The Austrian Cabinet, which was scheduled to discuss today the Austro-Jewish agreement on restitution reached in principle in the last few days, has delayed its debate until next Tuesday to permit the negotiators to formulate a final wording, it was announced here today.
A government spokesman reaffirmed today that agreement in principle has been reached. The Jewish delegation to the talks here, however, is reluctant to make any comment to the press on the situation. The following details of the agreement have become known:
The Austrian Government will set up two separate funds consisting of assets of victims of Nazism who died heirless: one of the funds will consist of assets of Jewish victims, the other of assets of non-Jews. It is understood that the Jewish fund will be used for the benefit of Jews in need in Austria and that the Vienna Jewish Community will administer this relief and rehabilitation program. The agreement also calls for the Austrian Government to extend its legislative restitution program and aid Jews who left Austria and are now living abroad.
(After a weeks discussion between Israel officials and a delegation from Austria, an air transport agreement was signed today in Jerusalem between the two countries, granting each reciprocal possibilities for development of air traffic between Austria and Israel and “beyond both countries.” The agreement will go into effect as soon as it is formally ratified by both governments.)
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