Prime Minister Marcel Ciolacu reaffirmed the firm commitment of the Romanian Government to combat antisemitism and promote the memory of the Holocaust victims, emphasising that it is the authorities' duty to ensure that 'Romanian society knows and does not repeat the mistakes of history.'

The Prime Minister is attending, on Monday, the ceremony at the Coral Temple dedicated to the International Holocaust Remembrance Day and the remembrance of the victims of the Bucharest Legionary Anti-Jewish Pogrom.

'Today, we commemorate 80 years since the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and extermination camp, a place loaded with a heartbreaking history, which hides unimaginable suffering and torment. I wish to pay a deep tribute to the memory of all those who suffered and lost their lives during the Holocaust, one of the greatest tragedies of the 20th century and even in the history of the world. At the same time, I stand with those who survived and had the strength to pass on the testimonies of the horrors they endured, so that humanity may learn from their pain,' said Marcel Ciolacu.

He stressed that history must not be forgotten in order to prevent such atrocities from happening again.

'We cannot forget that history gave us people, including Romania's dictatorial leaders, who pursued, brutally and systematically, the extermination of the Jewish population. There can be no excuses for those who cynically and cold-bloodedly sent their fellow citizens to death, discriminating, humiliating, and excluding them from society. We must never forget how hatred and antisemitism poisoned systems and poisoned societies, including in Romania. This day is not only a tribute to those who suffered but also a call to our collective conscience. This day is about ensuring that such atrocities will never be allowed to happen again,' added Ciolacu.

The Prime Minister pointed out that recently, antisemitism, extremism, and xenophobia have manifested 'more acutely in Europe,' in the space that is paradoxically the cradle of fundamental rights and freedoms.

'That is precisely why, I want to reaffirm, on this occasion, the firm commitment of the Romanian Government to combat the scourge of antisemitism and to promote the memory of the Holocaust victims. It is our duty, the authorities, to ensure that Romanian society knows and does not repeat the mistakes of history,' Ciolacu further said.

According to him, education must play a central role in this process, and he praised the strong partnership the Government has with the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania.

'This is why I am glad that young people in Romania have the opportunity to cultivate their civic spirit through studying the subject 'History of the Jews. The Holocaust,' which would not have been possible without Mr. Deputy Silviu Vexler, one of the initiators of this endeavor. The success of all our efforts is the result of the strong partnership we have with the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania. Thank you, Mr. President Silviu Vexler, for the work you have done in combating antisemitism, supporting Holocaust survivors in Romania, and promoting intercultural dialogue,' said Ciolacu.

In this context, he also welcomed the release of the first Israeli hostages, including two women with Romanian citizenship or Romanian origins, following the signing of the Agreement between the State of Israel and Hamas, which offers the prospect of lasting peace in the region.

The Prime Minister ended his speech by inviting other participants in the event to pay tribute to all the victims of hatred, those who suffered and died in the tragedy of the last century, the Holocaust.

'To them and to those who survived these atrocities and who, unfortunately, are becoming fewer, we owe our commitment that their testimonies will pass the test of time and that hatred will no longer poison our reason and humanity,' Ciolacu said.

At the beginning of the event, a flower-laying ceremony also took place. Along with the Prime Minister, those who laid wreaths included Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Ciprian Serban, Hungarian Democratic Union of Romania (UDMR) leader Kelemen Hunor, Vice-President of the Senate Mircea Abrudean, President of the High Court of Cassation and Justice Corina Corbu, the ambassadors of Israel, the USA, and Germany in Bucharest, Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan, and Silviu Wexler, President of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania. AGERPRES (RO - author: Daniel Florea, editor: Florin Marin; EN - editor: Adina Panaitescu)