81 years ago, Allied forces liberated the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp, ending one of the darkest chapters in human history. On this occasion, a commemoration was held in Sarajevo today to mark the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, which was attended by the chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America in Bosnia and Herzegovina, John Ginkel.
The chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of the United States of America in Bosnia and Herzegovina attended the commemoration in Sarajevo, where six million Jews killed in the Holocaust were honored, including about one and a half million children, as well as millions of other innocent victims – Roma, Slavs, political prisoners and people with disabilities – who died under the Nazi regime.
In Banja Luka, representatives of the US Embassy joined the local Jewish community at the Jewish Cultural Center “Arie Livne”, as well as at the commemoration held at the New Banja Luka cemetery. Paying tribute to the victims, as ordered, confirmed the common dedication to fostering a culture of memory.
The Embassy of the United States of America said that the USA stands with the citizens of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Jewish community around the world in marking this day, and that it remains steadfastly committed to the fight against anti-Semitism, as well as against the denial and distortion of the Holocaust.
It was emphasized that as the number of Holocaust survivors dwindles, it becomes increasingly important to preserve the truth and ensure that future generations learn from this history.
The United States of America, as stated, will continue to defend the dignity of every human life, oppose hatred and intolerance in all forms, and provide support for the memory of the Holocaust, education about the Holocaust and the protection of Jewish communities at home and abroad.
