European Papers Call on Austria to Dump Waldheim
European newspapers of all political leanings urged Austria today to dump Kurt Waldheim as president after the latest criticisms of his wartime role in Hitler’s army.
Waldheim was also facing mounting pressure in Austria to resign after an international panel of historians criticized his role as a lieutenant in the German-occupied Balkans in World War II.
“Give him the boot,” demanded London’s left-leaning Mirror newspaper. “He aided and abetted the Nazis in their crimes against humanity in the Balkans. He didn’t lift a finger.”
Norway’s independent daily Verdens Gang editorialized: “For Austria, the situation is tragic. But Kurt Waldheim can still do his country a favor. He would do so by resigning as president.”
Le Soir in Brussels commented: “Austria has too often decided to be the ostrich: ‘Hide the past from me so I don’t see it.’ ”
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