World Report

MOSCOW (JTA) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin met last week with the editors of two anti-Semitic newspapers, according to the Washington-based Union of Councils for Soviet Jews.

Leonid Stonov, the group's international director said it indicates that Putin "apparently doesn't see the promotion of anti-Semitism as a litmus test for political legitimacy."

The Union also said anti-Semitic threats and crimes increased dramatically across Russia and became institutionalized in several regions during 1998 and 1999 -- namely because of the Communist Party -- leaving Jews unable to rely upon police protection.

Greek treasure hunt failed to recover loot

ATHENS (JTA) -- Members of a salvage operation failed to find a sunken boat believed to be loaded with gold and jewelry taken from Greek Jews during World War II.

After five days, team members said they found no sign of the valuables, thought to be worth more than $2 billion. Greece's Central Board of Jewish Communities said data gathered during the search would be analyzed before the team would decide whether to seek permission to renew an off-coast search.

Pope, Haider meeting scheduled, but vague

ROME (JTA) -- Austrian far-right politician and son of Nazi sympathizers Jorg Haider may meet with Pope John Paul II at the Vatican in December when a Christmas tree is delivered from the Austrian state of Carinthia.

The Vatican arranged to receive a Christmas tree from Carinthia three years ago, before Haider became the state's governor.

According to Italian news reports, however, the foreign minister made it clear in a letter to his Austrian counterpart that Haider is not welcome to visit.

Latvia addresses hate, Holocaust activity

RIGA (JTA) -- Latvian officials are launching a probe of a local business magazine to see if it broke anti-racism laws after Kapitals ran a cover story in its August issue titled "Jews Rule the World," with a drawing of an Orthodox Jew holding a globe in his hands.

Meanwhile, Latvia plans to host a meeting of international experts next month to discuss the cases against two men suspected of carrying out Nazi war crimes, Konrad Kalejs and Karlis Ozols. Prosecutors have been investigating the wartime activities of both Latvian suspects, who now live in Australia, but has not brought formal charges against them.

Slovak Jews receive community boosters

PRAGUE (JTA) --Forty young people from Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Israel began restoring one of Slovakia's oldest Jewish cemeteries. The work in Nitrianske Rudno is part of an annual summer camp run by the Slovak Union of Jewish Youth.

Meanwhile, the Slovak government selected Sept. 9 as a day of remembrance for victims of the Holocaust. The occasion will mark the day in 1941 when the then-Nazi puppet state introduced its infamous repressive "Jewish Code." About 70,000 Slovak Jews perished in Nazi concentration camps during World War II.

In addition, the city of Bratislava is building a state-of-the-art kosher cafeteria that will provide up to 120 kosher meals a day. The $220,000 facility, paid for by public and private donors, will open this fall.

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