New York, N.Y., December 3, 2001 … The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today commended the Prime Minister of Romania for his call to local authorities to abandon plans for erecting statues in honor of Romania’s Nazi-era dictator and convicted war criminal Marshall Ion Antonescu.

"We commend Prime Minister Adrian Nastase for his call to local authorities to abandon plans for statues in honor of Nazi-era dictator and convicted war criminal Ion Antonescu," said Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director. "We continue to be extremely concerned by the veneration given to the World War II-era figure who collaborated with the Nazis and arranged for the deportation of Romanian Jews to concentration camps."

ADL has repeatedly raised its concern with the Romanian government and has continued to monitor the sanction of monuments honoring Romania’s wartime dictator and Hitler ally. In recent months, the veneration of Antonescu has spread throughout the country, exploited by right-wing politicians. During the war, Antonescu imposed a fascist dictatorship on Romania and was directly responsible for giving the order to deport Romania’s Jews to concentration camps.

The Anti-Defamation League, founded in 1913, is the world's leading organization fighting anti-Semitism through programs and services that counteract hatred, prejudice and bigotry.