BERLIN — Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Tuesday visited the Memorial to the Murdered Jews of Europe, known as the Holocaust Memorial, and its museum in Berlin, accompanied by his Israeli counterpart Gabi Ashkenazi.

Sheikh Abdullah and Ashkenazi were accompanied by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

During the visit, Sheikh Abdullah viewed the memorial, which was established in 2005 close to the Brandenburg Gate to commemorate the memory of around six million Jews who were murdered by the Nazis.

He then walked around the memorial, which consists of 2,710 concrete slabs on a space of 19,000-square meters in the form of a maze, where visitors can walk between the slabs. He also went to the visitors center below the memorial, which documents the crimes of the Nazi regime.

Sheikh Abdullah praised the construction of the memorial in Germany, stressing that this historical monument is of great significance and confirms the importance of strengthening the values of tolerance, coexistence, and acceptance around the world without discrimination.

He also pointed out that the UAE, since its establishment, has been keen to adopt and strengthen the values of tolerance, coexistence, compassion, and acceptance, due to its belief that these values are the cornerstone of achieving prosperity, growth, and sustainable development among communities.

He then paid a tribute to the souls of the victims commemorated by the memorial while expressing his sympathy to them and their families.

Whatever led to the murder of millions of innocent victims will not happen again, Sheikh Abdullah added while affirming that the UAE’s message to the world is one of peace, tolerance, and hope.

During the visit, Sheikh Abdullah was accompanied by Hafsa Abdullah Al Olama, UAE ambassador to Germany, and Omar Saif Ghobash, assistant foreign minister for cultural affairs. — WAM