President of Ukraine Viktor Yushchenko met with the president of the Russian Jewish Congress (RJC), Viatcheslav Kantor, on Sunday to discuss preparations for the World Holocaust Forum in Kiev.
According to the RJC press release, during the meeting, both men underscored the importance of holding international forums on the Holocaust. They also discussed the state of preparations for the Second World Holocaust Forum that will be held in Kiev in September 2006.
The RJC press department quoted the Ukrainian president as saying, “The Holocaust is not just a Jewish tragedy; it is a tragedy that belongs to the whole world.”
Kantor called the upcoming forum in Babi Yar, Kiev “…a pulpit from which world leaders can come together to take a united stand against the growing dangers of xenophobia and racial intolerance, which raise their heads in an atmosphere of weak historical memory and conscious denial of the Holocaust.”
Kantor thanked Yushchenko for his “…careful attention to this problem and thorough study of the issues.” Kantor went on to say that “We, the citizens of Europe, including Russia and Ukraine, are acting not just in the name of Jews, but in the name of all of those who fought and continue to fight fascism in all its past and present incarnations.”
National News Agency
