No: 28, 26 January 2016

Millions of innocent people, primarily the Jews, were murdered in an organized and systematic way en masse by the Nazi regime and its collaborators in Europe during World War II.

January 27th was declared as “The International Holocaust Remembrance Day” by the United Nations General Assembly in 2005, marking the day of 27 January 1945, on which the Auschwitz-Birkenau Death Camp, where the highest number of people were persecuted and massacred, was liberated.

On the occasion, we commemorate with respect millions of people who lost their lives in the Holocaust, one of the darkest and most painful moments in the history of humanity.

Turkey is effectively carrying out activities within “The International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance”, the international organization which it has participated as an observer since 2008.

In this regard, to raise awareness on the Holocaust, events and educational activities are organized and commemoration ceremonies are held in Turkey as well. The Commemoration Ceremony for the Victims of the Holocaust, held since 2011 with the participation of high level officials, will be organized this year on 27 January 2016 by Ankara University, one of the oldest and most reputable universities of Turkey, with the participation of H.E. Volkan Bozkır, Minister for EU Affairs and Chief Negotiator.

Turkey is committed to fulfil its responsibility henceforth to prevent the reoccurrence of such an atrocity and will resolutely continue its fight against the phenomena such as anti-Semitism, racism, xenophobia, and Islamophobia which unfortunately have regained ground in today’s world.