The history of the Holocaust is actually the history of everyone. It is a tragedy of everyone and the realization of this thing by the state and each inhabitant of Moldova is an accomplishment that should be further strengthened. After realization and acceptance, a signal to the whole community should be transmitted – that Moldova opposes any form of intolerance and discrimination. Such statements were made in a roundtable meeting in Parliament on January 29, IPN reports.
“It’s time to learn that the fight against intolerance, antisemitism and xenophobia, discrimination and racism is an obligation of each of us. I think in the nearest future, next year already, starting with September, the children in the schools of our country will learn the history of the Holocaust and about the 350,000 human lives taken cruelly here, in Bessarabia, and also about the 79 just persons between peoples who had the courage to resist and to remain humans in a period in which humanity wasn’t valued. Time has come to recover the history and to act together so as not to allow the tragic events of the last century to repeat,” stated Parliament Speaker Andrian Candu.
Alexandr Bilinkis, head of the Jewish Community in Moldova, expressed his conviction that this is one of the most courageous manifestations of the political will in contemporary Moldova that learns to cope with its own history. Action should be taken after realization and acceptance so as to give the signal that Moldova opposes any form of intolerance and discrimination.
“Our attitude to the truth, especially the truth about what happened in the past, remains a fundamental task. The Republic of Moldova during the last few years made significant and visible progress in recovering the Holocaust memory and this is recognized both in the country and by international Jewish organizations and also by representatives of international organizations,” said Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration Tudor Ulianovski.
Paul Packer, chairman of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad, said the events organized today are very important for the history of communities in Moldova. The fact that importance is attached to the preservation and keeping of the heritage, including by initiating the restoration of the Jewish Cemetery, is welcomed.
“Today we remember the systematic persecution and brutal killing by the Nazis of 6 million Jews, million Romanies, religious leaders, LGBT persons, persons with disabilities and others who opposed the brutal regime. Today we remember the sacrifice and lessons of the Holocaust so as to make sure that this dark spot in the history of mankind is not forgotten by the future generations and to admit that we have the duty to make sure that it will never repeat. Moldova’s commitments are an important step towards the achievement of these objectives and we are impatiently waiting to see progress in continuation. The United States are ready to cooperate with the Government of the Republic of Moldova so as to inform the young people about the Holocaust, to combat anti-Semitism and to keep the
Jewish Cemetery in Chisinau as a place of reflection,” stated U.S. Ambassador in Chisinau Dereck J. Hogan.
According to Claus Neukirch, Head of the OSCE Mission to Moldova, the commemoration of the Holocaust is mourning, longing that is necessary, but is also a moment of hope. The commemoration events will further help to build a society based on inclusive tolerance and that learned the lessons of history, immunized from hatred, racism and propaganda that generated these tragedies.
After the event, the participants visited the exhibition “Holocaust in Bessarabia” that was mounted in the Parliament’s hall and then went to the closed screening of the documentary “Who will write our history” that has its world premiere.