Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs (MEFA) organized this Thursday in the ‘Bunk’Art2’, an remembrance activity for the Holocaust International Day.
Under the traditional motto, “Remember others, remember yourself”, this activity brought together representatives of central institutions, representatives of UN agencies in Albania and the Resident Coordinator, representatives of the Council of Europe, the diplomatic corps in Tirana, members of families who contributed to the salvation of Jews and representatives of civil society, by commemorating all those who lost their lives and those who survived the Holocaust.
Deputy Minister of this institution, Artemis Malo, said in her speech that “Bunk’Art was selected not unintentionally for commemorating the Holocaust Day, whose entrance was inspired by Yad Vashem in Israel.”
“Suffering, the loss of lives, and the desecration of dignity from totalitarian regimes is at the same time the bondage that brings peoples together to counteract evil, raise awareness of younger generations of history, and draw lessons for the future. “Remember the others, remember yourself” is our motto, which tends to shed light on the monumental stance that the Albanians held during the Second World War, sheltering and protecting the Jewish populations that were persecuted to the limits of the unbelievable,” said Malo.
Meanwhile, the United Nations Permanent Coordinator in Albania, Brian J. Williams, in his speech, stressed the positive values of Albanians and especially their human solidarity regarding Jewish persecution.
“Albania has a very beautiful story to share with the world because during the Holocaust period, Albanians stayed side by side with persecuted Jews in Europe. Albania is the only country in which the Jewish population during the Holocaust rose because of the friendship and courage that Albanians showed,” said Williams.