President of the Republic of Montenegro

January 27, 2010

Statement of the President of Montenegro on the Occasion of the International Holocaust Remembrance Day

International Holocaust Remembrance Day is marked worldwide today.
The biggest Nazi death camp, Auschwitz, the symbol of Holocaust and suffering in which millions of people lost their lives during the World War II was liberated on this day in 1945.

Today, we remember millions of victims of the Nazi regime and terrifying tragedy of the Jews who were tortured and killed in the most monstrous ways.

Holocaust Remembrance Day is not only an opportunity to pay homage and express piety to all victims in the largest twilight of civilization, under domination of the Nazi racial ideology, but it is the sacred duty of the whole democratic world to send a clear and unequivocal message that this greatest historical evil, and any other evil should never happen again, at the same time pointing out the threats and challenges of humanity to young and new generations.

Pursuant to its freedom-loving and justice-loving history and moral codex, on this day Montenegro decisively gives its voice of piety to the victims and to solidarity regarding all necessary values adhered to by the international community. Montenegro remembers its own victims from concentration camps and proudly points out its great contribution to the Anti-Fascist movement of progressive humanity in victory over forces and ideology of this evil which provoked holocaust.

This day warns us of our common obligation to take the responsibility and to show to the present and future generations through education programs and creative activities that respect of equality and equal rights for everybody is our right and imperative of our action. Only if we find out what was done, we will learn what must not be repeated. Therefore, we must openly talk about holocaust, of what preceded it and protect the future generations and principles of humanity established by the United Nations through our remembering of the Holocaust victims.

It is a duty of all of us, as individuals, and primarily a moral and political responsibility of the political leaders to discard every negation or minimizing of the Holocaust and to familiarize the future generations with the terrifying genocide crimes and publicly judge all forms of religious intolerance, discrimination, hatred and violence on any basis, through development of education programs. The UN and UNESCO Resolutions on Holocaust remembrance bind us to that.

Protection of former Nazi camps, symbol of the Nazi crimes, arrests and forced labor are the only way not to ever forget the terrifying crime of Holocaust and its victims.
Montenegro will, in the future as well as in the present, belong with full commitment to democratic responsible forces of humanity, which will through building of its democratic, tolerant, humane, solidary and responsible society, make their own best contribution and strengthen awareness, responsibility and enhance the activities of interest for the benefit and prosperity of all peoples. Montenegro preserves the multidimensional foundations of humanity, civilizations intermingling and achievements in terms of values, by using history lessons in the best way and in the interest of this time and safe future.

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