Weekly News Update 
WASHINGTON, D.C. February 13, 2015



 

TO: NCSEJ Leadership and Interested Parties

FROM: Stephen M. Greenberg, Chairman;
Alexander Smukler, NCSEJ President;
Mark B. Levin, NCSEJ Executive Director
  
Dear Friend,

The Ukrainian government and pro-Russian separatists reached a ceasefire agreement yesterday in Minsk, after long negotiations involving the leaders of Germany, France, Russia, and Ukraine. Reactions in the West to the agreement have been mixed, although most experts agree that success of the peace plan depends on its implementation.

The ceasefire is effective Sunday, and as of now, fighting in Eastern Ukraine continues to rage. This week's update includes the NCSEJ Ukraine Update on the peace agreement, and a number of articles analyzing the agreement's implications. NCSEJ continues to be in touch with Ukrainian Jewish community leaders and is closely monitoring the situation in Ukraine.

The IMF has announced a $17.5 billion aid package to Ukraine, which some economists argue falls short of addressing Ukraine's pressing needs. The aid is to be dispersed over four years, and remains contingent on the government's continued efforts to fight corruption, overhaul the energy sector, reduce bureaucracy, and cut state expenditures.

This week, NCSEJ organized a series of meetings and accompanied Ukrainian Jewish Committee (UJC) President Oleksandr Feldman and UJC Executive Director Eduard Dolinsky during their visit to Washington. Issues discussed included the Ukraine crisis, the humanitarian needs of the Ukrainian Jewish community, and U.S.-Ukraine relations.

In Estonia this week, a Tartu museum agreed to shut down an offensive "art" exhibit that grossly demeaned Holocaust victims and survivors. NCSEJ learned of the exhibit's existence this week and immediately brought it to the attention of the Estonian Embassy, and were in touch with the U.S. State Department. The Estonian government released a statement criticizing the exhibit. After meetings between the Estonian Minister for Culture, the museum, and Estonian Jewish community representatives, the museum shut down part of the exhibit and the museum director apologized for offending the Jewish community.

Sincerely,
 

 

Mark B. Levin

Executive Director




Please visit http://ncsej.org/NCSEJ-Wkly.pdf  
for NCSEJ's Weekly News Update.


About NCSEJ
Founded in 1971, NCSEJ represents the organized American Jewish community in monitoring and advocating on behalf of the estimated 1.5 million Jews in Eastern Europe and Eurasia, including the 15 successor states of the former Soviet Union. 
 
Website: www.ncsej.org   
Phone: 202-898-2500 
 
 
NCSEJ is a beneficiary of The Jewish Federations of North America and the National Federation/Agency Alliance through its network of Federations.