THE Defence Secretary, Mr Malcolm Rifkind, was guest speaker yesterday
at a meeting in Glasgow of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.
It was the first time the board, an elected body representing the
Jewish community in the United Kingdom, had met in Scotland in its
234-year history.
Mr Rifkind, a member of the Edinburgh Hebrew Congregation, spoke of
the new responsibilities, challenges, and threats posed by the political
changes across Europe in recent years.
His wide-ranging speech covered the collapse of communism and the
break-up of the former Soviet Union, the unification of Germany, and the
troubles in Bosnia.
Europe had witnessed the end of the Cold War but the beginning of a
number of ''hot wars'', he said. However, all was not gloom. ''I believe
we are privileged to be experiencing a time when the basic principles of
political liberty are more prevalent throughout Europe than every
before.''
Yesterday's meeting, which took place in the City Chambers, marked the
80th anniversary of the Glasgow Jewish Representative Council.
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