Buenos Aires, Argentina
28 October 2008
Ambassador Arévalo Méndez Romero pays unprecedented official visit
Leaders of the World Jewish Congress and its Latin American branch, the Latin American Jewish Congress, have welcomed a visit on Monday by Venezuela's ambassador to Argentina, Arévalo Méndez Romero, to the Museum of the Holocaust in Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires. The ambassador and his wife followed an invitation by the president of the museum, Mario Feferbaum, and were accompanied by LAJC Executive Director Claudio Epelman.
Jack Terpins, President of the Latin American Jewish Congress, welcomed the ambassador's visit: "The Jewish community in South America, especially the one in Buenos Aires, appreciate it as an encouraging sign that the Venezuelan Government sees fit to acknowledge the tragedy of the Holocaust. We praise Ambassador Méndez for taking the time to go to the museum."
World Jewish Congress Secretary General Michael Schneider pointed out that "Following our visit to Caracas in August, it is gratifying to see this sign of recognition by the Venezuelan Government of the dark tragedy that befell the Jewish people, something that President Hugo Chávez himself acknowledged during our meeting with him. We are hoping that this will be followed by a joint statement together with Presidents Kirchner of Argentina and Lula da Silva of Brazil condemning all forms of racism and anti-Semitism."
The World Jewish Congress is the international organization representing Jewish communities in over 80 countries around the world. The WJC serves as the diplomatic arm of the Jewish people to governments and international organizations. On 13 August 2008, Terpins, Schneider and Epelman were part of a World Jewish Congress delegation that met President Chávez at the Miraflores Palace in the Venezuelan capital.
Media contacts:
Natalia Krañasky
WJC/LAJC Buenos Aires Office
Tel: +54 911 5493 0142
Email: nataliak@congresojudio.org.ar
Michael Thaidigsmann
WJC Brussels Office
Tel: +32 2 552 09 24
Mob: +32 485 869 584
Email: press@worldjewishcongress.org
Website: www.worldjewishcongress.org
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