The delegation of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress headed by President Julius Meinl participated in a session of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) Executive Committee, which took place on March 30 - April 1 in Paris.

A number of issues were discussed at the session, including the status of the Ukrainian and French Jewish communities, the growth of anti-Semitism and neo-Nazism in a number of European countries, including Hungary and Greece, counteracting the boycott of Israel in a variety of spheres, and other current problems. The session was chaired by WJC President Ronald Lauder.

EAJC President Julius Meinl, Secretary General Michael Chlenov, and General Council Chairman Josef Zisels all participated in the discussion on the status of the Ukrainian Jewish community. An absolute majority of votes approved a WJC EC resolution, which reads as follows:

“The Executive Committee of the World Jewish Congress, meeting in Paris on 1 April 2014,

 

NOTES that recent political developments have created a complex situation and has raised a feeling of insecurity not only among some Jews, but also members of other religious or ethnic minorities, in Ukraine;

RECOGNIZES the new Ukrainian government’s assurances and actions, that Jews and Jewish life in Ukraine will be protected;

UNDERSTANDS that, as befits any democratic society, a wide range of opinion exists within Ukrainian Jewry about the effects of the recent developments;

EXPRESSES concern that the ultra nationalist Svoboda party is represented in the new Ukrainian government, and that other extremist groups have played a prominent role in recent protests;

URGES all parties to ensure that anti-Semitic and anti-minority incitement is not tolerated, and further that the ethnic, cultural, religious, and linguistic expression of all minorities is protected;

CONDEMNS all anti-Semitic attacks in Ukraine and calls on the Ukrainian authorities to properly investigate them and bring the perpetrators to justice;

URGES all governments, media and non-governmental organizations and their representatives, not to cause this complex situation to deteriorate by making unfounded accusations, or giving exaggerated accounts, of the situation of the Ukrainian Jewish population;

CALLS ON the authorities in Ukraine to reinforce security to protect Jewish and other ethnic minorities’ sites in the country;

CALLS ON the CEO of the WJC to establish a committee to monitor this evolving situation and report to the Executive Committee.”

As part of the session, Julius Meinl held a number of working meetings with Ronald Lauder and WJC Secretary General Robert Singer. There was also a meeting between the EAJC President and the President of the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC) Yuri Kanner. Robert Singer and Michael Chlenov also participated in the meeting. Information on current and planned activity of the organizations was exchanged and perspectives for cooperation were discussed. The EAJC leadership also held many informal meetings with WJC officers and Jewish communities of a number of countries.