Your Excellency, Minister Elisa Spiropalli, Distinguished colleagues from the Diplomatic Corps and Ministry of Foreign Affairs, but especially students and teachers of the Refik-Veseli-School in Berlin and their new Partners from the Sami-Frasheri School in Tirana

It is a weighty responsibility, to stand before you today, as Ambassador of Germany, to commemorate Holocaust Remembrance Day: The Holocaust is the darkest chapter in German history. It is a crime born of hatred, intolerance, and a systematic disregard for human dignity. We must never forget the suffering inflicted upon smore than six million Jewish men, women, and children, as well as countless others. It is our moral duty to remember them, to ensure atrocities like these never happen again - never again!

In 2026, more than 80 years after the end of World War II, it is still crucial to keep the lessons of the Holocaust alive. The victims of the Holocaust deserve our honor and respect. We must speak their names, tell their stories, and preserve their dignity. It is our responsibility to keep their memory alive in our hearts and actions.
And we must ask ourselves: How could such a thing have happened? And what can we do to prevent such atrocities in the future?

The answer lies in education, in confronting the past, and in promoting tolerance and respect. We must teach our children the history of the Holocaust so that they understand and defend the values of democracy and human rights.

This is why, today, we also remember those who demonstrated extraordinary courage and compassion in the face of evil. And it is here, in Albania, that we find truly remarkable examples. Albania is a country where tolerance and respect for others has a long tradition. Albania’s famed hospitality and the concept of Besa have led to the sheltering of thousands of Jews during the holocaust by their Christian and Muslim neighbors – a very unique history!

One of those selfless heroes was Refik Veseli from Kruja, who organized the sheltering of two Jewish families. He was later recognized as Righteous Among the Nations by Yad Vashem – together with many other Albanians - and so it is quite appropriate that the Albanian Prime Minister, Edi Rama was the main speaker at a joint session of the Knesset in Jerusalem yesterday.

Veseli´s brave actions also inspired a school in Berlin to take on his name. So it is a special privilege to have a delegation of students and teachers from Refik Veseli School present with us today. Apart from the events this morning, they will also establish a partnership with the Sami Frasheri High School – a perfect opportunity to forge new connections between youths in Albania and Germany. We are grateful to our Albanian partners and friends, in particular in the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, who made this visit possible.

To the students of the Refik-Veseli-School I say: you carry a powerful legacy. Your school bears the name of a true hero, a man who embodied the best of humanity. I urge you to learn from his example, to be champions of tolerance, and to stand up against injustice wherever you find it.

As we look to the future, we must learn from the past. We must actively combat all forms of antisemitism, racism, and discrimination. Germany is committed to supporting initiatives that promote tolerance, understanding, and respect for human rights – both within our own borders and around the world, in particular within the framework of the United Nations. And we see the European Union as a Community of Values that enables just that: EU-accession is built on shared values and a commitment to a peaceful and prosperous future.

Today, as we remember the victims of the Holocaust, let us reaffirm our dedication to upholding those values and working together to build a world where such horrors are never repeated.

Let us honor the memory of those who were lost: not only with words, but with deeds. Let us strive to create a world where diversity is celebrated, and where every human being is treated with dignity and respect.

Thank you!