American Jewish Committee, German Authorities To Cooperate in Tolerance-Building Programs

American Jewish Committee
Friday, 22 September 2000

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder has accepted an American Jewish Committee offer to make its experience available to German authorities in developing a tolerance-building program as part of the German government's campaign to counter the recent rise in extremist violence.

AJC President Bruce M. Ramer offered AJC's expertise during a 45-minute meeting with Chancellor Schroeder, who was in New York this month attending the UN Millennium Summit.

"The kind of moral leadership you have shown in responding to extremist violence is very important," said Mr. Ramer, who in May received Germany's highest civilian medal for his longstanding efforts to build German-Jewish relations.

Chancellor Schroeder set forth a three-pronged, long-term strategy the German government is pursuing to address the extremism problem, which he pointed out is also emerging in other European countries.

"We are very aware of the problem in Germany but this is not just a problem for Germany," the Chancellor said.

Mr. Ramer discussed AJC's innovative Hands Across the Campus student leadership training program, which is used by schools across the United States and could be adapted for German schools.

The AJC delegation also offered the American Jewish Committee's "No One is Born Hating" ads, used to promote tolerance and mutual understanding, and AJC's "Stamp Out Hate" campaign.

Chancellor Schroeder, who praised AJC's outstanding relationship with Germany, welcomed the readiness of AJC's office in Berlin to work together with German authorities in exploring ways of facilitating AJC-German cooperation in developing programs to combat hate.

The AJC delegation and Chancellor Schroeder also discussed the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, the status of 10 Iranian Jews convicted of spying, Germany's Jewish community and the upcoming UN Conference on Racism next year.

Responding to Mr. Ramer's request for Germany's assistance so that anti-Semitism be "included specifically and covered substantively" at the conference, Chancellor Schroeder agreed to be of assistance on this "totally justified request."

For more information, or to contact American Jewish Committee, see their website at: www.ajc.org