Remarks by Ambassador Andrejs Pildegovičs at the annual Yizkor (Commemorative event) of the Holocaust Survivors of Latvia at E68 Synagogue in New York, on November 20, 2022
Good afternoon,
Dear David Silberman,
Dear Prof. George Schwab,
Dear Cantor Joseph Malovany,
Dear Mr. Iļja Lensksnij,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Labdien, dāmas un kungi,
It is my great honour to attend once again, alongside my wife Elena, my daughter Līze and Ms. Džūlija Bondare, trainee at the Latvian Mission to the UN – the annual commemoration of Holocaust victims and survivors of Latvia. Today, we pay tribute to the tragedy of Shoa that led to the annihilation of almost the entire Jewish population of Latvia. We pay tribute to the heroic survivors, brave rescuers of Jews and pass the memory of the Holocaust to our children and grandchildren. In this context, I would like to highlight three positive developments:
-First, I thank Mr. Iļja Lenskijs for his detailed overview regarding the Law “On Goodwill Reimbursement to the Jewish Community of Latvia” recently adopted by the Saeima (Parliament of Latvia). It represents yet another meaningful milestone in Latvia’s continued efforts to restore justice and support the Jewish community following the brutal Soviet and Nazi German occupation and repressions that followed. I am truly pleased that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia has supported the translation of Dr. George Schwab’s “Odyssey of a Child Survivor: From Latvia Through the Camps to the United States” to the Latvian language and I am very much looking forward to the presentation of this remarkable story in Latvia next year. It is extraordinary that Latvian Jewish community continues to be so vibrant. I truly enjoyed attending the 11th World Reunion of Liepāja/Libau Jews last July.
-Second, I would like to stress that Latvia`s relations with the United States and Israel are stronger than ever. Sectary Blinken has visited Latvia twice over the last year. Next week, Latvian President Egils Levits will pay a state visit to Israel to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the Republic of Latvia ant the State of Israel. On 11-12 July 2023, we look forward to the visit of President Biden to the Baltics in Vilnius, Lithuania to attend the next NATO Summit. These ties are as strong as ever, and we will spare no effort in cultivating them further.
-Third, I would like to stress that Latvia is strongly committed to Holocaust Remembrance, research and education. Our delegation is very active at the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. We work closely together with the Israeli delegation at the UN on fighting contemporary forms of antisemitism, hate speech and disinformation, including in the digital domain.
I would very much prefer to continue implementing the action-oriented, forward-looking agenda that I just alluded to. Regrettably, I must now draw your attention to the major black cloud that has been hanging over Europe since February 24. I refer to the deliberate military aggression waged by the Russian Federation against its peaceful neighbor - Ukraine for the past nine months. This war was started under the false pretext of “denazification,” triggering the largest humanitarian catastrophe in Europe since WWII. More than 17 million people have been displaced, more than 6 million have been forced to leave their country, thousands of civilians have lost their lives, property, and place of residence. As we meet today, more than four million Ukrainians are surviving without electricity, heating, water, and sanitation. For the first time since the end of WWII, we see blatant and barbaric state-sponsored terrorism, full scale military invasion, premeditated dismemberment of an entire sovereign country, redrawing of borders, deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, as well as de-humanising rhetoric by Russian leadership towards Ukrainians. Today, Ukrainians are forcibly being denied their identity, language, history, and the future. I would like to condemn in the strongest possible terms the antisemitic statements made by minister Lavrov and other Russian officials against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine. Today, everyone who believes in freedom, human dignity, law, and solidarity must support Ukraine.
Every blanket, power generator, shipment of medicine is of vital importance. Latvia has provided 0,9% of its GDP in terms of economic, humanitarian, and military support for Ukraine. Latvia hosts about 36000 Ukrainian women and children. About 3600 are now attending Latvian schools. More than 60 Ukrainian babies have been born in Riga since February.
We have to continue the policy of sanctioning and isolating Russia and Belarus within international organizations. The UN Assembly has adopted five resolutions condemning Russia`s aggression.
We must remain united moving forward – and the next goal should be creation of the special tribunal on Russia’s crime of aggression. The ICC will deal with the war crimes committed by the Russian military on Ukrainian soil, including rapes, firing on ‘civilian targets, torture, etc.’ However, the special tribunal like the Nuremberg trials must address the “mother crime” - the crime of aggression committed by the Russian Federation and its political and military leadership. Without this mechanism of accountability, the international community will not be able to guarantee that such crimes will not be repeated yet again against another nation. There can be no impunity or statute of limitations for crimes against humanity. We are strongly committed to saying “Never Again”. We will do our utmost to support Ukraine`s self-defence and survival as an independent, democratic, European nation. I am grateful to all for the recommitment to our ideals, values, and faith that justice and light will ultimately prevail.
I thank you again for your kind invitation and wish everyone strong health, resilience, and perseverance! Slava Ukraine! Happy Hanukkah! Dievs svētī Latviju! God Bless Latvia!