Foreign Minister Giulio Terzi received the Executive Committee of the World Jewish Congress – a UN-accredited organisation that represents Jewish communities around the world – at the Foreign Ministry today. One of the organisation’s principal aims is to fight anti-Semitism and promote peace in the Middle East and inter-faith dialogue with Christians and Muslims.
During the discussion, Minister Terzi and the delegation agreed on the need to take determined action to protect freedom of religion at the international level, as well as dialogue between different cultures and religions. A challenge that sees Italy playing a leading role in all international fora. In this context, the members of the Jewish community and the President of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald S. Lauder, thanked Minister Terzi warmly for his firm commitment in combating religious intolerance and all forms of anti-Semitism.
The meeting was an opportunity for the representatives of the Italian Jewish community taking part to review the Middle Eastern issues currently high on the international agenda.
At the end of the meeting, Minister Terzi presented the President of the European Jewish Congress, the international businessman and philanthropist Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor, with the honour of Knight of the Great Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. Also present at the ceremony were the Deputy Chairperson of the Foreign and Community Affairs Committee of the Chamber of Deputies, Fiamma Nirenstein, and the Hon. Alessandro Ruben.
The honour was awarded by the President of the Republic, Giorgio Napolitano, for Mr. Kantor’s work in promoting human rights and inter-faith dialogue and in combating xenophobia and anti-Semitism.