Minister Starovic
Dear colleagues
Esteemed members of the Jewish community
Dear friends,
Argentina takes over the presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) from Israel amid challenging international circumstances of which we are well aware. We do it with great humility and a profound sense of duty and responsibility. And we do it in this house which has been the Residence of the Argentine Ambassador to Belgrade for the last 60 years because the house itself carries symbolic and historical importance.
It was originally owned by a Jewish family who left Belgrade in 1941 as the Nazis occupation of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia was looming. From then on, and up to 1945, the house was occupied by a Gestapo nomenklatura. In fact, most of the Andre Nikolica Street houses were occupied by the Wehrmaatch. When the war finally ended, and Mariscal Tito and his partisans took power, the famous Jewish intellectual and close collaborator of Mariscal Tito, Mr. Mosa Pijade, resided here until the late 50s, when Argentina began leasing the property to DIPOS, a state-owned enterprise. A special thanks to HAVER for the research done on the history of the house and its dwellers.
A clear motto will guide Argentina’s presidency: “Expanding the frontiers of memory,” as a token of our commitment to truth and accountability.
We are convinced that memory must not remain static. It must grow, evolve and reach new generations, new societies and new regions of the world. The Holocaust is not only a tragedy of the past. It reminds us -unequivocally- of the consequences of hatred, of indifference and of the erosion of democratic values. The preservation of its memory is not a matter of choice; it is our shared historical responsibility. Argentina hosts the second largest Jewish community in the Americas, after the United States.
Although Argentina is geographically faraway from Europe, we were touched by the Holocaust and we were not and are not, indifferent neither to it nor to its victims. After the end of the Second World War, 5,000 survivors settled on our shores. Even today, around 150 remain among us. Their voices, their resilience, and their dignity are an example for all of us. Their legacy calls upon us -not only to remember- but to act and act decisively.
Since 1990s, Argentina has undertaken a sustained effort to declassify the archives related to the Holocaust and the Second World War. We are committed to the values of truth, transparency and accountability. During our presidency, we will deepen this effort and facilitate access to the archives, ensuring that history remains open to scrutiny, research and understanding.
Education must remain at the core of our mission, strengthening Holocaust education at all levels, equipping future generations not only with knowledge, but with the capacity to question and reflect. We are convinced that education is the best antidote to ignorance, distortion and hate. During our presidency we will work hand in hand with Jewish institutions here in Serbia to that end and I am pleased to say that they are already in contact with similar institutions in Argentina to discuss joint projects and different forms of cooperation. We greatly and sincerely value the Serbian perspective.
At the same time, Argentina is determined to bring the work of the IHRA to Latin America and to bring Latin America to IHRA. Argentina has been a dedicated Alliance member for over twenty years and remains up to this day, the only full member of the Alliance from Latin America.
This presidency marks a historic landmark. A Latin American country will preside over the Alliance and host IHRA plenary meetings for the first time. This presents a chance to expand participation, strengthen regional engagement, and further the Alliance's enlargement.
We will strive to connect with the global Spanish-speaking community, as Spanish is the world's fourth most spoken language. At the same time, we must broaden the scope of remembrance, ensuring recognition, visibility and protection of all victims of Nazi persecution, including the Roma and other forgotten minorities. Memory if it is to be just, must also be inclusive.
Today we are confronted with the resurgence of antisemitism at a global scale. It appears in familiar forms, adapts to new ones and spreads across borders. That is why it is essential today more than never since the end of the Second World War, to address antisemitism in all its forms and manifestations with clear intent and firm resolve. And we must stand firm against Holocaust denial, distortion and trivialization. Commemoration alone is not enough; it is essential that we take decisive action as well. We must act against ideologies of intolerance and fanaticism. We must act jointly and decisively in defence of democratic values, of pluralism and of the inherent dignity of every human being. Argentina was a victim of two terrorist attacks: on March 17th, 1992, an explosion destroyed the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires causing 29 dead and more than 200 injuries. Two years later, on July 18th, 1994, a day which will live in infamy, another terrorist attack, the deadliest one in Argentine history, destroyed the Jewish community centre in Buenos Aires (AMIA) causing 85 people dead and more than 300 injured. Later judicial investigations pointed to Hezbollah.
As we assume this presidency, Argentina stands ready to work alongside all IHRA partners in a concerted effort to expand the frontiers of memory- across borders, across cultures and across generations. Let us rise to this responsibility with conviction and purpose. Let us make sure that the voices of the past continue to resonate with clarity in the present. Let us collectively ensure that truth is upheld over misinformation, and that freedom prevails over oppression. Make no mistake: when the truth is weakened, the foundations of our democratic societies are weakened too.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH
Now, I will give the floor to Mr. Jozef Baruhovic, who honours us today with his presence and his testimony.
