NOTE: Five heads of
state spoke at the International Forum to Commemorate the 75th
Anniversary of the Holodmor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine, "MY PEOPLE WILL
LIVE FOR EVER" held in Kyiv on November 22, 2008. The Presidents of
Ukraine, Poland, Georgia, Lithuania and Latvia all made presentations
that were powerful, very strongly supported Ukraine and spoke out
clearly and forcefully against the evils of totalitarian regimes,
brutal Soviet policies, and the many Stalinist and Soviet crimes
against humanity. Below you will find the speech by the President of
Lithuania, Valdus Adamkus, who spent many years in the United States
while the Soviets occupied his country, http://www.president.lt/family/biografija:
SPEECH BY THE PRESIDENT OF
LITHUANIA VALDAS ADAMKUS IN KYIV AT THE
INTERNATIONAL
FORUM TO COMMEMORATE THE 75TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE
HOLODOMOR
OF 1932-1933 IN UKRAINE "MY PEOPLE WILL LIVE FOREVER"
Address by H. E. Valdus Adamkus, President of the Republic of Lithuania
International Forum to Commemorate the 75th Anniversary of the
Holodomor, Kyiv, Ukraine
President of Lithuania Website, Vilnius, Lithuania, Saturday, November
22, 2008
http://www.president.lt/en/news.full/9878
KYIV, UKRAINE - Mr. President,
Excellencies,
Dear People of Ukraine,
Today as we remember the suffering and the tragic fate of millions of
people in Ukraine, we bear witness to the power of human and national
memory. This memory does not allow to conceal, distort or forget the
cruel actions and policies of totalitarian regimes and their crimes
against humanity.
We will never forget the genocide that killed tens of millions of
people in Europe and worldwide: the brutal Soviet policy that doomed
hard working Ukrainians to famine seventy five years ago, and Communist
repressions against the peaceful inhabitants of the Baltic States,
Hungary, Poland, Kazakhstan, Afghanistan, Russia, and many other
countries.
Historical truth always finds its way in defiance of hindrances and
prohibitions. The Stalinist and Soviet crimes against humanity
concealed for long decades are now well known and deplored by many
nations.
In 2003, representatives from different parts of the world issued a
joint declaration at the United Nations remembering the victims of the
Holodomor. In 2005, the Seimas of Lithuania condemned the genocide in
Ukraine.
Last year, UNESCO adopted a resolution on the Holodomor and
its horrific consequences, and this year the European Parliament paid
tribute to those who were starved to death by the Great Famine.
The people of Lithuania identify themselves with the people of Ukraine
in their painful memories of Soviet totalitarian crimes. We too
experienced Soviet repressions and brutality: mass deportations and the
killing of innocent people that decimated one fourth of Lithuania’s
population.
Next year we will commemorate the 70th anniversary of the
shameful Nazi-Soviet deal: the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and its secret
protocols.
After the two totalitarian regimes partitioned Europe, Lithuania – like
many other European countries – was invaded and occupied.
However, despite long decades of deception and Soviet
propaganda, the memory of the Lithuanian nation – passed on from
generation to generation – had kept our love of freedom and spirit of
independence alive throughout the entire period of occupation.
After long years of oppression we restored independence and
made a free choice for Euro-Atlantic integration.
Today we strongly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of
Ukraine, the resolve of its people to build their future in the family
of democratic nations.
Today we say with strong commitment: “Nobody can take away
the right of an independent European state to choose its path of
freedom and security.”
We are ready to share the historical memory of our nations with the
world: the memory of Ukraine’s deep cultural roots in Europe, the
sacred memory of Ukrainian freedom fighters, and the painful memory of
Stalinist atrocities to suppress freedom and liberty.
The contemplation and spread of historical truth is not directed
against a specific nation or country. Saying the truth means
identifying and condemning the crimes of totalitarian regimes.
Therefore, I believe that a time will come when nobody will
ever attempt to deny the cruelties of the Soviet regime unleashed in
Ukraine and claim that 25 thousand people were starved to death per day
by a mismanaged economy or poor harvest.
The Nazi and Soviet-committed crimes against humanity, casting a long
and deep shadow on the history of the 20th century Europe, will be
equally condemned and their victims remembered and commemorated.
It is the last indispensable precondition for Europe’s moral
and spiritual unity on the road towards mutual openness and genuine
solidarity among the nations.
In the name of our fallen parents, brothers and sisters, in the name of
those who fought for the independence of our countries, in the name of
our future and the future of our children, we have to preserve and
spread that memory of our shared past.
We must raise our own and global awareness, deepen respect for human
life and dignity. It is the only way that we will stop the spread of
totalitarian ideologies and prevent such experiments with nations and
people like the Holodomor from ever happening again.
LINK:
http://www.president.lt/en/news.full/9878==============================================
Mr. E. Morgan Williams, Director
Government Affairs, Washington Office
SigmaBleyzer Private Equity Investment Group
President/CEO, U.S.-Ukraine Business Council (USUBC)
Publisher & Editor, Action Ukraine Report (AUR)
Trustee: "Holodomor: Through The Eyes of Ukrainian Artists"
1701 K Street, NW, Suite 903, Washington, D.C. 20006
Mobile in Kyiv: 380 50 689 2874
[email protected];
[email protected]