Canadian & Turkish Women’s Association of Ottawa,

under the auspices of the Embassy of Israel, the Embassy of Sweden,

and the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey, with the support of the Jewish Federation of Ottawa proudly presents:

The documentary film – Desperate Hours

Story of the Rescue of Jews by Turkish Diplomats

Directed and produced by Victoria Barrett, the film has won

The Jury and Audience Awards for Best Documentary

in the 2003 DC Independent Film Festival.

VENUE: Library and Archives Canada – Auditorium, 395 Wellington Street, Ottawa, ON

DATE & TIME: Monday, January 16, 2006, 7:00 PM

“This is a most important and auspicious event, featuring a prize-winning film depicting the acts of Turkish officials in saving Jews during the tragic period of the Holocaust

This event could not have been scheduled at a more propitious time. In a few days, on the 27th January, the international community recognizes the "International Day of Commemoration of the Holocaust", established recently by the United Nations in a General Assembly Resolution.

Permit me to express our appreciation to the organizers and initiators of this historic event - the Canadian and Turkish Womens' Association of Ottawa, the Ottawa Jewish Federation and the Embassies of Turkey, Sweden and Israel. Permit me to specifically thank Mrs. Ayse Heinbecker for her active contribution to the holding of this event.

Only here in Ottawa do we have such close collegial cooperation between embassies in cultural and historic events. ...”

“Tomorrow it is 61 years since the Swedish diplomat Raoul Wallenberg disappeared. He was last seen entering the Soviet Red Army headquarters in Budapest, Hungary. All around the world, in Sweden as well as in Canada – where Wallenberg is an honorary citizen – this will be a day of commemorating this great man, who saved tens of thousands of Hungarian Jews during the end of the Second World War.

But he was not the only one as this film we soon will see shows us. All through the Holocaust there were brave men and women – diplomats, but also from many other professions – who put their lives at risk to save Jews from death in concentration camps. I should mention that one of Wallenberg's closest colleagues was Per Anger, Swedish ambassador to Canada in the 70´s.  

Organizations like the Canadian and Turkish Women's Association of Ottawa help us through initiatives of this kind not to forget those heroes. ...”