The Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias participated in the webinar co-organized by the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Greece, the Republic of North Macedonia and Austria, on the implementation, in multicultural societies, of the three non-legally binding working definitions of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA), which is chaired by Greece this year.
The webinar was also attended by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani, and the Austrian Federal Minister for the EU and the Constitution, Karoline Edtstadler.
The event provided an opportunity for educators, teachers and policy makers from Southeast European countries to exchange views and experiences on the subject (“Practical Implementation of the three non-legally binding IHRA working definitions in multicultural societies: lessons learned, best practices, steps forward”), in the context of the effort to combat racism and Antisemitism through training and educational processes.
In his speech, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Nikos Dendias highlighted the fact that Greece was the first EU country to put into legislation the IHRA definitions of Antisemitism and Holocaust denial and distortion of historical truth, and has adopted legislation that goes beyond the IHRA definitions of anti-Roma concepts and activities.
In this context, the Minister emphasized the willingness and readiness of Greece to share relevant expertise with neighbours and friends and to encourage the strengthening of cooperation with them to prevent and fight Antisemitism.
He also pointed out that this event is in the framework of the accession process of the Republic of North Macedonia to the IHRA as a full member, a prospect that our country supports. In addition, Mr. Dendias expressed his concern at the rise of Antisemitism that has been observed during the pandemic.
Read the full text of the Minister’s speech here