Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08STATE116034
2008-10-30 20:52:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Secretary of State
Cable title:
INSTRUCTION - UNGA HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION
how-toVZCZCXYZ0004 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHC #6034 3042102 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 302052Z OCT 08 FM SECSTATE WASHDC TO USMISSION USUN NEW YORK IMMEDIATE 3619
UNCLAS STATE 116034
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: INSTRUCTION - UNGA HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION
STATEMENT
UNCLAS STATE 116034
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: INSTRUCTION - UNGA HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION
STATEMENT
1. (U) This is an action request: USUN is instructed
to draw from the points below during the UN General Assembly
Holocaust Commemoration Statement scheduled for November 3,
2008.
BEGIN TEXT
--------------
Three years ago, on 1 November 2005, the United Nations
General Assembly adopted resolution 60/7, designating January
27th as an annual international day of commemoration in
memory of the victims of the Holocaust. The resolution also
requested the United Nations Secretary General to establish
an Outreach Program on the subject of the &Holocaust and the
United Nations8 as well as measures to mobilize civil
society for Holocaust remembrance and education. The United
States welcomes the release of the Secretary-General,s
recent report on this Program and is pleased to acknowledge
the excellent work done so far concerning its implementation.
Nevertheless, there is more work to be done: we must
continue to mourn the victims of the Holocaust and continue
as a global community to reassert our commitment to human
rights to ensure that such atrocities never happen again.
The Program seeks to achieve these goals.
The Outreach Program has included seminars, discussion
papers, briefings, film screenings and online information
products for educators. Such an all-encompassing approach to
remembrance will prove indispensable to the education of
today's young people about the horrors of the Holocaust, but
also the dangers of hatred and bigotry in any form. It will
also serve as a reminder and a warning to today,s leaders
about the implications of allowing a resurgence of
anti-Semitism within their nations. The United States is
proud to be an active participant in these efforts. For
example, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
organized a week-long training seminar for Information
Officers of United Nations information centers in the
Americas in May 2007. Seminars such as this, held in many
places throughout the world, have helped to better equip the
Information Officers in the field to raise public awareness
about the Holocaust, and apply the principles they learn to
outreach activities that promote tolerance and human rights.
Although the Holocaust ended over sixty-three years ago, its
relevance to the international community, and to its victims
and their families, will continue indefinitely. The same
underlying issues of hatred and intolerance which led to the
Holocaust are as dangerous today as they were then. The
dignity and worth of each individual human being must be
respected in order to prevent any future acts of genocide.
The Outreach Program and its participants are to be commended
for their tireless efforts in spreading this message
throughout the world.
The United Nations was created to protect humankind from the
scourge of war, as well as to achieve international
cooperation for the promotion of human rights and the rule of
law. Despite this mandate, it remains unfortunate that one
of its member states, Iran, continues to insist upon denying
the truth of the Holocaust. As the United States has stated
many times before, to deny the events of the Holocaust is
tantamount to its approval and to the approval of genocide in
general. This is unacceptable.
If the denial of the Holocaust proves anything, it is that
the lessons of the tragic event remain unlearned by some. It
is for this reason that the Outreach Program is so important.
The Program teaches future generations the lessons of the
Holocaust so as to prevent future acts of genocide. It also
serves as an important channel for continuing to honor the
victims of the Holocaust, as well as the survivors and those
who risked their lives to help intended victims. We hope
that the Program will continue to be successful in giving
people the knowledge that they need to respect diversity and
reject intolerance. The United States will continue to
support this mission.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon could not have been more
correct in stating that, &it is not enough to remember,
honor and grieve for the dead. As we do, we must also
educate, nurture and care for the living. We must foster in
our children a sense of responsibility so that they can build
societies that protect and promote the rights of all
civilians.8 The United Nations and all who are involved in
this historic Program remind the international community of
the sanctity of the human rights of each and every individual.
Thank you.
END TEXT
RICE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL UNGA
SUBJECT: INSTRUCTION - UNGA HOLOCAUST COMMEMORATION
STATEMENT
1. (U) This is an action request: USUN is instructed
to draw from the points below during the UN General Assembly
Holocaust Commemoration Statement scheduled for November 3,
2008.
BEGIN TEXT
--------------
Three years ago, on 1 November 2005, the United Nations
General Assembly adopted resolution 60/7, designating January
27th as an annual international day of commemoration in
memory of the victims of the Holocaust. The resolution also
requested the United Nations Secretary General to establish
an Outreach Program on the subject of the &Holocaust and the
United Nations8 as well as measures to mobilize civil
society for Holocaust remembrance and education. The United
States welcomes the release of the Secretary-General,s
recent report on this Program and is pleased to acknowledge
the excellent work done so far concerning its implementation.
Nevertheless, there is more work to be done: we must
continue to mourn the victims of the Holocaust and continue
as a global community to reassert our commitment to human
rights to ensure that such atrocities never happen again.
The Program seeks to achieve these goals.
The Outreach Program has included seminars, discussion
papers, briefings, film screenings and online information
products for educators. Such an all-encompassing approach to
remembrance will prove indispensable to the education of
today's young people about the horrors of the Holocaust, but
also the dangers of hatred and bigotry in any form. It will
also serve as a reminder and a warning to today,s leaders
about the implications of allowing a resurgence of
anti-Semitism within their nations. The United States is
proud to be an active participant in these efforts. For
example, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
organized a week-long training seminar for Information
Officers of United Nations information centers in the
Americas in May 2007. Seminars such as this, held in many
places throughout the world, have helped to better equip the
Information Officers in the field to raise public awareness
about the Holocaust, and apply the principles they learn to
outreach activities that promote tolerance and human rights.
Although the Holocaust ended over sixty-three years ago, its
relevance to the international community, and to its victims
and their families, will continue indefinitely. The same
underlying issues of hatred and intolerance which led to the
Holocaust are as dangerous today as they were then. The
dignity and worth of each individual human being must be
respected in order to prevent any future acts of genocide.
The Outreach Program and its participants are to be commended
for their tireless efforts in spreading this message
throughout the world.
The United Nations was created to protect humankind from the
scourge of war, as well as to achieve international
cooperation for the promotion of human rights and the rule of
law. Despite this mandate, it remains unfortunate that one
of its member states, Iran, continues to insist upon denying
the truth of the Holocaust. As the United States has stated
many times before, to deny the events of the Holocaust is
tantamount to its approval and to the approval of genocide in
general. This is unacceptable.
If the denial of the Holocaust proves anything, it is that
the lessons of the tragic event remain unlearned by some. It
is for this reason that the Outreach Program is so important.
The Program teaches future generations the lessons of the
Holocaust so as to prevent future acts of genocide. It also
serves as an important channel for continuing to honor the
victims of the Holocaust, as well as the survivors and those
who risked their lives to help intended victims. We hope
that the Program will continue to be successful in giving
people the knowledge that they need to respect diversity and
reject intolerance. The United States will continue to
support this mission.
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon could not have been more
correct in stating that, &it is not enough to remember,
honor and grieve for the dead. As we do, we must also
educate, nurture and care for the living. We must foster in
our children a sense of responsibility so that they can build
societies that protect and promote the rights of all
civilians.8 The United Nations and all who are involved in
this historic Program remind the international community of
the sanctity of the human rights of each and every individual.
Thank you.
END TEXT
RICE