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President Nicolas Sarkozy of France visited Yad
Vashem on June 23, 2008. He was accompanied by Israeli President
Shimon Peres and Yad Vashem Chairman Avner Shalev, as well as
French government ministers, members of Parliament, and leaders of
the French Jewish community. In October 2007 President Sarkozy
personally presented Yad Vashem Chairman Shalev with the Legion of
Honor for his work on behalf of Holocaust commemoration at a
special Elysee ceremony.
President Sarkozy’s visit included a tour of
the Holocaust History Museum, including the Hall of Names, a
wreath-laying ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance, and a visit to
the Children’s Memorial, after which he signed the Yad Vashem
Guest Book.
Sarkozy last visited Yad Vashem in
2004, a visit which left a deep impression on him, and which he
referred to in a speech in January 2007, when he said, “Yad Vashem
changed me.” To watch an exerpt from his speech,
click here.
On 25 October, 2007, President Sarkozy
presented the Legion of Honor award to Chairman of the Yad Vashem
Directorate Avner Shalev, at the Elysee Palace, Paris.
For the press release about the
award presentation,
click here.
To read President Sarkozy's speech at
the award ceremony,
click here.
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French President
Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife Carla Bruni study an exhibit in the Holocaust History Museum |
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Director of the
Righteous Among the
Nations Department Irena Steinfeldt describes an
exhibit in the Holocaust History Museum to French President Nicolas Sarkozy
and his wife
Carla Bruni. |
Chairman of the
Yad Vashem Directorate Avner Shalev (left) with President Sarkozy and
his wife Carla Bruni in the Hall of Names |
Memorial ceremony in the Hall of Remembrance. Left to
right: President of the Shoah Remembrance Foundation in France Simone Veil,
President Sarkozy’s wife Carla Bruni, President of France
Nicolas Sarkozy,
President of Israel
Shimon Peres, and Chairman of the Yad Vashem Directorate Avner Shalev |
