Vienna Conference - June 19-20, 2003

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This page provides background, reports and links regarding the international conference on anti-Semitism sponsored in Vienna June 19-20 by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).  Participants included governmental and non-governmental representatives from the 55 participating states (Europe, FSU, and North America).  Read how this conference is structured and how this new mechanism will provide ongoing coordination in the fight against anti-Semitism.

Latest: OSCE Ministerial Council, Maastricht, December 2003 Latest: Human Dimension Meeting, Warsaw, October 2003 OSCE Parliamentary Assembly Meets in Rotterdam Washington Jewish Week Editorial Although an illness prevented Elie Wiesel from personally delivering the opening keynote address in Vienna, his written statement is available online. Fact Sheet U.S. Congress Passes Anti-Semitism Resolutions Helsinki Commission Statement Timeline Official OSCE Conference Web page OSCE Press Release (June 10) Intervention by Mark B. Levin, June 19 (Session 2) Intervention by Robert J. Meth, June 20 (Session 4) News Coverage Ha'aretz (June 19) International Herald-Tribune (June 19) JTA (June 20) RFE/RL (June 20) New York Times (June 21) JTA (June 23) Jerusalem Post (June 22) Jerusalem Post - Foxman Op-Ed (June 23)  NY Jewish Week (June 26) Washington Jewish Week (July 10) NY Jewish Week (July 11) Jerusalem Post (June 22) Jerusalem Post - Foxman Op-Ed (June 23)  NY Jewish Week (June 26) Washington Jewish Week (July 10) NY Jewish Week (July 11) Jerusalem Post (July 11) Washington Jewish Week (July 17) Rudolph Giuliani Leads U.S. Delegation Rudy to Stay on Anti-Semitism Beat? (July 11) Giuliani briefs Secretary Powell (July 3) Giuliani Intervention NCSJ Statement U.S. Department of State Announcement Biography of Rudolph Giuliani Joint Appearance with Secretary of State Powell (hear audio clip) Press Release by Rep. Chris Smith Public Members Named to U.S. Delegation ADL Page AJCommittee press release Intervention by Mark Levin, NCSJ Executive Director Intervention by Robert J. Meth, NCSJ Chairman Conference Agenda - updated and annotated June 16 Additional Material on OSCE and U.S. Helsinki Commission June 20 Breakfast Panel:  Media Strategies to Combat Anti-Semitism Link to Institute on Religion and Public Policy

Updates and Analysis on Anti-Semitism Council of Europe Plan of Action (March 2000) NCSJ Testimony (May 2002) U.S. Commission statement (Aug. 2002) ADL 10-Point Action Agenda (Dec. 2002) OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting (Sept. 2002) B'nai B'rith's Mariaschin on OSCE Role (Dec. 2002) Statement by Task Force on International Cooperation (May 2003) Amb. Randolph Bell interview (May 2003) Excerpt from Ass't Sec'y Elizabeth Jones' speech to NCSJ (May 2003) Dutch Begin to Notice Anti-Semitism (May 2003) EU's Solana: "There's No Anti-Semitism" (June 2003) Pres. Katsav says European Anti-Semitism Rising (July 2003) Senate Sets Focus on Anti-Semitism (July 2003) Forum Complements Anti-Semitism Conference (September 2003) Read More... OSCE Web site U.S. Mission to OSCE, Vienna CSCE Web site NGO Information (pdf) Printable version of this page (pdf) Please direct questions or comments to Shai Franklin, NCSJ Director of Governmental Relations Washington Jewish Week July 10, 2003 Historic First Step; Action Must Follow  Editorial "We're not going to cure the evil of anti-Semitism in a two-day conference. But we've begun something." So said Mark Levin, the executive director of NCSJ: Advocates on Behalf of the Jews in Russia, Ukraine, the Baltic States and Eurasia. His remarks came, according to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, following last month's conference on anti-Semitism.  The conference, held by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), was the first of its kind: an international governmental conference dedicated solely to anti-Semitism and how to fight it.  As Levin pointed out, the conference certainly didn't cure the scourge of anti-Semitism.  But, it took an important step.  This international body recognized that anti-Semitism is a unique form of prejudice that needs to be addressed internationally -- and should not be addressed within the general context of human rights.  The world has "seen the emergence of Israel as the collective Jew among nations," JTA reported human rights lawyer Irwin Cotler as saying at the conference. "Traditional anti-Semitism rejects the right of Jews to exist in the Diaspora. The new anti-Semitism rejects the right of Israel and the Jewish people to live in the family of nations," Cotler said, succinctly explaining why anti-Semitism is a unique form of prejudice.  And, indeed, just by holding a conference, the OSCE recognized that fact.  Yet, despite its being a milestone, last month's meeting in Vienna will be meaningless unless there is follow-up. The conference itself produced no resolutions or specific actions, but Germany did offer to hold a follow-up session in Berlin next year.  Now that the OSCE has recognized the concern of the Jewish community, it must take steps to alleviate the concerns.  The way to begin that is not just to consider but to implement at least parts of the eight-point plan put forth by former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who led the U.S. delegation to the conference.  Among the recommendations are that OSCE member nations pass hate crimes legislation that include extra penalties beyond that for the crime itself; compile uniform lists of hate crimes statistics that will allow governments to track hate crimes, enabling law enforcers to know where to focus their efforts (Such lists might have prevented the French from denying for so long that anti-Semitism is a problem in that country.); and, as Giuliani said in a conference call with journalists during the OSCE meeting, "discipline the political debate so disagreements about Israel and Palestine don't flip over ... to attacks on the Jewish people and Israel."  Talk without such action will go nowhere in alleviating the millennia-old anti-Semitism.

FACT SHEET

International Conference on Anti-Semitism in the OSCE Region

June 19-20, 2003

Background:

The Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) is the product of the 1975 Helsinki Final Act (i.e., The Helsinki Process) which led to regional stability and promoted democracy and human rights in Cold War-era Europe.  The 55 participating States today include Europe, the Soviet successor states, the United States, and Canada.  Much of the impetus for the OSCE Human Dimension was the struggle for Soviet Jewry and U.S. Congressional engagement in U.S. foreign policy and with parliamentarians and civil society in Europe, on both sides of the Iron Curtain.

Since the collapse of communism, the Human Dimension has focused on expanding pluralistic institutions in the new democracies and addressing human rights issues that affect stability in the OSCE region.   The Baltic and Central European states in particular, after emerging as democracies for the first time since World War II, have had to address anti-Semitism and Holocaust issues as part of their post-communist transition.  Notably, Latvia was outspoken in opposition to the anti-Semitic tenor of debate surrounding the United Nations World Conference Against Racism in Durban, South Africa.  In these countries, Holocaust education, tolerance, dialogue and law enforcement are taking root.

Action:

As anti-Semitic violence has raged in Western Europe and the broader OSCE region, the new democracies and the United States – in cooperation with Jewish community and other non-governmental organizations – have pushed to treat anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish violence as region-wide phenomena, unique and separate from other forms of racism, intolerance, and xenophobia.  While the immediate crisis is centered in Western Europe, anti-Semitism haunts the entire OSCE region, including North America.  The Vienna Conference gives the opportunity for governmental and non-governmental representatives from OSCE and non-OSCE countries to share information and recommend a regional action agenda in such areas as legislation, law enforcement, education, and media.  The resulting report will be used to set the agenda for future OSCE coordination, and the very fact of the conference being held under official OSCE auspices will help set a constructive tone for governments and institutions to pay attention to this issue.

Representation:

As important as the conference agenda are the speakers and delegations that attend.  Efforts are underway to ensure high-profile personalities in both spheres.  Although the U.S. delegation has not yet been finalized, it will probably be led by a high-ranking U.S. official and include representatives from the State Department and other relevant agencies.  Several European Foreign Ministers have already confirmed their participation in the conference, at the head of their respective delegations.  Community leaders and non-governmental organizations will be attending individually and, in some cases, as public members of their national delegations.  Holding the conference in Vienna, the seat of the OSCE, maximizes the possibility for all OSCE participating States to be represented and for logistical support.  Media coverage will also be of critical importance in raising awareness throughout the OSCE region.  

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ACTION TIMELINE

	May 2002	Hearing on anti-Semitism held by Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (U.S. Helsinki Commission), U.S. Congress –        Discussion by Members of Congress and witnesses regarding anti-Semitism as separate agenda item within OSCE –        Preparation begins for anti-Semitism focus in OSCE Parliamentary Assembly
	July 2002	OSCE Parliamentary Assembly annual session, Berlin –        Session passes strong “Resolution on Anti-Semitic Violence in the OSCE Region,” including call for dedicated OSCE Human Dimension events –        U.S. and German parliamentarians sponsor side forum on anti-Semitism
	September 2002   White House	National Security Advisor Condoleezza Rice writes to Rep. Chris Smith, reaffirming President’s commitment to make anti-Semitism "a priority issue" for the OSCE
	October 2002   Ron Sachs/CNP	CSCE Hearing on U.S. Policy toward the OSCE –        Commission Members, including Reps. Chris Smith and Alcee Hastings, and Sen. George Voinovich urge Administration officials to ensure that December Ministerial Declaration includes call for OSCE conference on anti-Semitism
	December 2002   State Dept.	In Porto, Portugal, annual OSCE Ministerial Council session issues Ministerial Declaration –        U.S. Under Secretary of State Marc Grossman delivers strong statement on importance of addressing anti-Semitism in OSCE region –        First time official OSCE document lists anti-Semitism as separate and distinct issue –        Calls for convening of “separately designated human dimension events,” including on the issue of anti-Semitism
	CSCE	In U.S. Congress, U.S., German and Canadian officers of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly hold joint hearing –        Expert witnesses brief Members on status and responses to anti-Semitism in OSCE region –        U.S. and German delegations sign joint Letter of Intent
	January 2003 NATO	February 2003 Latvian Minister of Foreign Affairs sends letter to OSCE Chairman-in-Office, urging OSCE to convene international conference on anti-Semitism
	February 2003   CSCE	Winter session of OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, Vienna –        At side meeting, over 75 parliamentarians from 17 countries express support for U.S.-German Letter of Intent on combating anti-Semitism in OSCE region   Concurrent Resolutions introduced in House and Senate, calling for OSCE event on anti-Semitism as specified in December 2002 Porto Declaration
	April 2003	OSCE Permanent Council announces agenda and dates for the Conference on Anti-Semitism (Decision No. 540)
	May 2003	U.S. Senate, under Unanimous Consent, passes resolution supporting OSCE event on anti-Semitism
	June 2003   OSCE	Conference on Anti-Semitism in the OSCE Region scheduled June 19-20, Vienna
	July 2003   OSCE	OSCE Parliamentary Assembly annual session, Rotterdam –        Parliamentarians again expected to review progress and future efforts to combat anti-Semitism –        Parliamentary Forum on Anti-Semitism to proceed with outreach to additional parliamentarians from throughout OSCE region
	October 2003	OSCE Human Dimension Implementation Meeting scheduled for Warsaw –        The annual OSCE human rights conference will review the implementation of OSCE commitments by participating States –        Results of Vienna Conference will be discussed as part of official agenda
		Senate Hearing on Anti-Semitism in Europe
	December 2003 OSCE	OSCE Ministerial Council scheduled for Maastricht, Netherlands –        OSCE Foreign Ministers will issue Ministerial Decision that further commits OSCE system and individual governments to implementing and monitoring specific measures, including 2004 conference on anti-Semitism
	April 2004	OSCE Berlin Conference, proposed by German delegation at June 2003 Vienna conference, will follow up on OSCE and national-level implementation of Vienna points
	October 2004	OSCE annual Human Dimension Implementation Meeting scheduled for Warsaw –        ODIHR will report on progress toward collecting information on hate crimes and promoting best practices to combat anti-Semitism –        Participating States and non-governmental representatives will report on efforts and initiatives to promote tolerance and combat anti-Semitism through legislation, law-enforcement, education and media
	October 2004 OSCE	OSCE Ministerial Council scheduled for Bulgaria –        OSCE Foreign Ministers will review effectiveness of fight against anti-Semitism, and issue decisions and recommendations for OSCE and participating States

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