JERUSALEM (EJP)---The Simon Wiesenthal Center has criticized the recent celebrations
in Estonia to mark the anniversary of the battles between
pro-Nazi Estonian forces and the Soviet Army during WWII.
In a letter sent from Jerusalem by its Israel director and chief Nazi-hunter,
Efraim Zuroff, to Estonia’s ambassador to Israel
Aino Lepik von Wiren, the Center noted the participation
of Estonian Minister of Defence Jak Aaviksoo
and member of parliament Trivimi Velliste, as
well as dozens of foreign neo-Nazis who attended
the event.
Zuroff writes
in his letter:“We view these events as a glorification
of those who fought alongside the forces of Nazi
Germany, the regime which planned, initiated
and implemented the Holocaust and is responsible
for the mass murder of millions of innocent civilians.
Thus glorifying those who fought for a victory
of the Third Reich is an unpardonable insult
to that regime’s many victims and those who fought
to save Europe from its tyrannical rule.
“Given these
circumstances, we find the participation of Estonian
Defense Minister Jak Aaviksoo and MP Trivimi
Velliste in these events incomprehensible and
worthy of condemnation.”
He stressed
that this participation “is totally incompatible
with Estonia’s membership in NATO and the European
Union.”
"In
addition, the fact that these events attracted
dozens of foreign neo-Nazis clearly demonstrates
the danger that they will encourage the rebirth
of fascism and racist extremism," he said. ejpress.org
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