President Klaus Iohannis conveyed a message, on Friday, on the occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, in which he emphasizes that xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism and hate speech are „working their way again” into Europe and, as a result, immediate action is needed, because „we cannot allow the suffering of millions of victims to be denied or minimized”, according to Agerpres.

„The International Holocaust Remembrance Day is an opportunity to reflect on one of the darkest chapters of human history. Today we pay a pious tribute to the victims of the Holocaust, to those who perished in a barbaric way, to the survivors of this immense tragedy, as well as to their descendants. We also honor the memory of all those who risked their lives and sacrificed themselves to defend their fellow human beings,” stated the head of state, in the message addressed to the participants of an event organized at the Choral Temple in Bucharest and presented by state councilor Catalina Galer.

„The true scale of the Holocaust is difficult to grasp in its entirety. Six million destinies were brutally cut short in the most heinous crime against humanity. Women, children and men were tortured, ill-treated, maimed and killed in the most cruel ways, in the odious attempt of the authoritarian regimes to erase the entire Jewish population from the face of the planet. The deliberate killing, as well as the corruption of the minds or the destruction of a a multi-secular European civilization heritage, have left humanity terrified of its own powers to self-destruct,” added President Iohannis.

The head of state recalled the Bucharest Pogrom that took place between January 21 and 23, 1941, when „thousands of Jews were tortured, humiliated and killed, the Jewish neighborhoods were devastated, and the places of worship were vandalized.”

„Let us never forget that the Holocaust represents an apogee of hatred, intolerance, contempt and prejudice, and its devastating lesson must always remain in our collective memory, keep our conscience awake and alert,” he said.

The president added that xenophobia, racism, anti-Semitism and hate speech are working their way again into the European continent, despite numerous initiatives to combat them.

„For democracy, tolerance, rights and freedoms, we must act now, with more energy and involvement! We cannot allow the suffering of millions of victims to be denied or minimized!,” he mentioned.

„The passage of time often alters the image of the past and the way we relate to it, even more so when persistent efforts are made to replace the historical truth with the criminal lie. It is very important to continue the efforts to prevent and combat anti-Semitism and racism, so that we create a safer and more tolerant world, a goal that cannot be achieved without comprehensive education at the level of the entire population. Passivity in the face of racism, anti-Semitism and xenophobia, in any form, only perpetuates manifestations of extremism. We all have the responsibility to contribute to the consolidation of societies that continue to promote democratic values and defend them against the attacks of those who want to limit the rights and freedoms of citizens,” Iohannis said.

He sent his warmest wishes for health and good thoughts to the Holocaust survivors.

„From your tears, suffering and drama we must build a shield so that a similar nightmare is never possible again! We have the obligation to ensure that the memory of the hell you went through will in turn win the battle with oblivion, marginalization or denial,” the head of state pointed out.

„I reaffirm Romania’s commitment to preserve the memory of the victims of the Holocaust and to make all the necessary efforts to ensure that we will not forget and will continue to firmly assume the fundamental democratic values,” concluded the head of state.

Agerpres