WORDS OF MR MEVLÜT ÇAVUŞOĞLU, PRESIDENT OF THE PARLIAMENTARY ASSEMBLY, FOR THE COMMEMORATIVE CEREMONY ON THE OCCASION

OF THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF COMMEMORATION

IN MEMORY OF THE VICTIMS OF THE HOLOCAUST

(STRASBOURG, 27 JANUARY 2011, 2.15 P.M.)

Dear friends,

Commemorating the Holocaust is not simply the least we can do in order to keep alive the memory of millions of innocent victims.

It is above all a way of reminding us of what could happen if we do not build into our societies democratic safeguards which are strong enough to resist any drifts from our common values and principles.

Next week I shall also be in Auschwitz for a visit jointly organized by UNESCO, the City of Paris and the Aladdin project, a foundation which promotes better understanding between Jews and Muslims.

It is true that we in Europe have gone a long way - from the tragedy of mass extermination 70 years ago to a death penalty-free Continent today.

But the reality is far more nuanced. All forms of intolerance towards those considered “different” are on the rise again – be it anti-Semitism, Islamophobia or racism and xenophobia in general.

Ethnic, religious or cultural differences between people are being artificially exacerbated and manipulated in the political discourse, to divert attention from the real problems and real solutions. Politicians and parties reverting to such discourse have now been democratically elected in many national parliaments.

Dear friends, when such things started happening in the 1930s, most people thought that this was not serious enough, or that it would just remain a matter of rhetoric, and not of practice. And this is probably one of the most important roles of the Holocaust. To give us an example – the ugliest, most appalling and disgraceful – and yet REAL example of what could happen.

The sittings of this Assembly have been a precious contribution towards a hate-free and phobia-free Europe, as it is a place where we can discuss peacefully and freely any matters that unite us or differentiate us. In that sense, the major debate that we will hold next April on the religious dimension of inter-cultural dialogue would also be a way of commemorating all the victims of intolerance. And, hopefully, it would also be a way to look more clearly to the future.

Thank you for your attention.