MINSK, 28 April (BelTA) – The right to historical memory is an inalienable part of human rights. Belarusian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yuri Ambrazevich made the statement at a ceremony held to commemorate the Jews, who died during World War Two, BelTA has learned.
Yuri Ambrazevich reminded that 2022 had been declared the Year of Historical Memory in Belarus. The country is busy stepping up and systematizing the relevant work in order to determine future plans. Belarus is interested in advancing cooperation with the World Holocaust Remembrance Center Yad Vashem and with other memorial complexes in European countries, the diplomat noted. They are built in locations formerly occupied by the largest concentration camps where millions of people were eradicated, including people from Belarus. Many of these places were liberated by the Red Army while the prisoners were still alive.
Yuri Ambrazevich went on saying: “The victory of the Soviet Union in World War Two preserved even more lives both in Europe and for the Jewish nation in particular. Where is the voice of descendants of those residents of Europe and in particular Jews, who were eliminated by the Nazi and freed by Soviet people when monuments to the liberators of their forefathers are being demolished or splashed with paint? When descendants of their liberators are excluded from commemorative ceremonies? It's been 77 years. Do the deaths of Soviet liberator warriors no longer have meaning? Or do Europeans now believe they should have stayed under the rule of fascists and faced the consequences for the Jewish nation and other potential targets of radical nationalism?”
The deputy minister of foreign affairs pointed out that Belarus reverently treats the places of tragedy of World War Two and Holocaust sites. “They are always open to anyone willing to pay the last respects or give a prayer without any restrictions. Just like other places, which are dear to many Jews, who remember their roots in Volozhin or other small Belarusian towns. The right to historical memory and the right to visit graves of forefathers or see the well one's own great grandfather took water and derived inspiration from represent an inalienable part of human rights,” the diplomat stressed. Yuri Ambrazevich stated with regret that unjustified and irrational prohibition against Belavia's flights, against flights of other air carriers to Belarus on the basis of false and unproven accusations has deprived very many people of such a right.
“As far as I can see, historical memory is part of our historical legacy, part of our past and has very solid ties to our present. The enhancement of the historical memory of one nation just like the establishment of one's own security should not proceed to the detriment of interests of other nations. Belarus is solidly behind this position and is open to interaction in this context with Israel and with any other state,” Yuri Ambrazevich concluded.
