Cyprus President, Nikos Christodoulides, donated archival material, concerning the Jews who passed through Cyprus to go to Israel between the years 1945-1949, to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, in Israel. According to a Presidency's press release, the President visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum on Thursday afternoon, where he attended a special memorial service for the victims of the Holocaust and laid a wreath. In a highly emotionally charged atmosphere, during the memorial and honoring ceremony for the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, the President of the Republic lit the flame of remembrance and laid a wreath. The President was guided to the interior and exterior of the Museum and then he offered Yad Vashem archival material consisting of documents and photographs, originating from the State Archives and the Press and Information Office (PIO), respectively, relating to the Jews who passed through Cyprus to go to Israel, between the years 1945-1949. "I am here to honor and remember the souls that were lost. Their memory lives on forever," said the President in a brief address. He added that Cyprus and Israel share a unique historical bond: 53 thousand Jews passed through Karaolos area north of Famagusta, Dekelia and Xylotympou. Prodromos Papavassiliou in particular, he said, was recognised by the State of Israel and decorated for the help he provided to the Jews. Referring to the archival material that he offered, the President of the Republic said that these are documents and photographs recording and depicting the experienc of the thousands of Jews that went to Cyprus. The President of the Republic said that Yad Vashem already has a close cooperation with the PIO, and noted that he looks forward to a closer cooperation between the State Archives of Cyprus and Yad Vashem. At the same time, he said that he was astonished when he saw some photos of Jewish children, women and men who, despite their suffering, were smiling and looking to the future with optimism and hope. President Christodoulides signed the Museum's Guest Book where he wrote the following: "Once again I am devastated by the millions of faces, victims of the worst crime against humanity. I join my voice with all the voices around the world. We have a duty to remember. Duty to fight against anti-Semitism and all forms of hatred and discrimination. We remember! Never again!".
Source: Cyprus News Agency
