Honoring the memory of the Holocaust as two officials castigate vandalism of Jewish memorial

THESSALONIKI, February 14 -- In honor of the Jewish Holocaust Day commemorated earlier throughout Europe, SAE President Andrew A. Athens and Secretary General for Hellenes Abroad Demetri Dollis today visited the Holocaust Memorial of Thessaloniki and offered a silent prayer in remembrance of Hellene Jews who were exterminated by the Nazis during World War II.

The President of the Jewish Community of Thessaloniki, David Saltiel, and the President of the Assembly of the Jewish Community, Heinz Kounio, were among the community officials that greeted Mr. Dollis, and Mr. Athens, both of whom condemned in the strongest possible terms the vandalisms against the Holocaust Memorial.

In a joint message the two stated, "It is very unfortunate that some individuals continue to desecrate this monument and the memory of our fellow Greeks whose lives were taken by the Nazis. We hope that everyone will comprehend that this is a monument that represents the suffering of all people because it depicts the incomprehensible, the systematic murder of innocent people."

Mr. Dollis, representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Mr. Athens, representing the Hellenic Diaspora, are in Thessaloniki for a series of meetings of SAE's Board of Directors. A series of events are scheduled throughout Europe in March, May and June to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Holocaust.