Romanian Holocaust research institute to enrich debate

The Romanian government this week announced the creation of a new Holocaust Research Institute which could open as soon as September 2005. Its mission will be to "clarify the truth on the Holocaust based on scientific research and to focus on the spiritual heritage of the Jewish community in Romania." Among the thirty people working on the project, fifteen are experts in Holocaust history. The project will be financed by the Romanian government up to 200,000 euros. "A scientific council and an honour committee gathering prominent international Holocaust experts will be created as consultative branches of the research institute," a spokesman for the institute said. International Commission on Holocaust Studies The International Commission on Holocaust Studies in Romania was created in October 2003, following the statements of former president Ion Iliescu, minimizing the consequences of the Holocaust. Directed by the Peace Nobel prize winner Elie Wiesel, the commission’s aims to reveal "historical facts" regarding the Holocaust in Romania in order to end all the controversies around the subject.

According to the last commission report published in November 2004, 270,000 Romanian and Ukrainian Jews died in the Romanian administrated territories during the war. The report added that 25,000 gypsies were deported of whom half perished.

Urge to Inform Romanians on Holocaust History Alexandru Florian from the Institute for Social and Democratic Studies in Romania and member of the commission told EJP he hoped the new institute will be operational as soon as this Autumn. He also said that he was looking forward to October 9th, the Romanian day of remembrance of the Holocaust, when the government will announce an international contest for the creation of a monument commemorating the Holocaust. Florian noted an improvement in Romania Holocaust recognition since the government statement in 2003 recognizing the Antonescu government responsability in the in the deportation of Romanian Jews.

"Last autumn we broadcasted a documentary on national television channels acknowledging the responsibility of Romania in the Holocaust," Florian said, adding that "this kind of initiative really enriched the debate in Romania regarding the Holocaust."

When asked if Romania experienced political pressures in order to recognize it’s country responsibility in the Holocaust, comparable to the pressures exerted on Turkey for the Armenian genocide of 1915 Florian answered: "Of course the government experienced some international pressures and political pressures coming from within and from Israel, the European Union or the United States, especially after the shocking statements of former president Iliescu in 2003." "Nevertheless, said Florian, “the government’s goal in the creation of the institute, is not purely political, in order to integrate the European Union, but the government has the honorable and sincere objective to finally say the truth on the country’s role in the deportation of the Jews during World War II." Florian stressed to EJP that he "hoped that the institute will be of great importance in the education of youngsters and elders regarding World War II and the Holocaust."

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