FM Ivanov Meeting - 05.02.2002

 

Jewish Groups Meet Foreign Minister Ivanov

Read Washington Jewish Week coverage

(l.-r.) NCSJ Executive Director Mark Levin, NCSJ Chairman Harold Paul Luks, Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov

Greeting Foreign Minister Ivanov (l.-r.): Daniel Mariaschin, Executive Vice President, B'nai B'rith International; Jess Hordes, Washington Director, Anti-Defamation League; Rabbi Andrew Baker, Director of International Jewish Affairs, American Jewish Committee; Mark Levin, Executive Director, NCSJ; Harold Paul Luks, Chairman, NCSJ

Washington, DC - NCSJ and three other major American Jewish organizations met May 2 with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, prior to his meetings with U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell and the Middle East "Quartet" (United States, European Union, United Nations, Russia).

The 50-minute discussion covered American Jewish support for "graduating" Russia from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment, the status of Russia's Jewish community, concerns about weapons proliferation in the Middle East, treatment of Israel in the United Nations, and the current Israeli-Palestinian crisis.  Joining NCSJ were representatives from the American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League, and B'nai B'rith International.

 

Washington Jewish Week May 9, 2002 Talking with Russia NCSJ Executive Director Mark Levin and NCSJ Chairman Harold Luks with Foreign Minister Ivanov

Representatives of NCSJ, an advocacy group for Jews in the former Soviet Union, and other American Jewish leaders met last week with Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov, and told him they were working to graduate Russia from the Jackson-Vanik amendment. That law has tied U.S.-Russia trade to human rights issues since 1974, but changes are being held up by the objections of some in the American business community. NCSJ chair Harold Luks said that Jewish leaders in the 50-minute meeting encouraged Russia to strengthen policies to prevent the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and discussed Russian influence with Arab states in the Middle East and whether that leverage could aid peace negotiations.