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Nazi archive to remain unavailable

Nations' approval is bogging down access.

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published January 19, 2007

BERLIN - Despite pressure from U.S. lawmakers and frustration among Holocaust survivors, a Nazi-era archive remains off-limits to researchers, and officials say it could take years before the documents become available.

Eight months have passed since the 11 countries administering the log books, transport lists and death registers agreed to open the vast archive for research.

When German Justice Minister Brigitte Zypries announced in Washington in April her nation's decision to drop its resistance, she told reporters that agreement among the member states should take no more than six months.

But that agreement was just the first step in a lengthy legal process to amend a 1955 treaty.

Only Israel and the United States have endorsed amendments adopted in May by the 11-nation International Commission. Others say ratification is in their legislative pipelines.

Chirac honors rescuers

PARIS - French President Jacques Chirac honored nearly 2,800 French people who rescued Jews from the Nazis, in a ceremony Thursday. Chirac paid tribute to members of the "Righteous of France" who helped Jews escape death camps: "Thousands of French men and women, from all social classes and professions, and from throughout the political spectrum, made - without questioning it - the right choice."

[Last modified January 19, 2007, 01:01:54]