OSCE Chair extends appointments of Personal Representatives to promote tolerance
(OSCE/Ayhan Evrensel)German politician Gert Weisskirchen is the OSCE Chairman-in-Office's Personal Representative on Combating anti-Semitism. (OSCE/Ayhan Evrensel) Photo details
VIENNA, 11 January 2005 - The OSCE Chairman-in-Office Dimitrij Rupel has extended the appointments for the year 2005 of the three Personal Representatives of his predecessor to promote greater tolerance and combat racism, xenophobia and discrimination in its participating States.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Rupel has issued letters prolonging the mandates of the Personal Representatives.
The appointments by the OSCE's 2004 Bulgarian Chair followed separate OSCE conferences last year in Berlin, Paris and Brussels on anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia and discrimination, including the relationship between anti-semitic propaganda on the Internet and hate crimes.
As a result, on 22 December 2004, Chairperson of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia, Anastasia Crickley of Ireland, was appointed as the Personal Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions; German Parliamentarian and Professor of Higher Education Gert Weisskirchen as the Personal Representative on Combating anti-Semitism; and former Turkish Ambassador to the OSCE, Omur Orhun, as the CiO's Personal Representative on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims.
Slovenian Foreign Minister Rupel has issued letters prolonging the mandates of the Personal Representatives.
The appointments by the OSCE's 2004 Bulgarian Chair followed separate OSCE conferences last year in Berlin, Paris and Brussels on anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia and discrimination, including the relationship between anti-semitic propaganda on the Internet and hate crimes.
As a result, on 22 December 2004, Chairperson of the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia, Anastasia Crickley of Ireland, was appointed as the Personal Representative on Combating Racism, Xenophobia and Discrimination, also focusing on Intolerance and Discrimination against Christians and Members of Other Religions; German Parliamentarian and Professor of Higher Education Gert Weisskirchen as the Personal Representative on Combating anti-Semitism; and former Turkish Ambassador to the OSCE, Omur Orhun, as the CiO's Personal Representative on Combating Intolerance and Discrimination against Muslims.