JEANNE MESERVE, CNN ANCHOR: Nazi-era slave and forced laborers are a step closer to compensation. After a year of talks, negotiators in Berlin have agreed on how a $5 billion fund will be distributed. CNN's Chris Burns joins me now on the phone with more -- Chris.</s>CHRIS BURNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Jeanne, there was a press conference today at the end of this marathon session between German and U.S. officials, as well as German business officials, and claims lawyers. They agreed to carve up the $5 billion in this way: $4 billion will go to slave or forced labor, at least a million survivors who are entitled to this kind of payment, receiving between $2500 and $7500. Also, the remaining $1 billion would go for property, bank accounts and insurance policies that were stolen by the Nazis, as well as a foundation for research and education on Nazi labor. Now, it is not over yet. They still have to decide on German immunity from future Nazi-related claims. That is going to have to be approved through the U.S. courts and through final agreement. But this is a major step. It is going to have to be approved by German Bundestag. Officials are optimistic they can wrap this up in the coming months, hopefully by June, which would allow the first payments to be made by the -- before the end of the year, Jeanne.</s>MESERVE: Chris, given the number of years since the war, how many people do they believe are still alive to benefit from this settlement.</s>BURNS: Well, they are hoping at least a million survivors. There could be more. There could be several hundred thousand more that could be entitled to that. They are going to be making a very concerted campaign around the world to try to find people who can apply for this benefit. But of course, the urgency is very pressing because these survivors are very old, they are in their 70s and 80s and 90s and so forth, and there are fewer by the year. So that does add urgency to this whole process -- Jeanne.</s>MESERVE: Chris Burns, on the phone, thank you. Search CNN.com CNNSI.com CNNmoney.com The Web
Settlement Moves Nazi-Era Slave and Forced Laborers a Step Closer to Compensation