MOSCOW - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation Sergei Lavrov met Tuesday with the organizers and guests of honor of the Second Moscow International Conference on Combatting Anti-Semitism, Racism and Xenophobia, “Protecting the Future”, which opened yesterday in Moscow.
The meeting was attended by Robert Singer, CEO and Executive Vice President of the World Jewish Congress; Yury Kanner, President of the Russian Jewish Congress, WJC Vice President, and Head of the Organizing Committee of the Conference; Mikhail Mirilashvili, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and WJC Vice President; Julius Meinl, Special Representative of the World Jewish Congress on Combating Antisemitism; Anna Bokshitskaya, Executive Director of the Russian Jewish Congress; Irina Bokova, former UNESCO Director-General 2009-2017; and Lamberto Zannier, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities.
At the meeting, delegates discussed the mission of the conference, held in the participation of experts from more than 35 countries, as well as the results of three studies prepared for the conference on anti-Semitism and xenophobia in Russia. “In our country, there is still one of the lowest levels of anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe,” said RJC President Yury Kanner.
“Antisemitism has become a global problem that requires a global solution,” said WJC CEO and Executive Vice President Robert Singer. “The tragic events in Pittsburgh this weekend truly underscore that we can no longer remain complacent in the face of xenophobia and hatred. We must stand together and speak out before further tragedies can unfold.”
"The World Jewish Congress welcomes the constructive meeting with Minister Lavrov on the critical issues of antisemitism, and Holocaust remembrance, as well as projects of the Russian Jewish community and the Russian government. We look forward to future cooperation," Singer said.
From left: Lamberto Zannier, Julius Meinl, Mikhail Mirilashvili, Robert Singer, Sergei Lavrov, Anna Bokshitskaya, Yuri Kanner, and Irina Bokova. (c) Russian Jewish Congress Press Office.
During the meeting, the partners discussed antisemitism within the international context, stressing the need for a coordinated effort of states, as well as international and non-governmental organizations, including the Russian Jewish Congress and the World Jewish Congress, to combat anti-Semitism and religious intolerance.
The meeting also touched upon issues of cooperation in preserving the memory of the defenders and residents of besieged Leningrad and the support of blockade members.
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