|
Euroasian Jewish News
Lithuanian President Meets with Euro-Asian Jewish Leaders.
02.08.2004
President of Lithuania Valdas Adamkus held a meeting in Vilnius with a delegation of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC) headed by EAJC President Alexander Machkevitch, EAJC Executive Vice-President Fedor Ossinin (Kazakhstan) and EAJC General Council Chairman Josef Zissels (Ukraine). Head of the Jewish Community of Lithuania Simon Alperovitch also participated in the meeting.
During the talks the participants of the meeting discussed situation of Lithuanian Jews, the issue of this country taking active position when opposing anti-Semitism in the European Union as well as prospects of Lithuanian official representatives entering international interethnic and inter-religious dialog conducted with EAJC participation.
As Alexander Machkevitch remarked after the talks, “We are very satisfied with the results of the meeting with President Adamkus. Lithuania has chosen a worthy leader who confidently protects the rights of his fellow countrymen of all ethnic groups and religious beliefs not only in his motherland but also on the European level and worldwide.”
According to Fedor Ossinin, EAJC President’s position was determined by the support that Valdas Adamkus rendered to the Second Word Congress of Lithuanian Jews (Litvaks), which is to take place in Vilnius in the end of August this year.
“Jews call Vilnius a “Lithuanian Jerusalem” as it was Vilnius where Vilnius Gaon worked, whose heritage still influences Litvaks’ lifestyle - an original one but in many things very progressive,” – said EAJC Executive Vice-President.
As Josef Zissels added, “Meeting with Mr. Adamkus proved that he is in person familiar with Lithuanian Jews’ life and understands their wishes and needs. Therefore we consider these talks to be a very successful stage in a series of EAJC leaders’ meetings with the heads of member-states of the expanding European Union.”
In addition to the meeting with President of Lithuania EAJC delegation’s visit program includes their participation in the solemn ceremony of Vilnius Synagogue resuming its work and meeting with the Jewish community of the country.
Original publication (in Russian): lenta.ru
|
|
