Representative of OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism condemns attack at Jewish Museum in Brussels

WASHINGTON, 28 May 2014 – The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office on Combating Anti-Semitism condemned the attack at the Jewish Museum in Brussels on Saturday which left four people dead. The murder in Brussels was followed the next day by the beating in Paris of two men as they left a suburban synagogue. “These two vicious incidents are a reminder to us all that anti-Semitism remains a problem in the heart of Europe,” said Rabbi Andrew Baker.

In June 2013 the Ukrainian Chairmanship of the OSCE and the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) co-organized a conference in Berlin, “Addressing the Security Needs of Jewish Communities in the OSCE Region”, which highlighted the ongoing challenge of providing sufficient security for Jewish institutions and their members. Leaders of the Belgian and French Jewish communities were among those who participated in the conference.

Also in June 2013 the Personal Representatives of the OSCE Chair-in-Office conducted a country visit to Belgium. At that time Belgian Interior Ministry officials noted the special security threats facing the Jewish community. The OSCE country report included a recommendation to the Belgian Government to increase financial and logistical support to address those security needs.

Later this autumn the OSCE will mark the tenth anniversary of the OSCE Berlin Conference and Declaration on Anti-Semitism. “This will be an opportunity for OSCE participating States to review and restate their commitments to combat anti-Semitism, as laid out in that 2004 Declaration.  Sadly, it is as timely today as it was a decade ago,” said Baker.