MEPs sharply criticise Russia over planned WWII victory celebration
Putin’s plan seen as attempt to legitimise Soviet occupation
Piia-Noora Kauppi
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Ville Itälä
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Henrik Lax
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Alexander Stubb
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Ari Vatanen
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A group of 100 Members of the European Parliament have sharply criticised Russia over its planned celebrations of Victory Day next year.
In an open letter the politicians see the celebrations as giving an endorsement "to the Soviet occupation and the crimes of totalitarian communism".
The letter accuses Russia of evading its responsibility for crimes against humanity committed by the Soviet state in its neighbouring countries.
The signatories include four Finnish MEPs - Ville Itälä (Nat. Coalition Party), Henrik Lax (Swedish People’s Party), Piia-Noora Kauppi (Nat. Coalition Party), and Ari Vatanen, a Finnish rally racing driver who was elected to the European Parliament from France. Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party) joined the signatories later.
The text of the letter also notes that the Soviet Union was ejected from the League of Nations when it started the Winter War by attacking Finland.
The letter was motivated, at least partly, by an invitation extended to leaders of the EU countries by Russian President Vladimir Putin to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the end of World War II on May 9, 2005 - the same day that the EU celebrates Europe Day.
"Russia intends to use this as a propaganda gimmick. Putin has deliberately invited leaders of EU countries to Moscow on Europe Day", Kauppi said.
In her view the purpose of the initiative is to increase awareness that "it would be insulting to the present EU countries which ended up behind the Iron Curtain if the EU heads of state were to honour such a celebration with their presence".
The open letter was initiated by four MEPs: Britain’s Christopher Beazely, Estonia’s Tunne Kelam, Latvia’s Aldis Kuskis and Lithuania’s former President Vytautas Landsbergis.
"The wording is tough. This is because the text is from the hands of Europarliamentarians who were under Soviet oppression for 50 years", Stubb pointed out.
Stubb also said that the EU’s eastward enlargement has brought a new sharpness to discussions in the European Parliament on Russia.
"It has expanded from the fields of economics and culture to politics. People always dare criticise the United States, but this has not always been the case with Russia. Now increasingly sensitive topics concerning Russia are taken up in the European Parliament", Alexander Stubb said.
Ari Vatanen says that the new member states have brought a breath of fresh air to the European Parliament, and that they function as its conscience.
He said that Finns should be more willing to examine "the historical injustice of the ceding of Karelia".
Henrik Lax, who was in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, said briefly: "You have to open history in order to move forward".
"The feelings of these countries that are experiencing freedom must be acknowledged publicly so that they can get a chance to build the new Europe."
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 25.11.2004 - TODAY |
 MEPs sharply criticise Russia over planned WWII victory celebration |
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