Nazi and communist persecution in > Central and Eastern Europe was the uncompensated > confiscation of real and personal property from > individuals and religious communities. The United States > advocates the return or compensation of such properties. > > The United States Helsinki Commission, an independent > federal agency, by law monitors and encourages progress > in implementing provisions of the Helsinki Accords. > The Commission, created in 1976, is composed of nine Senators, > nine Representatives and one official each from the > Departments of State, Defense and Commerce. > ===========================================================
