ECMI Recommendations: Ukrainian Jewry
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Date: Wed, 14 Apr 1999 08:55:22 +0300 (EET DST)
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Subject: ECMI Recommendations: Ukrainian Jewry
From: MINELRES moderator <[email protected]>
Original sender: Farimah Daftary <[email protected]>
ECMI Recommendations: Ukrainian Jewry
Dear MINELRES Readers:
Please find attached the ECMI Recommendations based on the discussions
of the International Conference "Spiritual Heritage and Cultural
Renewal: Ukrainian Jewry at a Crossroads", organised by the
Association of Younger Jews in Denmark in cooperation with the
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) (Copenhagen, 21 February
1999).
This conference was the first event held outside the territory of
Ukraine to address the specific concerns of Ukrainian Jewry. It was
organised in the spirit of Council of Europe Recommendation 1291
(1996) on Yiddish culture which, inter alia, emphasises the importance
of the development of Yiddish culture in Europe and recognises that
stability in Europe depends on the acceptance of a pluralistic system
of cultural, ethnic and religious values. The conference was organised
as an integral element of a Study Tour to Denmark for 20
representatives of Jewish minority organisations and representatives
of the Ukrainian church and State which took place from 14-23 February
1999. The Study Tour and the conference was generously financed by the
Democracy Foundation (Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs) as well as
private sponsors.
These Recommendations may also be found on our website at
http://www.ecmi.de. They are also available in a Russian translation.
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ECMI RECOMMENDATIONS based on the discussions of the International
Conference "Spiritual Heritage and Cultural Renewal: Ukrainian Jewry
at a Crossroads" - A Conference of the Association of Younger Jews in
Denmark, in co-operation with the European Centre for Minority Issues
(ECMI) (Copenhagen, Jewish Community Centre, 21 February 1999)
PREAMBLE
In a European context, it is in Ukraine that the largest Jewish
population remains in its traditional territory of settlement. Despite
the tragic and almost complete destruction of the flowering Jewish
culture of East Central Europe during World War II, there is today a
Jewish population of about 450,000 in Ukraine, thereby constituting
the largest non-Slavic national and/or religious minority in Ukraine
and the fourth largest Jewish population in the world (after the
United States, Israel and Russia). During the last decade several
Jewish cultural and religious organisations have been formed, striving
to develop and preserve the unique character of one of the last
significant concentrations of East Central European Jewry. However,
today Ukrainian Jews are challenged by contrasting tendencies, such as
assimilation, emigration, anti-Semitism and the struggle to preserve
and develop a Jewish presence. With the process of European
integration, the Republic of Ukraine will soon become an important new
neighbouring state to the European Union. The further integration of
Europe is connected with the resolution of problems in minority-state
relations and the respectful treatment of all the inhabitants of
Europe.
Against this background, the Association of Younger Jews in Denmark,
in co-operation with the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI),
organised the conference Spiritual Heritage and Cultural Renewal -
Ukrainian Jewry at a Crossroads. The conference was the first to
address the specific concerns of Ukrainian Jewry held outside the
territory of Ukraine. The event was organised in the spirit of Council
of Europe Recommendation 1291 (1996) on Yiddish culture which, inter
alia, emphasises the importance of the development of Yiddish culture
in Europe and recognises that stability in Europe depends on the
acceptance of a pluralistic system of cultural, ethnic and religious
values. The conference was organised as an integral element of a Study
Tour to Denmark for 20 representatives of Jewish minority
organisations and representatives of the Ukrainian church and State
which took place from 14-23 February 1999. The Study Tour and the
conference was generously financed by the Democracy Foundation (Danish
Ministry of Foreign Affairs) as well as private sponsors.
The main purposes of the conference were: (1) to encourage continued
inter-ethnic dialogue in Ukraine; (2) to discuss the improvement of
Jewish minority rights in Ukraine; (3) to contribute to the
development of a European Jewish culture; and (4) to raise the
international awareness of the problems of contemporary Ukrainian
Jewry. An additional aim was to encourage inter-confessional dialogue
between Jewish and Christian communities in Ukraine. The conference
also sought to develop relations between the Jewish communities of
Ukraine, Denmark, Sweden and other countries of the European Union
whose representatives were also invited. More than 60 participants
took part in the conference which was conducted in Danish and Russian.
Based on the discussions during the conference, the European Centre
for Minority Issues (ECMI) has outlined the following set of
recommendations on the protection and promotion of the spiritual
heritage of Ukraine Jewry:
1. Welcoming the great transformations which have taken place in
Ukraine since independence in 1991 and efforts to create a free and
democratic state for all its inhabitants, ECMI recommends that further
steps be taken to implement existing international and domestic legal
standards with respect to national minorities in force in Ukraine, as
set forth, inter alia, in the Declaration on the Rights of the
Nationalities of Ukraine (1991), the Law on the National Minorities of
Ukraine (1992), the Constitution of Ukraine (1996), and also the
Council of Europe's Framework Convention for the Protection of
National Minorities (1995) and European Charter on Regional or
Minority Languages (1992) (signed but not yet ratified by Ukraine).
2. In accordance with international and domestic instruments in force
in Ukraine guaranteeing the equality of all persons before the law and
prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, colour, sex,
language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social
origin, property, birth or other status, a high priority should be
attached to ensuring the effective functioning of the existing
domestic legal system in order to ensure equal treatment of all its
inhabitants in all spheres, including access to employment. Relevant
legal instruments in force in Ukraine include the Constitution of
Ukraine (Art. 24), the International Covenant on Civil and Political
Rights (1966) + Optional Protocol, the International Convention on
the Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination (1965), and ILO
Convention no. 111 concerning Discrimination in Respect of Employment
and Occupation.
CULTURAL RENEWAL
3. ECMI welcomes the efforts of the government of Ukraine in assisting
its Jewish community in creating the conditions for the preservation
and revival of the Jewish culture and Yiddish language in Ukraine and
recommends that the two parties persevere in creating these conditions
in accordance with domestic and international standards such as Art.
11 of the Ukrainian Constitution (1996), Council of Europe
Recommendation 1291 (1996) on Yiddish Culture, and Resolution 885
(1987) on the Jewish contribution to European culture.
4. ECMI particularly welcomes the endorsement given by the Ukrainian
government to specific initiatives emanating from the Jewish community
itself to create the conditions for the revival of Jewish culture in
Ukraine in the forms of cultural institutions, schools, universities,
etc. In this context the encouraging experience of the International
Solomon University in Kyiv since 1993 can be drawn upon.
5. ECMI welcomes the decision by the Committee of Ministers of the
Council of Europe to grant Council of Europe auspices to the "European
Institute for Dispersed Ethnic Minorities" (EIDEM) established in
Vilnius, Lithuania, in July 1998 with the aim to preserve and
popularise the cultures of numerous small ethnic groups in Europe and
a commitment to address the Yiddish and Roma cultures amongst others
(cf. Doc. 8277 (1998) Reply of the Committee of Ministers to Rec.
1291). ECMI recommends that experts from the government of Ukraine and
representatives of Jewish organisations establish contact and
cooperate with EIDEM. Co-operation with EIDEM could be especially
vital for the Krymchak population of the Crimean peninsula, a
Turkic-speaking indigenous population of Jewish origins of whom only
about 500 remain today.
6. ECMI notes the particular wish of the participants that the
administration of Jewish places of burial, which is currently carried
out by the local authorities, be transferred to local Jewish
communities. ECMI recognises that such a measure would have a symbolic
impact and be of great significance for the Jewish population of
Ukraine and would also help improve the maintenance of the places of
burial.
ADVANCING RESTITUTION
7. Welcoming the fact that Ukraine has passed a law on restitution of
places of worship and that the implementation of this law has resulted
in the return of hundreds of religious properties, ECMI encourages the
continuation of efforts in this field. As regards redundant religious
buildings, the process of restitution should continue in accordance
with Council of Europe Resolution 916 (1989) on Redundant religious
buildings.
8. ECMI notes the participants' emphasis on the vital need for
advancing the process of restitution and devising alternative
compensation mechanisms in those cases where restitution is not
possible.
FIGHTING ANTI-SEMITISM AND IMPROVING INTER-ETHNIC RELATIONS
9. International documents for fighting anti-Semitism and intolerance
provide useful guidance. These include Council of Europe
Recommendation 1275 (1995) on the fight against racism, xenophobia,
anti-Semitism and intolerance, Recommendation 1215 (1993) on ethics of
journalism, ECRI (European Commission against Racism and Intolerance)
general policy recommendation no. 1 on Combating racism, xenophobia,
antisemitism and intolerance (1996), and ECRI general policy
recommendation no. 2 on Specialised bodies to combat racism,
xenophobia, antisemitism and intolerance at national level (1997).
10. Recognising that a strong means of preventing anti-Semitism is
better dissemination of information on Jewish culture and history, the
Ministry of Education of Ukraine, in cooperation with experts from
other member states of the Council of Europe, should ensure the
adequate dissemination of information on Jewish culture and history,
especially in manuals on European history in schools and universities,
as recommended by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
in Doc. 7850 (1997) "Interim Reply to Recommendation 1291 (1996)". In
particular, it should ensure that the events of the Holocaust are
taught to Jewish and non-Jewish students alike.
11. Reinforced implementation at the national as well as local levels
of the existing legal system for preventing incitement to ethnic
hatred is necessary (for example Criminal Code of Ukraine, art. 66. on
deliberate acts instigating national, racial or religious hatred or
discord). Those responsible for disseminating anti-Semitic statements,
articles and other materials should be prosecuted according to
Ukrainian law.
12. ECMI expresses support for the participants' wish that monuments
to Jewish culture and history be erected and that these monuments
receive adequate protection against acts of vandalism. ECMI further
supports the participants' recommendation that historic sites related
to Pogroms and the Holocaust be classified and marked.
DEVELOPING INTER-FAITH DIALOGUE AND PROMOTING RELIGIOUS TOLERANCE
13. Ukraine's religious landscape today is free, pluralistic and
stable, and important mechanisms for regulating relations between
state and religious groups as well as inter-confessional relations
have been created such as the State Committee of Ukraine on Religious
Affairs and the Congress of Religious Communities of Ukraine. ECMI
especially welcomes the beginning of inter-faith dialogue between the
Christian Orthodox and Jewish communities (in the concrete forms of a
Christian-Jewish conference in 1998 and an upcoming World Congress of
Christian and Jewish organisations in Kyiv in May 1999) for increased
communication and cooperation between the Orthodox Congregations of
Ukraine and Jewish organisations could greatly contribute to
strengthening a fully tolerant and democratic society.
14. Finally, in order to promote a better understanding and tolerance
of different world religions, Ukraine should follow Council of Europe
Recommendation 1396 (1999) on Religion and Democracy and
Recommendation 1202 (1993) on Religious Tolerance in a Democratic
Society by encouraging the learning of the history of different world
religions and considering the introduction of studies of religions and
ethics into the general school curriculum as an optional subject. The
holy texts of these faiths could also be made available in public
libraries.
The European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI), Flensburg, and the
ECMI Regional Representative for Ukraine.
PARTICIPANTS FROM UKRAINE:
1. Ms. Tetyana Brayman, Jewish Agency representative, Kyiv.
2. Mr. Eduard Dolinsky, Director of Public Relations of the
All-Ukrainian Jewish Congress, Kyiv.
3. Mr. Mikhail Frenkel, journalist at the newspaper "Nezavisimost" and
the TV programme "Yahad".
4. Dr. Leonid Gittik, Professor and writer. The Inter-confessional
Association "A Step to Unity" and the Jewish Foundation of Ukraine.
5. Mr. Vladimir Katsman, Chief editor of the weekly "Stolichniie
novosti" and the Jewish weekly "VEK", Kyiv.
6. Mr. Arkady Klimchuk, L'viv Jewish Community.
7. Mr. Viktor M. Lombrozo, Chairman of "Krymchakhlar" (Krymchaks),
Simferopol, Crimea.
8. Mr. Oleg Mogeletsky, Luboml Jewish Community.
9. Father Yurij Mytsyk, Ukrainian-Orthodox Priest, Kyiv.
10. Ms. Darina Privalko, Jewish Student and Youth organisation
"Hillel", Kyiv.
11. Mr. Vadim Rabinovich, President of the All-Ukrainian Jewish
Congress, Kyiv
12. Mr. Toviy Rivetz, Vice-President of the Volyn Jewish Community,
Vladimir-Volynsk.
13. Ms. Vera Riwits, Jewish Charity Service, Kyiv.
14. Mr. Viktor Rosenblit, President's Adviser on Social Affairs and
Kyiv Jewish Community, Kyiv.
15. Professor Alexander Rosenfeld, Dean of the International Solomon
University, Kyiv.
16. Professor Roman Shopshovich, Chairman of the Board of
Trustees of the International Solomon University, Kyiv.
17. Mr. Evgeny Smirtenko, Jewish Student and Youth Organisation
"Hillel", Kyiv.
18. Ms. Oksana Solopa, Director of the Interreligious Center, Lutsk.
19. Mr. Viktor Yelensky, Advisor to the Head of the State Committee of
Ukraine on Religious Affairs, Kyiv.
20. Dr. Boris Zabarko, Political Researcher, Former Prisoner of the
Kyiv Ghetto, Kyiv.
APPENDIX:
The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly
RECOMMENDATION 1291 (1996) on Yiddish culture
(omitted - see the text at http://stars.coe.fr/ta/ta96/erec1291.htm -
Boris)
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Farimah Daftary
Research Associate
European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI)
Schiffbruecke 12 (Kompagnietor)
D-24939 Flensburg, Germany
Tel: (49-461) 14 14 962
Fax: (49-461) 14 14 969
E-Mail: [email protected]
http://www.ecmi.de
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