Wednesday, March 16 2005 11:58 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Jerusalem: Pledging that the world body would be at the forefront of fight against anti-semitism, United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan said yesterday (Mar 15, 2005) the new holocaust museum would inspire the world to "strive for a better path".

Speaking in front of dignitaries from forty countries, including several Heads of States, assembled for the inauguration of the Museum, Annan said, "The UN has the sacred responsibility to fight hatred and intolerance."

"A United Nations that fails to be at the forefront of the fight against anti-semitism and other forms of racism denies its history and undermines its future. Let this museum stand as a testimony that we are striving for a better path," he said.

German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer said that it is important for his country to know what happened to prevent a repeat of such an event.

"This is a moment of commemoration for the six million murdered by nazi Germany. Of course Germany is my country so it's also a historical and moral responsibility to never forget what happened and the responsibility of my country for the Shoah," Fischer added, using the Hebrew word for holocaust.

With dignitaries from several European countries, which were witness to the holocaust, President Katsav said that Europe "must accept the burden of the memory and lessons of the holocaust for the future it is building".

"It owes this to the millions of Jews who were murdered on its soil," Katsav added.