THE SECRETARY-GENERAL

14 March 1997

Dear Congressman,

I should like to respond to your letter dated 4 March, in which you expressed your concern about holding this year's meeting of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, Switzerland.

I wish to assure you that I share your profound concern on the question of Jewish assets. I have stated publicly my hope that this issue can be settled quickly, appropriately and equitably and to the satisfaction of all concerned. In this connection, I am greatly encouraged by recent reports regarding steps being considered by the Swiss authorities for the benefit of victims of genocide world-wide.

As for the holding of the meetings of the Commission on Human Rights in Geneva, you are no doubt aware that the city of Geneva has a long tradition as a "city of peace", and plays host to a variety of international humanitarian organizations, such as the International Committee of the Red Cross. Geneva is also the home of numerous United Nations bodies involved in humanitarian affairs, including the High Commissioner for Refugees, the High Commissioner for Human Rights and the Centre for Human Rights.

On a more practical level, the United Nations Office in Geneva is equipped with conference facilities to service major intergovernmental meetings such as those of the Commission. In this light, I hope you will agree that the location of the Commission's meetings has no political significance.

fours sincerely,

•Koff A. Annan

The Honourable Sam Gejdenson House of Representatives Washington, D.C. BENJAMIN A. OILMAN, NEW VonK LEE H. HAMILTON, INDIANA CHAIRMAN RANKING DEMOCRATIC MEMBER

WILLIAM F. GOODLING, PENNSYLVANIA SAM GEJDENSON, CONNECTICUT JAMES A. LEACH, IOWA , HENRYJ. HYDE, ILLINOIS HOWARD L BERMAN, CALIFORNIA DOUG BEREUTER. NEBRASKA ©nt GARY L. ACKERMAN, NEW YORK CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH, NEW JERSEY ENI F.H. FALEOMAVAEGA, AMERICAN SAMOA DAN BURTON, INDIANA MATTHEW G. MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA . CALIFORNIA ^ <.. DONALD M. PAYNE, NEW JERSEY ILEANA ROS-LEHTINEN, FLORIDA ROBERT E. ANDREWS, NEW JERSEY CASS BALLENGER, NORTH CAROLINA ROBERT MENENDEZ, NEW JERSEY , CALIFORNIA Congress of t(|t SHERROD BROWN, OHIO DONALD A. MANZULLO, ILLINOIS CYNTHIA A. McKINNEY, GEORGIA EDWARD R. HOYCE, CALIFORNIA ALCEE L. HASTINGS, FLORIDA PETERT. KING, NEW YORK Committee on ~' PAT DANNER, MISSOURI JAY KIM, CALIFORNIA EARL F. MILLIARD, ALABAMA STEVEN J. CHABOT, OHIO WALTER H. CAPPS. CALIFORNIA MARSHALL -MARK" SANFORO, SOUTH CAROLINA , CALIFORNIA MATT SALMON, ARIZONA ROBERT WAXLER, FLORIDA AMO HOUGHTON, NEW YORK DENNIS J. KUCINICH, OHIO TOM CAMPBELL, CALIFORNIA STEVEN R. ROTHMAN, NEW JERSEY JON FOX, PENNSYLVANIA ^Washington, BOB CLEMENT, TENNESSEE JOHN M. McHUGH, NEW YORK LINDSEY O. GRAHAM, SOUTH CAROLINA MICHAEL H. VAN DUSEN ROY BLUNT, MISSOURI DEMOCRATIC CHIEF OF STAFF JERRY MORAN, KANSAS KEVIN BRADY, TEXAS

RICHARD J. GABON CHIEF OF STAFF i a. His Excellency Kofi Annan Secretary General of The United Nations MAR til The United Nations Room 3800 ST New York, NY 10017 THE SECRETARW3I KERAl

Dear Secretary General:

^ Commission on Human Rights in ..Geneva, Throughout the past year, representatives ewish Congress have been negotiating with the Swiss Bankers Association in an attempt to conduct an open audit of their records. During these negotiations, many doubts have been raised as to the involvement of a neutral SwitzerUintf 'nJ^

I am aware that this is the fifty-third session of the Commission, which has met yearly in Geneva since its formatioa The Commission passes resolutions intended to lay out expected actions which, in many cases, parallel existing international covenants. The U.S. has been elected to the Commission since its founding and continues to be an active participant. Accordingly, the U.S. will be sending a delegation consisting of about twenty-four people whose names have just recently been announced

The Commission on Human Rights is the primary body to oversee human rights and fundamental freedoms. ByjioldjngJie cpnf^^ have undergone the worst form of abuse in jecejnt history, those who are still struggling to find a fair and just solution wHch"wouHfeveaT what really happened during World War n and thereafter behind closed doors in the Swiss financial institutions. I am unsettled by the lack of cooperation by and the cynical attitude of the Swiss financial institutions. I believe holding the ineetijig in Gjeneya wouldbe contradictory and inconsistent with the ideals upheld by the Commission on Human Rights. Therefore, I urge the UN. to select another location more appropriate to host the annual meeting of the Commission on Human Rights. Sim

ejdenson ; Democrat,j[ Subcommittee on International Economic Policy and Trade