New York, NY, January 25, 2006 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) welcomed the statements and actions of the Ukrainian government to condemn anti-Semitism, and specifically one of the country's leading institutions of higher education, which ADL has called a hotbed for anti-Semitic incitement.  Ukraine's Foreign Minister and the Ministry of Education and Science publicly condemned MAUP University's anti-Semitic activities and called for "anti-incitement laws to be effectively enforced."

In a letter to Borys Tarasyuk, Ukraine's Foreign Minister, Barbara B. Balser, ADL National Chair, and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director welcomed his "strong statement condemning the anti-Semitic actions of MAUP University as unlawful and wrongful and proclaiming that 'there is no place for any form of anti-Semitism and xenophobia in the Ukraine.'"

The League leaders also welcomed the statement of the Ministry of Education and Science accusing MAUP of breaking Ukrainian law by persistent incompliance with requirements of state licensing rules for universities and failure to abide with legally binding procedures of the State Accreditation Commission.

"We hope the Ukrainian government will continue to condemn such anti-Semitic activities and ensure anti-incitement laws will be effectively enforced," Ms. Balser and Mr. Foxman said.

A university with 50,000 students, MAUP has made statements supporting the President of Iran's denial of the Holocaust and appeal for Israel's destruction and is a bastion of anti-Jewish propaganda and incitement in the Ukraine.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.