ID :
158628
Tue, 02/01/2011 - 11:44
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/158628
The shortlink copeid
TURKEY-UNITED NATIONS: A panel held on Turkey's role in helping Holocaust victims
UNITED NATIONS (A.A) - 01.02.2011 - A panel discussion on Turkey's role in saving Holocaust victims took place in the United Nations on Monday.
Turkey's permanent representative in UN Ertugrul Apakan, who spoke at the panel, said that a formal ceremony was held at the Neve Shalom Synagogue in Istanbul last week to commemorate the victims of Holocaust, adding that Istanbul's governor as well as many high-level officials attended the ceremony.
On January 27, Turkey remembered with respect millions of Jews and members of many other minority groups who lost their lives under the Nazi regime. The commemoration took place in the Neve Shalom Synagogue, which carries particular symbolism because it was the target of Al Qaeda in simultaneous attacks in Istanbul in 2003. The ceremony marked the first official Holocaust memorial in Turkey.
Noting that Turkey respectfully remembered its diplomats Selahattin Ulkumen, Necdet Kent and Namik Kemal Yolga, who put their lives at risk to rescue and save Jewish people from Nazi regime, Apakan said that the courageous behaviour of Turkish diplomats would always be remembered.
Apakan said that Turks and Jews had been living in cooperation and friendship for 600 years, adding that Ottoman Empire opened its doors to hundreds of thousands of Sephardic Jews, and also Turkey became a shelter for Jews during World War II.
A movie "Desperate Hours", directed by Victoria Barrett, which tells Turkish diplomats' saving Jews from Holocaust, was also displayed during the panel discussion.
Turkey's permanent representative in UN Ertugrul Apakan, who spoke at the panel, said that a formal ceremony was held at the Neve Shalom Synagogue in Istanbul last week to commemorate the victims of Holocaust, adding that Istanbul's governor as well as many high-level officials attended the ceremony.
On January 27, Turkey remembered with respect millions of Jews and members of many other minority groups who lost their lives under the Nazi regime. The commemoration took place in the Neve Shalom Synagogue, which carries particular symbolism because it was the target of Al Qaeda in simultaneous attacks in Istanbul in 2003. The ceremony marked the first official Holocaust memorial in Turkey.
Noting that Turkey respectfully remembered its diplomats Selahattin Ulkumen, Necdet Kent and Namik Kemal Yolga, who put their lives at risk to rescue and save Jewish people from Nazi regime, Apakan said that the courageous behaviour of Turkish diplomats would always be remembered.
Apakan said that Turks and Jews had been living in cooperation and friendship for 600 years, adding that Ottoman Empire opened its doors to hundreds of thousands of Sephardic Jews, and also Turkey became a shelter for Jews during World War II.
A movie "Desperate Hours", directed by Victoria Barrett, which tells Turkish diplomats' saving Jews from Holocaust, was also displayed during the panel discussion.
