In NATO Summit in Bucharest some weeks ago Germany and France blocked the proposal to invite Ukraine and Georgia to participate in MAP (Membership Action Plan). It was explained, that such of step will give to new President of Russia Medvedev “fresh start” and decreases tensions in the region. Several memberstates warned that Russia will understand such gesture wrongly – namely Russia takes from this point granted, that Georgia and Ukraine will stay in his sphere of influence and Russia can do there whatever it likes. Unfortunately, that is what is happening. With only some weeks passed from Summit, Russia has raised stakes in Georgia, starting de facto recognition-process of Abkhazian and South-Ossetian separatist governments. In real terms it means annexation of Georgian territories by Russia. This increases significantly tensions in the region. When West could not react on Russian provocation effectively, this can turn the frozen conflicts in Caucasus to really hot.
On 8 April 2008 European Commission has hearing on crimes committed by totalitarian regimes. Even as Commission is still afraid to name this hearing on crimes committed by communism, it is clear and positive step forward. It would be discussed how to improve knowledge about totalitarian crimes and how to promote public awareness about totalitarian crimes. Participants in hearing are experts from different memberstates, representatives of Commission and members of European Parliament. EPP as party has passed soon some years ago decision to urge its Parliamentary Group in European Parliament to initiate the declaration condemning the crimes of communism at the same way as crimes of nazism are condemned. Such declaration is soon passed by Parliamentary Assamble of Council of Europe. We can hope that with such hearings Europe moves nearer to the condemnation of communist crimes.