The commemoration of the Holocaust victims of Romania represents a moment of reflection on "the dark episodes of the national history," reads a message Prime Minister Dacian Ciolos sent on Monday.
"On October 9 each year we pay homage to the memory of the Holocaust victims of Romania. The year 2016 is a year charged with significations for our recent history, as we commemorate 75 years since the legionnaire pogrom in Bucharest of January 1941, 75 years since the pogrom in Iasi of June 1941 and since the deportations to Transnistria of October 1941. The moment of commemorating the Holocaust victims of Romania is a moment of reflection on the dark episodes of the national history, a moment of learning from the lessons of the past, so that these tragedies never repeat under any circumstance," PM Ciolos's message sent to AGERPRES on Monday points out.
According to the Prime Minister, "no feature film seen or book read can capture the pain suffered by those deported."
Ciolos maintains at the same time that from the Holocaust survivors one can learn best "why the extremist, racist, anti-Semite, discriminatory attitudes must be completely eliminated from our society."
"From them we can learn about the courage of facing history and fighting against the negative phenomena which lead to historic tragedies. I believe that the vital answer for the democratic cohesion and health of our society is education, a profound, comprehensive and responsible education. Education is the most efficient instrument to spare the nations from the illness of ignorance, intolerance and indifference," the Prime Minister says.
In the message, the Prime Minister underscores that "through education in school, at home or through the media" each citizen becomes responsible and aware of the dangers which the extremist challenges bring to the society.
"It is our duty, the duty of all of us, not to cease telling the youth the truth about history so that the young people never lose their courage in front of history. From this perspective, the chapter referring to the 'Holocaust in Romania' must be a part of learning Romania's history. I congratulate the Federation of Jewish Communities of Romania and the 'Ellie Weisel' National Institute on the Holocaust in Romania for their contributions to bringing to the attention of the youth the memory of these history lessons," the release reads.
Ciolos brings to mind that one of the recent actions devoted to the memory of the victims of Transnistrian deportations took place last week, with marking the places from where thousands of Romanian Jews were deported from the stations in Bucovina region.
"In 2004, there were presented the recommendations of the final report of the International Commission on the Holocaust in Romania headed by Elie Weisel. Romania made efforts, acknowledged on a national and international level, to meet these recommendations. Moreover, our country assumed the chairmanship of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) in 2016," the PM points out.
At the same time, he says that through the activities this year conducted in the education, remembrance and research area, as well as those in the area of combating anti-Semitism, racism and discrimination, "Romania consecrated its profile of consistent promoter of the values of tolerance, multiculturalism and democracy."
"Our duty, 75 years after the tragedies that marked Romania's history, is that of making sure that the memory of the Holocaust victims of Romania remains dignified and untainted by attempts of re-writing or denying history. Let the memory of the Holocaust victims in Romania be kept alive forever in the conscience of all Romanians!," Ciolos concludes.
Romania's Government Resolution No 672/May 5, 2004 approved the date of October 9, which marks the beginning of the Jews deportations to Transnistria in 1941, for the official commemoration on a national level of the Holocaust Remembrance Day.
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