5% SMBS? Reououcoréstonn = Eetetee (SAY Ministry oF Jusrice Tomi ss Amustz017 SoAigata0r? — 2ayar8 LL 003948 Ler. Sherer / | hank you for your teria whieh you aevoed that you woul not be alening the conference “The Heringa in 2 Cony Europe of tna Crimes Commted by Communist Reges™ on 29 Augut of ‘he year egret hat you mage ths decision but apprecate your aking tne time o provide @Uxouay ‘explanation for your che. Alow me, However, oto agree wi the arguments thal you peseried as feasone for dectning is ison. | o not wish to descend into a debate on 20h centiy European history. This hasbeen done and wil ‘contnae ta be done y hiseans, lawyers soca and poles scents and phlosophes fem many ferent countes. Wo are potians, ard our jb ft protect values and virtues. Our values 26 Human rights, demottcy andthe ral of ao which tet na aerate. This why lam appoeed fo any ology or any pltsal movement that negates these values or which ade Upon trem ence hat assumes power thie egaré ther is no eitroncabetaan Nazim, Faasem oe Commis. ofthese ideologies calmer the igh inthe name of thr distorted vitos fr the fr, fo dostoy tne nations and soaetal groups, and to dedare otters to he unwochy and unsutble fr 3 Utopian fur, dost which such poopie and groups had to ser be feecated, faced to sulfecin misery ‘watt hope fora ete: hte, or banished unstabo waselanc CCondernation of cies against humanity mest be partelsry important or us as ministers of isioe ‘vose tek tf to uphold aw and urten. Thief eur ty, reepoctne of he reasons these camo ‘Wore conmted and egardess of who the veins ofthese ores were. Every person, respective of Iie or her akin colour atonal or etic eng, cetuoaton or socioeconomic stat, hes the raht fo Ive in gy within the Framework of derscrats sate based onthe ule of iw Al detatorships = be thoy Naz Fascit x Commun ~ have robbed mllons of their own efzons but alo citzons of conquered sates andsubjugsted peopes of his i. ‘Tha foto of our two sais inthe 20th conury has been diferent In storia, you do not ned to historian fo know what Rappened In Greecs during the Nax oncupaton. To bing but ene exam Louls do Bemieres:rovet Capain Corals Mandal has been tranelated ito Estonian, an thei bse on this book has been sea by thousands of my compalnots Sitar, The Gulag Arepaago byalekeandr Solzenteyn wa translates nto Grete shrtyaer te publestion 1874 tlmay nerest Yeu to know that Solzenteyn completed this book in Estonia during a sures he spen a a guest on the term of Amid Sox, an Estonan ‘nom te ad met on at very szenpeago ot whic he wre. There, Sozhontoyn was lass vl fo the oe of the KOB tan he would Rave baon In Russia Wire he was wel known, frold Sus had been sent tothe Gul smal because he Nad been 2 manson the Government of te Repubic of Elona. The Communist Sovat Union hod oecupies Eton, ad boing a.government mister nthe Repubic of Esonia was a crime Inte eyes ofthe Communist Secre Poics Miner Susi was condemned wo the Guin two months aftr the Soviet Union together wth he Western abies had deteatod Nazi Garmany, and he woul retun home only 15 years at. He 'Was one of heck ones: Dazens of Ns coleagucs rom a ofthe goverments hat held office the Repub of Estonia were murdered in the Gulag or perished there due to famine, disease or inhuman Ing conten. Mrs of Juss SuucAmeetka 1 / 10122 Talon /ESTONIN +372 620 8100 ax +372 620 1081 Into@iestee yaw jntoo Regio 70000898LL 003949 It goes without saying that Sclhontsyn's book was tanned in Estonia thoughout te Soviet ‘eeupaton, nike Graces. Estonia has the experience of llng under two occupations, under two inataran ‘Setatrsibe. Estonia was occupied by the Soviet Union n 1940, then by Nazi Germany inf, nd ‘Span when te Soviet oosupaton continued in 1044 trough fo August 198%. n igh ofthe experience Sf my county and people, | atonly apute your clam tat Communiam sis Rad postive aspects. ‘Whio ts sue thatthe Soviet Union stayed an mportan rl in defeaing Nai Germany the Red Army {not Iberate Eastor Europe so atthe states and peoples tat had been occuped by he Nazis oud determine ther own destines. Ths didnot Rappen in East Born, and ts id not happen ih Tall, Tre Greek Chi War ended in 1949. In Pat some year, tue Communic rege deporid neatly 2 percent a the population of Estonia oly because they as india farmers elsed ogo song wih the Comrunist sprcutual experment and Jona calecve fam. This was in aon to te fens of thoesands whe hed aeady sen imprisoned n the Gulag prison camps depores an exe earl. ‘Thovsandh more would alow, taken io prison up ms. 950. While Stat's death alowed most of he survivors fortum to thei homeland this di not moan that Communist had become humane. | am forty years ol, and thus | completed basic education under {he Sovletcccupaton I sow what | am taking about. itmay come as a suprise fo you tat that lime, property ona of the saat fundatons of he European economy - was adden Inthe Sovet Union Andee enterprise was a cme. | now wat! am aking about when | say tat isnot posse to ult reedom,demccray and he ‘ae of an on te fourdaton of Communist tology We al know that ths has been atlemped on all Continents rth the exoepton of Ausra. ha bean atlempod in Various shade ofr and unde all Kinds of tational slogans This has alvaye culminaled In econome asaser and the gradual ‘destruction ofthe fle of fw But hee are alse counties and peoples fox whom the pie of esson \r’Communism nas been milion of human ives. Tis enna! be slowest happen again In feesor and democracy, everyone has te rit fo they relgous and ideological bel, but we ‘must condemn at stomp or setone that ince others to deeoy peoples or socetl grou of to ‘Sverthvowa legate resime by force. Wih regard to Innocent vctins, however, fee is ro noe to Serene makes no ference toa vel f he murdered in tho namo of bate ure forthe ‘Aryan race or bacause he belongs toa social ass tat has no place Ina Communist scl. We must ‘omembot all of te vetine of a tealtaian ond authoritarian dictatoreipe, a6 te European Partamer cals forint resolution of 2 Apr 2009 on Europaanconecience and ttitaanem, was this fetolion tat Served as the base for te commemoration of the visims of ttalteian and ‘authori regimes ist week in Tain. | nerwh enclose a copy of he esnution ofthe European Partamant of 2 Ape 2008 on European ‘conacincs and altars fr your relerence Respect yours, mas Rérats Ministry of Justice! Sueur 1 10122 Talon / ESTONIA +372 620 8100 ax #372626 81091 Infodstee Iwan justee FReg.no 7.000888P6_TA(zoo9o213 European conscience and fotalitarianism ‘European Parliament resolution of2April2009 ox European conscience and ‘ofaltarianin having egard tothe Untied Nations Universal Deslantion of Hunaa Rights, having regard to United Nation General Assembly Resolution 260A of 9 Desember 1945 an genocide, having regard to Arles 6 and 7 ofthe Treaty on European Union, having regard to ve Chater of Fundamental Right ofthe European Union, having regard to Counel Framework Devshon 2008/913JHA of 28 November 2008 on ‘combating ceric Forms and expressions of racism and xsnophobia by mana of enim iw, ‘nving regard to Resoltion 1481 ofthe Prlsmestary Assembly ofthe Couel of Europe 125 Janine 2066 onthe need fr ntematona eonsematon af Be rims of aalitrian ‘Communist reaimes, -nving reps 10s destaration of 23 September 2008 onthe proclamation of 23 August 5 European Day of Remembrance for Vitis of Stalinism and Nazism, ‘ving regard to 48 many previous resoltions om democracy and respect for fundamental righ and fredoms, including that of 12 May 2005 onthe 6th aniversary’ of the end of the Second Woell War in Europe on 8 May 1945, Ua of 23 October 2008 on the commemocation the Holodomr’ ad that of 1S January 2009 on Srbreien, Javing regard othe Truth and Justice Commissions established in various pats of the world, whic hats helped tase wo have lived under mamerou former ahora sd ‘alvin regimes to overcome thei ferences and achieve reconciliation faving regard te statements made by its President and the politcal groups en 4 ly 2006, 70 yeas fer General Prancls coup Wat in Spal, having regard to ule 103(4) ofits Rules of Procedure, whereas historian apre tha filly objective inerprettions of hstoial facts ae not (FL sas anoe4 ps “Tews doped, P6 TACOS) OFC92 8 2042646, p 392. “ex apie Ps "A085. “eas ape PO "A(208)028,posible end object historical aratives donot exis whereas, nevertheless, profesional Distoran ieee tools to sty the past, a ty Tobe as marta as possible, ‘wheres: no police body or polit! party hs a monopoly on interpreting istry, and ‘sich bodies and pats cant eaim be ebjective, \heras oficial political interpretations of historia fects should not be imposed by means ‘of maori deisors of purlameat; wheres aparamentcanaot gilt on the past, wneteas a core tjesive oF the Baropen sepa proces sw emute saps Se Tundamentl gh and the rule of law in the fre, and whereas appeopriie mechanisms for atevng this al ave ban provided for in Antics Gand 7 ofthe Treaty on European Union, whereas misinterprettons oP history can fl exlusivit policies and thereby incite hated td ras. whereas the memaves of Europe's tragic past must be Kept alive Ia der w honour the ‘itis, condemn te perpevatrs ad lay the foundation for recneliaton based en trath tnd rerembranee, wheres millions of vitims wore deported, imprisoned, torured. and murdered by {caltarian and thortaran regimes dering the 200 century In Europe, whores the Uniques of the Holocaust must nevertheless be acknowledged, whores the domi histoxial experience of Westem Burope was Nazism, and whereas (Cena an Eaters European counties have experienced bath Communism and Nazism; ‘wheres ndestancing hast be promeed la Yelaion tothe double legacy of dciatorhip ‘ome ty these counties, I. whores rom the auset European integration has bee response to the suffering inflicted by two ord ars and the Nea yan tht led othe Heloeast and othe expnsion of ‘oulitaian and undemocratic Commit regimes fn Central and Eastern Europ, 38 well as 4 way of overcoming deep divisions and honlity Europe ough cooperation and Ingraton and of ending war and securing democracy in Europe, ‘whates te proces of European integration has been successful and has now Jed > 9 European Union hat encompasses te eounres of Cental and Eastem Europe which Hive Under Communist mines fom the end of Word Wa ntl he early 1980s, and whereas tho eater socio of Greece, Spain ad Portugal, which suffered unde long-lasting ‘scatrgines, beled Secure denioeacy inthe south of Europe, ‘teas Europe wl not be ited ules ie abe to form s commen view of is story, ‘eoogaises Neis, Salinism and fascist and Communist regimes esa etmmon legacy and Tings abou an heest and rough debate on ther eres inthe past century, “wheres in 2009 a eunited Europe wil elebate the 20 anniversary ofthe collapse ofthe ‘Communit ditataaip in Coal and Easter Rorape andthe fall of th Barin Wall ‘which sould provide both an opportunity to enhance awareness ofthe past and recognise the role of demecratc cians inidaves, snd an incendve 10 stegthen feelings of topetbemess and cehesion,[M, whereas i is lea important to remember those who atively opposed totalitarian rule and ‘who should take their place inthe conscloustess of Europeans as the heroes of the ‘otaliaian age because of ter descation faithfulness fia, honour and courage, IN. wheres fom the perspective of the victins iis iumatera which regime deprived them of theiribety or tortured or murdered them for whatever reason, 1. Expresses respect or all veins of totalitarian and undemocratic regimes in Europe ae ays tue these who fought aginst tyraay and oppression: 2. Renews is comaiment 1 a poset end prosperous Europe founded on the vals of respect for hur dignity, feedom, democracy, equality, the rl of law and respect for human ghs, 3. Undedies th inportnce of keeping the memoves ofthe pas alive, because there can be no recanaltion without uth and remembrance; recotims its united sand apne all ‘otlitarian ale fom whatever ological backgrounds 4, Recalls that the mos recent crimes against humanity and acs of genocide in Europe were sil taking place n July 1995 and tat constant viglance is needed to igh undemocratic, ‘xenophobic, suiclaran and wualtarian eas and tendencies, 5. Undedines that, In order to suengthen Buopean awareness of crimes commited totaliarion and’ wndemecratic egies, documentation of, and accouns testing 13, [Ewope's woublod past must be supposed, as there can be no reconciliation witout remembrance, 6. Regrets that, 20 years afer tho cllpse of the Communist icttrsips in Cenral and Esler Europ, stoss to documents that ae of personal relevance or needed fr acetic ‘esearch is sl unduly reseed in some Member Sats ells for 4 genuine effort all, ‘Meier Sates towards opening wp archives, ineloing those ofthe forme internal sci serves, seretplice and intelligence agencies, although steps must be taken 1 eure ha this proces i notabisd er pola purposes 7. Condemns strongly and unequivocally al erimes aginst humarity andthe massive human righ violations commited by all talitaan and auosvianregines; tends to Ue ‘Viens of these eines and thelr family menbes is sympathy, understanding and ‘ecogniion of ther suing: 1 Devas that European nteraton as + model of peace and reconlistion represents fee oie by the pooses of Europe to commit a shared fre, an that te European Union fas a paiculr responsibly to promote and safeguard ancracy, respect for una ‘igs dd te rle ota, bol side wa elie de European Union, 9, Calls onthe Commission end the Mettber Stats to make futher effets to strengthen the teaching of Eurepean hisory and wo underline th histor achievement of urepean Integration andthe stark conrast ween the agi pst andthe peaceful and democratic Soci orem toys european Union, 10. Believes that appropriate preservation of bitrieslmemary, a comprehensive reassessment of European istry and Europe-wite recognition ofall historical aspects of modern Europeill suengthen European integration; 11,Calls inthis consction on the Council and the Commision to support and defend the activites of non-governmental exganiscons, suchas Memoria in the Russian Federation, ‘hat are actively engaged in researching and collecting documents related tothe crimes commited during te Sait prod; 12. Reiterates its content support for strengthened iterations justice; 1.als for oe eablehmen oF a Pas oF Haro Muy wel Comelence wo provide ‘sppor for networcing and coopers among ational research ities specialising the subject of toiatarian history, ad forte creation ofa pan-European documeatation cetrelnemoril fr the itis of al toataran regimes; H.Calle for srenghaning ofthe existing olvant Hasna instruments witha view to providing support fe professional historical research onthe issues outned above 15.Calls for the proclamation of 23 August as a Buope-wige Day of Remembrance for the ‘itis of al ftaltavian ang authoritarian regimes, to be commemorated with digit and Inmparatiy: 16. [s convinced that te ubimate goal of disclosure and assesment ofthe crimes commited by ‘the Communist tblsren regis is reconlation, which can Bo achieved by admiting esponsbilty asking for forgiveness and fostering moral renewal; ‘insets is Prescet to forward this resolution to te Coun, the Commission, the parlamens of the Member Stes, the governments nd arlinents of the candidate counties, the goveamens and parliaments ofthe counties asscited with the European Union, and the governments and paaments af the Members ofthe Couel of Europe