Uruguay will mobilize Latin American countries in a drive to repeal the 1975 U.N. resolution equating Zionism with racism, its president-elect, Dr. Luis Alberto Lacalle, told Jewish leaders here last week.
Lacalle, who is visiting the United States, had an hour-long meeting with 20 national Jewish leaders at World Jewish Congress headquarters. He was accompanied by leaders of Uruguay’s Jewish community.
Lacalle, who said he has always held the Jewish people in highest regard, said he plans to break with tradition by inviting the senior rabbi in Montevideo to join the Roman Catholic archbishop at his inauguration in the city’s cathedral on March 1.
He stressed that close ties with Israel would continue to be the hallmark of Uruguay’s foreign policy under his administration.
One indication of those close relations occurred in December, when Israeli President Chaim Herzog paid a visit to Montevideo, becoming the first Israeli head of state to travel to the South American country.
Evelyn Sommers, U.S. president of the Women’s International Zionist Organization, asked Lacalle whether, in view of the close relations, Uruguay would recruit other Latin American countries to try to eliminate the Zionism-racism resolution.
He replied that in Uruguay, “the efforts against this resolution were originated by me.”
He said his country would therefore take the lead in a repeal drive. “I will instruct our foreign minister to do so,” he said.
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