国际英语新闻:Roma Holocaust Day commemorated in Hungary

BUDAPEST, Aug. 2 (Xinhua) -- Ceremonies were held across Hungary on Thursday to mark the international day of remembrance for the Roma Holocaust.

Ambassadors from countries, including the United States, Australia, Israel and Britain, attended a ceremony at Budapest's Holocaust Memorial Center.

Gyorgy Holvenyi, state secretary responsible for minorities and relations with civic society, said at the ceremony the Hungarian government was doing its best to fight against hate-speech and protect all the citizens from attack.

"Hungary's government continues to take the strictest steps against every kind of extreme, racist, anti-semitic, and hate-statements," Holvenyi said.

Andras Balogh of Hungary's largest opposition party the Socialists, said the Roma were an integral part of the Hungarian society, hence what happens to them, happens to everyone.

In another ceremony at Budapest's main Roma Holocaust memorial close to the Danube riverside, candles and wreathes were left by government representatives, diplomatic corps, political parties, municipalities, and civil and Roma organizations.

On Aug. 2-3, 1944, more than 3,000 Roma men, women and children were killed in the Gypsies' camp in Auschwitz-Birkenau. Since 1972, the day of Aug. 2 was commemorated as the Roma Holocaust Remembrance Day.