PARIS (Press Release) – World Jewish Congress CEO Robert Singer met on Tuesday, March 3, with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) Director-General Irina Bokova in Paris to discuss the importance of addressing anti-Semitism through UNESCO and building a stronger partnership between the two organizations.
The meeting followed Bokova’s recent veto of the inclusion of a collection of Palestine-themed posters into UNESCO’s world heritage register on the grounds that the documents could fuel anti-Semitism. Last month, Bokova wrote in a letter to Singer, who had criticized the register’s initial acceptance of the Palestinian poster collection: “It is my conviction that UNESCO should not associate itself with such documents whose inscription could fuel hatred and anti-Semitic perceptions.” Bokova and Singer both expressed appreciation yesterday for the other’s support on this issue.
The discussion at Tuesday’s meeting focused on the rise of anti-Semitism in Europe and the Middle East and UNESCO’s efforts to combat anti-Semitism, including its condemnation of Iran’s recent Second International Holocaust Cartoons Contest, the protection of Jewish cultural sites in the Middle East — especially in Iraq and Syria — and UNESCO’s general stance on matters involving Israel.
“The World Jewish Congress has been a partner in UNESCO since 1962 and I hope to strengthen our ties and cooperation,” said Bokova. “Combatting the recent rise of anti-Semitism in Europe through UNESCO is one of my top priorities and I believe that a strong partnership with the World Jewish Congress will be necessary to address this issue.”
“On behalf of the World Jewish Congress, I would like to thank Director-General Bokova for both her stand against the Palestine-themed posters and her condemnation of Iran’s Holocaust cartoons contest,” said Singer. “I look forward to building a stronger partnership with UNESCO and continuing to work together to address issues of anti-Semitism.”
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