USA: WASHINGTON: SWISS AMBASSADOR CARLO JAGMETTI PRESS CONFERENCE

(31 Jan 1997) English/Nat A senior U-S official Friday toned down Washington's criticism of a memo that led to the resignation of the Swiss ambassador to the United States. The U-S under-secretary of commerce, Stuart Eizenstat, said the memo that portrayed Switzerland as being at war with American Jewish organisations and others over its handling of Holocaust assets did contain some "very strong, unfortunate wording." But he said a study of the full memo found no signs of anti-Semitism. The controversy over the memo led to the resignation of Carlo Jagmetti as Swiss Ambassador to the U-S. Jagmetti spoke out about his decision to step down when he appeared at a Washington news conference on Friday. Ambassador Carlo Jagmetti resigned following angry reactions by Jewish groups and others to the memo, which was published by a Swiss newspaper last week. But on Friday Jagmetti told reporters in Washington that his resignation was his own decision. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I am not a scapegoat there are many actors in such a procedure and I think that as long as I take the decision myself I am not a scapegoat." SUPER CAPTION: Carlo Jagmetti, outgoing Swiss Ambassador to U-S Jagmetti said in his letter of resignation that he was deeply upset that reports of the document left him open to insinuations of anti-Semitism and that he regretted causing any offence. SOUNDBITE: (English) "It's not going to be war and we are not going to wage war this has never been any suggestion and its certainly not the idea in government circles in Switzerland and I would like to reassure you once again that the use of this wording has never meant any of this warrior approach - I am not a war monger." SUPER CAPTION: Carlo Jagmetti, outgoing Swiss Ambassador to U-S A Swiss newspaper got a hold of a confidential report in which Jagmetti described allegations that Swiss banks profited from World War 2 as a "war" that Switzerland would have to "fight and win." In the report, Jagmetti also spoke of "opponents" who "cannot be trusted", reportedly referring to Jewish organizations and U-S Senator Alfonse D'Amato, who are leading the attacks. Jewish groups have accused Switzerland of holding up to 7 (b) billion (U-S) dollars of gold and valuables belonging to Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Jagmetti said his country is determined to discover the truth. SOUNDBITE: (English) "The government of Switzerland will not rest until the complete and unvarnished truth is laid out before the eyes of the world. We are fully aware that nothing less than our reputation as honourable country and reliable friend is at stake." SUPER CAPTION: Carlo Jagmetti, outgoing Swiss Ambassador to U-S Switzerland has acknowledged that Swiss banks most likely do hold some gold and money, but claims the real figure is nowhere near 7 (b) billion (U-S) dollars. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...