Israel highly values Putin's participation in World Holocaust Forum - foreign minister

TEL AVIV, January 21. /TASS/. Israel considers as important the contribution of the Soviet Union to the liberation of Nazi concentration camps during World War II and highly values the upcoming visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to the Jewish state and his participation in the 5th World Holocaust Forum that will be held on January 23 at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem, Israel's Foreign Minister Yisrael Katz told TASS in an interview. "We highly value Russian President Putin's visit to our country. Israel considers as important the contribution of the Soviet Union to the liberation of concentration camps. We think that remembering the victims of the Holocaust is the duty of every country in the world. We are happy to welcome representatives of seven dozen countries who decided to partake in such an important event as the World Holocaust Forum in Jerusalem," Katz said. The forum is held in Israel for the first time this year. It is dedicated to the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in Oswiecim. "This event connects the dart past with the modern reality of the prospering State of Israel. It is important to not forget about the Holocaust, so that this tragedy does not happen again," Katz said. The 5th World Holocaust Forum will be held on January 23 at Yad Vashem in Jerusalem. Among participants in the forum will be the heads of state and government of 46 countries, including Russia, France, Austria, Greece, Italy and Ukraine. Read more