Switzerland's U.S. ambassador said Tuesday that Swiss banks have mishandled some aspects of the controversy involving Holocaust survivors assets held by Swiss banks.

"From a human point of view, some real mistakes have been made," Ambassador Carlo Jagmetti said at a Swiss Embassy news conference.He urged Congress, Jewish groups and the news media not to jump to conclusions before all the facts are in on the banks' role in dealing with Nazis during and after World War II and their handling of money belonging to Jews.

"Accusations should not be made before records have been carefully analyzed, and sinister motives should not be attributed to measures taken out of genuine concern," Jagmetti said. "Two untruths will never add up to the truth."

Switzerland has come under intense attack in recent weeks over the banking controversy, particularly the frustration of Holocaust survivors and others trying to recover their money.

Jewish groups claim Swiss banks hold $7 billion in assets and interest belonging to Jews. Swiss banks say they have found about $32 million in unclaimed assets that could have belonged to European Jews or other non-Swiss residents during the war. Jews and others opened Swiss bank accounts as a safe haven for their funds as the Nazi's rose to power.

Senate Banking Chairman Sen. Alfonse M. D'Amato, R-N.Y., uncovered World War II-era documents from the National Archives that he said describe "the clear collaboration of Swiss officials and banks with the Nazis."

Jagmetti said D'Amato had improperly described as secret an agreement between Switzerland and Poland for restitution to Swiss businesses following the war.

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Jagmetti said the agreement had been debated in the Swiss parliament and reported in the press at the time.

The Swiss Bankers Association has appointed a special ombudsman to handle the claims of Holocaust victims and others. The banking group and the World Jewish Congress also have agreed to have former Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker head a special commission to investigate the complex issue.

Switzerland has agreed to independent scrutiny of its wartime record. Last week, it set up its own task force to trace the money.

On Tuesday, the Swiss government announced a group of experts will investigate and report in December on agreements between Switzerland and former communist countries regarding confiscation of Swiss property.

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