The International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of the Holocaust, January 27, is a day of remembrance and reflection by the international community for the millions of Jews, the hundreds of Roma, Sinti and others who fell brutally at the hands of Nazi barbarism because of their religion and ethnicity, in an atrocity that indelibly marred the history of humanity.
On 27 January, the day of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration and death camp, the Republic of Cyprus, together with everyone around the world, commemorates the victims of the Holocaust. It is our obligation to ensure that this message resonates loudly: We will not forget.Cyprus also pays tribute to the survivors and salutes all those who fought against the unspeakable darkness and hatred that gripped Europe with the brutality and mass murder of the Holocaust.
Unfortunately, anti-Semitism and Holocaust denial continue to plague humanity, necessitating concerted international action in order to address them effectively. Conspiracy theory revisionism and denial of historical truth cannot and must not be tolerated in any form.
Cyprus, as a place of detention for over 50,000 Holocaust survivors, served as a temporary but safe haven immediately after the end of the Second World War. The horror of the Holocaust thus left an indelible mark on the collective consciousness of the island.
Cyprus officially joined the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) as an observer member and is implementing policies at the state level. These policies include the adoption of the IHRA's Working Definition on Anti-Semitism and the provision of training for teachers in cooperation with Yad Vashem, incorporating valuable lessons into the education system.
Indicative of our determination to continue these policies is yesterday's decision by the Council of Ministers to adopt the IHRA's Working Definition on Holocaust Denial and Distortion.
Remembering the horrors of the Holocaust and preserving its memory, the international community reaffirms its collective duty to prevent the recurrence of such heinous crimes and to work tirelessly against denial and oblivion.
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