Komšić in Yad Vashem Pays Tribute to Holocaust Victims and Meets with US Vice President

(Patria) - Chairman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Željko Komšić led the delegation of Bosnia and Herzegovina during the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem. The Fifth World Forum on the Holocaust, attended by numerous state delegations, is being held at Yad Vashem.

The theme of this year's forum was "Remembering the Holocaust and Fighting Antisemitism," and Chairman Komšić, along with 40 other world leaders, attended the commemoration marking the 75th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. Afterwards, the leaders visited the "Yad Vashem" Memorial Center for Holocaust Victims and paid tribute to the victims of the Holocaust during World War II by laying wreaths in the Hall of Remembrance.

During the conference, Chairman Komšić stated that unfortunately, elements of fascism still exist in the world, as well as in Bosnia and Herzegovina, against which we must all fight together to ensure a better living environment for future generations.

"The Holocaust is a unique crime against one people – the Jewish people. The most brutal crime of the last century that human civilization remembers, which was carefully planned and executed, left unprecedented consequences on the Jewish people, but also on the entire world. Unfortunately, what happened during the Nazi regime in World War II has not been a lesson for some people. The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina deeply sympathize and share the fate of the Jews. The people of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in recent history, have been victims of genocide, war crimes, crimes against humanity, and ethnic cleansing, which claimed many lives. I personally feel deep sadness and sympathy for the victims of the Holocaust and the Jewish people. The Holocaust must never be forgotten," said Chairman Komšić.

All of us who have witnessed the dark side of history have an obligation to oppose all forms of human evil and violence. Remembering the victims of the Holocaust, as well as all other victims of monstrous minds, is a lesson for new generations to reject ideologies based on segregation, intolerance, disrespect, and indifference towards others and the different. During the Forum, Chairman Komšić met with the Vice President of the United States of America, Michael Pence. Yesterday, Chairman Komšić also met with the President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin.