Today's Date:

French President Jacques Chirac told a delegation of prominent Jewish representatives in Paris on Tuesday, May 13, that "anti-Semitism will be fought and condemned with every last ounce of energy and no let-up."

Mr. Chirac said "the French authorities are absolutely determined to fight anti-Semitism."

His comments came during a nearly hour-long meeting with the delegation, led by Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center. The group is in Paris for a conference it has organized in cooperation with UNESCO on "Educating for Tolerance: the Case of Resurgent Anti-Semitism." (UNESCO, May 12-14, 2003) On Monday, May 12, the Simon Wiesenthal Center awarded its 2003 Tolerance Prize to French Interior Minister Nicholas Sarkozy.

President Chirac also told the group that he had given formal instructions for action to prevent and combat anti-Semitism and racism, and reviewed some of these arrangements. He cited among other things the adoption in February of a law that imposes tougher sentences for violations of an anti-Semitic and racist nature, increased police protection at places of worship and schools, and instructions to judicial and police officials to give priority to anti-Semitic violations.

President Chirac also said France supports the idea of international regulations to deal with racism and anti-Semitism on the Internet.