BELARUS NEWS AND ANALYSIS

DATE:

24/10/2007

Jews live in 'pigsties'

By Marc Shoffman

The President of Belarus has faced accusations of anti-semitism after a radio broadcast in which he claimed Jews do not care for the areas they live in.

Referring to the poor state of the rural town of Bobruisk, Alexander Lukashenko said last week that Jews had turned it into a "pigsty" when they lived there before the Holocaust.

He said: "Well, obviously, it is a Jewish town. The Jews do not care for the place they live in. They have turned Bobruisk into a pig sty. Look at Israel, I have been there". He added that the town was re-organised after the Jews left, and called for Jews "with money" to return to Bobruisk.

A statement from Israel's Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni "strongly condemned the President's harsh anti-Semitic remarks". While the statement reported that Belarusian Ambassador Igor Lacnia had been summoned to hear of the State's condemnation, Livni said: "The role of leadership is to fight anti-semitism wherever it raises its ugly head, all over the world, not to encourage it. Anti-semitism is primarily an indicator of the society in which it appears and of its leaders."

European Jewish Congress Secretary General Serge Cwajgenbaum told the Jewish News that the EJC would raise the issue with the European Union but pointed out that Lukashenko is already "persona nob grata" on the continent after allegations that he rigs votes, hounds opponents and censors the media in Belarus. He is banned from EU countries and the US.

Cwajgenbaum said: "It is an ugly statement. Mr Lukashenko is already persona non grata by a European Parliament resolution, he is not welcome in the European Union. It brings shame on him.

"We will raise the issue at the European Parliament and in discussions with heads of state, but he is already banned by democratic society."

The European Union and the America also joined condemnation of Lukashenko. Rene van der Linden, president of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe described the comments as "absurd." He urged the leader to apologise.

The US State Department said: "We have seen reports of President Lukashenko's disturbing and irresponsible comments. We find them deeply offensive and call upon him to disavow these remarks. World leaders have a special responsibility to combat anti-Semitism, not perpetuate it."

Belarus' Jewish community, which numbers around 28,000, said it was more concerned about cemetery desecrations and the Holocaust not being recognised in the country than last week's remarks.

The Union of Belarusian Jewish Organisations and Communities has previously expressed concern about growing neo-Nazism after a spate of attacks on Holocaust memorials. Anti-semitic newspaper editorials have also caused outrage in the community.

Source:

http://www.totallyjewish.com/news/world/c-7399/jews-live-in-pigsties/