Mr. Marcelo Mindlin, Chair of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance,
Ms. Michaela Kuchler, Secretary General of the IHRA,
Delegates from Member and Observer Countries,
Members of the Argentine IHRA Chapter,
Representatives of the Jewish community,
Welcome to Palacio San Martín, the historic home of Argentine diplomacy.
It is a great pleasure to have you here tonight, in this house that has witnessed so many chapters of our international life. Its halls were conceived for dialogue, trust, and encounter. This evening offers precisely that spirit. A moment to step away from the formal table, to meet one another with greater ease, and to strengthen the human ties that make diplomatic work possible.
I have the honor to speak on behalf of Minister Pablo Quirno. He would have very much wished to be here with you tonight but he is in Paris, representing Argentina at the OECD Ministerial Council Meeting. He asked me to convey his warmest greetings, his personal appreciation for your presence in Buenos Aires, and his full support for the work you have done so far.
Argentina receives the IHRA with pride, with responsibility, and with a clear sense of purpose. We do so at a moment of particular significance for this Alliance and for our region. This is the first time that the Alliance holds its plenary work in Latin America.
As President Javier Milei stated during the opening of the plenary's first session, Argentina's commitment to the fight against antisemitism reflects the clear moral principles of this Government and the result of decisions taken from the first day of his administration. That commitment is institutional, enduring and guided by principle. It belongs at the center of our foreign policy because memory is a duty of civilization.
The President also offered a message that deserves to remain with us throughout these days: The IHRA is as strong as the political will of its members. Institutions matter when States invest them with conviction and leadership. That is why this Presidency matters. It is an opportunity for Argentina to help expand the reach of the IHRA across Latin America and to show that remembrance can become public policy. Memory must travel across generations, institutions and cultures.
The fight against antisemitism concerns the Jewish people in a direct and painful way. It also concerns every free society. Antisemitism corrodes democratic life, weakens the foundations of coexistence, and turns indifference into permission. For that reason, Holocaust remembrance must inspire action and shape conscience.
That is why the role of each delegate is so critical. Presidencies can set a direction. Chairs can guide the process. Secretariats can provide strength and discipline. Yet the enduring value of this work will be built through the agreements you forge and the confidence you create among one another. Every consensus reached here will become one more link in a chain of responsibility that extends beyond Buenos Aires.
I wish to recognize Marcelo Mindlin for the leadership, dedication, and vision with which he is guiding this Presidency. His longstanding commitment to Holocaust remembrance and education has helped give this effort both direction and purpose.
I also wish to thank Ambassador Fabiana Loguzzo, co-Chair of the Argentine Presidency, and, through her, to the entire Argentine Presidency team and the organizations that make up the local chapter for all their work. I would also like to express my gratitude to the Secretary General of the IHRA and her team, as well as to every delegation whose presence contributes to this important gathering.
I would also like to make a special recognition to Agustín Caulo, Secretary of Worship and Civilization, and to all the members of his team, for accompanying this process and for their support at every stage.
In this vein, this reception represents an invitation. Please use this house, this city, and this moment to speak with one another, to bring positions closer, to build trust, and to renew the purpose that brought you here. Formal sessions are essential. Informal conversations often make them possible.
I have already spent enough time standing between you and the reception that awaits. Allow me, therefore, to conclude with a simple thought.
May your work in Buenos Aires strengthen the reach of memory, deepen the defence of truth, and reinforce the moral clarity that our time demands. Argentina is proud to stand with the IHRA in that mission.
Welcome once again to Palacio San Martín.
Thank you very much.
