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Milí spoluobčania,

ďakujem Vám, že ste navštívili moju stránku a zaujímate sa o veci verejné.

Kalendár akcií

Február 2010

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Kontakt

Príhovor podpredsedu vlády SR pri príležitosti pamiatky na obete holokaustu v Londýne. / ang. ver. /

Excellencies,

Ambassador of the Slovak Republic,

Ambassador of the State of Israel,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Distinguished guests and friends,

It is a great honour for me to participate in this event and commemorate together with you the extremely tragic events of the holocaust and pay tribute to all its victims.

The holocaust – or “shoa” in Hebrew – may seem as a single word; however it is a word of many meanings. For us, people of the modern era of the 21^st Century, it has an unconceivable content. The holocaust is a tragedy of one whole nation, a failure of fundamental values of the whole civilization. The holocaust is a historical event and a lesson with an eternal message and meaning. I am convinced that the last dimension is for us – contemporary people – one of the most significant dimensions of this single word. Since the holocaust in the whole dimension of its tragedy can and must teach and educate.

Today’s event is organized within the Week of national commemoration of the victims of the holocaust in the Great Britain. It has no ambition to recall any particular historical event; it strives to draw our attention to the cause and consequences. Through comprehension of its causes and consequences we can educate our civilization and prevent us from repetition of such incomprehensible failures in the future.

Our European historical experience with its consequence in ideologies of racial and ethnic dominance must serve as a unique lesson protecting us from their revival and further expansion. Therefore today when such ideologies yet again raise their voices in the form of marching semi-militant guards or nationalistic groups, we need to join the efforts of the democratic world and sign up firmly to their refusal.

Slovakia is fully aware of this situation and therefore implements several projects to commemorate the holocaust and fight against anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance. First such project will build a museum and education centre in the former work and transit camp in Sereď, a small town between Trnava and Nitra in south-western Slovakia. The building of the former museum is almost completely preserved and presents a unique opportunity for educating general public in the history of the holocaust in Slovakia. Second project has a supranational character – it is a joint project of Slovakia, Poland, the Netherlands and Israel to create a commemorative place and museum in the former Nazi extermination camp in Sobibor, Poland. Sobibor camp is particularly important in the Slovak history – it is the place where most Slovak victims of the holocaust were murdered.

I am proud that both exceptional projects were supported repeatedly and publicly by the Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico. It is the same Robert Fico who back in 2000 as an opposition member of the parliament pursued his own initiative to declare September 9 as the Day of commemoration of the victims of the holocaust and racial violence in the Slovak Republic.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Our fight against anti-Semitism must be preventive and proactive. It must engage all of us with no difference. The history of the holocaust is indeed also a history of carelessness and blindness; carelessness towards evidence of real Nazi intentions, blindness and underestimation of what was about to come. The fight against racism, anti-Semitism, xenophobia and all forms of intolerance must begin with ongoing education in the holocaust, its causes and consequences, and continue with patient eradication of certain stereotypes which have been surviving to these days, with debunking of myths of historical superiority or national exceptionality. It must serve as a clear refusal of all sentiments and re-sentiments and historical revisionism which have roots back in the 20s and 30s of the 20^th Century. Therefore I am particularly pleased that school excursions to extermination camps in Osvienčim – Auschwitz and other death camps and other forms of education in the Holocaust are nothing exceptional at our primary and secondary schools; they are an integral part of history lessons and a source of information about our history. 15,000 copies of education material on the holocaust and anti-Semitism for students at secondary schools were published recently under the Action Plan of the prevention of all forms of discrimination, racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism and other forms of intolerance at the Office of the Government of the SR. This Action Plan belongs to my portfolio.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Two days ago in Bratislava, on the occasion of the International commemoration day of the victims of the holocaust and with personal participation of Israeli minister for social affairs, diaspora, society and fight against anti-Semitism Mr. Isaac Herzog, ten more Slovak citizens were awarded the title of the Righteous among the Nations. I am extremely pleased to inform you that Slovakia belongs to states with the highest rate of citizens with this acknowledgment. I am convinced that this fact once again confirms Slovakia’s commitment to create conditions for solemn commemoration of the tragedy of the Jewish nation during the holocaust and contribute to guarantees preventing such tragedy to repeat.

In a way of conclusion, in this sensitive time and in this pleasant and precious environment, please allow me to express my solidarity with Israel even today, during these hours. Israel is fighting against terror for all of us, for our competence and peace on this planet. Israel is leading a fight against those who abuse children and mothers as live shields, against those who abuse bad social situation and abuse those in need of an instant humanitarian aid as well systematic and long-term assistance. I have compassion for victims on both sides, especially children and women, nonetheless I also understand that stability of the state and preservation of fragile peace in the Middle East requires even such exceptional and painful solution.

Thank you.

Oblasti pôsobnosti podpredsedu vlády SR