NICOSIA—Cyprus has adopted the working definition of Antisemitism, as employed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA,) the Foreign Ministry said, the 17th country in the world to do so.

“It reaffirms the commitment of the Republic of Cyprus to promoting and fostering respect and diversity and to combating all forms of discrimination, racism and xenophobia, including anti-Semitism,” a ministry statement said.

It was done as part of “implementing educational and other policies that promote respect for diversity and combat all forms of racism,” the Cyprus Mail said, following a proposal from the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Justice and Education.

“At the initiative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Republic of Cyprus has recently applied for observer status at the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance,” the statement said.

In a statement, the Embassy of Israel said: “Today’s decision by the government of Cyprus to adopt the working definition of antisemitism…is an important step.” Israel and Cyprus, it added, “work closely together on education and the remembrance of the Holocaust and on raising awareness to combat Antisemitism”.

It said that the decision “is especially significant in view of the continued spread of anti-Antisemitism in Europe and around the world. We must remember the past to ensure the future.”