On H.E. Ambassador Katalin Bogyay's initiative, Hungary was the co-organizer of the United Nations Holocaust Memorial Ceremony on the International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust, 27 January 2016.
The theme of the commemoration this year was “the Holocaust and Human Dignity” and it was opened in this spirit by the remarks of Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.
It is a privilege an honor, that for the first time in the existence of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), and under the Hungarian Chairmanship, the Chair of the organization was amongst the speakers at the United Nations celebration.
In his remarks, Mr. Szabolcs Takács, the Chair of IHRA drew the attention of the international community to the fact that this world-shattering event is the raison d’etre of the United Nations as well as of IHRA: the birth of both organizations was closely linked to the realization by state leaders that stable and institutionalized cooperation between states is fundamental in preventing another conflict such as the Second World War and another genocide such as the Holocaust. IHRA’s 31 member countries and ten observer countries work to take concrete steps to ensure that ‘never again’ is not just a platitude.
He furthermore emphasized the strong recognition of the Hungarian Government that every tenth victim of the Shoah, 600 thousand people, were Hungarians and that every Hungarian who killed or collaborated committed high treason against the Hungarian nation. The Chair echoed the Hungarian Government's principle of zero tolerance policy in connection with Anti-Semitism, a position that over the past year has been actively advocated by Ambassador Bogyay multiple times in front of every UN forum.
The Hungarian IHRA presidency's priority to raise awareness of the Roma Holocaust was beautifully reflected in the melodies of Roma musicians Antal Kopar (guitar) and Bela Horvath (violin) who played during the ceremony.
Invited speakers included H. E. Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, President of the seventieth session of the General Assembly; H.E. Mr. Danny Danon, Permanent Representative of Israel to the United Nations; H.E. Ms. Samantha Power, Permanent Representative of the United States to the United Nations and H.E. Mr. Felix Klein, Special Representative for relations with Jewish Organizations, issues relating to Anti-Semitism and Holocaust Remembrance.
Please find the full speech of Chair Takács here.
