29 June 2003
The Romanian Ambassador to Israel, HE Dr. Valeria Mariana Stoica and Deputy Secretary of State of the Ministry of Culture and Religious Affairs, Ion Antonescu met today with Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate, Avner Shalev.
During the meeting, the ambassador reported that she spoke with the Romanian Prime Minister 3 days ago following his personal declaration of the historical facts relating to the murder of Romanian Jews during the Shoah. He emphasized that he would investigate to discover the source of the false information that was released two weeks ago, that claimed that the Holocaust did not occur within the borders of Romania, the release of which - according to the ambassador - was human error.
Shalev asked the ambassador and the deputy secretary to increase Romania’s cooperation in research, studies and education of the Holocaust in Romania, for example to take part in seminars for Holocaust education for educators from around the world held at Yad Vashem’s International School for Holocaust Studies. The ambassador told Shalev that a new Minister of Education has been appointed in the framework of Romania’s preparations for acceptance to the European Union. The ambassador promised that the new Minster would visit Yad Vashem and would discuss cooperation for Holocaust education for Romanian educators, students and adults.
In addition, Shalev called for Romania to join the International Task Force for Holocaust Education, Remembrance and Research, currently comprised of 15 members including Poland, Hungary and Austria. The ambassador presented Shalev with a replica specially created for Yad Vashem of a bronze statue in Romania that memorializes victims of the Shoah. Also during their visit, the ambassador and deputy secretary conducted a wreath-laying ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance with the participation of a delegation from Romania
