To κείμενο της ομιλίας μου στο American University in Iraq, Sulaimani (Κουρδική Περιφερειακή Αρχή),
όπως δημοσιεύθηκε στο Huffington Post
1. From Berlin to Berlin
NEVER AGAIN. These were the words used by Winston Churchill in the aftermath of the bloody, cruel and devastating Second World War.
No more inhumane treatment; no more concentration camps; no genocide and ethnic cleansing.
Mauthausen and Auschwitz as well as Kalavryta and Distomo in Greece are permanent, albeit tragic, reminders of barbaric behavior displayed by humans.
Toxic and nervous gas were used in Europe during the First World War and in the Nazi concentration camps during the Second.
Much before the Anfal genocidal campaign in Iraq directed mainly against the Kurds.
It is impossible to forget.
A very dark page; the darkest page of contemporary European history; written exclusively by European protagonists. History repeats itself.
The ”Day After”, we were united in saying ”NEVER AGAIN.”
Europe was trying to recover. Yet, the path of and to reconciliation and peace proved to be difficult. The wound healing process was engaged. Lofty ideas and language.
Apparently, the reality was different. Continue reading
