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.