Brussels, 27/01/2009 (Agence Europe) - During International Holocaust Memorial Day on 27 January, the president of the European Parliament, Hans-Gert Pöttering sent a letter to the president of the European Jewish Congress, Moshe Kantor, in which he commemorates the victims of the Holocaust. As the 13th World Jewish Congress takes place in Jerusalem, Mr Pöttering declared: “This day is one in which we in Europe must remind ourselves of the terrible, unparalleled suffering inflicted on the Jewish people. On behalf of the European Parliament, I pay homage to all the victims of the Shoah on this day of commemoration”. Pointing out that Parliament had not ceased to firmly denounce racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism, he added: “On this anniversary, we are also called upon to speak out clearly and reject any instances of anti-Semitism and intolerance in our own countries…These are phenomena which have no place in our European community of values”. (B.C./transl.rh)