38 CultureShock! Austria
The ÖVP and FPÖ are, in general, pro-NATO. Membership,
however, would require a constitutional amendment revoking
permanent neutrality.Compensation for Nazi Crimes
Slave Labour
On 27 October 2000, an agreement was finally reached
regarding compensation for 150,000 slave labourers under
the Nazi government. Payments to victims, the majority of
whom are from Central and Eastern Europe, come from
a special reconciliation fund of US$ 415 million. Half of
the funds come from the Austrian government and the
other half from private businesses. The highest payments
are made to former slave labourers in concentration
camps. Smaller payments are made to other categories
of victims. In return, Austrian companies will be safe
from future lawsuits.Stolen Assets
On 17 January 2001, an agreement was reached on the
difficult subject of Aryanised property. A General Settlement
Fund of US$ 210 million was established by the Austrian
government and Austrian companies. The bulk of the
fund is intended to compensate Holocaust victims who
were robbed of businesses, property, bank accounts and
insurance policies. The balance will be used for interest
payments, insurance claims, social benefits, the restoration
and maintenance of Jewish cemeteries, to fund Jewish
organisations and to expedite the return of works of art.
In return, the claimants must agree to drop their lawsuits.
Payments were delayed, however, because there were
legal actions against Austria pending in the United States.
In November 2005, the last case was dismissed and
the Austrian government began the process of making
compensation payments.
A court found that Austria must return five priceless
paintings by Gustav Klimt to the heirs of a Jewish family. The
paintings were stolen by the Nazis and have since been on
display in the Belvedere Museum in Vienna. Austria said it