Zagreb - The Croatian parliament on Wednesday observed a minute's silence in memory of the Holocaust victims, marking the International Holocaust Remembrance Day, with Speaker Gordan Jandroković saying that it was everyone's duty never to forget the victims or let them down.
In his address to the parliament, Jandroković said that today was the 76th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz concentration camp, the infamous place that symbolised all other places where genocide was committed against six million Jews and where other unwanted groups were systematically exterminated.
Majority of Croatian people were against fascist policy
"Unfortunately, Auschwitz reminds us also of camps like Jasenovac and Stara Gradiška where during the criminal regime of the Independent State of Croatia numerous innocent people - Jews, Roma, Serbs as well as Croats, were deported to, tortured and killed. Nonetheless, it is always important to say that a majority of the Croat people stood up against such fascist policy and sided with the victors in World War II," he said.
Victims must never be forgotten
"It is our obligation to all Holocaust victims to never forget them or let them down," Jandroković said, adding that that could be done only if lessons were learned from the horrible past and it was prevented from happening again.
The Holocaust must be a reminder that "what is unimaginable is always possible" and the history of the Holocaust teaches people that each individual has more power than they believe, both in good and in evil.
That is evidenced by the Righteous Among the Nations, including 120 courageous people from Croatia. "They are proof that moral strength and personal conscience can prevail," he said.
Societies vulnerable at times of fast changes, crises
The parliament speaker also warned that the history of the Holocaust was very much relevant for the present time.
"We live at a time of unprecedented fast changes, and history has taught us that societies are particularly vulnerable at a time of fast changes and crises," he said, stressing that in today's vulnerable democratic environment, one must remain committed to the historical truth and to the condemnation of and fight against any form of denial of the Holocaust and its politicisation as well as to the strengthening of fundamental values such as freedom, peace, tolerance, acceptance of differences, mutual respect and trust, solidarity and respect for every human being and their dignity.
"That collective awareness will help prevent evil, hate, prejudice, animosity and indifference, which are the source of many politically different forms of radical behaviour," he said, adding that this must be taught to young generations.
Last year the Sabor adopted a working definition of antisemitism, so I call on you to promote and strengthen its basic principles and values on a daily basis, Jandroković said.