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President Iohannisat, at the ceremony dedicated to the International Holocaust Remembrance Day
President Klaus Iohannis stated, on Tuesday, that abuse and extremism of any form cannot be tolerated and infringements of the law must be firmly punished, showing that it is "unacceptable that certain persons or groups are instrumentalizing in a cynical way" the Holocaust for "momentary demagogic interests."
"I bring pious homage to the victims of the Holocaust and reiterate the firm commitment not to forget and to pass on to future generations the mission of preserving the memory of the Holocaust. The promotion of fundamental rights and liberties, respect for historical truth and understanding the causes that determined the appearance of such atrocities gives us the assurances that such crimes against humanity will never take place again," said Iohannis, at the Choral Temple, at the ceremony dedicated to the International Holocaust Remembrance Day.
He showed that, presently, "the dangers to democracy take on new and deceiving shapes," mentioning that "the exacerbation of antisemitism, xenophobia, intolerance, racism and discrimination, the attempts to rehabilitate criminals of war, as well as abdication from the defence of the supreme values of humanity can bring back to actuality the tragic experiences of history."
"It is unacceptable that certain persons or groups are cynically instrumentalizing this terrible episode for momentary demagogic interests. All of this risks to jeopardize the progress that Romania has recorded in the past years in the domain of assuming the past and combating extremism. It's imperative that each of us say a determined 'No!' to hatred, lies, disinformation, and conspiracy theories, because that is the only way to guarantee respect for democratic values and principles," said the head of state.
President Iohannis emphasized that the COVID-19 pandemic has amplified the virulence of anti-Semitic attacks and created an environment adequate to spread conspiracies and disinformation.
"Let us not close our eyes to these real dangers, which many times ably hide behind a claimed freedom of expression. The escalation of anti-Semitic, radical, and discriminatory attitudes and manifestations takes place especially on the backdrop of a state of apathy, when society does not consider the extremist threat sufficiently serious. History has shown us, without a doubt, what monsters can be birthed by the abdication from fundamental values, despise for democracy, the hatred and passivity in the face of these attitudes. We are not allowed to remain silent! A voice that speaks the truth can extinguish several lying voices. Let us be involved, thus, all of us, representatives of public authorities and citizens, in the defence of fundamental liberties and in the maintenance of the health of our democracy. Abuse and extremism in any form cannot be tolerated and infringement of the law must be firmly punished. Romania holds the necessary instruments to counteract these elements and all elements must be focused in the direction of their consolidation," said Iohannis.
The head of state mentioned that Romania is a model of good practices in the region, through the steps that it took to correctly assume its past, as well as through the expansion and consolidation of educational programs about the history of the Jews and the Holocaust.
"Education offers us the necessary antibodies to fight against toxic tendencies, and the promotion of tolerance, solidarity and respect towards others and towards diversity rebuild trust at the level of society. Furthermore, the completion of the National Museum for the History of Jews and the Holocaust in Romania and collaboration with national and international partners in view of combating antisemitism are national commitments that I have reaffirmed on the occasion of participating in the Malmo International Forum on Holocaust Remembrance last year. We must speak openly and honestly about everything the Holocaust was, to ensure that young and future generations will know this painful past. Let us not remain indifferent and silent witnesses to the hate speech and punish firmly, from democratic positions, each slippage!," said Iohannis.
He recalled the personalities of Aurel Vainer and Liviu Beris.
"Today there are fewer among us of those who lived through the horrors of the Holocaust. Testimonies and examples of humanity, forgiveness and hope must be kept and cherished by us all," Iohannis also said.
The participants in the event held a moment of silence in the memory of the victims of the Holocaust at the proposal of President Klaus Iohannis.
The head of state Klaus Iohannis, the Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies Marcel Ciolacu, Prime Minister Nicolae Ciuca, Deputy Silviu Vexler, Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, Justice Minister Catalin Predoiu, Defence Minister Vasile Dancu, as well as the head of the European Commission representation in Romania, Ramona Chiriac, laid wreaths of flowers in the memory of Holocaust victims.