Conference on Intolerance Urges European Nations to Fight Racism

More than 100 participants form Europe and North America convened at the Palace of Europe here last week to attend an international conference on racial intolerance.

The conference, called “Europe Versus Intolerance,” was held March 3 and 4 and was co-sponsored by the American Jewish Committee, the Council of Europe and the Foundation of European Science and Culture.

The Council of Europe represents 32 nations of Western, Central and Eastern Europe, making it more broad-based than the European Union, which is composed only of Western European countries.

During his introductory speech, AJCommittee President Alfred Moses noted that it was the work of international bodies, national governments, communal organizations and individuals to combat racism and xenophobia.

“In recent years the AJC has commissioned a number of attitude surveys in various countries in Europe, including the former Soviet Union,” Moses said.

“The picture is one of generally high levels of anti-Semitism both in countries where Jews are still present in significant numbers and in countries where Jewish communities hardly exist. The general level of xenophobia is dangerously high,” he explained.

“By narrowly defining the nation to include only those who are ethnically and religiously pure, all others are excluded. In all cases Jews and Gypsies are excluded, but, depending on the country, also excluded are Catholics, Muslims and Protestants and `foreign’ nationalities without distinction.

“The lesson of the past is that individuals to make a difference. Organizations do make a difference. But it is to governments that we must look and hold accountable for enacting and enforcing laws that protect minorities, civil rights and religious freedom, and it is to international bodies that we must look to oppose xenophobia and extreme nationalism that operate across international borders,” he said.

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Elie Wiesel told the gathering that more progress has been made in the sciences than in ethics or philosophy.

“Brains go faster than hearts. One word defines the fear felt by our contemporaries. It’s `intolerance.’ It threatens all that civilization acquire in the past 5,000 years,” said Wiesel.

“Political fanaticism has succeeded the religious fanaticism of the Middle Ages. The Europe we know, the Europe we wish for, is in danger of falling victim to intolerance, to violence resulting from it and indifference stemming from it.

I must ask for your forgiveness if I express myself with some skepticism: Culture is not always an armor against brutality and hatred. The only remedy I know is memory. Let us recall to all today the evil and the misery that intolerance brought down yesterday on mankind. Then, hope will be justified,” said Wiesel.

In an interview with the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Catherine Lalumiere, secretary-general of the Council of Europe, spoke of the organization’s moral commitment.

“Since our inception in 1949, our mission has been to build Europe should be erected on the values of a pluralistic democracy and respect for human rights,” she said.

“There will be no Europe without these values,” she added.

Lalumiere said she had met with the leaders of the AJCommittee during a visit to Washington several months ago.

“I was struck by the amount of things we had in common,” she said. “I felt within the AJCommittee the urge to act, with efficiency and strength. It was for us a boost, a breath of fresh air. Our cooperation came through and this seminar is here to prove it.”

In an interview, Moses explained why AJCommittee chose to work with the Council of Europe to organize the conference.

“The Council of Europe is the right body to deal with if you want to act against intolerance in Europe. We fight against anti-Semitism, but our agenda has to be broader if we want to be effective. What we intend to do through this seminar is raise consciousness.

“We have here the leading figures in Europe on the subject of xenophobia and intolerance. What we hope will emerge is a closer cooperation between the human rights community here and the AJC.

“This Strasbourg seminar is not a one-shot deal. One shot doesn’t accomplish anything. The secret here is to be constantly involved. That means ongoing dedication,” said Moses.