Vilan: The way in which the Serbs helped the Jews in the Second World War is something that we greatly appreciate

The International Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Holocaust is being celebrated around the world today - in memory of the day in 1945 when the Red Army liberated the largest death camp, Auschwitz-Birkenau in Poland. That day was established on November 1, 2005, by a resolution of the United Nations General Assembly. The number of survivors is decreasing day by day, which is why our task is even more important - to educate the younger generation and talk about what happened, Israel's ambassador to Belgrade, Yahel Vilan says.

Six million Jews were killed in the Second World War, and about a million of them were gassed in the Auschwitz-Birkenau camp alone. Other people, especially the Serbs and Roma people, suffered in concentration camps in Europe.

Israel's Ambassador to Serbia Yahel Vilan said, as a guest on RTS's Morning Program, that it was very important that Holocaust Remembrance Day was celebrated all over the world. He points out that it is difficult to imagine that people lose their lives just because they belong to one nation, and that is why there must be a Day of Remembrance so that it is not forgotten.

"The number of survivors is decreasing day by day, that's why our task is even more important - to educate the younger generations so that people remember it. It's hard to imagine and understand how people could do such a thing, but it's very important for all of us to deal with that topic to ensure that it does not happen again," Ambassador Vilan said.

He warns that today many deny the Holocaust or distort the facts about it.

"It is the darkest chapter of human civilization, so we have to pay tribute to the victims, but more importantly to be absolutely sure that no one in the world will ever think of repeating such horrors, such systematic and organized planning to destroy people," Vilan said.

In that context, he points out, the most important element is, to tell the truth about the Holocaust.

"For people to find out the facts about what happened - because the first way of denial is to distort historical facts - in order to fight against people who want to deny the Holocaust for various reasons - anti-Semitic or some strange political reasons," the ambassador said.

He points out that this is neither an Israeli nor a Jewish issue, but an issue for all of humanity. As he says, Serbia takes it seriously.

"This is a country that also suffered a lot in the Second World War because the Serbs were also killed, this is a topic that unites the Serbs and Jews," the ambassador said.

He notes that the Recognition of the Righteous Among the Nations, established by Yad Vashem, awarded 130 Serbs who had risked their lives to help Jews in the war.

"For most of its history, Serbia has accepted Jews as part of its society and country, and the way in which the Serbs helped Jews in World War II is something we greatly appreciate," Vilan said.

International Holocaust Remembrance Day in Serbia is held with an official ceremony at the Old Fairground.