MONTREAL, APRIL 5, 1999 --- Canadian Jewish Congress (CJC) National President Moshe Ronen today condemned the massive human rights violations and consequent catastrophe unfolding in Kosovo. "Throughout its existence, Canadian Jewish Congress, on behalf of the Jewish community of Canada, has fought for the protection and security of minorities both in Canada and abroad," he stated. "As such, we view with great alarm the horrors being inflicted upon the Kosovar Albanians."

Congress commends the Government of Canada for acting in concert with the international community through NATO both to effect a cessation of the crimes being perpetrated in Kosovo and to ameliorate the human suffering in the region. Said Mr. Ronen, "We stand in solidarity with the efforts of the brave men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces and we pray for their safe and speedy return."

CJC is also heartened by the government's provision of safe haven in Canada for thousands of refugees from the region, as part of the international response to the human tragedy of Kosovo. As CJC Holocaust Remembrance Committee Chair Nate Leipciger observed, "The world at least has learned not to stand idly by and in silence in the face of ethnic cleansing. Together with the international community, Canada is opening its doors to victims of oppression in a timely fashion."

"The massive relief efforts of the people and government of Israel in response to the current tragedy have inspired our Jewish community," Mr. Ronen said. "Canadian Jewish Congress, in cooperation with United Israel Appeal of Canada and the Jewish Federation movement of Canada (UIAFC) is now accepting donations from the public in support of humanitarian aid as a result of the conflict in Kosovo. These funds will be dedicated to relief efforts in the region on a non-sectarian basis."

Donations may be sent to Canadian Jewish Congress Charities Committee (Kosovo Relief), 1590 Avenue Docteur Penfield, Montreal, Quebec, H3G 1C5, or to the UJA/CJA Campaign in their local community.

Canadian Jewish Congress has focused attention on the crisis in the Balkans for several years now. In the early 1990s the Canadian Jewish Community consistently urged the government to take action on behalf of tens of thousands of civilians caught in the crossfire of the break-up of the former Yugoslavia. In addition, the Jewish Community of Canada joined with the American Joint Distribution Committee in a series of air shipments of pharmaceuticals and clothing to the region. As recently as January of this year, Congress articulated to Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy our outrage over the massacre in the Kosovo village of Racak and condemned the ongoing human rights atrocities in the area.

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CONTACT:

Jack Silverstone
Executive Vice-President
Canadian Jewish Congress
(514) 931-7531

Manuel Prutschi
National Director of Community Relations
Canadian Jewish Congress
(416) 635-2883 ext. 673