Brussels, European Parliament, 14 October 2009
Mr President of the European Parliament,
Dear Colleagues from the Baltic States,
Delegates from the academic community, dear guests,
I am privileged and honoured to open this international conference aimed at our common historical memory. I am particularly pleased with the venue of the event – Brussels, the symbol city of the united Europe.
The 20th century history of Europe is characterised by two totalitarian regimes – Nazism and Stalinism. This year we mark two symbolic dates: division and unification of Europe, i.e. the 70th anniversary of the signing of the Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Iron Curtain.
I am convinced that our aspiration is common Europe with 27 different historical experiences, underpinned by the unified perception of history. That is why it is important to have a single view on the crimes of totalitarian regimes, which neglected universal human rights and freedoms.
Academic research shows that the Soviet occupation and Stalin terror totalled in the loss of every third resident of Lithuania. Had it not been for the war and the occupation, Lithuania’s population would be about 5 million instead of 3.4 million it has today, which means that our population would be about the size of Finland’s or Denmark’s population. We take it as a particularly painful fact. However one must realise the significance of the assessment of Stalinist crimes not only for the Baltic States or for Eastern and Central Europe. I am deeply convinced that adequate evaluation of the crimes committed by the totalitarian regimes and, most importantly, of their consequences must become part and parcel of the common European identity and the shared value system. This is a historic chance for us to comprehend our complex history and for Europe to restore justice!
I wish to note the initial results of our joint efforts: the European Council adopted the outstanding declaration whereby it condemns the crimes committed by the totalitarian regimes; public hearings on totalitarianism-related issues were held at the EU level thanks to the European Commission and the EU Presidencies; EU Foreign Ministers noted in their Council conclusion that reconciliation is possible only if historical memory is preserved. I am satisfied with the active engagement of the European Parliament in the process and its invitation to EU Member States to proclaim the 23rd of August the European Day of Remembrance for Victims of Stalinism and Nazism. I do believe that the European Platform of Memory and Conscience tasked with the promotion of closer cooperation between the centres of research specialising in totalitarian regimes and deeper understanding of the matter will be established in the shortest time.
I truly think that we must continue doing the job in order to preserve the historical memory and, particularly, to deepen the knowledge and realisation by our societies (the young generation in particular) of what a large part of our and EU citizens had to go through. That is the only way to strengthen mutual understanding, to prevent intolerance, extremism, and similar phenomena in the future.
EU leaders have also stressed the importance of the continuity of the process. It is a highly significant political message as well as confirmation that we are on the right track. The implementation of this decision requires that the issue of totalitarianism be included in the Stockholm Programme setting the agenda for EU justice and home affairs. This is how we will be able to secure a proper focus on the issue on the EU agenda.
I would like to emphasise that the evaluation of the Soviet and Nazi totalitarian regimes is not a mere historical demand. My response to those claiming that the past is a matter for historians is as follows: the past might be a matter for historians but justice is a political principle, therefore the past becomes an issue for political communities and the matter of the common EU interest.
A political and moral Union of Europeans striving for justice must build on universal and perpetual values. Without them, justice on Monday would be seen differently than on Tuesday, depending on the evaluation day and a political disposition of the evaluator. We have to realise that the greatest tyrannies of the 20th century – the Soviet and Nazi totalitarian regimes – should be evaluated not only historically but also on the basis of universal and perpetual values, as well as on moral and political wisdom.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Without a common approach to political justice and respect for the history of some European countries we will not be able to speak about the development of a strong, sustainable, and united political, let alone, moral, Union. I believe that this event will be yet another step towards a common approach, which will facilitate better understanding of the historic road from the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact to the fall of the Berlin Wall and will ultimately ensure an appropriate place for the history of communist oppression in the European memory.
In conclusion, I would like to express my cordial gratitude to the President of the European Parliament Jerzi Buzek for his kind consent to his patronage of the conference, as well as to the Swedish Presidency of the European Union and the European Commission for their support for the Baltic States initiative.
Thank you for your attention and wish you fruitful discussions!
Irena Degutienė
Speaker of the Seimas of the Republic of Lithuania
