Kohl Vows Increased Efforts to Combat Neo-nazi Violence

German Chancellor Helmut Kohl has vowed to step up efforts to combat neo-Nazi violence against foreigners living in Germany.

In a meeting Oct. 14 with Ignaz Bubis, the chairman of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, the chancellor also said he fully understands the special concern of the Jewish community over the recent wave of attacks against foreigners.

Bubis also met with President Richard von Weizsacker in Berlin, where the issue of neo-Nazi violence was again the focus of talks.

Last week, Kohl angrily rejected criticism by Bubis that the government encouraged nationalist violence against asylum-seekers. Bubis had called it scandalous that neo-Nazi activists were routinely released shortly after being arrested.

His claim was challenged by government spokesman Dieter Vogel, who said Bubis had “a rather unusual idea” about what the government was able to do.

Meanwhile, the government’s coalition parties passed a resolution last week calling for a change in the country’s constitution to sharply limit the influx of asylum-seekers into Germany.

The opposition Social Democratic Party, whose votes are indispensable to change the law, boycotted the parliamentary vote, arguing that it was nothing but a tactical maneuver.

The Social Democrats have scheduled a special convention to be held in three weeks to decide whether they will support the proposed constitutional change.