Council Of Europe Condemns Lukashenka Remarks On Jews

October 22, 2007 -- The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has criticized Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka for calling a once-predominantly Jewish city in his country a "pigsty."

At a news conference October 12, Lukashenka said the city of Babruysk was messy, adding: "You know how Jews treat the place where they're living. Look at Israel."

In a statement today, PACE President Rene van der Linden said Lukashenka's anti-Semitic remarks "verge on the absurd, but they are no less unacceptable for it."

Van der Linden said that Lukashenka should apologize for "his disgraceful words."

Israel has also condemned Lukashenka's remarks.

(For more on this story, see: "Lukashenka Comments Draw Accusations Of Anti-Semitism")