U.S. ambassador in Bucharest Kathleen Kavalec, addressing on Monday a Holocaust remembrance ceremony at the Bucharest Choral Temple, said that certain people „downplay or „ignore” the role of local collaborators in the Holocaust.

„Holocaust denial and distortion are fed by rising nationalism and xenophobia in some countries. We see Holocaust distortion in efforts to rehabilitate historical figures who helped commit the crimes of the Holocaust. There are those who downplay or ignore the role of local collaborators in helping to perpetrate the Holocaust,” Kavalec said, according to a statement from the U.S. Embassy.

The ambassador referenced the liberation, 80 years ago, of the Auschwitz camp, noting that the surviving Jews and Roma were freed from one of the most painful and horrific chapters in human history.

„The United States honors and seeks a measure of justice for Holocaust victims, survivors, and their families, and for all victims of Nazi persecution. We advocate for this through accurate commemoration and education about the Holocaust, and by supporting efforts towards restitution and compensation for property seized by the Nazis during the Holocaust,” Kavalec emphasized.

According to the ambassador, the U.S. remains committed to combating the rise of antisemitism „at home and around the world.”

„All countries, the United States and Romania included, need to face up to the reality of their history, both the good and the bad. Accurate education and truthful commemoration of the Holocaust can teach new generations about the horrors to which unbridled antisemitism and hate can lead,” she argued, and went on to say that learning about the Holocaust and sharing the testimonies of survivors are a reminder to stay vigilant about the current „dramatically rising tide of antisemitism” that threatens pluralism, diversity, democracy and respect for human rights, including freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression.

Kavalec also emphasized that learning about the history of the Holocaust and sharing the testimonies of survivors remind us to be vigilant against the „growing” wave of anti-Semitism that threatens pluralism, diversity, democracy and respect for human rights, including freedom of religion or belief and freedom of expression.

She highlighted the „heartening progress” Romania has made in expanding Holocaust education.

„The introduction of a mandatory course on the Holocaust in high schools is an extraordinary accomplishment that will have a long-lasting impact for generations to come. It serves as an example across Europe. Similarly, the planned development of a Holocaust and Jewish History Museum in the heart of Bucharest will not only be a symbol of Romania’s continuing growth as a nation and a society, but also a foundation for national scholarship, public dialogue, and reconciliation,” the diplomat said.

The U.S. ambassador urged all parties involved to commit themselves to making this project happen, stressing that „this museum is needed now more than ever.”

In conclusion, Kavalec sent a message to Holocaust survivors and the Jewish community: „You are close to our hearts. Your enduring strength, spirit, and resilience – even in the darkest of times – strengthen and inspire us.”

AGERPRES