USA: NAMES OF SWISS BANK ACCOUNT HOLDERS DURING WWII ARE PUBLISHED

(23 Jul 1997) English/Nat The Swiss Banks have broken the vows of silence that made them famous. On Wednesday they took the unprecedented step of publishing the names of account holders during World War Two - and revealed another US 15 million dollars that may have belonged to Holocaust victims. The names and addresses were published as advertisements in major US newspapers such as "The New York Times" and "The Washington Post." The advertisements appeared in major newspapers from New York to London to Moscow. Jewish citizens from all over looked to see if any relatives were on the list. The banks waived the strict secrecy generally guaranteed under Swiss law and account owners' identities were sprawled out across the newsprint, listed by name and hometown. Some Jewish organisations say up to US 7 (b) billion dollars in assets and accrued interest belongs to heirs of Holocaust victims who had deposited money in Swiss accounts, and they have been pressing for its return. The banks have been maintaining the true figure could not even be as much as US 30 million dollars. That was, until the newly found funds were discovered - the bank's new estimates range more towards US 43 million dollars. But Jewish leaders say they want the money and assets returned to their rightful owners. SOUNDBITE: (English) "This is about justice, this is about history, this about memory and I think the proposition is a very simple one, moneys that were stolen from victims do not belong in Swiss banks, do not belong in Germany in the hands of murderers. They belong and should be restored to the victims." SUPER CAPTION: Elan Steinberg, Executive Director World Jewish Congress But for decades, getting that money back to the victims was next to impossible. Many Jews complained of enormous problems in trying to establish claims, usually because they lacked account numbers or other details that disappeared when their relatives died in Nazi concentration camps. The process could now be a bit easier. Wednesday's advertisements include instructions on how potential heirs can make claims. And bankers and Swiss officials have reportedly agreed to give Holocaust claimants special treatment - without the usual obstacles faced by heirs who lack account details. Steinberg hopes a resolution of this argument will help lay to rest the ghosts of the Holocaust. SOUNDBITE: (English) "I think that's part of the process we are involved in. Obviously I don't think there could be full closure, but I will say that I think we are writing the last chapter of the second world war and of the tragic history of the Holocaust." SUPER CAPTION: Elan Steinberg, Executive Director World Jewish Congress But for some the lists of account names have not brought good news. SOUNDBITE: (English) "We know 100 percent that my father deposited money in Swiss banks and the Swiss bank know too. What happened? Probably expunged, done away with." SUPER CAPTION: Greta Beer, Holocaust survivor But at a New York news conference on Wednesday afternoon, the lawyer for Holocaust victims said publication doesn't go nearly far enough. SOUNDBITE: They wanted people to believe they made a good first step in the 50s, they wanted people to believe they made a good first step in the 60s, They wanted people to believe they made a good first step after that and then in 1996 they made another good first step. How many good first steps are we supposed to believe with these people. No I don't believe its a good first step." SUPER CAPTION: Ed Fagan, Lawyer for Holocaust victims 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...