[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 39 (Monday, April 3, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H1645-H1648]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 EXPRESSING SENSE OF HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCERNING PARTICIPATION 
               OF EXTREMIST FPO IN GOVERNMENT OF AUSTRIA

  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 429) expressing the sense of the House of 
Representatives concerning the participation of the extremist FPO in 
the Government of Austria.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                              H. Res. 429

       Whereas the extremist, racist, and xenophobic FPO has 
     entered into a coalition agreement and is participating in 
     the new Government of Austria;
       Whereas the long-time-leader of the FPO, Joerg Haider, 
     praised Adolf Hitler's ``sound employment policy'' and called 
     Waffen SS veterans ``decent people with character who stuck 
     to their belief through the strongest headwinds'';
       Whereas Joerg Haider and his party in the recent election 
     campaign decried the ``over-foreignization'' of Austria, 
     which was an expression that was coined and used by Nazi 
     leaders;
       Whereas at a time when the European Union, the United 
     States, and other nations are working actively to discourage 
     ethnic hatred in the republics of the former Yugoslavia and 
     elsewhere, the FPO shamelessly appealed to racist sentiment 
     and based its political campaign on racism and xenophobia;
       Whereas in the past Joerg Haider and his party have 
     expressed fundamental disagreement with the principles of 
     freedom, democracy, and respect for human rights, which are 
     the foundation of a modern, democratic, open, and tolerant 
     Europe and which Austria, as a member of the European Union, 
     is committed by treaty to uphold; and
       Whereas the inclusion of the FPO in the Austrian governing 
     coalition serves to legitimize and encourage the extreme 
     right in other countries of Europe: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) recognizes the right of the Austrian people to express 
     their political views through a democratic election, but also 
     reaffirms the right and the obligation of the United States 
     House of Representatives to express its opposition to the 
     anti-democratic, racist and xenophobic views that have been 
     expressed by Joerg Haider and other leaders of the FPO, and, 
     because of these publicly expressed views, to state its 
     opposition to the party's participation in the Austrian 
     Government;
       (2) condemns the insulting, racist, and xenophobic 
     statements which have been made over many years by Joerg 
     Haider, the long-time leader of the FPO, and by other leaders 
     of the party;
       (3) expresses profound regret and dismay that the FPO will 
     play a major role in the new Government of Austria;
       (4) commends the leaders of the European Union, the 
     fourteen other member states of the European Union, Canada, 
     Norway, and other countries which have expressed their 
     serious concerns regarding the participation of the FPO in 
     the Government of Austria;
       (5) calls upon the President, the Secretary of State, and 
     other officials and agencies of the United States Government 
     to emphasize to Austrian Government officials our concern 
     about the inclusion of any party in the Government of 
     Austria, including the FPO, that has been associated with 
     xenophobic, racist policies, and statements supportive of 
     Nazi-era programs;
       (6) urges Members of Congress to use any meetings with 
     ministers and other political leaders of the Government of 
     Austria to express concern for Austria's continued adherence 
     to democratic standards and full respect for human rights;
       (7) calls upon the Secretary of State to continue to 
     scrutinize the policies of the new Government of Austria and 
     to be prepared to take additional measures if circumstances 
     so warrant; and
       (8) directs the Clerk of the House to send a copy of this 
     resolution to the Secretary of State with the request that it 
     be forwarded to the President of Austria.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
North Carolina (Mr. Ballenger) and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. 
Wexler) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. 
Ballenger).
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may 
consume.
  (Mr. BALLENGER asked and was given permission to revise and extend 
his remarks.)
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, H.R. 429 was adopted by a voice vote by 
the Committee on International Relations. It places on the record the 
concern of the House about the inclusion of an extremist party in the 
government of Austria, formed at the beginning of the year.
  I believe this is a fair and a balanced measure and I ask my 
colleagues to adopt it and also, since the gentleman from New York (Mr. 
Gilman) is not here, I would insert in the Record his statement.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. GILMAN. Mr. Speaker, H. Res. 429 places the House on record 
regarding our concerns over the participation of the extremist Freedom 
Party, the FPO, in the government of Austria that was recently formed. 
The former leader and founder of the FPO, Joerg Haider has propelled 
the FPO into the mainstream of Austrian politics by appealing to some 
of the frustrations of Austria's people. He has also capitalized on a 
large measure of dissatisfaction with the political status quo that was 
represented by Austria's traditional political establishment among the 
Austrian electorate.
  Nevertheless, I join with the gentleman from California, Mr. Lantos 
and my colleagues in condemning many of the statements that Joerg 
Haider has made, his demagogic attempts to stir up resentment of 
Austria's large immigrant community, and his apparent sympathies for 
Austria's tragic Nazi past.
  This measure is balanced. It is aimed at the government of Austria 
and not at the people of Austria with many of whom I have enjoyed a 
close and enduring friendship. While we are expressing our concern, we 
are also withholding our final judgment with regard to the direction 
that the new government of Austria will pursue. We are calling upon our 
own government to make clear our concerns and to monitor Austrian 
policies so that if any further action on our part becomes necessary, 
we will be able to pursue it without delay.
  Accordingly, I invite the support of my colleagues for H. Res. 429 so 
that Austrian officials will fully understand the depth of our concern.
  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of House Resolution 429, 
expressing the serious concerns of the United States Congress over the 
participation of the extremist Freedom Party in the Government of 
Austria. Unfortunately, the gentleman from California (Mr. Lantos), who 
had every intention of leading this debate, was delayed in flight.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from California (Mr. 
Lantos) for introducing this timely resolution. Its content echoes the 
sentiment of many in the international community who are deeply 
disturbed by events taking place in Austria. I know many of my 
colleagues were shocked and dismayed on February 4, 2000, when we 
learned that despite massive international opposition, Thomas Klestil, 
Austria's President and leader of the People'S Party, swore in a new 
government that included the Freedom Party, a xenophobic, right-wing 
organization, led by Mr. Haider, a dangerous extremist known for 
praising aspects of the Nazi era.
  The participation of the Freedom Party in the new Austrian government 
is deeply disturbing to all who remember recent European history. Mr. 
Haider has made several statements praising Adolf Hitler's orderly 
employment policies in lauding veterans of the Waffen SS as decent 
people of good character who stuck to their belief through the 
strongest headwinds.
  Haider and the FPO campaigned on a policy of racism and xenophobia, 
urging an immediate halt to the immigration in Austria due to the over 
foreignization of Austria. Haider also waged a campaign to expel all 
foreign workers.
  In 1997, he called for one-third of all foreigners to be sent home 
within 2

[[Page H1646]]

years. According to Haider, ``We take the right stand at the right time 
to save Austria against the dangers of the outside.''

                              {time}  1500

  The international community has responded strongly to the dangers 
posed by Mr. Haider and his party. Fourteen European Union members have 
banned bilateral contacts with Austria at the political level. They 
have also agreed to oppose Austrian candidates for positions in 
international organizations and have limited Austrian ambassadors to 
meetings on a technical level. Israel has withdrawn its ambassador in 
response to Haider's party joining the government.
  The intense pressure and worldwide opposition placed on Austria 
played an important role in forcing Mr. Haider to resign as Freedom 
Party chairman on February 29. However, we should not be confused about 
the true intentions of Mr. Haider as they relate to his control over 
the Freedom Party. In his own words, Mr. Haider stressed that his move, 
and I quote, ``is not a withdrawal from politics.''
  Sixty years ago, Adolph Hitler followed a path of power similar to 
that of Mr. Haider. He, too, played on fear and xenophobic racist 
policies. Unfortunately, Austrian President Klestil's decision to 
include the FOP is a victory for neo-Nazi and far-right groups all 
across Europe. The president of Austria and Mr. Haider must understand 
that the United States will not tolerate any government that violates 
the rights of ethnic and religious minorities.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support House Resolution 429. 
Congress must speak out wherever human rights and democracy are 
threatened, as they are unfortunately today threatened in Austria.
  Mr. ROHRABACHER. Mr. Speaker, I will vote for H. Res. 429 because I 
agree that it is right and proper for this House to condemn the racist 
and xenophobic statements of Jeorg Haider, who until a few weeks ago 
was the leader of the Austrian Freedom Party. Mr. Haider's statements 
and political activity relating to Austria's past are alarming. 
Clearly, many in Austria have yet to come to grips with Austria's Nazi 
past. That Haider, a governor of a province and the head of a major 
political party, went to a reunion of SS veterans (and praised them) is 
unforgivable and should sound alarm bells.
  In some of his statements that I have read, Haider is trying to 
create a moral equivalency between wartime deaths and destruction 
caused by the Allies during the war, and the crimes and mass genocide 
caused by Hitler and his henchmen (including many Austrians). This 
mindset is delusional. It deserves the forceful condemnation contained 
in this resolution, and I join the resolution's author, Mr. Lantos, who 
could not be here today, in support of this resolution.
  I see Haider as an Austrian version of David Duke, someone who is 
hiding his respect for an historic movement that was monstrously evil. 
This is obviously the result of nationalistic emotions that are totally 
negative and can have serious consequences, and thus should be of 
utmost concern. Yes, Haider is no Nazi. But yes, it is clear that he 
has sympathy for them.
  While I agree with the part of this resolution condemning Mr. 
Haider's views, I am uncertain whether those views reflect the mindset 
of the Austrian Freedom Party or the people who voted for them. 
Furthermore, this resolution states that Haider and his party have 
``expressed fundamental disagreement with the principles of freedom, 
democracy, and respect for human rights.'' I don't believe the evidence 
supports this charge. The reports that I have read indicate, on the 
contrary, that notwithstanding the reprehensible statements of its 
former leader, the Freedom Party is, in fact, a democratic party that 
supports freedom; and that where and when they have been in power, they 
have respected human rights.
  The resolution also states that the Freedom Party has been associated 
with unspecified ``xenophobic, racist policies,'' not just statements. 
To the degree that that is true, then this Congress rightfully condemns 
whatever those policies are. However, many of us voting for this 
resolution, perhaps a majority voting for it, have no complaint with 
Austria running its own immigration policy in a way it believes 
consistent with the best interests of the Austrian people. Americans, 
especially this Californian, are proud of America's melting pot that 
includes people of every race, religion and ethnic background. 
Diversity and freedom is the culture of America. If other countries, 
like Austria, desire an immigration policy that maintains traditional 
patterns and culture, rather than becoming a melting pot like the 
United States, they have every right to immigration laws consistent 
with that goal. The immigration policies advocated by the Freedom 
Party, I would note, are very similar to the actual immigration laws of 
Israel, Switzerland, Australia, Japan and several other democratic 
countries. If it's not considered xenophobic and racist for Israel and 
Japan to have such laws, then it shouldn't be considered xenophobic and 
racist to propose them in Austria. Of course this resolution does not 
specify which policies are xenophobic and racist. If there are such 
policies, I certainly agree to condemning them.

  Mr. Speaker, this resolution reaffirms that Austrian people have the 
right ``to express their political views through a democratic 
election.'' More than that, they have the right to choose who will 
govern them, even if we disagree with the people they choose. This 
House is the greatest representative body in the world. We would never 
suggest that an election not determine who governs a nation.
  Yes, by all means, let's condemn the horrific statements of Mr. 
Haider and any racist or xenophobic policies that are part of the 
Austrian Freedom Party's agenda, if such policies are part of their 
agenda. But many of those voting for this resolution, again, perhaps a 
majority, are not attacking Austria. In this last four decades, Austria 
has had an exemplary record as far as a respect for human rights and 
democratic institutions. With vicious dictatorships and corrupt regimes 
abounding on this planet, it would be imprudent for this body to 
condemn Austria itself. However, it is clear from the words of Mr. 
Haider that a significant number have not come to grips with their 
country's part involvement with one of the most monstrous evils ever to 
threaten humankind. Any attempt to minimize this evil, to excuse the 
inexcusable, to portray the Nazi movement and those who participated in 
it, including Austrians, in any other way than despicable and bestial, 
deserves America's collective condemnation.
  I was visited the other day by members of the Jewish War Veterans 
from my district. I am proud of them, along with the other members of 
the ``Saving Private Ryan'' generation, people like my father, who 
saved this world from Nazism and Japanese militarism. They then went on 
to stand up to and defeat Communism. Communism and Nazism were the twin 
evils of this century. To claim or imply a moral equivalency to our 
brave saviors of the World War II brave saviors of the World War II 
generation is an insult we will not bear. This resolution, while I 
don't agree with all of it, vocalizes our outrage at such rhetoric. I 
have joined with Mr. Lantos many times in the past in condemning anti-
Semitism, warning political forces in Hungary, Romania, Iran, Russia, 
and elsewhere that anti-Semitism will not be tolerated. Today, I join 
Mr. Lantos in condemning an Austrian political leader's reprehensible 
and alarming statements minimizing the crimes and evils of the Nazis 
and their army and SS storm troopers. I ask my colleagues to join in on 
this condemnation.
  Mr. LANTOS. Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the gentleman from North 
Carolina, Mr. Ballenger, for managing this bill on behalf of the 
majority, and I want to thank my friend and colleague, the gentleman 
from Florida, Mr. Wexler, for managing this bill on behalf of the 
minority. I also want to thank our colleagues who have cosponsored this 
resolution and helped bring it to the floor: Chairman Ben Gilman of New 
York who cosponsored this resolution and brought it up for 
consideration in the International Relations Committee; Majority Leader 
Dick Armey of Texas who worked with me to bring this resolution to the 
floor of the House today for consideration. This resolution has been 
cosponsored by a number of our colleagues from both sides of the aisle 
and both sides of the political spectrum. I appreciate their 
endorsement and their strong support for the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, this resolution condemns the extremist, racist, and 
xenophobic statements and positions of leaders of the FPO party of 
Austria and expresses profound regret and dismay that the FPO will play 
a major role in the new government of Austria.
  It is most appropriate for the House of Representatives to express 
our serious concern about the participation of such a political party 
in the government of Austria. Austria has a difficult background, and 
has had problems dealing with its legacy during World War II. Unlike 
Germany, Austria never underwent the ``de-Nazification'' process that 
took place in Germany after the war. Austria was treated as ``Hitler's 
first victim'' when, in fact, many Austrians were perpetrators of Nazi 
violence. As a young boy in neighboring Hungary, I saw the newsreels in 
1938 of the Austrian people throwing flowers to German soldiers who 
marched into Austria at the time of the Anschluss. I saw few signs then 
that Austrians considered themselves ``victims.'' As historians have 
noted, Mr. Speaker, the proportion of Austrians who were members of the 
Nazi Party was higher than the proportion of Germans.
  The unfortunate recent experience of the people of Austria electing 
Kurt Waldheim as

[[Page H1647]]

president of the republic after his deplorable Nazi past became known 
publicly, indicates the necessity and importance of dealing with 
instances of extremism and racism in Austria in particular. In view of 
this background, it is extremely important that the Congress make clear 
to the people of Austria and to the government of Austria that 
xenophobia, extremism, and racism have no place in a free and open and 
democratic society.
  Mr. Speaker, other countries around the world have made known their 
disapproval of the inclusion of the FPO in the Austrian coalition 
government, and they have taken diplomatic action against Austria. The 
fourteen other member countries of the European Union--Belgium, 
Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, 
Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, and the United Kingdom--have 
limited diplomatic contacts with the new Austrian Government. The 
European Parliament, the Council of Ministers and the Commission of the 
European Union have all expressed opposition to the new government. 
Similar actions showing disapproval have been taken by other democratic 
countries, including Canada, Norway, and our own Administration. The 
ambassador of Israel has returned to Jerusalem.
  Mr. Speaker, I want to emphasize that this action by governments 
throughout Europe is not inspired by narrow political considerations. 
It is not simply center left governments in Europe condemning a 
political party on the right. In the European Parliament, the center 
right political faction, including representatives of the conservative 
German Christian Democratic Party, led the fight for the resolution 
condemning the participation of the FPO in the Austrian Government. The 
President of the European Parliament, Madame Nicole Fontaine, who is a 
member of the Center Right political faction of the European 
Parliament, expressed support for the adoption of the Parliament's 
resolution criticizing the FPO. The Resolution adopted by the European 
Parliament was practically unanimous.
  Mr. Speaker, the concern of the European Union for the consequences 
of the FPO participating in the Austrian Government coalition are 
valid. A country such as Austria, which is a member of a union of 
European states which had adopted a common currency and which are 
regulated by common economic legislation, must avoid xenophobia and 
racism. Unfortunately, that is precisely the platform on which the FPO 
ran its last election campaign.
  A disturbing element of this extremist campaign is the position that 
Joerg Haider, the former leader of the FPO, and the party itself have 
sought to minimize the Holocaust and the Crimes of the Nazi Era, and 
they have been remarkably public in their praise of Nazi Germany. In 
the past, Haider praised Adolf Hitler's ``sound employment policy'' 
during a debate in the Carinthian parliament. On another occasion, 
Haider called Waffen SS veterans ``decent people with character who 
stuck to their belief through the strongest headwinds.'' On yet another 
occasion, Haider called the Nazi death camps ``punishment camps.'' That 
glibly ignores the fact that a quarter of those killed in Nazi death 
camps were children, not capable of crimes. It is significant that the 
FPO was the only major Austrian political party which was not 
represented at the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the Mauthausen 
Nazi death camp a few years ago.
  Mr. Speaker, I do want to make clear that the Resignation of Joerg 
Haider as leader of the FPO a few weeks ago does not change the 
necessity for this resolution. Haider remains the guiding light of the 
party. He is still the Governor of one of Austria's most populous 
provinces. The Deputy Speaker of the Austrian Parliament and a leader 
of the FPO, Thomas Prinzhorn, made the following statement after 
Haider's resignation: ``It is not a resignation. He [Haider] is a 
provincial governor and remains our strong man.'' It is a step backward 
which is necessary in order to make two solid steps forward.'' Haider's 
resignation from the post of party leader does not reflect any 
fundamental change whatsoever in the party's program.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution. It is important that the Congress of the United States make 
a clear and unequivocal statement on the issue of a xenophobic, racist, 
and extremist political party participating in the new coalition 
government of Austria.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask that a White Paper on Joerg Haider and the Freedom 
Party (FPO) in Austria which I prepared for our colleague Dana 
Rohrabacher be placed in the Record at this point. This includes an 
excellent analysis by the Anti-Defamation League of Haider and FPO 
policies and statements on racism and xenophobia. I think it is 
important to include this material in our debate today.

   White Paper: Joerg Haider and the Freedom Party of Austria--(FPO)

       Reaction of the International Community--Statements by 
     international leaders regarding the inclusion of the FPO in 
     the Austrian coalition government.


                   israeli prime minister ehud barak

       ``The inclusion of an extreme right-wing party . . . in the 
     government of a European country such as Austria should 
     outrage every citizen of the free world.'' (Reuters, ``What 
     they said in row over Austrian Freedom Party,'' February 2, 
     2000)


                  german chancellor gerhard schroeder

       ``What he [Haider] said about the SS and about foreigners 
     expresses a kind of thinking which to me is undemocratic.'' 
     (Reuters, ``Haider `undemocratic,' Germany's Schroeder 
     Says,'' February 20, 2000.)


                  french prime minister lionel jospin

       ``The ideas of the Freedom Party are contradictory to the 
     principles on which the European Union was founded . . . No, 
     Haider's party is not a National Socialist party, but it is 
     an extreme right-wing, xenophobic party, whose leader has in 
     his time paid homage to Hitler, his labour policies and the 
     Waffen SS.'' (Reuters, ``Jospin Says Austria Must Wake Up to 
     Haider `Threat,' '' February 1, 2000.)


               portuguese prime minister antonio guterres

       ``It (the EU's sanctions against Austria) is a position 
     that represents a symbol and a lesson for the world. It is a 
     battle for the ideals of tolerance, opposition to xenophobia 
     and against the mistreatment of foreigners in any country.'' 
     (Reuters, ``What they say about Austria's Haider,'' February 
     1, 2000.)


          polish foreign minister spokesman piotr dobrowolski

       ``What Haider says is dangerous, xenophobic . . . It brings 
     back Europe's worst memories.'' (Reuters, ``What they say 
     about Austria's Haider,'' February 1, 2000.)


lord david russell-johnston, head of the parliamentary assembly of the 
                           council of europe

       ``Haider is an opportunist who has, in the past, come often 
     very close to or even crossed the boundaries of acceptability 
     when it comes to the respect of our basic values of 
     democracy, human rights and tolerance.'' (Reuters, ``Council 
     of Europe Says Haider a Worry for Europe,'' February 2, 
     2000.)


                  American jewish committee statement

       ``We are certain that Americans are appalled at this 
     development and will consider what appropriate steps can be 
     taken to impress upon Austria that it cannot invite extremist 
     and racist groups into its new government with impunity and 
     without penalty.'' (American Jewish Committee, ``Austria's 
     Inclusion of Haider's Party in its Government Brings Deserved 
     International Ostracism and Isolation,'' Press Release, 
     February 4, 2000.)


                    anti-defamation league statement

       ``Bringing Joerg Haider and his Freedom Party into the 
     government is a disservice to Austria . . . It is astonishing 
     that a significant portion of the population is ready to 
     embrace a party and leadership that espouses xenophobic and 
     nativist positions and statements.'' (Anti-Defamation League, 
     ``ADL Reacts to Announcement that Haider and His Xenophobic 
     Party May Join Austrian Government,'' Press Release, February 
     1, 2000.)

  Joerg Haider--Anti-Immigrant Statements: Defending NAZI Policy and 
                                 Nazis

       (The following is an excerpt from Joerg Haider--The Rise of 
     an Austrian Extreme Rightist, an Anti-Defamation League 
     publication dated February 2000. For the complete text, go to 
     http://www.adl.org/backgrounders/joerg__haider.html)


                            political agenda

       Xenophobic and racist sentiment have permeated Haider's 
     political career.


                       anti-immigrant statements

       According to Haider, immigration offers no benefits to 
     Austrian society. Rather, immigrants take jobs away from 
     Austrians and bring in crime from Africa, Eastern Europe and 
     elsewhere. His 1999 election campaign poster slogans include: 
     ``Stop the foreign infiltration'' and ``Stop the abuse of 
     asylum.'' Posters showing Haider and his prime ministerial 
     candidate Thomas Prinzhorn say ``Two real Austrians.''
       Other infamous Haider statements on immigrants include: 
     ``The Africans who come here are drug dealers and they seduce 
     our youth,''; ``We've got the Poles who concentrate on car 
     theft,'' he claims. ``We've got the people from the former 
     Yugoslavia who are burglary experts. We've got the Turks who 
     are superbly organized in the heroin trade. And we've got the 
     Russians who are experts in blackmail and mugging.''
       In February 1993, Haider and the Freedom Party launched a 
     twelve-point petition campaign for ending immigration and 
     keeping the proportion of non-German speaking children in 
     schools under 30%. Haider predicted he would get at least one 
     million signatories. In what was viewed as a major defeat, 
     the petition was signed by only 417,000, or 7.5% of the 
     population.
       During the 1994 election campaign, Haider's linkage of 
     immigration and unemployment continued, causing the ruling 
     coalition to accuse Haider of manipulating public fears over 
     joblessness. Haider announced to Austrians ``we have to stop 
     immigration until unemployment is reduced to under 5 
     percent,'' claiming that the unemployment rate was 5.8%. The 
     official unemployment figure at that time was 4.4%.

[[Page H1648]]

       In 1996, Haider called ``The government's so-called 
     integration policy a disaster. They are ready to open the 
     doors to another 153,000 foreigners who will take school 
     places, training places and flats (apartments),'' Haider 
     said. He continued, ``When Turkish children demand protection 
     money from our children at the playground, it's time to say, 
     this is our state,'' Haider declared.
       Haider has continued to wage a xenophobic campaign to expel 
     foreign workers. In March 1997, Haider stated that he wants 
     one third of all foreigners working in Austria to be sent 
     home over the next two years.
       According to Haider, ``We take the right stand at the right 
     time to save Austria against the dangers coming from 
     outside.''


                    Defending Nazi Policy and Nazis

       According to his critics, despite public disclaimers and 
     overtures, Haider has a public record of defending the 
     policies of Nazi Germany and of justifying individual actions 
     during those years. Haider has utilized terminology 
     reminiscent of the Nazis, announcing, for example in October 
     1990 a ``final solution to the farm question.'' Upon his 
     election to the leadership of the Freedom Party, Haider 
     rejected comparisons with the German Nazi Party, saying ``The 
     Freedom Party is not the descendant of the National Socialist 
     Party. If it were, we would have an absolute majority.''
       Indeed, Haider first gained international attention in 
     March 1986 during the controversy surrounding the return of 
     Walter Reder, an Austrian born former major in the Nazi SS, 
     who was freed by Italy from a life sentence he was serving 
     for his role in the mass killing of Italian civilians in 
     1944. For Haider, the controversy was ridiculous, as Reder 
     was ``a soldier who had done his duty.'' Dismissing Reder's 
     wartime activities, Haider stated: ``If you are going to 
     speak about war crimes, you should admit such crimes were 
     committed by all sides.''
       Haider's most infamous comment came during a July 1991 
     debate in the Carinthia provincial parliament, when Haider, 
     then governor, declared: ``An orderly employment policy was 
     carried out in the Third Reich, which the government in 
     Vienna cannot manage,'' In face of a national and 
     international uproar, Haider apologized for his remarks, but 
     said ``What I said was a statement of fact: that in the Third 
     Reich a large number of workplaces were created through an 
     intensive employment policy and unemployment was thereby 
     eliminated.'' Haider, of course, did not mention to 
     particulars of Nazi labor policy, including military buildup, 
     slave labor, and concentration camps. Recently, Haider 
     defended his 1991 statement, claiming he was referring to 
     Nazi policy between 1933 and 1936.
       In May 1992, while the government was embroiled in a 
     scandal involving a provincial government's decision to honor 
     a gathering of Waffen SS veterans, Haider defended the 
     decision. Haider instead accused the Interior Minister in 
     Parliament of engaging in ``primitive attacks'' on 
     ``respectable'' war veterans, while turning a blind eye to 
     immigrant perpetrated crime.
       More recently, Haider spoke out against the Austrian 
     government's plans to compensate 30,000 Austrian victims of 
     Nazi rule, including Jews, Communists and homosexuals, 
     claiming that Austrian victims of the allies, such as 
     civilians who fled Austria's occupation by US, Soviet, French 
     and British troops, should also be compensated. As he told an 
     elderly Austrian audience in April 1995, ``It is not fair if 
     all the money from the tax coffers goes to Israel.'' However, 
     when the Parliament voted in June to set up a $50 million 
     compensation fund, Haider voted in its favor. Still insisting 
     on the need for compensation for victims of the allies, 
     Haider explained, ``But we do not intend to be petty. Even 
     though you will not join us to widen the scope of the fund we 
     will not vote against the bill. We too want to draw a line 
     under a chapter we are also responsible for.''
       In May 1995, the Freedom Party was the only major Austrian 
     political party absent from ceremonies at Mauthausen death 
     camp marking the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the 
     camp. Just before the anniversary, Haider had referred to 
     Mauthausen as a ``punishment camp,'' implying that those 
     interred there were criminals.
       While addressing the reunion of Waffen-SS veterans, Haider 
     declared that the reason people opposed them was ``simply 
     that in this world there are decent people who have character 
     and who have stuck to their beliefs through the strongest 
     headwinds and who remained true to their convictions until 
     today.'' Haider's appearance at the ceremony was unknown 
     until days before amateur videotape of the gathering was 
     broadcast on German television in December 1995.
       Following these revelations, Haider defended his appearance 
     at the event, saying: ``The Waffen SS was a part of the 
     Wehrmacht and hence it deserves all the honor and respect of 
     the army in public life.'' ``Everything I said in that video 
     was completely acceptable.'' ``I participated in this event 
     and I don't see any reason not to. While I reject National 
     Socialism, I certainly do not approve of the wholesale 
     disparagement of the older war generation. I stand by this 
     generation and I fight against the way it is disparaged.'' 
     Haider claimed he did not know the Waffen SS had been branded 
     a criminal organization by the post-war Nuremberg war crimes 
     tribunal, adding: ``It doesn't interest me in the least.''
       In December 1995, after viewing the video which captured 
     Haider addressing and mingling with former SS officers, 
     Austrian public prosecutors launched a criminal investigation 
     into Haider's comments and speech on the basis of the law 
     against reviving Nazism. Following the investigation by the 
     public prosecutor's offices, the Austrian ministry of justice 
     announced that it was to drop the proceedings because of 
     insufficient grounds.
       During the parliamentary debate in July 1998 on a proposed 
     new law requiring applicants for Austrian citizenship to 
     prove knowledge of German, Franz Larfer, an MP of the Freedom 
     Party, used the word Umvolkung. This term was used by the 
     Nazis to define the forced change of the ethnic composition 
     of a population by immigration or compulsory transfer. This 
     happened in Eastern Europe during the Nazi-period leading 
     consequently to the annihilation of the inhabitants. The term 
     is comparable to the expression ethnic cleansing.
       In reaction to the use of this expression, members of the 
     Austrian parliament booed and shouted and the session had to 
     be interrupted. After Heinz Fischer, the president of the 
     Austrian parliament, explained to Larfer the meaning of the 
     word, Larfer returned to the microphone apologizing for 
     applying it. As the media reported extensively on this 
     incident, Haider defended Laufer's use of this term, and 
     reiterated in a press conference the following day that his 
     colleague was right in using this expression, explaining that 
     the government applying a liberal immigration policy allows 
     for extensive ``foreign infiltration,'' which subsequently 
     leads to Umvolkung.
  Mr. CROWLEY. Mr. Speaker, before I begin, I would first like to thank 
Congressman Lantos for taking the lead on this important Resolution.
  As a survivor of the horrors of the Nazi regime, he knows better than 
anyone on the International Relations Committee or in this Congress the 
dangers of complacency. Congressman Lantos knows that remaining silent 
when hate-mongers come to power is not an option. And I thank him again 
for his leadership and his dedication.
  Mr. Speaker, everyone in this Congress has heard the comments made by 
Jorg Haider and leaders of the Freedom Party. Comments praising 
Hitler's policies. Statements praising the Waffen S.S. Assertions 
consistently blaming problems in Austria, including low employment, 
high taxes and the spread of disease on immigrants.
  Mr. Haider's views are clear and his intentions are known. And his 
attempt to apologize each time he makes an offensive statement has 
grown as tiresome to me as his hateful statements. And although Mr. 
Haider has resigned his position, his party, the Freedom Party, remains 
in a coalition government in Austria with the People's Party. This must 
not be accepted.
  That is why I have joined with Congressman Lantos, Chairman Gilman, 
Ranking Member Gejdenson, another survivor of the Nazi era, and a 
number of my colleagues in introducing H. Res. 429. The House 
International Relations Committee has passed this Resolution and it is 
appropriate and necessary that the U.S. Congress put itself on record 
as disapproving of such a Government.
  Once again, I would like to thank Congressman Lantos for his 
leadership on this pressing issue, as well as Chairman Gilman and 
Ranking Member Gejdenson for their support.
  I urge my colleagues to support this important Resolution.
  Mr. WEXLER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. BALLENGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore (Mr. Pease). The question is on the motion 
offered by the gentleman from North Carolina (Mr. Ballenger) that the 
House suspend the rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 429.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the resolution was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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