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Russian Intelletuals
As the anniversary of the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 approaches, a group of Russian intellectuals has spoken out against the actions of the Soviet regime and called for support of the developing democracy in the Russian Confederation. Catherine Miller has more.
In an announcement timed to coincide with the thirtieth anniversary of the Warsaw pact invasion of Czechoslovakia, the congress of intelligentsia of the Russian Confederation has made an appeal to the international community for, quote, "solidarity with the democratic, reformist part of Russia and its resistance to the powers of evil and to wilful demonstrations of chauvinism and russian fascism." The congress also said that the democratic public of Russia was doing everything to avoid a return to imperial despotism and violent relations towards their own people and to the people of other nations.
Ninety five leading figures from Russian politics and society signed the announcement including the widow of Nobel prize winner Andreji Sacharov, former russian prime minister Jegor Gajdar, the writer Jevgenij Jevtusenko and cellist Mstislav Rostropovic. As well as the Czechoslovak invasion in 68, the Soviet intervention in Hungary in 1956 and the mass executions in Berlin in 1953 are also remembered. The statement calls for a public discussion of civil responsibility for the actions of the past, describing the former regime as an "empire of evil". "The twentieth century is coming to an end, it writes, the time has come to draw conclusions. We are obliged to honourably evaluate the past - both recent and distant - remember all the tragic events which our country took part in".
Recalling the Russians who protested in Red Square after the 68 invasion and who were subsequently imprisoned, the congress expressed its hope that Russia will become a truly democratic country. "Out of the fight against evil, it writes, out of resistence to the former regime of cultivated russian fascism, a new Russia is being born."
Czech-German relations improving
After a couple of weeks of tense relations between Prague and Bonn, the
situation seems to be calming down, thanks to last weekend's talks
between German Chancellor Helmut Kohl and Czech Cardinal Miroslav Vlk in
Koln, Germany. Alena Skodova has more.
The German cabinet has thanked Czech president Vaclav Havel for a
statement he issued last week at the Prague military hospital, where he
has been recovering from intestinal surgery. German Foreign minister
Klaus Kinkel told the Sunday issue of the German newspaper Welt am
Sonntag, that the spirit of the Czech-German declaration signed in
January 1997 must prove right especially at a time when - as he put it
"the wind - for example due to the pre-election campaign in Germany -
gets stronger".
The DPA agency recalls president Havel's words, that the
latest Czech-German disputes do not reflect the real state of the Czech-
German relationship, which in reality is much more favourable. Kinkel
has described his country's decision to involve Sudeten Germans in the
bodies which came into existence in the wake of the signing of the
Czech-German declaration as a step in the right direction, despite Czech
premier Zeman's criticism of this move. According to Kinkel, a dialogue
means "commitment, not exclusion", which is an idea that all German
politicians share.
As for last weekend's visit to Germany by Cardinal
Miroslav Vlk, observers say that a firm friendship developed between the
two men. When asked if Chancellor Kohl intends to ease the present tense
situation, the Cardinal said that Kohl is unlikely to comment further on
this matter until the parliamentary elections in Germany are over.
1968 Exhibition in Prague
An exhibition commemorating the 30th anniversary of the
Warsaw Pact invasion was opened in Prague on Monday morning. Olga
Szantova was there.
It's an exhibition showing the role of the press and radio in
the 1968 events, and through it the events themselves. On display
are copies of newspapers and other publications published at the
time. It's an outdoor exhibition in the park outside the
Malostranska metro station, a busy place, where many people will
see it.
The event was organised by the Artforum Jazz Section, one
of the first dissident movements in the early seventies. Premier
Zeman opened the exhibition, and spoke not only about the
significance of the 1968 events, but also about lessons to be
learned from what followed after the invasion. It is necessary, he
said, to stop and think why there were so many Czech collaborators
after the invasion, why so many backs were bent in the 20 years
that followed.
All the more reason, the premier said, to remember
those who did not give in. The exhibition is a reminder, and its
main organiser, the chairman of the Jazz Section Karel Srp said
they were organising the event to make it more difficult for
people to forget. I asked deputy premier Egon Lansky, whether hes
thought the exhibition was sufficient.
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