President Klaus Iohannis Highlights the Importance of Holocaust Remembrance in Strengthening Democracy
On the occasion of International Holocaust Remembrance Day, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis delivered a powerful message emphasizing the need to combat hatred, disinformation, and extremism to protect democratic values. The statement, presented by Mihai Somordolea, a state adviser at the National Security Department, was shared during a ceremony at Bucharest's Coral Temple, CE Report quotes Agerpres
President Iohannis reflected on the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau on January 27, 1945, marking the end of one of history's darkest chapters. He honored the memory of the six million victims of the Holocaust, including those who perished in the Bucharest Pogrom of January 1941.
"The Holocaust was the peak of hatred and antisemitism, an unparalleled catastrophe aimed at erasing all traces of Jewish existence," said Iohannis. He stressed the importance of preserving survivors' testimonies as a reminder of the resilience of life over death and a warning against the rise of modern populism, extremism, and antisemitism.
The president acknowledged Romania's strides in commemorating Holocaust victims and fighting antisemitism through legislation, education, and memorial initiatives. However, he warned that the spread of hatred, violent rhetoric, and disinformation threatens to erode democracies and trivialize hard-won freedoms.
As the world faces multiple crises, Iohannis urged unity, dialogue, and solidarity, calling for renewed commitment to tolerance, truth, and humanity. "Let us ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust are never forgotten, and such a tragedy is never repeated," he concluded.