YEREVAN (Noyan Tapan)–Former Forced laborers under the Nazi Regime are entitled to claim financial compensation under the German Forced Labor Compensation Law. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) is designated by the Government of Germany to be in charge of processing claims for a certain category of claiman’s.
For non-Jewish claiman’s residing in Armenia the IOM is the designated partner organization in the country from where the forced laborer was deported. The names and addresses of partner organizations for the respective countries and Jewish victims are listed in IOM’s website: www.compensation-for-forced-labour.org or are available at the IOM office in Armenia. IOM is not the designated partner organization for processing claims for former forced laborers deported from Republics of the former USSR or Jewish claiman’s.
Former prisoners of war do not qualify under the German Forced Labor Compensation Law unless the person was transferred to a concentration camp where the person underwent forced labor.
If the claimant died after February 15–1999–the surviving spouse and children are entitled to file a claim. The last date for applications for those eligible to apply has been extended to December 31–2001.
Under the German Foundation Act–IOM is also responsible for all property claims world wide filed by Jewish and non-Jewish victims with the exception of insurance claims which are handled by the International Commission on Holocaust Era Insurance Claims (www.icheic.org). Eligible for compensation are persons who suffered property loss with the direct participation of German businesses and who have not been able to participate in previous German Government compensation or restitution programmes. Compensation is primarily available to persons who suffered property loss during the National Socialist era as a consequence of racial persecution–political convictions–faith–or ideology. Compensation is also available to persons who suffered property loss with direct participation of German enterprises–but not because of National Socialist persecution. Heirs are entitled to claim compensation for property damage suffered by a deceased victim of National Socialist injustice. Religious communities and organizations who suffered property loss are also entitled to compensation.
Those who are not eligible to receive compensation are those whose property was damaged or destroyed solely as a result of military activities.
Claim forms and guidelines are available in English–German–Czech–Hebrew–Hungarian–Polish and Russian at IOM offices world wide–at IOM Headquarters and on the Internet at www.compensation-for-forced-labour.org. Completed IOM claim forms have to be submitted by December 31–2001 to the IOM office in Geneva.