Crif - Crif joined the French delegation at the OSCE Conference on antisemitism, in Malta

April 8th and 9th, Crif was invited by the Maltese Presidency of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OCSE), and joined French Minister Aurore Bergé for these interviews during the OSCE conference on antisemitism in member countries, in Malta.

The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), is the largest regional security organization in the world, made up of delegations from 57 countries.

The conference aimed to take stock twenty years after the Berlin Declaration, which represented a commitment by OSCE countries to combat antisemitism in all its forms, expressed individually or collectively.

The French delegation, led by Minister Aurore Bergé, also included MP Constance Le Grip and President of the group fighting antisemitism in the National Assembly, Fatène Benhabylès-Foeth, Permanent Representative of the France to the OSCE, as well as Anna Cherner-Drieux, diplomatic advisor to the minister.

During two days of debates, presentations and round tables allowed discussions and presentations on the means of combating antisemitism in OSCE countries. Aurore Bergé delivered a strong speech on France's commitment on the subject.

À Malte, @Le_CRIF participe à la Conférence on Adressing Anti-Semitism in the OSCE Region dans la délégation française auprès de la Ministre @auroreberge qui a délivré un discours fort sur l’engagement déterminé de la France dans la lutte contre l’antisémitisme. pic.twitter.com/ozjOUZjQhF

— Robert EJNES (@RobertEjnes) April 9, 2024

The conference was also an opportunity for Minister Aurore Bergé to hold multilateral discussions, notably with Félix Klein, interministerial delegate of the German federal government, for Jewish life in Germany and against antisemitism, with Déborah Lipstadt, Special Envoy of the American President for the fight against antisemitism and with Lord Eric Pickles, UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues.

The opportunity also for a meeting with OSCE representatives for the fight against religious hatred, including Rabbi Andrew Baker, who announced their upcoming arrival in France for a mission to study French methods to fight against antisemitism and hatred in French society, on inter-religious dialogue and online hatred.

During the evening, Agnès Von der Muhll, Ambassador of France to Malta, received the Minister and her delegation for a meeting with representatives of the French community on the island.

A meeting was organized on the sidelines of the conference with the Israeli Ambassador to Malta with families of hostages detained by the Hamas, who expressed their gratitude to France for the efforts made for the return of all the hostages, as well as to Crif and Wizo for the organization of the Mothers of Hope meetings every week, and more generally for the support of the families.