October 10, 2005

On behalf of the U.S. Government, I would like to extend heartfelt congratulations to all who contributed to the success of this day, as we inaugurate the Elie Wiesel National Institute for Holocaust Studies in Romania. Members of the International Commission on the Holocaust in Romania - including scholars, teachers, civic leaders, witnesses, and survivors – issued a groundbreaking report last year, calling for the founding of this institute. I’m pleased to see so many distinguished Americans on hand, including Warren Miller, the Chairman of the U.S. Commission for the Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad Today. We salute you and call upon you to stay involved in this vital effort.

Elie Wiesel himself once wrote that “Not to transmit an experience is to betray it.” Today, Romania solemnly commemorates its second Holocaust Remembrance Day. Of the six million Jews killed during the Holocaust, some 400,000 hailed from what is today part of Romania, or once was. Those who perpetrated this crime against humanity sought to destroy not only a large and vibrant Jewish population but also other minorities, including the Roma. Golta, Domanovca, Bogdanovca: we cannot betray the memory of those who died there and in dozens of camps and ghettos like them. Today, we are bound to transmit to future generations the lessons of truth, compassion, tolerance, justice.

Now the door has opened to the real history of the Holocaust in Romania, which was falsified by the communist regime and since victimized by Wiesel’s old antagonist -- indifference. Romania, a member of NATO, an EU aspirant, cannot be indifferent. We applaud the opening of research archives, the implementation of the Wiesel Commission’s historic report; the passage of laws that prohibit the glorification of war criminals.

But transmitting the experience must not stop with scholars and lawmakers. The Government of Romania has begun to incorporate education on the Holocaust in school curricula. This effort is absolutely critical; future generations cannot be indifferent if they are to make the right moral choices. This will be the work – the vital work -- of this new Institute.

I applaud the efforts of those who have worked toward the establishment of the Institute, and I look forward to returning here in the not so distant future when the Institute's doors are officially opened. Congratulations to you all.

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10 Octombrie 2005

In numele Guvernului Statelor Unite, doresc sa-i felicit din inima pe toti cei care si-au adus contributia la succesul zilei de astazi, cand se inaugureaza Institutul National “Elie Wiesel” pentru Studierea Holocaustului in Romania. Membrii Comisiei Internationale pentru Studierea Holocaustului in Romania – inclusiv cercetatori, profesori, lideri ai societatii civile, martori si supravietuitori – au redactat, anul trecut, un raport revolutionar, prin care se solicita infiintarea acestui institut. Imi face placere sa constat implicarea a numerosi americani, printre care Warren Miller, Presedintele Comisiei Statelor Unite pentru Conservarea Patrimoniului American in Strainatate. Va salut si va rog sa continuati sa va implicati in acest efort vital.

Elie Wiesel insusi a scris odata: “A nu transmite o experienta inseamna a o trada”. Astazi Romania comemoreaza, in mod solemn, cea de-a doua Zi Nationala a Holocaustului. Din cele sase milioane de evrei ucisi in timpul Holocaustului, aproape 400.000 proveneau din ceea ce este astazi Romania. Cei care au comis aceste crime impotriva umanitatii au urmarit sa distruga nu numai o populatie evreiasca numeroasa si dinamica, ci si alte minoritati, inclusiv rromi. Golta, Domanovca, Bogdanovca: nu putem trada memoria celor care si-au pierdut viata in acele locuri si in zeci de lagare si ghetouri asemenea acestora. Astazi avem obligatia de a transmite generatiilor viitoare lectiile despre adevar, compasiune, toleranta si dreptate.

Acum s-au deschis portile adevaratei istorii a Holocaustului in Romania, care a fost falsificata de regimul comunist si victimizata, de atunci, de vechiul dusman al lui Wiesel – indiferenta. Membru NATO si aspirant la Uniunea Europeana, Romania nu poate ramane indiferenta. Salutam deschiderea arhivelor, implementarea raportului istoric al Comisiei Wiesel si adoptarea legilor prin care se interzice glorificarea criminalilor de razboi.

Dar transmiterea experientei nu trebuie sa se limiteze la cercetatori si la organe legislative. Guvernul Romaniei a inceput sa includa studiul Holocaustului in programa scolara. Acest efort este vital; generatiile viitoare nu pot ramane indiferente daca vor sa ia deciziile morale corecte. In aceasta va consta misiunea – vitala – a acestui nou Institut.

Salut eforturile celor care au contribuit la infiintarea Institutului si sunt nerabdator sa ma intorc aici, in viitorul nu foarte indepartat, cand usile Institutului vor fi deschise in mod oficial. Felicitari tuturor!

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