International Holocaust Remembrance Day in the EP in Brussels. Extracts from the opening of the ceremony by Martin SCHULZ, EP President and by Moshe KANTOR, President of the European Jewish Congress,

Brussels

speech

ceremony

SCHULZ, Martin (S&D, DE)

Holocaust remembrance (T)

KANTOR, Moshe (RU)

International Holocaust Remembrance Day: extracts from the opening of the ceremony by Martin SCHULZ, EP President and Moshe KANTOR, President of the European Jewish Congress

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, "There is a specific responsibility of all Germans until today to repeat and I repeat it today and to fight for 'NEVER AGAIN'.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, Anyone who sees these pictures that will never leave you must lose faith in humanity, but you the survivors you did not give up in humanity; you are an inspiration to all of us.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, It is for me a precious gift that more than 100.000 Jewish people live again in my home country in Germany, for me it is a miracle.

SOUNDBITE (English), Martin SCHULZ, EP President, It saddens me deeply Ladies and Gentlemen, when young Jewish people are doubt whether they can raise their children in Europe, whether it is right to stay. Some consider leaving Europe for good, because they no longer feel save. Jewish life is a part of our culture and our identity, without the Jewish Europe would not be Europe, but to our shame some have not learned the lessons of the past, some deny the Holocaust ever happened; they try to convince us that the pain and loss conflicted upon innocent victims are illusions lies. They adding insult to injury and what makes me angry every day, these people are sitting in this Parliament here.

End of opening speech, EP President Martin SCHULZ leaves the podium and walks over to Dr Moshe KANTOR, applause  (1 shot)

SOUNDBITE (English), Moshe KANTOR, President of the European Jewish Congress, Half of this 6 million Jewish, 3 million Jews were killed without names and without naming. It is the so called hidden Holocaust. I came from Eastern Europe, in Eastern Europe the Holocaust was hidden, but in Western Europe it was not hidden it was opened.

SOUNDBITE (English), Moshe KANTOR, President of the European Jewish Congress, Just now in Europe there are a lot of tensions, with some kind of boycotts of Israeli products. We identify it as new type of anti-Semitism, dangerous for all, for Jews, for the State of Israel and for Europe itself. It is like labelling which is very similar to putting yellow stars again. And I appreciate very much our dear President Martin SCHULZ for condemning definitively these things, thank you very much Martin we appreciate it very much.

'El Maleh Rachamim', Jewish memorial prayer had been given by Chief Cantor Shai Abramson.

EP President Martin SCHULZ and Dr Moshe KANTOR are welcoming the survivors of the SHOAH, flowers are handed over, (3 shots)