Visit of the EAJC Delegation to Ukraine

A delegation of Jewish leaders, led by Michael Mirilashvili, President of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress (EAJC), has concluded an official visit to Ukraine. Alongside the EAJC leadership, the delegation included heads of Ukrainian Jewish organizations, notably Boris Lozhkin, President of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine.

The key highlights of the visit included working meetings with the President of Ukraine, Petro Poroshenko, and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Pavlo Klimkin. During these sessions, the parties addressed a wide range of issues concerning the status of the Jewish community in Ukraine and bilateral cooperation between Ukraine and Israel.

Among the matters discussed during the meeting with the President of Ukraine was the issue of antisemitism within the country. President Poroshenko emphasized that the Ukrainian authorities resolutely condemn any antisemitic incidents and prioritize efforts to combat this phenomenon. Concurrently, the President noted that antisemitism in Ukraine is confined to marginal groups, with no observed increase in the number of antisemitic occurrences. According to Poroshenko, the core of the issue lies in shortcomings within investigative bodies and the judicial system, which result in certain antisemitic incidents failing to receive proper legal assessment and the perpetrators escaping just punishment. EAJC President M. Mirilashvili underscored the critical importance of objective research and education regarding the history of the Holocaust. In this regard, it was announced that the EAJC is prepared to provide comprehensive support for courses, seminars, and internships for Ukrainian teachers and educators at the Yad Vashem Memorial in Jerusalem, as well as to facilitate visits of Israeli specialists to Ukraine.

The meeting with Minister of Foreign Affairs Pavlo Klimkin focused on bilateral relations between Israel and Ukraine and the contribution of the Jewish community to their strengthening and development. The Ukrainian Foreign Minister, who co-chairs the Israel-Ukraine Intergovernmental Commission, emphasized that he highly values the partnership established between the two nations and expressed hope for the swift signing and ratification of the free trade agreement. The parties also discussed the instruction of Holocaust history in Ukrainian schools and the EAJC proposal to organize professional development programs for Ukrainian history teachers at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem.

In addition to meetings with Ukrainian state officials, the delegation visited the Jewish community center complex in the village of Anatevka. The EAJC participates in the development program for educational and social initiatives located at the complex, which are aimed at supporting Jewish education and providing aid to vulnerable members of the community.

Furthermore, the delegation visited the Babyn Yar memorial and the Central Synagogue of Kyiv, and held meetings with leaders of Jewish organizations and rabbis.