NCSJ - 05.21.2008

NCSJ Meets with Moldovan President; Voronin supports U.S. on "Durban II"

Washington, D.C. – NCSJ leadership met yesterday with President of the Republic of Moldova Vladimir Voronin, at the Presidential Palace in Chisinau (Kishinev), Moldova, along with other senior government officials. The agenda included discussion of the Jewish community in Moldova and Moldova’s relationship with the United States.

President Voronin expressed his support for the Moldovan Jewish community and for the U.S. position on the 2009 U.N. follow-up World Conference Against Racism, commonly referred to as “Durban II.” The first conference, held in Durban, South Africa, served as a platform for anti-Semitic and anti-Zionist extremism, contrary to the program’s stated goals of promoting tolerance, and the United States has expressed a high degree of skepticism that the follow-up conference will see any dramatic improvement in tone or tenor.

The meeting took place as part of an NCSJ mission to Moldova and Belarus during the week of May 18-24. Executive Director Mark B. Levin, Chairman Edward B. Robin and President Lesley Israel are heading a six-person delegation of NCSJ leaders, visiting the countries' capitals.