Leaders of thirty-eight Jewish communities from around Europe called for the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to be declared “Persona Non Grata Ad Personam” in European territory, during the European Jewish Congress (EJC) Extraordinary General Assembly, held Sunday, February 19th, 2006 in Vienna.

Austria currently holds the presidency of the rotating Council of the European Union, and as part of the General Assembly, a delegation led by EJC President Pierre Besnainou met over the weekend with the Austrian President Dr Heinz Fischer and Prime Minister Dr. Wolfgang Schüssel, to discuss both the Iranian President’s declarations calling for the destruction of Israel and his statements denying the Holocaust, as well as the future of European Union funding of a Hamas-led Palestinian Authority.

The General Assembly on Sunday, held at the Jewish Community Center of Vienna began with an address by Dr. Benita Ferrero Waldner, EU Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy, who assured the participants that any future assistance by the EU to the Palestinian Authority “will be considered against their government’s commitment to the principles of non-violence, recognition of Israel and acceptance of previous agreements and obligations, including the Road map.”

In an open and honest discussion, Jewish community leaders insisted to Dr. Ferrero Waldner that they and European Jews would not accept the EU holding discussions with Hamas under any circumstance, unless the group renounces violence.

This “extraordinary” General Assembly was the first ever held in Austria, and was hosted by EJC Vice-President and President of the Austrian Jewish community Dr. Ariel Muzicant.

After the session with Commissioner Ferrero Waldner, a plenary session was held, where theparticipants adopted a number of important resolutions during the assembly :

 Taking Action Against the Iranian President : The assembly voted on a resolution that calls on European leaders to declare the Iranian President Ahmadinejad to be declared “Persona Non Grata Ad Personam” in European territory. Additionally, the EJC will be filing a complaint at the International Criminal Court in The Hague against the Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad for incitement to genocide.

 Admittance of Bulgaria and Romania into the European Union : The General Assembly adopted a resolution that calls on the European Commission and other EU institutions to go forward with the accession of Bulgaria and Romania into the European Union in 2007. The resolution, jointly proposed by President of the Organization of Jews in Bulgaria Emil Kalo and Aurel Vainer, President of the Jewish Federation of Romania, declares that Jewish communities in the two countries are in favour of accession, and will benefit from becoming European citizens.

 Cartoons about the Prophet Muhammad : The EJC General Assembly adopted a resolution condemning any desecration of religious symbols or ideas, be it Muslim, Christian or Jewish, yet at the same time denouncing the attacks against European institutions around the Muslim world.

Additionally, the General Assembly voted Sunday to make Tunisia a member of its organization, thus bringing the total number of communities to forty-one.

Political Meetings

Prior to the General Assembly, an EJC delegation, led by President Pierre Besnainou met with Austrian Chancellor Dr. Wolfgang Schüssel, who is currently serving as the president of the European Union Council. Discussions focused on anti-Semitism in Europe and the concerns about Iranian president Ahmadinejad’s call for the eradication of the state of Israel and his revisionist statements denying the Holocaust. The finance of the Palestinian Authority under the leadership of the Hamas was also discussed.

The EJC called on the European Union to not negotiate with the Hamas until it recognizes Israel and abandons terrorism as a policy.

Chancellor Schüssel, expressed the EU’s commitment to the global position of non-negotiation with terrorist organizations until they recognize Israel, abandon terrorism and accept the different treaties signed with Israel.

On February 20th, 2006, EJC leadership met with Austrian President, Dr Heinz Fischer. Following the meeting with Austrian leaders, EJC President Pierre Besnainou said he welcomed the “positive” attitude of the Austrian leadership towards the Middle East conflict and declared, “it is now up to Palestinians to decide whether they choose peace by abandoning terrorism or otherwise- to be sentenced to world isolation.”

Following the General Assembly, Andreas Kohl, President of the Austrian Parliament hosted a dinner in honour of the EJC.