NOON BRIEFING HIGHLIGHTS

Spokesperson for General Assembly President Csaba Kőrösi
United Nations Headquarters, New York

Friday, 27 January 2023

 

HOLOCAUST VICTIMS’ COMMEMORATION

“Monsters exist, but they are too few in number to be truly dangerous. More dangerous are the common men – the functionaries ready to believe and to act without asking questions.”

That is a quote from scientist and Holocaust survivor Primo Levi, who President Csaba Kőrösi quoted in his remarks today, to the United Nations Holocaust Memorial Ceremony marking the International Day of Commemoration in Memory of the Victims of the Holocaust.

President Kőrösi spoke in his address directly to the Holocaust survivors and their families, with whom he met in advance.

He said that survivors of the Holocaust and their family members understand better than anyone why we must preserve its memory.

Quote “The memory of those you knew. Those you loved. Those you lost. And those who could only live a tortured life when it was over.”

The President also remembered today all those who helped Jewish families, including his own grandfather and grandmother.

In his remarks, the President also spoke about the links between extremist ideologies spreading hate online and their real-life consequences.

Quote “with conflicts, wars and atrocity crimes that continue to devastate nations and communities, we have to push back against the tsunamis of disinformation crashing about the internet.”

He noted that there were rumors of what was happing in the concentration camps. But it only when the Sonderkommando photographers smuggled evidence of the atrocities out of the camp –  that quote “the world could no longer deny what was happening behind the barded wire.”

The President called for that shared commitment to the truth.

His remarks are online and in your in-boxes: http://bit.ly/3HbGHP2

 

UN EXHIBITS ON THE HOLOCAUST

This morning, the President visited the three exhibits in the Visitors’ Lobby related to the Holocaust.

One is the Yad Vashem Book of Names of the Holocaust Survivors.

Another exhibit highlights the end of the war, and the efforts by the displaced to rebuild their lives.

This is part of the theme for this year’s remembrance event, which is “home and belonging”.

And there is also an exhibit about unmasking the dangers of stereotypes, called #fakeimages.

Related tweet: https://twitter.com/UN_PGA/status/1618995660774346753

 

AZERBAIJAN ATTACK

I was asked about the attack on the Azerbaijani embassy in Tehran.

President Csaba Kőrösi condemns this attack.

He sends his condolences to the family and friends of the person killed, and wishes a speedy recovery to the two people injured.

He understands that an investigation is underway.

 

QUESTIONS

There were no question for the Spokesperson.