Georgian Parliament commemorates victims of Holocaust on international date
Papuashvili stressed Holocaust served as a “stark reminder” of “one of the darkest chapters” in world history. Photo: Shalva Papuashvili’s Twitter
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The Georgian Parliament, in cooperation with the Israeli Embassy in the country, on Monday commemorated the victims of Holocaust, the genocide of European Jews by the Nazi Germany during World War II, at the National Parliamentary Library in Tbilisi.
In his speech, Shalva Papuashvili, the Parliament Speaker, emphasised the “enduring importance” of remembering the atrocities of the Holocaust, stressing that “such harrowing examples must be preserved in the collective memory of all generations to sustain humanity's ongoing battle against hatred and intolerance”.
"In collaboration with the Parliament of Georgia and the Israeli Embassy in Georgia, we commemorate the victims of the Holocaust for the third consecutive year", the official said, and stressed the date served as a “stark reminder” of “one of the darkest chapters” in world history, marked by “unfathomable cruelty and immeasurable suffering”.
On the Holocaust Remembrance Day, we stand together to remember the darkest chapter of human history - a stark reminder of the consequences of hatred, prejudice & intolerance. It is our collective duty to preserve the lessons of the Holocaust & to pass them on to future… pic.twitter.com/F41i8cgUD3
— Shalva Papuashvili ???????? (@shpapuashvili) January 29, 2024
Papuashvili noted the Holocaust had resulted in the deaths of six million “innocent Jewish men, women, and children”, alongside millions of other individuals who fell victim to “brutal atrocities”.
Today, as we gather to honour the memory of Holocaust victims, we also pay tribute to the survivors whose remarkable resilience and courage enabled them to rebuild their lives", Papuashvili noted, adding their "narratives serve as testament to the triumph of the human spirit over darkness and inspire hope for a brighter future”.
The Speaker underscored the “collective responsibility” of individuals and nations to ensure the lessons of the Holocaust were “never forgotten”, and stressed the imperative of educating future generations “about the horrors of the past to perpetuate the fight against hatred and intolerance”.
I joined Parliament Speaker Papuashvili and my colleague, Ambassador Meitzad of Israel, at today’s event in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust. They must never be forgotten. #HolocaustMemorialDay #WeRemember #HMD2024 pic.twitter.com/FZtg9X8Kcw
— Mark Clayton (@MarkClaytonFCDO) January 29, 2024
We must strive to cultivate a society that embraces diversity and fosters mutual respect. Education stands as a powerful tool in preventing future atrocities, nurturing a generation founded on empathy, unity, and compassion, dedicated to upholding human rights”, Papuashvili said.
He also expressed Georgia's “longstanding solidarity” with the Jewish people, “rooted in millennia of fraternal relations characterised by peace, mutual assistance and neighbourly cooperation”.
For 26 centuries, our two nations have lived in harmony, bound by a shared commitment to support each other", he told the event, adding “in that same spirit, Georgia stands in solidarity with Israel during these challenging times, praying for a lasting peace to grace the homes of our Jewish brethren".
Hadas Meitzad, the Ambassador of Israel to Georgia, also delivered remarks at the event.