The atrocities that took place at the Nazi extermination camps should not be forgotten, President George Vella said Monday.

He was taking part in a ceremony to mark the liberation, 75 years ago, of the Auschwitz extermination camp in Poland. Auschwitz was the biggest and deadliest of Nazi extermination camps, with over 1.2 million people murdered on the site.

President Vella said it seems that not all have learnt this lesson, as minorities are still being treated badly in certain parts of the world.

The international community needs to understand the significance of what happened all those years ago and ensure that such atrocities are not committed anywhere in the world.

A number of survivors of Auschwitz recounted their experiences during the event, which was held near the main entrance to the camp.

More than 50 heads of state and world leaders attended the event. President Vella was accompanied by Foreign Affairs Minister Evarist Bartolo.