On 27^th January 2025, Ambassador Prof. Anastase SHYAKA joined about 3,000 attendees in commemorating the 80^th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the former German Nazi concentration and extermination camp. The event brought together high-level dignitaries, including about 30 Heads of State and Government, leaders of International Organizations, and religious figures.

The commemoration provided an opportunity to honor the memory of more than 1.1 million victims, primarily Jews, who perished at Auschwitz-Birkenau. Survivors shared their harrowing testimonies, highlighting the atrocities they endured and emphasized the importance of remembrance in combating denial and historical distortion.

As part of the tribute to the victims, Ambassador SHYAKA, along with Heads of State and other heads of delegations, joined approximately 50 Holocaust survivors in a solemn candle-lighting ceremony in front of a freight wagon positioned near the main gate of the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.

This act of remembrance underscored a shared commitment to preserving historical memory and preventing future atrocities. The Holocaust serves as a reminder of the consequences of hatred and intolerance, drawing significant parallels with the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda.

For more pictures please click here