OSCE on Anti-Semitism - 01.16.2004

 

PRESS RELEASE

NCSJ Commends New OSCE Chair-in-Office for Priority on Fighting Anti-Semitism

Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, the new OSCE Chairman-in-Office for 2004   Full Text of Passy Address Berlin 2004 Resources Online

January 16, 2004 – NCSJ today commended Bulgarian Foreign Minister Solomon Passy, the new Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for 2004, for using his first address before the OSCE Permanent Council to underscore his commitment and that of the OSCE to combat anti-Semitism in the OSCE region, which includes Europe, the former Soviet Union, and North America.  

“Bulgaria has gone further than any previous Chairmanship in highlighting the issue of anti-Semitism so early in its term,” NCSJ Chairman Robert J. Meth noted.  “We are pleased that Dr. Passy has already responded so meaningfully to last month’s decision by the OSCE annual Ministerial Council and to the recommendations of non-governmental organizations like NCSJ.”

In his January 15 opening address, which traditionally outlines the priorities of the incoming Chairman-in-Office, Dr. Passy stated: “We all need to pursue further OSCE objectives in combating aggressive nationalism, racism, chauvinism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism, and other forms of discrimination.  The main focus will fall on preparing the three major forums: in Berlin on anti-Semitism, in Brussels on tolerance and the fight against racism, xenophobia and discrimination and in Paris on the relationship between racist, xenophobic and anti-Semitic propaganda on the Internet and hate crimes.”

In a letter to Dr. Passy on January 2, NCSJ had welcomed his assuming of the OSCE Chairmanship, expressing faith that “with your leadership this year, and with Germany’s hosting of the second anti-Semitism conference, Europe has a genuine and timely opportunity to correct its persistent and painful record on anti-Semitism.”   

The letter, from Dr. Meth, NCSJ President Joel M. Schindler and NCSJ Executive Director Mark B. Levin, stressed, “The start of your Chairmanship would be an ideal opportunity to encourage participating states to cooperate fully with the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights as outlined in the Decision; to restate the OSCE’s commitment to fighting anti-Semitism, racism and xenophobia; and to call on all participating states to send ministerial-level delegations to the April 28-29 Berlin conference, including representation from education and interior ministries, law enforcement, and parliamentary leadership.”

Dr. Schindler highlighted the important role the OSCE has played, as the successor to the historic Helsinki Process that opened up the Communist bloc in the 1970s and 1980s: “Today, former Communist states are joining the United States and others to confront and combat anti-Semitism throughout Europe and North America.  Last June’s first-ever international anti-Semitism conference in Vienna will be followed up with an action-oriented OSCE meeting in Berlin in April 2004, and we are confident that – with Bulgaria’s leadership – the 55 OSCE member states will coordinate effective responses to resurgent anti-Semitism, internationally as well as domestically.”

NCSJ Executive Director Levin pointed to the range of areas for OSCE action:  “Governments are being challenged to adopt hate-crimes legislation; educational programming; data collection and sharing through the OSCE; coordination among ministers of justice, interior and education; and outreach to legislators, religious leaders, and the media.  The OSCE is again proving itself as a results-oriented institution.”

More information about the OSCE agenda and the upcoming Berlin conference is available online at http://berlin2004.org.

NCSJ: Advocates on behalf of Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States & Eurasia - a voluntary, not-for-profit agency created in 1971, is the mandated central coordinating agency of the organized American Jewish community for policy and activities on behalf of the estimated 1.5 million Jews in the former Soviet Union. NCSJ comprises nearly 50 national organizations and over 300 local federations, community councils and committees across the United States. Through this extensive network, NCSJ mobilizes the resources, energies and talents of millions of U.S. citizens, and also represents the American Jewish community in dealings with similar national groups abroad, and at international fora.  

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