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World Jewish News
Remembrance Day of the Holocaust and Heroism of European Jewry observed in Minsk
22.04.2009
As reported by the BelaPAN agency, on April 20 in Minsk, a ceremony took place in the Belarusian State Museum of the History of World War II, dedicated to the Remembrance Day of the Holocaust and Heroism of European Jewry, which is observed this year by the citizens of the State of Israel and Jews around the world on April 21.
The Ambassador of Israel to Belarus Edward Shapira said that this year the main theme of the day is the memory of the million and a half children of the six million victims of the Holocaust. According to him, on the evening of April 20, two ceremonies are held - a state one on the Warsaw Ghetto square in Yad va-Shem memorial in Jerusalem (Israel) and in the Palais des Nations in front of UN headquarters in Geneva (Switzerland).
"This ceremony is held parallel to the so-called Durban II UN Conference in Geneva, which threatens to turn into an anti-Israeli tribunal, with no relation to combating racism. An honorary guest of this conference is the President of Iran. It is Iran that holds an honorary first place in the world by the number of public hangings and the second place in the world by the number of executions. How cynical it is that the president of Iran, known for his
anti-Semitic statements, openly denying the Holocaust and demanding the destruction of the State of Israel, is invited to the conference as an honored guest. And all this is happening on the Day of the Holocaust, which this year
coincides with the birthday of Hitler," said the Ambassador.
According to him, the President of Israel Shimon Peres expressed his outrage at the opening of the racist conference in Geneva on the Day of Holocaust Remembrance, and the participation of the President of Iran in it, and expressed words of gratitude to the eight countries that have decided not to participate in "Durban shame."
The Chairman of the Union of Belarusian Jewish Public Associations and Communities, Leonid Levin believes that behind all of the words about the absence of the Holocaust is politics. He called the Righteous of the world, the
people who saved the Jews while risking their lives, the "golden spikes" of Belarus and expressed hope that with time they will be awarded the title of hero of the country.
The museum Director Sergei Azaronok noted that the Belorussians, who lost every third resident of the country during the last war, understand better than anyone
the tragedy of the Holocaust of European Jewry, and will make every effort to prevent its recurrence and to keep the names of innocent victims in people's memory.
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