|
 Invited
by the President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbaev and the leader of Euro-Asian
Jewish Congress Alexander Mashkevitch, the chief Ashkenazi rabbi of Israel Jonah
Metzger visited Almaty on June 16. It was the first trip of Metzger as the chief
rabbi of Israel.
One of the main topics for discussion was Nursultan Nazarbaev's
initiative aimed at development of the interreligious dialogue. Today it is
one of the most urgent issues.
 Right
after the reception at the President of Kazakhstan, Jonah Metzger appeared before
the press. According to his words, his visit to Kazakhstan was not casual.
"You know yourselves what a pleasure it is to live in a
country with such harmonious relations between peoples," Jonah Metzger
said in his interview with Kazakhstani mass media. "It is our greatest
dream in the Middle East. That is why it was so important for me, the chief
rabbi of Israel, to visit this land."
 In
the course of reception the parties also discussed the results of the First
International Conference on Peace and Accord held in Almaty in February 2003.
Jonah Metzger and Nursultan Nazarbaev continued preparing to the Second Conference
planned for December in Istanbul under the joint auspices of Kazakhstani and
Turkish leaders. Jonah Metzger offered to increase the number of participants
from Muslim countries with moderate regime, like Indonesia.
 As
soon as he came to Almaty, Jonah Metzger met the Jewish community. The meeting
was also attended by the President's staff and akim of Almaty Viktor Hrapunov.
The Ambassador of Israel in Kazakhstan and Kirgizstan Moshe Kamhi and the President
of the Euro-Asian Jewish Congress Alexander Mashkevitch addressed
the chief rabbi of Israel with a welcoming speech. The representatives of the
Jewish community in Kazakhstan invited Jonah Metzger to visit the Jewish organizations
of Almaty.
(www.mitsva.kz)
Photo by Vladimir Semchuk |
