ADDRESS BY MR MEVLÜT ÇAVUŞOĞLU,

PRESIDENT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY

OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE

ON THE OCCASION OF THE REKINDLING OF THE HANUKKAH FLAME

(Paris, Wednesday 1 December 2010)

Mr Rabbi, dear friends,

Light is the symbol of life. Life cannot thrive without peace. Light is therefore also the symbol of peace. But peace cannot thrive without tolerance. Light is therefore the symbol of tolerance, education and respect for others.

All these symbols that unite the Jews across the world during the eight days of Hanukkah are also the symbols and values that unite all the people across Europe in an institution that I have the honour to chair, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

The Council of Europe rose from the ruins of the Second World War. A small group of visionaries swore that “never again” should this tragedy be repeated. With the European Convention on Human Rights and with 61 years of building legal instruments and a wealth of expertise in the field of democracy, human rights and the rule of law, we enjoy today the most sophisticated system of protection of fundamental human rights and values in the world.

What was a small flame at the start has been able to preserve Europe over the decades from the flames that devastated the Continent during the War.

But in the same way as the light of Hanukkah is fragile and needs a lot of care and common effort to be carried through, so do the values that we are trying to nurture.

The world in which we are living is not a safe place - it is ravaged by crises, ignorance, intolerance and violence. This is why all of us who care about peace, freedom, justice and human rights, need to stand together, regardless of our race, ethnic origin, religion or nationality. Being united and looking forward in the same direction is the only way to preserve our achievements, for our society and for the future of our children.

I have personally placed the need for dialogue between cultures and religions and, more generally, the fight against prejudice and the promotion of tolerance at the heart of my action as a President of the Assembly. I am therefore really happy to share my beliefs with you at such a highly symbolic moment.

Dear friends, happy Hanukkah!