April 10, 2008 - Moscow - An AJC leadership delegation has concluded its visit to Moscow, where it held meetings with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, Moscow Mayor Yuri Luzhkov, and Sergey Kirienko, director of the state nuclear energy agency ROSATOM.
"Russia's large Jewish community and key role in the Middle East are of vital interest to American Jewry," said AJC Executive Director David A. Harris, who led the delegation. "Through our regular visits and contacts, AJC seeks to contribute to stronger bilateral understanding and cooperation in central areas of mutual concern."
The discussion in the 70-minute meeting with Minister Lavrov--whom AJC has met at least two or three times annually during his tenure--covered U.S.-Russia and NATO-Russia relations, Israel's quest for peace and security, and the Iranian nuclear program, while the 75-minute meeting with Kirienko focused on Iran and nuclear nonproliferation. AJC shared experiences in tolerance education and energy conservation in an hour-long conversation with Mayor Luzhkov, a key figure in national politics.
The group also met with Israeli Ambassador Anna Azari; acting U.S. Ambassador Dan Russell; Senator Boris Shpigel, Chairman of the Civil Society Development Commission of the Federal Assembly; and Andrey Kozyrev, Russia's first foreign minister in the post-Soviet era.
AJC hosted a dinner where guests included Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov, other Russian and American diplomats and officials, and members of the Jewish community.
In addition, the delegation met with a diverse group of Moscow Jewish community leaders and students from Moscow Hillel.
The mission was organized by Sam Kliger, AJC's Director of Russian Affairs.
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