Skopje, 6 February 2023 (MIA) – Antisemitism resulted in the Holocaust, but it did not disappear, nor was it defeated. We have to strengthen our efforts to tackle the currently emerging challenges and threats. Only through an active promotion of tolerance and non-discrimination can we fight antisemitism, said OSCE Chairperson and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bujar Osmani on Monday.

In his address at the OSCE Conference on Combating Antisemitism, which is being held in Skopje, Osmani said that in March North Macedonia is set to mark 80 years since the deportation of 7.144 jews from Skopje, Bitola and Shtip to the Treblinka death camps.

Osmani pointed out that not a single one of the 3.276 jews deported from Bitola survived. He noted that the Holocaust Memorial Centre in Skopje is one of the few such centers in the world.

According to the Minister, only through an active promotion of tolerance and non-discrimination can we fight antisemitism.

“That’s why this is a priority of our OSCE Chairpersonship. It represents a good opportunity to list all achievements in the OSCE region and come up with suggestions on what should be done in the fight against antisemitism. Antisemitism resulted in the Holocaust, but it did not disappear, nor was it defeated. This hatred continues to emerge in new forms,” stressed Osmani.

According to Osmani, antisemitic messages and the Holocaust were used as propaganda in the promotion and justification of the Russian military aggression on Ukraine.

The Minister underscored that the new technologies and social media are being used to spread propaganda and hatred. “Antisemitism affects all of our societies. Which is why we must intensify our efforts and our response as a coordinated international coalition of affected parties. Combating antisemitism is something we must be committed to every day and it is a moral obligation for everyone. No one is safe as long as antisemitism remains present in our societies,” added Osmani. ad/nn/