Opinions & Interviews

MINSK, 22 October (BelTA) - Belarus has consistently sought to strengthen international peace and security, promote friendly relations between nations based on dialogue and understanding, Belarus Minister of Foreign Affairs Vladimir Makei said at the international roundtable “Minsk Ghetto Tragedy: Memory and Lessons”, BelTA has learned.

“We strive to consistently strengthen international peace and security, promote the development of friendly relations between nations based on dialogue and understanding. In the context of growing global and regional tensions, the president of the Republic of Belarus suggested launching a broad international dialogue aimed at ending conflicts and fratricidal wars, building trust, cooperation and understanding among the states of the region and the world,” Vladimir Makei said.

Belarus considers it one of its priorities to prevent the proliferation of ideologies of intolerance in the world. “Our country is one of the initiators of the UN General Assembly resolution against the glorification of Nazism, revival of neo-Nazism and other contemporary forms of racism and racial discrimination. We are against the falsification of history of the Second World War,” he said.

According to the minister, Belarus is home to representatives of about 140 nationalities and they all are equal before the law, enjoy the right to equal legal protection without discrimination.

“A set of measures is in place in the country to combat the incitement of racial, national, and religious hatred. On one hand, the most serious manifestations of such hostility, including insult to national dignity, are prosecuted. On the other hand, Belarus conducts an awareness-raising campaign at universities, schools, museum, archival and library institutions,” said the minister of foreign affairs.

The roundtable was dedicated to the memory of the Minsk Ghetto victims, those who risking their own lives helped prisoners to survive and also the role of states and the international community in combating modern manifestations of racism, neo-Nazism, racial discrimination, anti-Semitism and related intolerance. Taking part in the event was Israeli Minister of Aliyah and Integration Sofa Landver, representatives of the Belarusian government bodies, MPs, scientists, guests from Israel, the United States, the UK, Russia and other countries, representatives of the diplomatic corps, international organizations and public associations.

The Minsk Ghetto was one of Europe’s biggest death camps for Jews. By late October 1943 the Nazis had killed more than 100,000 people there. Today 79 Minsk Ghetto prisoners live in Belarus, 54 of them in Minsk.

The Minsk Ghetto housed locals and also citizens of Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland and other states. 21-23 October 1943 were the last days of the Minsk ghetto. Most of the prisoners held there at that time were killed.