Excerpts of the speech of the European Parliament
President on International Holocaust Commemoration Day.
“Today we remember that 76 years ago the gates of
Auschwitz-Birkenau were opened, revealing the horror of the Nazi
genocide.
“What happened in that concentration camp and in all the other
death factories scattered throughout Europe, gives us a
responsibility and imposes on us the obligation to watch over and
keep the memory alive. As Primo Levi wrote, "if understanding is
impossible, knowing is necessary".
“Remembering is therefore a duty so that what has happened cannot
happen again because each time it places us in front of the
darker side of humanity, the total loss of the most basic feeling
of compassion.
“And now we must do it almost without the voices of those who
lived it: the passage of time means we have to look at these
events with the force of reason and without the precious help of
those who experienced the devastation, the ferocity, and the
ruinous force of the nationalist devil.
“But we must also remember that those who experienced that horror
have left democratic and European institutions in our custody.
“Europe itself was born as a symbol of openness, cooperation,
awareness of a common destiny. It was born from a great vision,
from a courageous ideal that drew strength from such a huge
tragedy as the one caused by the Second World War and the
horrific Nazi designs.
“This is why all of us Europeans must share responsibility for
that custody: the custody of democracy and Europe.
“As you know, we are living in a time of great change. In these
difficult months we have learned to focus on our values, to
understand the meaning of our interdependence.
“The transformations taking place offer extraordinary
opportunities, which we must use to improve the quality of our
life, to correct the development of the economy and society to
ensure social and environmental sustainability, to reduce
distances and inequalities.
“Today more than ever we must therefore act together and protect
our cohesion, that is the context in which entire generations
have experienced peace and have been able to build a model which
for a long period has allowed well-being, economic growth, social
and civil rights.
“Holocaust Remembrance Day is not just an anniversary, above all
it is an invitation to show our commitment, vigilance and
responsibility.”
“To prevent denial and amnesia, we must all make this commitment
to a clear and vigilant historical memory, capable not only of
bearing witness but also of understanding, preventing, and
intervening whenever the seeds of absolute evil spread.
“A way to remember but also to honor the sacrifice of those who
lost their lives fighting for a better world by defending the
values of freedom and justice.”
The full text of the
speech is available here
