June 27, 2006 – New York – An American Jewish Committee senior leadership delegation has concluded a successful and intensive weeklong visit to Russia, Latvia and Ukraine, meeting with senior government officials and Jewish community leaders. The mission was part of AJC’s ongoing international diplomacy. AJC last visited the three countries in July 2005.

The AJC leadership group first traveled to Moscow for meetings with senior Russian officials, including the Foreign Minister, the National Security Adviser to the President, and the Director of International Cooperation of the Atomic Energy Commission. The main topics of discussion focused on Iran and Russia’s role in current efforts to dissuade Tehran from pursuing a nuclear enrichment program, Hamas against the backdrop of Russia’s invitation to invite Hamas leaders to Moscow earlier this year, the struggle against anti-Semitism and other forms of racism, and the complex state of Russian-American bilateral relations.

“The Russia trip, following a similar visit to Moscow last July, reflects the growing importance AJC attaches to engaging in dialogue with Russia, which is playing an increasingly active and confident role on the global scene,” said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris. “As the foreign minister noted, this was our third meeting with him in the past nine months.”

The AJC delegation also held substantive meetings with the American and Israeli ambassadors, leaders of the Jewish community, student representatives of Moscow Hillel, and civic leaders. The group met with a leader of the influential Russian Orthodox Church and underscored the importance of interfaith dialogue, while noting that at least one notoriously anti-Semitic book was being sold on the grounds of the church meeting place. Kommersant, the most highly regarded Russian daily newspaper, published a substantial interview with the AJC group’s leader, David Harris.

Following Moscow, the AJC delegation visited Riga, Latvia, where they met with the country’s president and prime minister, and the foreign minister hosted a lunch for the group. In addition, meetings were arranged with leaders of the parliament and ministers and other key officials engaged in the battle against all forms of extremism.

At every stop, Latvian leaders praised AJC for its early support for Latvian independence in 1991, and its endorsement of Latvia’s desire to join NATO, which took place in 2004. The AJC group urged Latvian leaders to continue to stand strong in the European Union and other international organizations in defense of the importance of the transatlantic relationship and in support of Israel.

Moreover, the group met with the American and Israeli ambassadors and leaders of the 10,000-member Jewish community. The group visited Bikernieki, the site on the outskirts of Riga of the Nazi massacre of thousands of Jews.

The AJC delegation visited Kiev as its last stop. Meetings were held with key leaders, including the expected incoming prime minister, the foreign minister, and the leader of the opposition. At each meeting, the AJC group raised the importance of combating the pernicious influence in Ukraine of MAUP, the largest private university in Ukraine and a purveyor of raw anti-Semitism, and other manifestations of anti-Semitism.

The group also called on the Ukrainian government to withdraw from membership in a standing pro-Palestinian, anti-Israel committee at the UN, and to use its membership in the new Geneva-based UN Human Rights Council top prevent it from following the example of its predecessor and becoming an anti-Israel forum. And, AJC signaled support for the Euro-Atlantic orientation of the current government, which includes a desire to strengthen ties with NATO.

Ukrainian officials voiced appreciation for AJC’s leading role in the decision of the U.S. Congress to “graduate” their country from the restrictions of the Jackson-Vanik Amendment. AJC also met with the U.S. deputy ambassador and the Israeli ambassador, as well as leaders of the Jewish community. The group visited Babi Yar, the infamous site of the massacre of tens of thousands of Jews, as well as many others, during the Second World War.

“Ukraine is a country of substantial geopolitical importance and deserving of greater attention,” said Harris. “Moreover, its Jewish community is significant and playing an active role in all spheres of the country’s life.”