WASHINGTON, D.C. – Recognizing his extensive leadership on the issue of combating anti-Semitism, Secretary of State Colin Powell has appointed Congressman Chris Smith (R-Hamilton) as a member of the United States delegation to an historic conference on anti-Semitism scheduled to be held next month in Berlin.

Smith, who serves as Vice Chairman of the House International Relations Committee and Chairman of the United States Helsinki Commission, has won passage of a number of resolutions in Congress and in international assemblies condemning anti-Semitism and urging tough penalties for anti-Semitic crimes.  In numerous international assemblies and forums, Smith has led the charge against global anti-Semitism and launched the effort to hold the conference in Berlin next month.

In a letter to Smith, Powell said, “In view of your widely recognized leadership role in combating anti-Semitism and promoting human rights, I am pleased that you will be able to serve as a member of the United States delegation to the Berlin Conference.”

“I am honored to be appointed to the U.S. delegation to this most historic of summits,” Smith said. “Holding an international conference on anti-Semitism in the former capital of Nazi Germany sends a loud and clear message that we are serious about exposing and combating the recent escalation of anti-Semitic activity.  We will defeat this hate – anti-Semitism – through stepped-up law enforcement and greater education.”

The U.S. delegation to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Anti-Semitism Conference will be led by former New York City Mayor Ed Koch. The conference will be held April 28 and 29.

“Our efforts to combat this hatred are paying off as a number of nations are taking concrete actions to more aggressively prosecute the thugs who commit anti-Semitic violence and vandalism and to better educate the youth about anti-Semitism so they do not follow the path of hatred,” Smith said.

“Every nation, especially the 55 members of the OSCE, have an obligation to ensure we do not revisit the horrors of anti-Semitism that engulfed much of Europe and exterminated millions of Jewish people 60 years ago,” he added.