President Christodoulides recently visited the Holocaust Museum Yad Vashem, where he attended a special ceremony in memory of the Holocaust victims.
In a highly emotionally charged atmosphere, the President lit the flame of Remembrance and laid a wreath.
Following a guided tour through the Museum on May 11, he offered to the Yad Vashem archival material consisting of documents and photographs originating from the Cyprus State Archives and the Press and Information Office (PIO) respectively, in relation to the Jews, who came to Cyprus on their way to Israel between 1945-’49.
In his brief address, the President said “I am here to honour and commemorate the people who perished. Their memory lives on forever”.
The President said that Cyprus and Israel share a unique historic bond: 53 thousand Jews have passed through the “Karaolos” area, north of Famagusta, Dhekelia and Xylotymbou.
The contribution of Prodromos Papavasiliou, in particular, has been acknowledged by the State of Israel as he has been decorated for the assistance he provided to the Jews, the President said.
The President stressed that he was devastated at the sight of some photographs of Jewish children, women and men who, despite their suffering, were smiling and looking to the future with optimism and hope.
Concluding, President Christodoulides signed the Museum’s Visitors Book, in which he wrote:
“Once again I am devastated by the millions of faces, victims of the worst crime against humanity.
I unite my voice along with the voices of people from all over the world. It is our duty to remember. It is our duty to fight against antisemitism as well as against every form of hatred and discrimination.
We remember. Never again!”
