January 26, 2005

Prime Minister Paul Martin today issued the following statement on the occasion of the commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, taking place in Poland on January 27:

“As commemoration activities unfold in Poland tomorrow, let us remember that when the Soviet Red Army freed Auschwitz, it marked more than the liberation of the most notorious of concentration camps. It marked the beginning of the end of the Holocaust — a time in our history of intolerable cruelty which resulted in the systematic murder of millions of people, an overwhelming majority of them Jews.

Canada takes pride in our fight against fascism and our role in liberating those who suffered under its tyranny during the Holocaust. As the candles are lit at the Monument to the Victims of Fascism in Birkenau tomorrow, we must vow never to forget this dark chapter in history. By being vigilant in the defence of our common humanity in the future we honour the lessons of the past. While we cannot erase the horrible suffering that took place at Auschwitz and other concentration camps, we can and do honour both those who lost their lives and those who survived.

The commemoration ceremony reminds us that we must reflect on the unspeakable atrocities inflicted in the camps and on the constant need to combat hatred and evil. This reflection serves to renew our collective commitment to promoting respect for human rights worldwide.”