The Slovak government approved Wednesday the creation of the country's first fund to compensate Holocaust victims who suffered under the Slovak Nazi puppet state during World War Two. The fund will compensate Holocaust victims or their relatives whose property was confiscated, cover social needs of elderly members of the Jewish community and finance cultural projects.
Deputy Prime Minister for Human Rights and Minorities Pal Csaky, who initiated the legislation, said at a news conference, "The government unanimously approved what I consider one of the most important decisions of its term?. He said the state would contribute $19 million to the fund, which should grow to a total of around $34 million over 10 years with accrued interest, and will be managed by a committee of government and Jewish community representatives.
The overall sum with the accrued interest equates to around one tenth of the value of confiscated Jewish property acquired by the state after the Second World War, in which more than 70,000 Slovak Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps. Compensation to individuals will begin by the end of this year, and money will be paid out to others over the next ten years. If any funds are left over, they will be transferred to the Slovak Jewish community.