Austrian Leader Pledges His Country Will Do More to Aid Victims of Nazis

Austrian Chancellor Franz Vranitzky has pledged his country will do more to meet demands for compensation to Holocaust victims, but he said nothing to indicate Austria would agree to large-scale reparations similar to what Germany has paid.

Vranitzky, who is the first Austrian head of government to make an official visit to Israel, made the remarks during Hebrew University’s annual graduation ceremonies.

Vranitzky delivered the main address and received an honorary doctorate for his “strong commitment to democracy and freedom” and his friendship with Israel and the university.

The Austrian leader pointed out that his government had concluded a number of agreements with the Austrian Jewish community and international Jewish organizations to give money to Holocaust victims.

But Jewish officials said the sums involved have been limited. For the most part, Austria in the past has hesitated to admit responsibility for the Holocaust, claiming Austria was a victim of Nazi Germany.

But Vranitzky was among the first of Austrian leaders to break with that tradition, and in his address here the chancellor reaffirmed his claim that Austria must bear collective responsibility for the role Austrians played in the Nazi Holocaust.

At the same time, he said his country has resisted the xenophobia and intolerance that has flared elsewhere in Europe.

“Efforts to profit politically from xenophobia have failed” in Austria, especially among the young, said Vranitzky. He said that the failure of far-right and neo-Nazi groups in Austria was due to the efforts of the government to teach the lessons of the past and convey the moral responsibility history placed on them in the wake of World War II.

Vranitzky cautioned, though, that the fight against nationalism in Europe must continue to be waged.