TheUOK/IICC presents an international cooperation with Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Poleand,
Romania, Hungary, the Czech Republic and the United States with the aim of informing about the crimes of Communism and of recent history, as
well as providing insight on the way many of the destabilizing tactics, favored by the Soviet empire towards its enemies during the Cold War, are still being employed in today's conflicts.
Communist oppression, neglect and inefficiency had a profound impact on the lives of the peoples of our neighbouring countries. Basic values on freedom, democracy and human rights were systematically stifled during decades of totalitarian Communist rule.
Today, a fifth of the world's population
is still languishing under the dictatorial rule and oppression of Communist parties, in countries like China, North Korea, Tibet, Vietnam, and Cuba, lacking fundamental human rights. People in dozens of more countries, particularly in Africa, are still suffering from the tragic and shambolic failures of Communist dictatorships to provide the basic necessities of life.
Don't miss a fantastic oppurtunity to learn from felllow Europeans that have suffered under Communism. It's time to
listen and learn from their experiences. In order
to assess the present, we have to understand the past.
The UOK/IICC stand at this year's Book Fair will feature a wide array of books, films, and interactive materials in both English and Swedish dealing with this subject; ranging from personal stories to historical facts, under the title “The Crimes of Communism - The End of Silence”.
Close to thirty international partners from nine countries are participating in our stand with books, films and other information
materials dealing with the subject of Communist occupation, oppression and the struggle for freedom.
Please welcome to stall number C04:42 at the Nordic Book Fair!
Partners:LatviaThe Latvian
Embassy In Stockholm
The Museum of Occupations in Latvia,
The Museum of the Popular Front in Latvia
PolandThe Polish Institute In Sweden
KARTA Center Foundation in Polen
IPN -The Institute of National Rememberance in Poland,
The Polish Refugee Council OPON in Sweden,
The Polish Congress in Sweden
LithuaniaThe Lithuanian Embassy in Stockholm
the
International Commission for the Evaluation of the Crimes
of the Nazi and Soviet Occupation Regimes in
Lithuania,
Genocide Victims Museum and Genocide Resistance Research Center in Vilnius.
EstoniaThe Estonian Embassy in Sweden
The Estonian Institute
The Museum of Occupation in Tallinn, Estonia,
The Kistler-Ritso Estonian Foundation
RomaniaThe Romanian Culture Institute in Sweden
The Institute for the Investigation of Communist Crimes in Romania,
The Czech RepublicThe Institute of the Czech Republic in Stockholm,
The Prague Senate Declaration on
European Conscience and
Communism, Czech Republic
Institute for the Study of Totalitarian Regimes in the Czech Republic
HungaryThe Hungarian Embassy in Stockholm
House of Terror (Terror Haza) Museum in Budapest
United StatesThe Jamestown Foundation
The Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation
The Joint Baltic-American National Committe
SwedenHjalmarsson &
Högberg Förlag
Atlantis Förlag
The Prague Declaration on European Conscience and CommunismUOK/IICC in Sweden and the Senate of the Czech Republic
are currently arranging an international campaign in support of The Prague Declaration on European Conscience and Communism.
UOK/IICC President Camilla Andersson: "It's fantastic that Sweden and the Czech Republic now are in such a great
position to make a difference in initiating international recognition and
condemnation
of the crimes of Communism.
The Swedish government should show its support of
the Prague Declaration under the Czech and Swedish EU Presidencies of 2009."
"The international support from all over Europe has been overwelming" said Martin Mejstřík, Senator of the Parliament of the Czech Republic and organizer of the conference European Conscience and Communism.
Excerpt from The Prague Declaration on European Conscience and CommunismSenate
of the Parliament of the Czech Republic June 3rd, 2008:- Bearing in mind the dignified and
democratic future of our European home,
- whereas societies that neglect the past have no future,
- whereas Europe will not be united unless it is able to reunite its history, recognize Communism and Nazism as a common legacy and bring about an honest and thorough debate on all the totalitarian crimes of the past century,
- whereas the Communist ideology is directly responsible for crimes against
humanity,
- whereas a bad conscience stemming from the Communist past is a heavy burden for the future of Europe and for our children
- whereas different valuations of the Communist past may still split Europe into “West” and “East”,
Read the Prague Declaration in its entirety here:
www.praguedeclaration.org in Swedish
www.pragdeklarationen.sePlease help the cause and invite all your friends: Your support makes a
difference. Please join the Prague Declaration Facebook Cause
now!
The Swedish Government Declaration of September 16, 2008The Swedish government Declaration points out the importance of Nordic,
Baltic and European cooperation, and the role for Sweden as a "clear and distinct voice for freedom and democracy".
Excerpt from the Swedish government declaration:Russia’s attack on Georgia further illustrates the
importance of a well-considered foreign, defence and security policy. The developments in the
Southern Caucasus illustrate the importance of
defending international law and emphasizing that its rules apply equally to everyone. The events we have now witnessed are an attack on the international legal order.
Sweden unreservedly backs the European Union’s support of Georgia’s territorial integrity and the demands that Russia live up to the six-point plan for peace in the region. The Georgia crisis has also increased the need of a strengthened EU policy towards the European Union’s eastern neighbors,
particularly Ukraine.
The safety and external security of our country is based on community and cooperation with other countries. There is broad consensus in the Swedish Parliament that our country will not remain passive should another EU Member State or another Nordic country be struck by disaster or attacked. By the same token, we expect these countries to take similar action should Sweden be so affected.
There is broad support for Sweden’s international
activities for peace. Sweden will continue to enhance its capability to take part in operations promoting peace and stability in different parts of the world. Nordic cooperation regarding stability and security in
our region will be strengthened.
Afghanistan deserves particular attention. Developments there give cause for continued concern. Sweden’s commitment is broad and long term. --
The Government is continuing its work to fight poverty and promote
democracy and respect for human rights. We are carrying on with the renewal of development policy. Sweden must be a clear and distinct voice for freedom and democracy. In
line with this, the Government will present proposals on increased support to forces around the world that act against oppression and for the spread of democracy.
One year from now, Sweden will hold the Presidency of the EU. Extensive work is being carried out to prepare for this. As holder of the EU Presidency,
Sweden will take special responsibility in efforts to put an international climate agreement in place in
Copenhagen in 2009. Other important items ahead of the Swedish Presidency are strengthened Baltic Sea cooperation in the EU and continued enlargement of the Union.
Please read the entire declaration: here.
September 17, 2008 - U.S. Senate adopts
resolution
on Latvia, Russia.By Andris Straumanis, Latvians OnlineThe U.S. Senate has unanimously agreed to a resolution honoring Latvia on the 90th anniversary of its declaration of independence and calling on the president to ask Russia to acknowledge that the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states was illegal.
The resolution, introduced June 9 by Republican Sen. Gordon H. Smith of Oregon and Democratic Sen. Richard Durbin of Illinois,
was discharged by the Senate Committee on
Foreign Relations on Sept. 16 and adopted the same day by the full Senate. The committee’s action came a day before it was scheduled to hear testimony about Russia’s aggression against Georgia.
More...
September 14, 2008 - A Baltic Response to the BearBy Jim Hoagland, The Washington PostRussia is developing a comprehensive strategy of
bleeding American power around the globe. The
United States must respond not at its point of greatest weakness, as the Bush administration may be tempted to do, but at its points of strength.
Russia's leaders have made it clear over the past month that their invasion of Georgia is not an isolated retaliation against a troublesome small neighbor. It is part of a broader effort by the Kremlin to establish new rules for big-power relations on its own terms while U.S. forces are stretched to their limits in the greater Middle East.
More...
Joint Declaration on Georgia by the Council of
Europe and the OSCECarl Bildt, Chairman of the Committee of Ministers, met with Finland’s Foreign
Minister and OSCE Chairman Alexander Stubb in Brussels on 15 September and discussed common interests including the situation in Georgia. They called for strict adherence to the six-point ceasefire agreement and declared ''fundamental'' the return of Russian troops to their positions held prior to 7 August. They also agreed on the importance of continuing to assess the overall human rights situation in the war-affected areas, including South Ossetia and
Abkhazia.
More...The Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, Foreign Minister of Finland, Alexander Stubb, the Chairman of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Foreign Minister of Sweden, Carl Bildt, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Terry Davis, and the Director of the Office of the Secretary General of the OSCE, Paul Fritch, met in
Brussels on 15 September 2008 at the invitation of the OSCE Finnish Chairmanship for the 18th Council of Europe-OSCE High-level meeting.
The High-Level meeting focused on the situation in Georgia, election-related issues and co-operation in the four priority areas, namely action against terrorism, the protection of the rights of persons belonging to national minorities, combating trafficking in human beings and promoting tolerance and
non-discrimination.
More...
About the IICC/UOK - the Institute for Information on the Crimes of CommunismThe Institute for Information on the Crimes of Communism (IICC/UOK) is a
non-profit, non-governmental, politically
independent organization with the purpose of spreading essential information about Communism; its background, ideology and its consequences, and to promote vigilance against totalitarian and antidemocratic movements.
Homepage:
www.crimesofcommunism.org Online Education Center / Virtual Museum on the crimes of Communism:
www.aboutcommunism.comContact:
IICC -The Institute for
Information on the Crimes of Communism/
UOK -Föreningen för upplysning om
kommunismen
Box 3037, 103 61 Stockholm, Sweden
Telefon: +46 8 - 442 09 40
E-mail:
info@crimesofcommunism.org 
