World War II is a global tragedy that had a profound effect on Latvia. Latvian people suffered unimaginable atrocities and pain. We have gathered here today to commemorate the victims of the Holocaust, which is considered the most horrible war crime committed by Nazi Germany.
4 July was one of the first days of the ensuing tragedy with mass executions in Biķernieki and Rumbula forests and other locations in Latvia. But this day is symbolic because synagogue was set ablaze and first victims died in a house of prayers, a place that has brough unity in faith and hope for a better future to the Jewish nation for thousands of years. The ruins of burnt-down synagogue are a living reminder of genocide against innocent souls fuelled by racism and intolerance.
German occupation power and its Latvian collaborators committed crimes against humanity on our soil. They mercilessly wiped out the Jewish community of Latvia, a part of the Latvian nation. Part of Latvian society was gone. Latvia has consistently condemned crimes committed by occupation regime and its collaborators.
We should also treasure the memories of those brave Latvians that tried to save their fellow Jewish compatriots. Alongside the name of Žanis Lipke, their names will forever grace the monument installed next to burnt-down synagogue. So far, historian Marģers Vestermanis has helped identify the total of 700 people who tried to save Jews.
Our hearts and thoughts are with Latvia’s Jewish community today. No figure or words can fairly represent the loss Latvian state and society suffered as a result of almost complete annihilation of Latvia’s Jewish community. As we commemorate victims of Holocaust, we look back at our past to better understand the common future we are building.
We recently marked the 20th anniversary of Stockholm Declaration. Adopted by countries participating in the forum, including Latvia, it recognised the on-going genocides, ethnic cleansing, racism, antisemitism and xenophobia that still exists globally. Countries participating in the forum agreed that it is the responsibility of the international community to fight these threats.
Nevertheless, despite efforts of the international community, we can still witness Holocaust denial, antisemitism, ethnic intolerance and violence in regions near and far. We can also witness attempts to revise the history of World War II. We strongly condemn Kremlin’s absurd allegations that compare Ukrainian government and Nazi regime. These false accusations devalue the significance of Holocaust and smear the memory of its victims.
We should counteract and ensure that any attempts to distort or instrumentalise the history of World War II and Holocaust that we see happening fail. We must prevent aggression against other countries and attempts to undermine the rights of another sovereign nation to exist. World must learn from past. Holocaust education, commemoration and research is one of our key tasks. It is our moral and political duty to next generations.
