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	Participants Countries and organizations Conference documentation Conference programme	Written Message by the Albanian Delegation Written Message by the Republic of Belarus Written Message by the Belgian Delegation Written Message by the Brazilian Delegation Written Message by the Canadian Delegation Written Message by the Republic of Chile Written Message by the Croatian Delegation Written Message by the European Commission Written Message by the Foreign Minister of Greece, George Papandreou Written Message by the Delegation of the Holy See Written Message by the Delegation of the State of Israel Written Message by the Republic of Poland Written Message by the Turkish Delegation Written Message by the Republic of Romania Written Message by UNESCO Written Message by the United Nations Written Message by the Uruguayan Delegation Written Message by the Turkish Delegation Written Message by the Turkish Delegation Contribution of Turkish Delegation to the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust On the verge of the 21st century, the western world has convened for the purposes of remembrance, education and research of the human catastrophe called the " Holocaust ". The endeavours of this intergovernmental cooperation aim to strengthen the attempts to struggle against racism and discrimination while pursuing protection of human dignity and upholding democratic values. Throughout history the Jews who lived in Turkey enjoyed great freedoms and they did not face any kind of discrimination or persecution. The Turkish people have shared a common past with the Jews. The contribution of Turkey to this intergovernmental event, thus, is becoming increasingly important. Migration of European Jews to Anatolia dates back as early as to 13th century. One of the most significant chapters in the history of the Jews, without any doubt, when the Jewish population were chased by the Spanish Inquisition in 1492, they found refuge in the Ottoman lands. Earlier, the Ottomans were accommodating to those who escaped religious persecution. The lines of a Jewish poem published in 1892 by El Tiempo, on the occasion of 400th anniversary of the Jewish migration, makes this point of the events of the Inquisition. "…And those who were damned yesterdayentered Istanbulmiserable and naked…And for the first timeit was heard:" you are refugeesyou are welcome…." In different periods of time between the 15th and 19th centuries the Jewish peoples expelled from various places in Europe sought shelter and protection with the Ottomans and enjoyed many freedoms and free practice of their faith. Turkish hospitality towards Jews continued even in the turbulent years of World War I as well as during the difficult years of the newly established Turkish Republic. Turkey continued to receive Jews before and during World War II. Turkey’s policy during the war regarding the plight of the Jews was such that favoured them. As stated by Stanford Shaw in his book entitled "Turkey and Holocaust" Turkey provided major assistance to European Jews in two principal ways, by getting its diplomats to intervene on their behalf in different countries of Europe which was occupied by Nazis and by allowing Istanbul to be used by Jewish Agency and by other Jewish organizations set up to assist and rescue East European Jews. Even in the darkest days of the war, Turkey opened its frontiers to Jews who could not stay in war torn Europe. Especially at the height of the war the Turkish Authorities provided refuge for thousands of Jews without passports or visas. Such efforts to help Jews were carried out on political and diplomatic fronts and the Turkish Government went as far issuing Turkish citizenship and false papers to save those who faced persecution . Mr. Selahattin Ülkümen , Consul General of Turkey in Rhodes between 1943-1944, was honoured by Yad Vashem Holocaust Institute and Museum with the "Righteous Gentile". Many Jewish academics and intellectuals of German origin were welcomed prior to the war, some of them lived in Turkey until after the war while some others decided to stay longer. At one point, the Jews on the concentration camp of Bergen- Belsen claimed to be Turkish citizens to avoid consolidation. Other examples include, assisting Jews from Bulgaria and Romania through Turkish territory and territorial waters into Palestine, providing shelter to thousands of Jews from Greece and Rhodes as well as to rescue many Turkish Jews stranded in Belgium, the Netherlands, France and Italy. Throughout the latter half of the 20th century, Turkey with the same liberal approach has assisted Jews and others who have escaped persecution. The Republic of Turkey, through the United Nations and other international fora, has continuously followed its traditional policy against discrimination and racism in international platforms and demonstrated with commitment to struggle against these. Turkey is the initiator and the co-sponsor of the decision on "Racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance" that was adopted at the UN Commission on Human Rights. This decision which is adopted by consensus in every session of the said Commission specifically recommends that states give priority to education as a principle mean of preventing and eradicating racism and racial discrimination, particularly among young people through the promotion of the concepts of tolerance and respect for cultural diversity. These concepts coincide with the basic aim of the Stockholm International Forum on the Holocaust. The Turkish Delegation would like to express its sincere appreciation to the Government of Sweden for its initiative in organizing this Forum. Unfortunately, in many parts of the world, particularly in Europe, new forms of racism have been revived, demonstrating itself in cases of xenophobic behaviours and Turkish people living in these countries have been victims of severe and regrettable attacks. These revived attitudes indicate that there is an urgent and important requirement for the education of young people in Europe to prevent new Holocausts, in new forms in the future. This education should be directed to teach young generation concepts of tolerance, non-discrimination as to race, religion, colour, sex, etc. We believe this forum will initiate the urgency of such education overall Europe and we will not face uncivilized behaviours as has happened very recently in this beautiful country. The reflections of this general policy of Turkey on " Education, Remembrance and Research on the Holocaust" can be summarized in the concerned fields respectively as follows: On education; the History Foundation is revising text books for elementary and high school education on contemporary history which will also cover sections on awareness and education on the Holocaust. On remembrance; there have been symposiums, conferences and exhibitions on the subject organized by the Quincentennial Foundation. On research; there is ongoing research within the framework of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on "Turkey’s Policy on Migration of Jews During World War II". Turkey believes that education, remembrance and research of this crime against humanity should continue in every country if we wish to shape the world politics of the 21st century free of danger of Holocaust. In this respect, Turkey is firmly committed to contribute to the cooperation in this direction. >> Back to top	Introduction Opening Session: Messages and speeches Plenary Sessions: Messages and speeches Plenary Session 1 Plenary Session 2 Reception at the Stockholm City Hall Written Messages Workshops, Panels and Seminars Closing Session and Declaration Other Activities


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