Negotiations between Swiss banks and representatives of Holocaust survivors that began in Washington on Monday are not expected to lead to a quick settlement of Holocaust-era claims. Switzerland’s three largest banks, the World Jewish Congress and lawyers representing Holocaust victims met at the State Department for more than six hours, which some observers characterized as a positive sign. The U.S. undersecretary of state for economics, Stuart Eizenstat, who arranged the meeting, issued a brief statement saying each of the parties had signed a confidentiality agreement and would not be commenting publicly on the talks.
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