For general information on the situation of Jews in Moldova, please consult the attached letter sent to the Research Directorate on 13 January 1998 by a senior lecturer and research fellow in the Department of History at Tel Aviv University who specializes in antisemitism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union. The letter is an update to the information the senior lecturer provided in Response to Information Request MDA27414.E of 25 July 1997. Information on the situation of Jews in Moldova and on the state's response to the vandalization of Jewish cemeteries is contained in the 15 January 1998 attached letter sent to the Research Directorate by the chair of the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of Moldova in Chisinau. For a copy of the questions posed to the chair, please consult the 8 January 1998 Immigration and Refugee Board letter.

Additional information on the situation of Jews in Moldova and information on the state protection available to them could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of Republic of Moldova, Chisinau. 15 January 1998. Letter sent to the Research Directorate.

Immigration and Refugee Board, Ottawa. 8 January 1998. Letter sent to the Helsinki Committee for Human Rights of Republic of Moldova, Chisinau.

Senior lecturer and research fellow specializing in antisemitism in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union, Department of History, Tel Aviv University. 13 January 1998. Letter sent to the Research Directorate.

CSCE Digest [Washington]. Monthly.

Electronic sources: IRB databases, LEXIS/NEXIS, Internet, REFWORLD (UNHCR database, World News Connection (WNC).

News from Helsinki Watch [New York]. Monthly.

Resource Centre country file on Moldova.

Transition [Prague]. Twice monthly.

Uncaptive Minds [Washington]. Quarterly.

10 oral sources contacted did not provide information on the requested topic.

Unsuccessful attempts to contact other oral sources.