OSCE Mission Head praises construction of Holocaust Memorial Centre in Skopje

SKOPJE, 2 September 2005 - The Head of the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Carlos Pais, said that the construction of a Holocaust Memorial Centre in the capital, which began today, will serve as reminder of the country's commitment to diversity and human rights.

Attending the foundation stone laying eremony, Ambassador Pais said: "This initiative highlights the determination of this country to honour commitments to fight anti-semitism and all forms of racism and intolerance, the commitments taken at the past OSCE Ministerial Council meetings, as well as the recent conferences in Berlin and Cordoba."

The Centre is being built by the Jewish Holocaust Fund and will include permanent exhibitions, a multipurpose exhibition space and educational facilities for teaching and research.

The ceremony was attended by President Branko Crvenkovski, Prime Minister Vlado Buckovksi and Foreign Minister Ilinka Mitreva.