KIEV – World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer met this week with senior Ukrainian government officials to discuss anti-Semitism, the importance of transparency in Holocaust education, Jewish community security and relations with the government, and promoting tolerance and diversity. The delegation was joined by the newly elected president of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine Boris Lozhkin and Chairman of the Vaad of Ukraine Andrey Adamovsky, the WJC's local affiliates. 
During a constructive dialogue with Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin on Wednesday, Singer emphasized the need for Ukraine to activate its special envoy to combat anti-Semitism and to adopt a definition of anti-Semitism as proposed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. They also spoke on a wide range of issues including the minister’s upcoming visit to Israel, and general matters related to bilateral relations between Ukraine and world Jewry. Singer also met Thursday with Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman.
On Tuesday, Singer met with Education Minister Lilila Mykhailivna Hrynevych to discuss measures to educate future generations about the country’s role in the Holocaust and working for and open, free and tolerant society in Ukraine. At the request of the Ukrainian Jewish community, Singer also met with Interior Minister Arsen Avakov for a frank and open discussion about anti-Semitism in Ukraine and the security of the Jewish communities of Ukraine, thanking him for his commitment and looking forward to working together in this regard.
While in Kiev, Singer also addressed a forum of the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter, entitled Israel’s Experience of State-Building: Lessons for Ukraine. In his address to the two-day forum, Singer thanked the Ukrainian government for its assistance over the last three decades in working to ensure the revival of the Jewish community and institutions, and for the friendly bilateral relations between Ukraine and Israel. As a native of the city of Chernivisti in southwestern Ukraine, Singer said, he could recall that as a child “anti-Semitism was a part of our landscape, though perhaps less problematic than in other cities.”
And while “much has changed in the last 30 years,” Singer said, “some things do remain constant. One of them is anti-Semitism, even its focus has shifted to some extent… many Jewish communities around the world are now experiencing a sharp increase in anti-Semitism, which often manifests as hatred for Israel.” 
Singer went on discuss the World Jewish Congress’ efforts in combating the campaign of disinformation that affect the Jewish state, including special units focused on fighting the delegitimization of Israel and anti-Semitism, strong diplomatic relations with international leaders, and a robust digital media presence reaching nearly 200 million people annually. “Like the Jews, the Ukrainian people have a huge overseas diaspora,” Singer said. “As any other nation, Ukraine should see its diaspora overseas as an important asset.”
The World Jewish Congress was also represented at the conference by Dan Meridor, President of the Israel Council on Foreign Relations (which operates under the auspices of the WJC) and former Israeli intelligence minister and deputy prime minister, who spoke on the challenge of funding a balance in ensuring public interests within the realm of national security and human rights. "If you don't have freedom -- freedom of thought or freedom of action -- nothing will grow,” Meridor said. Additional participants from Israel included former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Ron Prosor, former Israeli cabinet minister Rabbi Michael Melchior, and former National Security Advisor Major General Yaakov Amidror, among others.
(c) Cory Weiss
