The Artists Equity Association of New York has called on the U.S. Committee of the International Association of Art/UNESCO, of which it is a member, not to participate in the Association’s Congress, scheduled to be held in Baghdad this May, unless the Iraqi government gives “explicit and official” guarantees of the safety of participants from Israel and those friendly to Israel.
In a resolution adopted earlier this month, the AEA noted that since the Baghdad site was approved by the International Association three years ago. “Iraq, the designated host country has joined, in an act of aggressive war against one of the society of nations, Israel, that would under peaceful circumstances have its artists associations normally participate.”
The resolution noted further that “the host country has, additionally, revealed a violent hostility, not only to the people of Israel but to all Jews and to their Zionist friends, Jewish and non-Jewish alike, by its votes in the recent United Nations Assembly and at UNESCO meetings.” The resolution said that as a result of that posture, “many artists, Israelis, Jews, and all non-Jewish friends of Israel and Zion, feel themselves dangerously threatened as to their safety as well as to their freedom of movement within that country (Iraq) and as to their free and unharrassed exit.”
The resolution concluded by calling on the U.S. Committee of the international body “to offer its full support and participation in the planned convocation if, and as soon as, clear and explicit and official Iraq governmental assurances are given through the appropriate United Nations agencies as to its guarantees of safety of those coming from Israel and to all other of its friends and artists who feel themselves equally imperiled as to their absolute safety and security of life, property, freedom of movement and unimpeded right of departure.”
A copy of the resolution was sent to Secretary of State Henry A. Kissinger with a covering letter signed by Elias Newman, president emeritus of the AEA, asking “for your supportive action on this resolution and for its transmission to all member nations of the United Nations through the U.S. representative to the United Nations.”
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