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Posted on 06/28/2005 7:19:13 AM PDT by Alouette
MOSCOW, Russia – The Moscow Jewish Community Center hosted a press conference, which involved Alexander Boroda, the Chairman of the Board for the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, and FJC Russia Executive Director Valery Engel. This conference presented the appeal of the FJC Russia, addressed to the organization 'Socialist International' and its members, drawing attention to some disturbing facts concerning the activity of the 'Rodina' Party, a political party active at the national level in Russia.
This political party, which claims to represent the social-patriotic opposition, has applied to become a member of the 'Socialist International' organization. One of the more notorious actions of this political party is the notorious anti-Semitic 'Letter of 19', which was signed by 14 members of this party.
In subsequent correspondence between Chief Rabbi of Russia Berel Lazar and 'Rodina' Chairman Dmitry Rogozin, the political leader refused to condemn the anti-Semitic address signed by his fellow party members, claming only that the 'Letter of 19' was not endorsed by the party's leadership. By not commenting on the content of the anti-Semitic letter submitted by his colleagues, Dmitry Rogozin has revealed his tolerance to such statements. These facts, combined with a number of other aspects in this party's activity, convinced Jewish leaders that 'these pseudo Social Democrats' have been infected with the 'old virus of anti-Semitism, xenophobia and ethnic intolerance'.
The FJC Russia appeal calls upon 'Socialist International' to refuse the 'Rodina' party as a member due to the risk posed by this political party in encouraging the spread of Fascism within society. "The consequences of such activity are well known from the history of the 20th century," the appeal reads.
Alexander Boroda announced this appeal would be forwarded to 'Social International' that same day. "In sending this appeal to 'Socialist International', I would also like to draw the attention of law enforcement agencies to the activity of the 'Rodina' Party," he added.
"It is a very dangerous tendency to allow a group of parliamentary deputies to come forward with such anti-Semitic statements. In 1933, a similar letter caused the introduction of a series of anti-Semitic laws in Germany. Society always follows the example of its parliament. These recently-published anti-Semitic letters and the way the Prosecutor’s Office have responded to them show that the number of anti-Semitic manifestations may grow in Russia".
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