Uruguay’s newly elected democratic government, headed by President Julio Maria Sanguinetti, leader of the Colorado Party, is a source of encouragement for Jews in Latin America and elsewhere, according to Manuel Tenenbaum, director of the World Jewish Congress’ Latin American branch.
Tenenbaum was the first Jewish leader invited to attend the inauguration ceremonies here last Monday. The new President, in his inaugural address, made two significant references to Jews and Judaism. In speaking of the nation’s Western spiritual heritage, Sanguinetti mentioned Judaism as one of its main components, along with Christianity and Greek culture.
When he spoke of the national make-up of Uruguay, he defined it as a pluralist society established through the positive contributions of various ethnic immigrant groups, among which he specifically mentioned the Jews.
The ruling Colorado Party and its leader, contributed much to the establishment of the traditional friendship of Uruguay for the Jewish people and the State of Israel, Tenenbaum said. The newly-elected Vice President, Enrique Tarigo, was, at the time of his election, chairman of the Uruguayan Committee for the Rights of Soviet Jews. Several Jews have been named to executive posts in the new administration, Tenenbaum noted.
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