The Israeli Foreign Ministry is investigating a reported statement by East German Minister of Agriculture Ernst Goldenbaum to the effect that his government has no basic objections to discussions with the Israel Government over compensation to victims of the Nazi regime, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said today.
(The statement was reportedly made in Bonn this week-end when Goldenbaum, a member of the East German delegation, was questioned by newsmen. He was quoted as saying that nothing was done by his government on this issue because the Israel Government had made no concrete requests.)
The Israeli spokesman stated that if, upon investigation, it appeared that Goldenbaum’s statement was factual and was the official position of his government–not merely his own private opinion–further diplomatic steps would be taken to open negotiations.
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