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- Русский
The President of the Hellenic Republic, Mr Nicos Christodoulides, visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum this afternoon, where he attended a special ceremony commemorating the victims of the Holocaust.
In a highly emotional atmosphere, the President of the Republic lit the flame of remembrance and paid tribute to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, and laid a wreath.
The President of the Republic toured the interiors and exteriors of the Museum and then offered to Yad Vashem archival material consisting of documents and photographs from the State Archives and the Press and Information Office (PIO) respectively, concerning the Jews who passed through Cyprus on their way to Israel between 1945 and '49.
In his brief address, the President of the Republic said, among other things, that "I am here to honour and commemorate the souls who perished. Their memory lives forever."
The President of the Republic said that Cyprus and Israel share a unique historical bond: 53 thousand Jews passed through the Karaolos area north of Famagusta, Dhekelia and Xylotympos.
Prodromos Papavassiliou in particular was recognized by the State of Israel and decorated for the help he provided to the Jews, the President said.
Referring to the archival material offered by the GMP, the President said that these are documents and photographs that recount what the thousands of Jews who found themselves in Cyprus went through.
The President of the Republic said that Yad Vashem already has a close cooperation with the JHA and noted that he looked forward to a closer cooperation between the Cyprus State Archives and Yad Vashem.
The President of the Republic also said that he was shocked to see some photographs of Jewish children, women and men who, despite their suffering, were smiling and looking to the future with optimism and hope.
Finally, President Christodoulides signed the Museum's Visitors' Book where he wrote the following. We have a duty to remember. We have a duty to fight against anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred and discrimination.
We remember! Never again!"
PM/EP
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