The Statement
of the Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities of Moldova Presidium Board (AJOCM)

After considering the “Declaration” of the Council of Leaders of All-Ukrainian (Major) Jewish Organizations and also familiarizing ourselves with the “Appeal of the Vaad of Ukraine apropos the “VEK” newspaper publishing of July 8, 2003” the Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities of Moldova Presidium Board declare the style and contents of the “Declaration” against Joseph Zissels., the Vaad of Ukraine Chairman inadmissible and unacceptable for the following reasons:

1. Absence of facts to accuse Joseph Zissels of “destructive activity” which “brought irreparable harm to the authority, unity and integrity of the Jewish community of Ukraine” in the “Declaration”. We therefore consider the “Declaration” ordinary doubletalk.

2. Non-democratic way of publicly declaring Zissels “persona non grata,” with “no right to represent the Jewish community of Ukraine”. Taking into account that Joseph Zissels, the chairman of the Vaad of Ukraine, has been elected to his post raises the question of who can remove him of his post. The people who elected or appointed him, i.e. the Vaad of Ukraine Congress or Reporting Conference, therefore have that right, but not the Council.

3. Like “Declaration” itself is the split factor for Jewish organizations of Ukraine. The “Declaration” isn’t legally operative for the Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities of Moldova. It wouldn’t harm good relations between the AJOCM and the Vaad of Ukraine.

Moldavian Jews know Joseph Zissels well, and hold in high esteem. We view him as an authoritative Jewish leader who represents the concerns of Russian-speaking Jewry in a worthy manner at international level. His direct involvement in the life of Moldavian Jews (he helped organize the Memorial Days of the Kishinev massacre of 1903, the Jewish Congress of Moldova’s 1st Conference, and has contributed to historical studies on the Holocaust in Moldova and Ukraine) is recognized by the mass media and representatives of Moldavian Jewish communities and organizations.

The AJOCM Presidium Board is sure that our friends will find a way to solve their problems in the name of unity and integrity of Ukrainian Jews.

On behalf of the Presidium,

The Association of Jewish Organizations and Communities of Moldova president
The EAJC General Council member
Semen SHOIKHET

Adopted unanimously at the AJOCM Presidium Board meeting, August 4, 2003, 4 PM (local time).