German court rules against expanded "Ghetto pensions"February 8, 2012 - 12:55 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - Recipients of Germany's "Ghetto pensions" will not receive retroactive payments from 1997, a German court decided on Tuesday, Feb 7. According to The Jerusalem Post, German Social Court ruled that Holocaust survivors forcibly held in ghettos during World War II could not receive more than four years of retroactive pay, the maximum in the country's Social Security Guidelines. Jewish groups hoped survivors that had joined the pension program as soon as 2010 would be able to receive 13 years of retroactive compensation. “Ghetto survivors endured the most horrific conditions possible while laboring just to stay alive," said Julius Berman the chairman of the Conference of Jewish Material Claims Against Germany, better known as the Claims Conference. "In their old age, these additional payments could help bring them the security and recognition that they were denied so many decades ago. We appeal to the German Government and to the German Bundestag to look for a political solution.” The funds provided by Germany to ghetto survivors are state pensions and are not Claims Conference programs. Top stories Authorities said a total of 192 Azerbaijani troops were killed and 511 were wounded during Azerbaijan’s offensive. In 2023, the Azerbaijani government will increase the country’s defense budget by more than 1.1 billion manats ($650 million). The bill, published on Monday, is designed to "eliminate the shortcomings of an unreasonably broad interpretation of the key concept of "compatriot". The earthquake caused a temporary blackout, damaged many buildings and closed a number of rural roads. Partner news | The Power of One Dram to benefit Road of Life charity The companies inform that the May beneficiary of The Power of One Dram is the “Road of Life” charitable organization. Ucom General Director gives lecture at French University in Armenia The General Director of Ucom Ralph Yirikian delivered a lecture at the French University of Armenia. Kazakhstan welcomes Yerevan, Baku’s agreement to meet in Almaty Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has welcomed the agreement of Baku and Yerevan to hold negotiations in Almaty. Armenia offers to temporarily host, preserve Gaza manuscripts The Armenian Foreign Minister has said Yerevan is ready to help preserve manuscripts from the conflict zone in Gaza. |