Estonian justice minister: Totalitarian crimes should be looked into by joint EU commission

08.04.2008

Rein Lang's statement was sparked by a public hearing on totalitarian crimes that took place in Brussels today at which two main issues were under discussion -- awareness of totalitarian crimes and how to achieve reconciliation.

"We certainly welcome the holding of such an event as the first at which attempts were made to achieve a common understanding of the history of Europe as a whole and its consequences. Our wish is that a commission uniting all European Union countries be set up to investigate totalitarian crimes and deepen common understanding of history," Lang said.

This is the first step in the process that started with the discussion of a framework decision on the fight against racism and xenophobia in the European Council and whose end result must be condemnation of all crimes committed by totalitarian regimes, the minister added.

Estonia was represented at the public hearing by board member of the Institute of Memory Toomas Hiio, who took part in the session entitled "How to promote public awareness about totalitarian crimes?"

The public hearing was initiated by the European Commission and it brought together historians, legal experts and nongovernment organizations dealing with these issues from 27 EU countries as well as from outside the EU.

The Justice Ministry recalled that the Justice and Home Affairs Council of the European Union on April 19, 2007 reached a general agreement on a framework decision on combating certain forms and expressions of racism and xenophobia.

European Commission Vice President Franco Frattini promised at a news conference following the council meeting to organize a public hearing on totalitarian crimes.

Tallinn newsroom, +372 610 8861, sise@bns.ee