Mart Laar blog

In 1982 Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in London held a vote for the most hated people of all time, with the result being Hitler, Margaret Thatcher, Dracula and Ronald Reagan. When somebody had asked the same question from some member of the captive nations in the Central and Eastern Europe, the answer would have been totally different. The politicians, unpopular in the West, enjoyed large popularity among the population of the communist countries. What is even more interesting – the division also exists today. What is a reason that some politicians, still criticized in the West, are among the most popular in the new Member States of the European Union.

The answer lies in different historical experiences of the second part of the last century. For the Central and Eastern Europeans the II World War was not the fight between good and evil – they had to fight against evil of totalitarian systems at the same time. They were occupied by both Nazis and Communists and did not see much difference between them. And at the end of the war, they had to see how the West presented them as the victory trophy to one of the evil gangsters, who was declared good only because he had helped the West to kill another gangster. These countries had now stayed nearly 50 years under the Soviet rule, and every time they tried to raise against oppression, no help came from the West.

For these people Ronald Reagan was the first President who really shared their understanding and had courage to tell the truth – the communism was the evil system. Former political prisoner Natan Sharansky remembered how he heard for the first time about Reagan’s “evil empire” speech. “One day, my Soviet jailers gave me privilege of reading the latest copy of Pravda. Splashed across the front page was a condemnation of President Reagan for having the temerity to call the Soviet Union an “evil empire”. Tapping on walls and talking through toilets, word of Reagan’s “provocation” quickly spread through the prison. The dissidents were ecstatic. Finally, the leader of the free world had spoken the truth – a truth that burned inside the heart of each and every one of us. (—) I understood that there had been much criticism of Reagan’s decision to cast the struggle between the superpowers as a battle between good and evil. Well, Reagan was right and his critics were wrong”. The same understanding was shared by female Soviet political prisoners, when they smuggled a congratulation letter for Reagan’s second inauguration from GULAG, thanking him for his work and wishing that it would continue. One of the initiators of this letter, Lagle Parek from Estonia, is remembering how one day, when suddenly a new wave of repressions was started against them, they understood that their message had reached Reagan. So it was, the letter is now proudly presented in the Reagan Library in California.

And most important: Reagan did not only talk, he also delivered. In early 1982, Reagan and a few key advisers began mapping out a strategy to attack the fundamental weaknesses of the Soviet system. Signed by the president in March 1982, top-secret directive NSDD-32 declared that the United States would seek to neutralise Soviet control over Central and Eastern Europe and authorised the use of covert actions to support anti-Soviet movements in the region. Approved by Reagan in November 1982, NSDD-82 declared the United States’ policy would be to disrupt the Soviet economy by dramatically reducing Soviet hard currency earnings. In January 1983, Reagan initiated NSDD-75, which called for the United States not to coexist with the Soviet system but rather to change it fundamentally (Bailey 1998). Reagan’s most fundamental challenge to the Soviet Union proved to be his military build-up. Reagan had serious doubts about whether the Soviet Union could afford the arms race economically and whether it could sustain it technologically. The SDI or ‘Star wars’ programme in particular posed a technological challenge that the stagnant and overburdened Soviet economy could not meet. In his nationally televised speech on 23 August 1983, Reagan announced his intention to develop a strategic defence against Soviet missiles, rendering nuclear weapons impotent and obsolete. As Henry Kissinger observed, this had a chilling ring in the Kremlin, as ‘with a single technological stroke Reagan was proposing to erase everything that the Soviet Union had propelled itself into bankrupcy trying to accomplish’ in this case, it was not even the SDI programme per se that frightened the Soviet leaders, rather than the idea demonstrated to them that they simply could not compete with American defence spending—at least not without committing to the implementation of major changes.

As a result of the intensification of the arms race, the ‘Star Wars’ programme, the war in Afghanistan and the deployment of the new American missiles in Europe, the Soviet Union had to continue its high military spending, which became an unbearable burden for the Soviet economy. Reagan’s economic sanctions, especially in the area of technological transfers, made the situation for the Soviets even more difficult and costly. The next step in Reagan’s plan was to cut Soviet hard currency earnings by dropping oil prices which, as a result, pressed the Soviet Union to deep crisis.

So the Soviet Union had to change – perestroika began with the goal to stop the pressure on the Soviet empire and to win time. In this way, we can see that the world owes not to the goodwill of certain Soviet leaders, but rather to Reagan, Thatcher, Kohl and other Western leaders, whose policies had pushed Soviet Union into the corner which, in turn, helped Gorbachev to come to power. Russian politicians themselves have later confessed that Ronald Reagan was the true father of perestroika. But when it started, the pressure on the Soviets was not reduced but redoubled, gathering momentum for the complete destruction of Communism.

The main goal for the Soviets was to stop the “Star wars” program. The former Soviet Foreign Minister, Aleksandr Bessmertnykh, has recalled that ‘just the feeling that if we get involved in this SDI arms race, trying to do something like what the US was going to do, to do space programmes, space-based weapons, etc looked like a horror to Gorbachev’. The Soviets, therefore, decided to ‘trap’ Reagan, proposing that he should meet Gorbachev in order to advance a disarmament package of historic importance, with one condition that would be revealed only at the end of the meeting; the cancellation of the ‘Star Wars’ programme. During the summit in Reykjavik on 19 September 1986, everything went according to the Soviets’ plans—until the very end. When Gorbachev brought up the condition attached to the recently concluded agreements, Reagan responded with the only gesture the Soviets had failed to foresee; he simply got up and left the room, thus ending the summit. This conclusion, which initially seemed to be the beginning of a stinging defeat, turned into one of Reagan’s biggest victories. Margaret Thatcher has written that ‘President Reagan’s refusal to trade away the SDI for the apparent near fulfilment of his dream of a nuclear-free world was crucial to the victory over Communism. He called the Soviets’ bluff. The Russians may have scored an immediate propaganda victory when the talks broke down. But they had lost the game and I have no doubt that they knew it’.

Faced with Reagan’s refusal to trade away the SDI and ease the pressure on the Soviet Union, Gorbachev had no choice but to push forward with perestroika: his policy of liberalisation within the Soviet system. It would seem that Gorbachev had failed to appreciate the consequences of his actions; the nature of democracy is such that once is has been adopted, central authority diminishes. The Soviet leaders had forgotten that freedom is like toothpaste—it is easy to squeeze it out, but just try to get it back inside the tube again.

It does not mean, that Ronald Reagan won the Cold War alone. The evil empire could not be crushed without persons like John Paul II, Margareth Thatcher, Helmut Kohl and especially without these freedom loving people who raised up against totalitarian system and crushed it. This does not diminish the achievements of Ronald Reagan. His deeds and principles must be especially remembered now, when at least looking from the East, the West is again abandoning its principles. In a recent essay the Russian writer Dmitry Shusharin warned that the West is too mild towards the neo-totalitarian regimes on the territory of the former Soviet Union. By Shusharin, the West is ot ready to challenge such regimes and fight for himself as well as those suffering under these regimes. Soviet totalitarianism was destroyed thanks to the leaders as Ronald Reagan, who was firm in his protection of Western values. Unfortunately by Shusharin within 20 years „precisely what Ronald Reagan warned about, has taken place: Western elites have accepted the elites of the post-Soviet states just as they are.” This is by Shusharin far from Reagan’s clarity and firmness.

This is also the reason why leaders like Ronald Reagan are still honoured in the Central and Eastern Europe. Looking on the decisions, such as selling modern military technology to Russia, who just some years ago attacked brutally one of his neighbours, the new Member States do not understand, if the Western leaders have learned something from the history or not. It looks sometimes that the West is still not ready to accept the truth on communist crimes and tries desperately avoid all the topic. The people from the former captive countries, who are thankful for their freedom also to Ronald Reagan, want that the truth must be heard – because only truth makes us free

On 25-26. March 1949 the Soviet authorities deported from Estonia to Siberia 20 535 people, mostly children, women and elderly people. There was no court decisions or possibilities to defend itself – it was just decision of KGB and communist authorities. The only reason why they were send to rotten in Siberia was that they were Estonians – so the “special transports” were described in Soviet official documents. This was an act of genocide, what today’s Moscow still tries to hide.

Today Estoni’s student and youth organizations – Estonians, Russians, Ukrainians, Belo-Russians will light 20535 candles in the main square of Tallinn, Estonia’s capital. With this they remember this terrible act of terror, hoping that this would never happen again not in Estonia or in any other country. To support this action everybody can make donation on account of “Unitas” foundation, dealing with the crimes of totalitarian regimes and reconcilation. Account is SEB Ühispank Tallinn Estonia SWIFT: EEUHEE2X
account: 10220081782010  SA Unitas

Yegor Gaidar is dead … this was a schocking news.  I was just planning to participate in his foundation conference in January and now such news. The health of Gaidar was after 2006 attempt to poison him of-cource not good,  but his death was not expected. Gaidar was a man, who had enough courage to take in the first years of freedom decisive decisions to move Russia to the road of market economy. He knew that these steps are unpopular, but he was ready to pay the price. He was not politician, he was statesmen. To be the first is always difficult – all of us can do mistakes in this situation. But even from mistakes the next reformers could learn, when You are having no strength to pass decisions, it is even nothing to learn. Gaidar’s reforms had been clearly more succesful, when he had been not changed from his Prime Minister position on the decisive moment of reforms. This was not so much Russia’s decision, but advice from Western “friends” as from Strobe Talbott, declaring that “Russia needs more therapy and less schock”. Such of advice did not let Russia to pass J-curve of reforms and start develop normally. Unfortunately afterwards only Gaidar was blamed and nailed for the problems. Yegor Gaidar was a good friend and a brave man – he deserves all credit for this.

In my last writing, there was mention on study, made in Russia on history textbooks of neigbouring countries. As it had not opened correctly, I put this here again: http://www.nlvp.ru/reports/doclad_hist_02_light.pdf  I suggest also to turn attention there on poll, made in all former Soviet republics on attitudes on historical events and heroes. It is clearly seen, that at least four countries – Georgia, Lithuania, Latvia and specially clearly Estonia had made so clear cut with the old Soviet mythology and also with the new myths , that even the authors of study must confess it. For Estonians not only Stalin but also Lenin are clearly negative figures, collectivization was a crime, MRP was criminal act and there was actually nothing good also in the former czarist empire. Good is also this, that the Russian official history theories are not working perfectly even in Russia – 38% of pupils against 34% by example still thinks that Stalin was negative, not positive figure in the Russian history. But even so is clear that the World and Russia must get more information about the crimes on communism. That is a work what is more and more developing in the World, just look on www.communistcrimes.org

Sorry, I am been duringlast year busy with Estonian economic crises, how to get out of this by cutting the budget. Next week this work looks positively to end and I can return more to my other hobbies – including blooging. But soon now I want to turn attention to one very interesting report – of course for these people who read Russian – where Russian current administration is attacking the history text books of its neighbouring countries, blaming them too be “anti-Russian”. In real meaning it mostly means that they just like too much like Germans – as Estonians are blamed that they did not liked to be swallowed by Russia soon in XIII century – or Swedes, because Estonians think, that the Swedish rule in XVII century, when the peasants got first time some freedoms from the Swedish kings, was better as Russian rule afterwards, when all these rights were taken from them. The reports of such kind are very illuminative on the thinking of current Russian rulers, encouraging is, that by the report, quite big part of Russians themselves are not believing the official version of history, presented by the Russian new official textbooks. This is of course  sign of hope.

On Friday the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly passed  a resolution that equates the Nazi regime with Soviet Stalinism. The resolution, titled “Reunification of divided Europe” and put forward by Lithuania and Slovenia, states that Europe has suffered from two totalitarian regimes: the Nazi and the Stalinist. Both brought about genocide and crimes against humanity. For a final and Europe-wide condemnation of totalitarianism, the OSCE resolution offered to set a Nazism/Stalinism remembrance day on August 23 . On 23. August 1939 Europe-dividing Molotov-Ribbentrop was signed by Germany and Soviet Union, dividing Europe between two dictators and paving way to the start of II World War. The resolution states so that both Stalin and Hitler were responsible for the start of this most devastating war. I can only agree to this point of view.

Even as the vote on resolution was nearly unanimous, the debates were very heated. “The USSR destroyed more people than Hitler. Russia occupied my country in 1921, and now President Medvedev has created a special commission to glorify criminals,” Georgian MP Georgy Kandelaki said during the discussion. Greek Communist MP Kostas Alissandrakis noted that the resolution is “not aimed against Stalin, who is long dead, but against Communism in general, and in the times of a crisis, when workers’ discontent is on the rise”. The head of Russia’s delegation to the OSCE, Aleksandr Kozlovsky, called the resolution an “insulting anti-Russian attack”.“Those, who put Stalinism on the same scale as Nazism are forgetting that the Soviet Union suffered the most casualties and made the biggest contribution to Europe’s liberation from Nazism,” Kozlovsky said. Russia’s delegation tried desperately to block the resolution, when they failed, the delegation just walked out before the voting.

The European Parliament adopted on 2. April a Resolution on European conscience and totalitarianism which. The Resolution, which was originally initiated by EPP-ED Members Jana Hybáškova (Czech Republic), Tunne Kelam (Estonia  ) and József Szájer (Hungary ), is an historical breakthrough. Following the plenary debate on 25 March 2009, the adoption of this Resolution is the first formal and full acknowledgement of the evils of communism by the European Parliament. The Chairman of the EPP-ED Group in the European Parliament, Joseph Daul MEP, recalled: “2009 is a deeply symbolic year, since we celebrate both the 60th anniversary of the creation of NATO and the beginnings of the cold war, and the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall, which ended it. This is why we have proposed to launch a Europe-wide day of remembrance which will help Europe reconcile its totalitarian legacy, both from the Nazis and the Communists. I am disappointed though that the Socialists, because of the un-reconstructed Left, seem to be opposed to such a declaration. If we do not understand our past, we run the risk of repeating it in the future”, said Joseph Daul. “Europe will not be united if it will not learn about and from the crimes against humanity and horrors of the past, and if it doesn’t recognise the common history. These horrors have to be studied and acknowledged. This is why we ask the Council and the Commission to mark August 23, the anniversary of the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, as a European Day of Remembrance of the victims of Nazism and Communism and to contribute financially and politically to the establishment of a Platform of European Memory and Conscience”, declared Jana Hybášková MEP, one of initiators of the Prague Declaration on European Conscience and communism. József Szájer MEP emphasised that there are two standards in this question: human dignity and unquestionable respect of life based on the Christian tradition and universal human rights which originated at the time of the Enlightenment. József Szájer MEP condemned the practice of estimating which inhuman dictatorships killed, or humiliated more people. Estonian MEP Tunne Kelam, one of the authors of the Resolution, concluded that in parallel to economic and political enlargement, Europe needs enlargement of its consciousness of the terrible crimes that were committed by totalitarian regimes of the 20th century. Our ultimate goal is reconciliation which can be achieved by admitting responsibility, asking for forgiveness and fostering moral renewal, Kelam concluded. Kelam was especially satisfied that the EPP-ED Group showed genuine European solidarity. “It is important and symbolic that among the co-initiators of this Resolution there were not only MEPs from Eastern Europe, but also German, British, Swedish Members of the EPP-ED Group Presidency, two EP Vice-Presidents from Spain and Italy and also MEPs from France and Germany “, Kelam said. “The European Union was forged out of the horrors of the Second World War and is the most successful reconciliation project in history. We are now a Union of twenty-seven Member States and in order for this project to continue being a success; we have to understand each other’s pasts. I am very glad that the Czech Presidency, both in this case and in other initiatives, such as its international conference in June on Holocaust era assets, has shown a willingness to confront the darkest chapters of our common history”, concluded Joseph Daul MEP.

By the information distributed by independent Chechen media in internet the Sulim Yamadaev (former commander of Battalion “Vostok”) was killed on Sunday in Dubai. Few Russians were captured by the police in Dubai. Cameras got them on tape while they were shooting Sulim. As Security Forces of UAE says, Russians that were captured, are Russian FSB agents. Yamadaev was soon some time under investigation and wanted by Chechenia’s current leader Kadyrov. Battalion “Vostok” participated under leaderhip of Yamadaev in August war against Georgia. Chechen figthers helped Russia there a lot. They were first Russian unit entering Tsinkvali and participating there in street fights and on 11.08 they saved large Russian column from full disaster when they were ambushed by Georgians. When the information is true, then it proves once again, what happens with them, who fight on the side of Moscow  in their wars against other Caucasus nations.

At the opening of this week’s Strasbourg plenary session, European Parliament President Hans-Gert Pöttering made a declaration on the 60th anniversary of the deportation of thousands of citizens of the Baltic states to Siberia by the Soviet regime. He told the House “This week we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the deportation of some 100 thousand Baltic States citizens. This enormous wave of Soviet deportation started during the night of 24 to 25th March 1949 and resulted in tens of thousands of Estonians, Latvians and Lithuanians being forcefully moved from their home, deprived of their civil and human rights and often losing their lives due to harsh and inhumane conditions in the Soviet prison camps. Nearly every family in Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, as well as in other former Soviet Union republics, was affected by the cruel force of the totalitarian communist regime. In nearly every family you will find traces of people who perished in Siberia, who were persecuted by the KGB or imprisoned and harassed by the totalitarian regime. This is not a distant and obscure past; it is still very much a living memory in the minds of many people who are citizens of the European Union. Therefore, it is our moral obligation and a fundamental duty as Europeans, rooted in our common values, in honouring the memory of those many victims, to reiterate our strong and clear condemnation of those horrific crimes committed by the totalitarian communist regime in the Soviet Union. Moreover, the victims deserve nothing less than an objective, in-depth and thorough evaluation of the past, because there cannot be reconciliation without truth and remembrance.”

Declaration condemning these crimes will be presented to the Parliament tomorrow. This is important achievement as European Socialdemocrats tried till the last minute to get it out from agenda. Hearings on the crimes of communist last week in Brussels nevertheless had strong impact on Parliament and helped the case happily forward. Czech Presidency and President Havel played important role supporting the condemnation of communism. Looking on year 1968 they know what the communism is.

It is symbolic, that this declaration will be discussed on the day, when 60 years tens of thousands  Baltic people were deported to Siberia.  Today Estonian Parliament (Riigikogu) passed its declaration, condemning communist crimes and remebering victims of communism.

Some month before the Russian invasion against Georgia in August 2008 Russian journalist Pavel Felgenhauer warned the World on coming Russian attack against Georgia. He was not believed, not in West and not in Tbilisi. Now Felgenhauer is warning us again. By the Bakillar.az newssite Felgenhauer is describing the plan moving around in Kreml to “finish the job” and remove Skahashvili from power. Failure to do this during the August-war has made Russia furiuos. Russia has not won sympathy in the World, he is still alone in its recognition of South-Ossetia’s and Abhkazia’s “Independence” and its authority is weakening in the region as Shakashvili is still there. Situation in occupied territories is deteriorating also. When Georgia has build houses for big part of refugees, then in South-Ossetia nothing is done. Kreml also needs “small and victorius” war to turn people’s attention away from worsening economic situation and to bolster its power. By Felgenhauer new campaigne starts from provocation against Russian peacekeepers where Georgia is accused. Kreml is then launching surprise attack against Tbilisi from two side – Tsinhvali and Akhalgori, opening the third front in West, attacking there Poti and Sukhumi from Abkhazia. Vaziani and Tbilisi airports are taken. Georgia is blocked from Sea and then Tbilisi will be conquered and Shakashvili would be removed from power, to be replaced by some kind of ”Salvation Commmitte”. Such of scenario can look unbelievible, but so was it before the August war. Only way to make it not happen is to be NOW – and not AFTERWARDS – very clear in this question with Kreml – make no war. When Kreml gets from West distorted  signals, he thinks, that the new war would may-be not be so bad idea.