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EVENTS ORGANIZED IN ROMANIA ON THE OCCASION OF HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION DAY

PRESS RELEASE

On the occasion of the Day of the Holocaust Commemoration in Romania, on October 9 th, 2005, the Center for Hebrew Studies in Iasi will be inaugurated, under the patronage of the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the “Alexandru Ioan Cuza” University. The Romanian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mihai-Razvan Ungureanu, important representatives of the Jewish community in Romania and abroad, as well as academic personalities will take part in the event in Iasi.

The importance of an academic center for Hebrew studies in Iasi arises from the rich cultural Jewish heritage and the ethnic and cultural interferences which creates a special profile of this city. The academic center will encourage the inter-ethnic dialogue and cooperation and will contribute to revitalizing the Jewish culture in Romania.

The inauguration of the Center for Hebrew Studies is part of a series of events dedicated to the commemoration of Holocaust in Romania that the Romanian authorities will organize on October 9 th – 11 th.

The date of October 9 th , chosen by the Romanian Government as the Holocaust Commemoration Day in Romania , marks the beginning of the Jews' deportation from Bucovina and Basarabia.

On Monday, October 10 th , the Romanian President Traian Basescu will meet representatives of the Jewish organizations and community in Romania , as well as representatives of the institutions related to the Holocaust remembrance and education in Romania , in a very special meeting dedicated to the Commemoration Day. Top ranking members of the diplomatic corps accredited to Bucharest will also take part in the meeting.

The Romanian President will also deliver a speech, later the same day, during a special meeting session of the reunited chambers of the Romanian Parliament, on the subject of Holocaust education.

Romanian Prime Minister Calin Popescu – Tariceanu will lay a wreath at the Coral Temple and will have a special meeting with the leaders of the Jewish Community in Romania .

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs of Romania and the International Commission on the Holocaust in Romania will host a round table discussion on the Romanians “Rights among the nation” and the results of the International Commission on the Holocaust in Romania works, one year after it's launching.

On the occasion of the Holocaust Commemoration Day, the Romanian National Institute for Holocaust Studies will be inaugurated, on October 10 th . The Institute's objective is the research and study of the documents referring to Holocaust in Romania , as well as educational issues.

The Romanian Ministry for Education and Research will also organize a series of educational events on the occasion of the Holocaust Commemoration, in schools all over the country. The “Jewish History – the Holocaust” textbook for the optional course on holocaust will be launched on this occasion, under the auspices of the Ministry of Education and Research. Teenagers will take part in a national competition on Holocaust remembrance and meet Holocaust survivors. In addition, the schools will organize symposiums on the Holocaust topic and arrange trips at the history museums where the students can visit the sections dedicated to the Second World War era.

The Romanian Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs in cooperation with the “Dr. Moses Rosen” History Museum of the Federation of Jewish Communities in Romania will inaugurate the exhibition: “The Holocaust in the literary creation of Romanian artists” and will launch the architectural projects contest for the Holocaust Memorial which will be build in Bucharest.

The date of October 9 th , chosen by the Romanian Government as the Holocaust Commemoration Day in Romania , marks the beginning of the Jews' deportation from Bucovina and Bessarabia .