President Says Romania Assumes Its Past At Holocaust Memorial’s Inauguration

Basescu said the Memorial represents a way of keeping alive the memory of the Jews and Roma that were victims of systematic persecutions and hate during the World War II, adding it is the country's duty to act against any xenophobic or anti-Semite manifestations.

Basescu said he is confident Romania will develop further programs to investigate the Holocaust and reminded those present at the event the country already has an institute that is studying the Holocaust, namely the National Institute Ellie Wisel.

The Romanian Holocaust Memorial is a sculpture by Peter Jacobi and was inaugurated Thursday in Bucharest. The Memorial cost 17 million lei (EUR1=RON4.2766) and the money was provided by the Ministry of Culture.

Bucharest general mayor Sorin Oprescu, Culture Minister Theodor Paleologu and lawmaker Roberta Anastase were among officials present at the event.

The program for establishing Romania's own Holocaust memorial was initiated in 2006 following a recommendation of the International Commission Studying Holocaust in Romania and after discussions with the Romanian Jewish Community and survivors of the Holocaust.

In May 2004, the Government decided October 9 be celebrated as Holocaust Day in Romania.

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