Press Release - 07.99

National Conference on Soviet Jewry

Conference of Presidents of
Major American Jewish Organizations

From: Mark B. Levin, National Conference on Soviet Jewry
Malcolm Hoenlein, Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations

To: Interested Parties
Date: July 28, 1999
Subject: Meeting with Russian Prime Minister

In a session organized by the National Conference on Soviet Jewry (NCSJ) and the Conference of Presidents of Major American Jewish Organizations, a delegation of American Jewish leaders, met yesterday evening with Russian Prime Minister Sergei Stepashin at the Presidential guest residence -- Blair House -- just before his return to Moscow.

Prime Minister Stepashin condemned "radical politicians" in Russia who use anti-Semitism "for their own purposes" and, he declared, "We will not allow these people to take power in Russia." Referring to his previous positions as Russia’s Justice Minister and Interior Minister, he insisted, "Our struggle against such manifestations is not just words but actions."

The Prime Minister further stated, "This brutality will be eradicated -- and I am not afraid of this word – eradicated by our security agencies." He noted, "Our country and the Jews suffered too much from fascism during the War [World War II]" for modern Russia to permit present-day fascists a free hand.

The Jewish leaders welcomed Prime Minister Stepashin, who had met on previous occasions with representatives of the American and Russian Jewish communities – particularly the Russian Jewish Congress -- both as Minister of Justice and as Minister of Interior. They expressed serious concern about the recent upsurge in anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence, about arrangements for the safety of Jewish community facilities in Russia, and about the investigation and prosecution of those perpetrating hate crimes.

The Jewish groups urged Prime Minister Stepashin to maintain a policy of "zero tolerance" and to take concrete and sustained steps to protect Russia’s Jewish community. They also urged him to consider the positioning of security guards at Jewish institutions to protect the Jewish community from further attack, and to personally and publicly denounce anti-Semitic rhetoric and crimes through direct and forceful statements to the Russian people, emphasizing that silence from official quarters only invites future statements and acts of violence.

The delegation expressed appreciation for Prime Minister Stepashin’s denunciation of anti-Semitic extremism and violence, and stressed that it is especially important for the Russian people and political parties to hear that statement upon his return to Russia. The Russian leader also reported that he had spoken on Monday with the director of the FSB internal security service about the continuing investigation into the latest anti-Semitic incidents, and that "we have secured several synagogues" earlier today. "Our President [Boris Yeltsin] personally took this process under his control." The Prime Minister assured the Jewish representatives, "We have the means to ensure the safety of all our citizens, including in Moscow."

"These events are individual acts, not reflective of today’s Russia," the Prime Minister insisted. But the Jewish representatives reiterated their concern about anti-Semitic rhetoric and violence entering the mainstream of Russian society. [In our discussions early today with Jewish leadership in Moscow, it was learned that no significant police security presence has yet materialized.]

Earlier in the day, President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al Gore had each discussed the issue of increased anti-Semitism and non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in their meetings with the Prime Minister.

Participants discussed areas in which Russia can play a constructive role in the Middle East. The delegation expressed concern for the 13 imprisoned religious leaders and other members of the Jewish communities of Shiraz and Isfahan, and the Prime Minister responded, "You know our position -- they should be freed -- we have taken diplomatic and other measures to seek to achieve this objective. We pledge to continue these efforts."

The Jewish organizations expressed concern over the continued transfer of sophisticated weapons technology to Iran, and the reported involvement of Russian experts and entities in enhancing Iran’s missile capabilities. Prime Minister Stepashin acknowledged the importance of these issues, and indicated that the issue of weapons proliferation was discussed in his meetings with President Clinton and with Vice President Gore.

The American Jewish organizations, recalling Russia’s cosponsorship of previous peace efforts, urged that Russia use its relations with Middle Eastern nations to support Israeli-Arab peace negotiations. Prime Minister Stepashin also took note of next week’s visit to Moscow by Israel’s new Prime Minister, Ehud Barak.

Prime Minister Stepashin asked for the Jewish community’s assistance in promoting investment in Russia. While noting the American Jewish community’s ongoing support -- since 1991 -- for U.S. and multilateral financial assistance and investment, caution was expressed concerning the current volatile situation.

The Prime Minister concluded the meeting by inviting the Jewish organizations to pay a visit to Moscow.