20/09/2005

Holocaust should not be forgotten

President of the Republic of Latvia Vaira Vike-Freiberga has met recently with the Chairman of the Board of Governors of the European Jewish Congress (EJC), the President of the World Holocaust Forum foundation Viatcheslav (Moshe) Kantor. During the meeting the importance to teach the Holocaust lessons in order to prevent such tragedies in the future was stressed. “Latvia is determined to remember the crimes against humanity committed by the totalitarian regimes on the Latvian land during the XX century”, – Mrs. Vike-Freiberga remarked. President of Latvia expressed strong interest in the work with the World Holocaust Forum foundation in the future.

The World Holocaust Forum foundation was established in 2005 following the First International Holocaust Forum held in Krakow (Poland) in commemoration of the 60 ^th anniversary of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau liberation. The Foundation is dedicated to preserving the memory of the Holocaust and its important lessons for all of humanity. As problems of anti-Semitism, xenophobia and racial intolerance are problems of not only the Jewish nation, but also all the nations of the world.

During the conversation an issue of holding the Second International Holocaust Forum in 2006 in Ukraine was discussed. Humanity knows very well about the end of the Holocaust, the liberation of KL Auschwitz-Birkenau, but, unfortunately, not many of us know about the date and place, where it started: the mass murders in Babyn Yar in Kiev in September 1941.

President of Latvia highly praised the active involvement of the Jewish community in the life of the European community as a whole and Latvia in particular.

During his visit to Latvia Mr. Kantor had several meetings with the leadership of the Latvian Jewish community. The issues of today’s life of the Jewish community in Latvia, as well as plans of the historical and cultural legacy development were discussed.