Moscow, March 22, 1999…Russian Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov told a visiting Anti-Defamation League (ADL) delegation that he unequivocally condemns anti-Semitism and extreme nationalism as "the most horrible things that the human race has to live with," and that "these elements should not be brought into politics." On the eve of his visit to the United States, the Russian Prime Minister assured the Jewish leaders that Russia wants its Jewish community to feel as "comfortable as anyone else," and pledged that the government will never prevent Jewish emigration from Russia.

"We welcome Prime Minister Primakov’s strong and clear condemnation of anti-Semitism," said Howard P. Berkowitz, ADL National Chairman and Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "Until today, his was a voice that was missing in condemning anti-Semitism in Russia," noted the ADL leaders. "In our meeting, Mr. Primakov expressed his repulsion with anti-Semitism and pledged the government to take a strong stand against it by supporting anti-fascist and anti-extremist legislation before the Russian Parliament (Duma)."

Mr. Primakov told the ADL delegation that, "I say unambiguously that the government takes a very strong position against manifestations of nationalism, including anti-Semitism." Calling anti-Semitism and extremism "the most horrible things that the human race has to live with," Mr. Primakov said that these elements have no place in politics "particularly during election time." Referring to the anti-Semitic statements of General Albert Makashov, a Communist member of the Duma, Mr. Primakov declared, "I believe Makashov had to be condemned fair and square and unambiguously for his pronouncements, in an open and undisguised way."

Mr. Primakov expressed support for anti-fascist and anti-extremist legislation currently before the Duma, which he said "will expand the campaign against anti-Semitism and neutralize those base attitudes." He said he was happy to meet with the ADL leaders, because we share "a common purpose to combat any form of defamation, and, of course, anti-Semitism."

Mr. Berkowitz and Mr. Foxman said ADL was in Moscow to express solidarity with the Russian Jewish community and Russian democracy and "to express our great concern at the emergence of political anti-Semitism in Russia. For democracy to grow and flourish," they said, "Russia must provide its minorities with democratic rights and tolerance." They announced to Mr. Primakov that the Anti-Defamation League and the Russian Jewish Congress have begun a cooperative relationship to monitor and combat anti-Semitism and intolerance in Russia.

ADL welcomed the Prime Minister’s assurance that Russia wants its Jewish community to feel as "comfortable as anyone else," and his pledge that the government will never prevent Jewish emigration from Russia. The era of the "refuseniks will never happen again," Mr. Primakov declared. Mr. Foxman said that Russian Jews "must have the personal choice to stay or leave, and not have conditions force them to leave."

The ADL delegation also raised the issues of Russian technology transfers to Iran and Russian-Israeli relations. Joining with ADL at the meeting with Prime Minister Primakov were representatives of the Russian Jewish Congress, headed by its President, Valdimir Goussinsky.

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.