Israel promises to lower profile, OECD conference stays in Jerusalem
After OECD threatens to cancel tourism conference over Minister Misezhnikov's suggestion that holding it in Jerusalem means financial organization recognizes city as Israel's capital, Steinitz promises Secretary-General Gurria Israel will refrain from politicizing event
A tourism conference scheduled to take place in Jerusalem in late October will not be canceled or moved to Tel Aviv, Ynet learned Saturday following an agreement between Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz and the secretary general of the Organization of Economic Cooperation Development (OECD), Angel Gurria.
Earlier it was reported that the OECD threatened to cancel the conference over statements made by Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov suggesting that by holding the conference in Jerusalem the organization recognizes the city as Israel's capital.
During a meeting in Washington, Gurria complained to Steinitz that the conference was politicized, adding that his organization deals in strictly financial matters. The Israeli minister asked that the conference not be moved to Tel Aviv and said Israel would lower its profile and refrain from making any political statements regarding the conference. The two also agreed that Gurria would visit Israel soon.
In a letter Gurria sent to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister Misezhnikov, the OECD chief implied that the statements made by Misezhnikov may jeopardize the meeting.
"In order to move forward with this meeting, the tourism minister should correct the misperceptions created and put the meeting in its proper perspective," the letter stated.
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