[Congressional Record Volume 145, Number 75 (Monday, May 24, 1999)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1064]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          93RD ANNUAL MEETING OF THE AMERICAN JEWISH COMMITTEE

                                 ______
                                 

                       HON. CHRISTOPHER H. SMITH

                             of new jersey

                    in the house of representatives

                          Monday, May 24, 1999

  Mr. SMITH of New Jersey. Mr. Speaker, I recently had the pleasure of 
attending a forum on ``The Upsurge of Anti-Semitism in Russia'' 
sponsored by the American Jewish Committee at its 93rd annual meeting. 
This forum was attended by several Members of Congress and provided a 
useful opportunity for representatives of the AJC and Members of 
Congress to exchange their thoughts on the rise of anti-Semitism in 
Russia and the response of Congress.
  In this connection, I distributed a statement regarding the March 23 
passage of H. Con. Res. 37, a resolution that condemned the anti-
Semitic statements made by certain members of the Russian State Duma, 
as well as commending fair-minded members of the Duma for their efforts 
to condemn such statements. This resolution passed the House of 
Representatives unanimously. As Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I 
was proud to have introduced this resolution in the House, along with 
every member of the Helsinki Commission. A companion resolution in the 
Senate, S. Con. Res. 19, has been introduced by Commission Co-chairman 
Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell and Ranking Commissioner Senator Frank 
Lautenberg.
  Mr. Speaker, at this time, I submit this statement for the Record.

            Statement of the Honorable Christopher H. Smith

       Good morning, ladies and gentlemen. It's a pleasure to meet 
     with you today, at this 93rd annual meeting of the American 
     Jewish Committee and the forum on ``Confronting the New 
     Upsurge of Anti-Semitism in Russia.''
       With the fall of the Soviet Union, many of the ``hidden'' 
     ills of that society that had been ``frozen'' by a 
     totalitarian regime devoted to superficial ``order'' re-
     emerged. One of these was open anti-Semitism. Freedom of the 
     press has given rise to countless anti-Semitic publications 
     and leaflets. As you know, two suspicious explosions took 
     place in Moscow recently near the Maria Roshcha and Chorale 
     synagogues. These are only the most recent instances of arson 
     or suspected arson against these two synagogues. Other 
     synagogues and Jewish cemeteries in the former Soviet Union 
     and Russia have been hit as well.
       In post-Soviet Russia, the residue of official anti-Semitic 
     propaganda of the Soviet era--disguised by Moscow as ``anti-
     Zionism''--was bound to find a certain reception among 
     certain less-discriminating elements. These attitudes, freed 
     from the constraints of the Iron Curtain and now aided by the 
     Internet and an unrestrained press, and then reinforced and 
     cross-pollinated by neo-Nazis and racists throughout the 
     world. In their fervent anti-communism, some extreme 
     nationalists have attempted to present a distorted picture of 
     Jews as allies of communists destroying Russia during the 
     Soviet period. In Russia today the communists blame Jews for 
     being allies of capitalists destroying Russia. Finally, the 
     economic malaise experienced in Russia has engendered hatred 
     intolerance against not only Jews, but toward many ethnic 
     minorities, especially the so-called ``dark people'' from the 
     Caucasus.
       It is deplorable when vandals and hate-mongers attempt to 
     spread bigotry in any society, but we must admit that such 
     unfortunate incidents do not take place only in Russia. And, 
     I have yet to meet any member of the Russian Jewish community 
     who wants to return to the Soviet period. But I--and I know I 
     can speak for other Members of the House of Representatives--
     have been outraged by the antics and attitudes that have been 
     exhibited by some members of the Russian Duma, especially in 
     the ranks of the Communist Party.
       In December of last year, Mr. Viktor Ilyukhin, a Communist 
     Party member and chairman of the Duma security committee, 
     stated that Yeltsin's ``Jewish entourage'' is responsible for 
     alleged genocide against the Russian people. Another 
     Communist Party member, retired General Albert Makashov, 
     speaking at public rallies, referred to ``the Yids'' and 
     other ``reformers and democrats'' as responsible for Russia's 
     problems and threatened to make up a list of targets and 
     ``send them to the other world.''
       Incidentally, I have seen films of Mr. Makashov's 
     performance. It is quite sobering. I can only say, ``Heaven 
     help the Russian people and the world,'' if he and his ilk 
     ever do triumph.
       In fairness to the many conscientious Russians inside and 
     outside of the government, these anti-Semitic statements were 
     widely condemned in Russia. In response to the public outcry, 
     both in Russia and abroad, Communist Party chairman Zyuganov 
     explained that the Party had nothing against ``Jews,'' just 
     ``Zionism.'' When fair-minded members of the Duma attempted 
     to pass a resolution condemning Makashov's statement, it was 
     voted down by the communist majority.
       The U.S. Congress, though, has reacted much differently. On 
     March 23 of this year, the House of Representatives passed 
     unanimously, 421-0, House Concurrent Resolution 37, 
     condemning anti-Semitic statements made by members of the 
     Russian Duma and commending actions taken by fair-minded 
     members of the Duma to censure the purveyors of anti-Semitism 
     within their ranks. I was proud to have introduced this 
     resolution in the House, along with every member of the 
     Helsinki Commission as original co-sponsors. A companion 
     resolution in the Senate, Senate Concurrent Resolution 19, 
     has been introduced by Commission Co-Chairman Senator Ben 
     Nighthorse Campbell and Ranking Commissioner Senator Frank 
     Lautenberg.
       In addition, several members of the Helsinki Commission and 
     I have written to Mr. Zyuganov to express our dismay at his 
     role and the role of his party in tolerating anti-Semitism in 
     a participating State of the Organization for Security and 
     Cooperation in Europe. In that letter, among other points, we 
     urged Zyuganov to take every appropriate step to disassociate 
     the Communist Party from racist and anti-Semitic positions 
     and to reject individuals who hold those positions.
       I would add that our Embassy and the State Department have 
     performed commendably in expressing to Russian officials our 
     deep concern about the rise of anti-Semitism in Russia.
       I am informed by the State Department that in recent days 
     at least, there have been no more anti-Semitic statements 
     emanating from Duma members. However, as Elena Bonner 
     remarked earlier this year at Helsinki Commission hearings, 
     the parliamentary elections in December of this year will be 
     an important indicator of Russia's direction for the future. 
     Will Russia return to the democratic path of the early 1990s 
     or will it turn backward in reaction? We hope that the lesson 
     of ethnic intolerance, taken to its extreme conclusion now in 
     the Balkans, should be clear.
       In any event, let me assure you that as Chairman of the 
     Helsinki Commission and as Chairman of the Subcommittee on 
     International Operations and Human Rights of the House 
     International Relations Committee, I will use every 
     appropriate opportunity to combat anti-Semitism and 
     intolerance in Russia.

     

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