SOLINGEN (AA) - Five members of the Turkish ''Genc'' family, who lost their lives in an arson attack by racist German youngsters in Solingen, Germany, on May 29th, 1993, were commemorated on Sunday.
Turkish State Minister Mehmet Aydin; (main opposition Republican People's Party) CHP leader Deniz Baykal; Turkey's Ambassador to Germany Mehmet Ali Irtemcelik; former German President Johannes Rau; and Solingen Mayor Franz Haug attended the commemoration ceremony.
Sending a message to the ceremony, Turkish PM Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that fight against xenophobia and racism should be continued, and appreciated Germany's decisiveness to fight racism and xenophobia. ''If we want to prevent recurrence of agonies experienced in Solingen, we should inculcate our societies, especially young generations, that breaking prejudices, prevailing atmosphere of tolerance and enabling cultural pluralism are indispensable,'' added Erdogan in his message.
On the other hand, state minister Aydin said that the discrimination, racism, and attacks on places of worship were concerning, while Baykal indicated, ''if we build walls in our heads and hearts separating people from each other, these walls cannot be demolished. And, this is the biggest discrimination.''
Aydin and Baykal returned to Turkey after the commemoration ceremony.
(BRC-ULG)
2005-05-30