Romania's president apologizes for state's role in deportation of Roma (Gypsies) during WWII
Romania's president apologized for the deportation of thousands of Roma to Nazi death camps during World War II, the first time a government official has done so publicly.
President Traian Basescu also awarded the Order for Faithful Service to three Roma Holocaust survivors at a ceremony Monday.
"The authorities were merciless. They took the Roma from their homes, from the towns and army and sent them far away, to obtain a pure nation," Basescu said.
"We must tell our children that six decades ago children like them were sent by the Romanian state to die of hunger and cold," Basescu said....
It was the first time a Romanian official apologized for the persecution of Roma during the Holocaust. Romanian leaders have in the past apologized for the role of the state in the killings of Jews.
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President Traian Basescu also awarded the Order for Faithful Service to three Roma Holocaust survivors at a ceremony Monday.
"The authorities were merciless. They took the Roma from their homes, from the towns and army and sent them far away, to obtain a pure nation," Basescu said.
"We must tell our children that six decades ago children like them were sent by the Romanian state to die of hunger and cold," Basescu said....
It was the first time a Romanian official apologized for the persecution of Roma during the Holocaust. Romanian leaders have in the past apologized for the role of the state in the killings of Jews.