ITAR-TASS - 06.17.2004

ITAR-TASS

The Representative of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry about the problem of anti-Semitism in Russia


By ITAR-TASS Correspondent Andrey Surzhansky

[Translated from Russian by Sonia Kagna, NCSJ Intern]

Washington, DC - Anti-Semitism still remains a serious problem in Russia. This was stated by Shai Franklin, the Director of Governmental Relations of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry. He took part this Wednesday in hearings at the Capitol about the problem of anti-Semitism in the world. The hearings were held by the Helsinki Commission of the U.S. Congress. 

“We are working with the Russian government and Russian society to develop the necessary mechanisms in order to fight anti-Semitism,” he continued. “We are not saying that the government of Russian Federation should bear responsibility for the feelings of its individual citizens; however, we clearly understand the important role that government must play in countering the point of view of the people preaching intolerance.”

Shai Franklin greatly appreciated the Russian government’s efforts in fighting anti-Semitism, and noted that Jewish organizations see the Russian government as their partner.

“Of course, our mutual work so far is not giving us 100% positive result, because anti-Semitism is still in existence in Russia,” said the representative of the National Conference on Soviet Jewry. “I also do not think the Russian government doesn't necessarily make a 100% effort to fight this phenomenon. However, we are seeing constant improvement in this area. We see the resolve of President Putin when he condemns anti-Semitism in his public speeches, and we see the response that several outrageous incidents have received.” As Franklin mentioned, the U.S. Jewish community would like Russian regional leaders to follow the example of the federal government. “This requires coordination of efforts on various different levels,” he said. “Likewise, we are trying to coordinate these efforts across the whole region of the former Soviet Union.”

The newly elected State Duma must be taken into serious consideration. According to our speaker, the Duma can become “an additional forum for certain extremist leaders.” “In the new Duma, the nationalists and extremists strengthened their positions, and this makes us concerned. The government apparatus is not some faceless abstract organ, it consists of concrete individuals. In every government, usually, there are some people whose efforts, including the efforts to fight anti-Semitism, cannot be considered positive.”

In his turn, the Israeli Minister of Jerusalem and Diaspora Affairs, Natan Sharansky, who also took part in the hearings, thinks that in the last few years the situation in Russia has greatly improved. “Today in Russia there is a whole different reality if we compare it to what we had before,” he said to the ITAR-TASS correspondent in the Congress lobby. – “Now in Russia, Jews can freely build their communities, open synagogues, and live according to their traditions. Finally they can leave the country if they want.” At the same time, as Sharansky noted, there are still anti-Semitic feelings on the common level. The Israeli government, according to him, from time to time receives disturbing information from Russia concerning various anti-Semitic incidents, for example, the vandalism in Jewish cemeteries. “We would like to see more decisive actions and faster reaction from the Russian government, especially on the local level, to these kind of events,” the Israeli minister said. 

Sharansky also supports graduation from the Jackson-Vanik Amendment that forbids the establishment of normal trade relations between the United States and countries with limitations on free emigration of their people, and Jews in particular. It was adopted by the Congress in 1974. “This amendment at that time played a great part, although now it is out of date,” Sharansky stressed. “It is a pity that it is still not abolished. I am constantly telling the representatives of the U.S. administration and Congress that, by keeping the amendment as a tool to influence Russia in the trade disputes, they belittle its historical importance.”

According to Sharansky, all Jewish organizations believe that the Jackson-Vanik Amendment should have been abolished a long time ago, because “the goals to achieve freedom of emigration that were set up 30 years ago are already reached.”

The position of influential Jewish organizations traditionally finds support in the Congress, where the hearings on anti-Semitism were held. Admitting the big role of American legislators in this area, President Putin has sent Congress a message in response to the address of 92 Congressmen and 98 Senators about the problems of anti-Semitism and religious intolerance. The Russian leader’s letter stated that any manifestations of anti-Semitism are viewed in Russia as the intolerable expressions of aggressive nationalism that should not take place in civilized society.