Kremlin has hosted a meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin with a delegation of the World Jewish Congress (WJC) leadership, headed by its President Ronald Lauder. The delegation included Julius Meinl, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress and Mikhail Mirilashvili, EAJC First Vice-President.
Vladimir Putin noted that Russia maintains close and regular contacts with Jewish organizations, including European ones. Russian President also stressed that Judaism as one of the traditional Russian religions enjoys the support of the authorities and congratulated the interlocutors with the upcoming Pesach.
Ronald Lauder, in turn, recalled that at the last meeting, which took place in 2003, President Vladimir Putin pledged to fight anti-Semitism in Russia. "You have fulfilled that promise. Now in Russia there is a minimum level of anti-Semitism, — said the WJC leader. – While in Europe, anti-Semitism is still strongly raises its head."
The meeting was attended by Berl Lazar, Chief Rabbi of Russia, Alexander Boroda, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia, Yuri Kanner, President of the Russian Jewish Congress and Robert Singer, CEO of WJC.