Degussa Regrets Exclusion from Holocaust Memorial

Chemicals maker Degussa said it regretted it would not participate in the construction the Berlin Holocaust Memorial, but said it respected the foundation board's decision to exclude it. Construction of the memorial was halted after objections arose to Degussa's participation. In the 1940s, the company had a unit involved in the production of poison gas used in Nazi death camps. The memorial foundation's board has said it will decide on a replacement for Degussa next week. The firm was supposed to coat the blocks to be used in the memorial with a product to prevent graffiti. The memorial, which has been in the planning for over 15 years, is set to be completed in 2005.