Ambassador Charles Flanagan commemorates 70th anniversay of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Charlie Flanagan TD, represented Ireland at the commemoration marking the 70th Anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Nazi German concentration camp.
More than one million people, the overwhelming majority of them Jews, were killed at the death camp, which was liberated by the Soviet Army on 27 January 1945.
"Auschwitz stands as a haunting system of one of the darkest periods in Europe's history. We must never forget the inhuman cruelty and industrial scale murder that took place here and in other death camps across Europe."
"We must continue to be alive to the fact that the Holocaust had its origins in intolerance, prejudice and racism. We must be vigilant in our promotion of equality and tolerance and our defence of fundamental human rights which remain under threat in many parts of the world today," Minister Flanagan stated.
Ireland will make a further contribution of €10,000 to the Perpetual Capital Fund of the Auschwitz-Birkenau Foundation in addition to the €5,000 donated in 2013. The Fund was set up in 2009 to ensure the future conservation and preservation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau site, so that future generations can see an authentic space, the scene of one of the biggest crimes in the history of mankind.