Press Release - 06.99

Senate Sends Letter to President Yeltsin

With Senate letter to President Yeltsin: (l.-r.) NCSJ Executive Director Mark Levin, Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Joseph Biden (D-DE), and Jason Isaacson, American Jewish Committee's Director of Governmental and International Affairs

Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Joseph Biden (D-DE) cosponsored a letter to Russian President Boris Yeltsin, urging him to act more vigorously against anti-Semitism in Russia. Placing an emphasis on human rights and religious freedom, the letter also condemns the recent attacks on the only synagogue in Birobidzhan and the bombs that exploded near the two main synagogues in Moscow in May.

"While we support a strong effort to address the economic difficulties in Russia and encourage the development of a strong, market-oriented economy, we want you to know that the United States also expects from Russia a strong commitment to human rights and religious freedom," stated the letter which was signed by 99 senators.

NCSJ and the American Jewish Committee worked to garner Senate support for this letter.