You're reading: Israel concerned over plans to build hotel in Babyn Yar in Kyiv

Israel has expressed its concerned with reports released in some media that a hotel will possibly be constructed in the Babyn Yar area in Kyiv.

Israeli President Shimon Peres gave the position of his country during a television link as part of the Sixth Annual Yalta European Strategy conference also known as YES.

“This area cannot be touched,” he said.

The Israeli president voiced hope the question will have a positive solution.

“I hope that a decision will be found,” the president said.

Shimon Peres further said he views the bilateral relations between Ukraine and Israel as being positive.

Some mass media have released reports that a hotel could be built in the Babyi Yar area in Kyiv in the frames of the preparations of Kyiv for the Euro 2012 European football championship finals.

As Ukrainian News earlier reported, the Yalta European Strategy (YES) is an international structure facilitating Ukraine’s development, advocating Ukraine in the world as an open country, and supporting Ukraine’s joining the European Union.

At present, the YES board also includes member of the British parliament Steven Byers (board chairman), member of the Portuguese parliament Mario David, YES founder Viktor Pinchuk, European Parliament Vice President Marek Siwiec, Former Polish President Alexander Kwasniewski, former head of the Rothschild Fund’s Jean-Pierre Saltiel, program director of the German Council on Foreign Policy’s Alexander Rahr, and Stephane Fouks, the executive director of the French bureau of Euro RSCG Worldwide.

During World War Two over 100,000 people of Kyiv and prisoners of war of various nationalities and religions were shot in Babyi Yar.

The memorial complex is located at the cross of Melnykova Street, Oleny Telyhy Street, and Dorohozhytska Street in Shevchenkivskyi district of Kyiv.