kantor elected as new EJC président
EJC elects Russian billionaire as president
Moshe Kantor elected as president of European Jewish Congress for two-year term during a conference held in Brussels on Monday
Ynetnews Published: 06.26.07, 17:26 / Israel Jewish Scene
Members of the European Jewish Congress (EJC) elected Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor as the organization's new president during a conference held in Brussels on Tuesday.
Kantor, a former Russian rocket engineer turned billionaire businessman and the president of the Russian Jewish Congress, garnered the support of 55 out of 80 Jewish leaders representing communities in over 40 European countries.
Pierre Besnaninou, Kantor's only challenger, lost the fight to maintain his presidency of the EJC with 30 delegates voting for him. Only two delegates abstained.
"Europe's Jews face a critical period and I am proud and touched to have been elected to a post that carries a lot of responsibility," Advertisement
said Kantor whose term expires in 2009.
"I will have to deal with many issues pertaining to European Jewish communities," he added. "I am a big believer in European Jewry and I look forward to working with a team of deputy presidents to turn the European Jewish Congress into a major and influential force in defending and advancing Jewish life in Europe and supporting the State of Israel."
The president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, welcomed Kantor's election. "I am happy that Moshe Kantor has been elected to lead the European Jewish Congress in the coming years," Lauder said.
In addition to his achievements in the sciences, Kantor established the Center for European Jewish Cultural Studies at the Tel Aviv University in 2004 and was conferred an honorary doctorate the same year.
Kantor is also the founder of the International Forum on the Holocaust.
He began his professional career as a rocket scientist but later made his fortune in agrochemicals.
Kantor's opponents accuse him of enjoying too close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Moshe Kantor elected as president of European Jewish Congress for two-year term during a conference held in Brussels on Monday
Ynetnews Published: 06.26.07, 17:26 / Israel Jewish Scene
Members of the European Jewish Congress (EJC) elected Viatcheslav Moshe Kantor as the organization's new president during a conference held in Brussels on Tuesday.
Kantor, a former Russian rocket engineer turned billionaire businessman and the president of the Russian Jewish Congress, garnered the support of 55 out of 80 Jewish leaders representing communities in over 40 European countries.
Pierre Besnaninou, Kantor's only challenger, lost the fight to maintain his presidency of the EJC with 30 delegates voting for him. Only two delegates abstained.
"Europe's Jews face a critical period and I am proud and touched to have been elected to a post that carries a lot of responsibility," Advertisement
said Kantor whose term expires in 2009.
"I will have to deal with many issues pertaining to European Jewish communities," he added. "I am a big believer in European Jewry and I look forward to working with a team of deputy presidents to turn the European Jewish Congress into a major and influential force in defending and advancing Jewish life in Europe and supporting the State of Israel."
The president of the World Jewish Congress, Ronald Lauder, welcomed Kantor's election. "I am happy that Moshe Kantor has been elected to lead the European Jewish Congress in the coming years," Lauder said.
In addition to his achievements in the sciences, Kantor established the Center for European Jewish Cultural Studies at the Tel Aviv University in 2004 and was conferred an honorary doctorate the same year.
Kantor is also the founder of the International Forum on the Holocaust.
He began his professional career as a rocket scientist but later made his fortune in agrochemicals.
Kantor's opponents accuse him of enjoying too close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
posted by William Labi at 7:44 AM
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