Several European Union leaders attended the opening of the new permanent Brussels office of the European Jewish Congress on Wednesday. From L to R: Israeli Minister of National Infrastructure, Uzi Landau, Jacques Barrot, Commissioner in charge of Justice, Freedom and Security, Jerzy Buzek, President of the European Parliament, José Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Moshe Kantor, EJC President Serge Cwajgenbaum, EJC Secretary General and Raya Kalanova, head of EJC Brussels of
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The leaders of the European Union institutions strongly vowed to fight antsemitism and all other forms of racism and xenophobia and to promote European values of tolerance, freedom and human rights. Speaking at the opening of the new European Jewish Congress Brussels office, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso stated: “We must firmly reject all attempts to rewrite history or to deny the dignity of fellow human beings. We must condemn all forms of intolerance, racism, xenophobia and antisemitism.”
Stressing the need to be “vigilant,” he reminded that a few weeks ago
Europe solemnly commemorated the 70th anniversary of the start of the Second World War “to pay tribute to those who fought for freedom and and to honour the memory of millions of victims of barbarism.”
He paid tribute to the memory of Marek Edelman, the last survivor of the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, who died recently in Poland.
“The European Union, Barroso said, “represents the victory of law over arms, solidarity over nationalism and justice over all forms of oppression,” adding that the Jewish communitires of Europe have played a full part in building Europe “because they have been able to bring their ideal of justice and peace to the European project.”
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Jerzy Buzek, the Polish president of the European Parliament, underlined his “personal commitment” to the promotion of tolerance and reconciliation, as well as to the combat against antsemitism and all forms of discrimination based on race or religion.
He said Europe addresses these threats to our democratic values by taking positive steps to encourage intercultural dialogue and, in particular, dialogue with different religions and faiths.
Source: http://www.ejpress.org/
