16 May 2011, 13:56
Today Nuremberg Trials demand an absolutely different benchmark, dynamical thinking, responsible and moral politics, and answerable moral politicians.
Volodymyr Lytvyn, Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine, made this statement at the International Scientific Conference dedicated to the 65th anniversary of Nuremberg Trials in Saint-Petersburg.
The Head of the Parliament analyzed the history of documental research of Nuremberg Trials, stating that "main historical, legal and personal materials disclosing Nazism failed to become the legacy of citizens of both states who contributed to the defeat of fascism and Nazi ideology."
"Apparently, our people should not have had full information due to ‘ideological motives´. Is it not a paradox? Is it not immoral? Therefore, there are speculations with the self-interested approach to the lessons of Nuremberg, including political ‘reflections´ with the purpose of rewriting the history," he stated.
V.Lytvyn admitted that according to the opinion polls, ‘a terrible per cent´ of our fellow citizens can not name the date when the war started, while every tenth person does not know the opponents of the USSR.
"The viruses of forgetfulness and ignorance should disturb us. It seems common and even logical that appalling seeds of extremism, primitive forms of Nazism and xenophobia are rooted in the conscience of post-Soviet generations, threatening with the outbursts of violent fights and demonstrations against the values of the war and post-war generations," the Head of the Parliament stated. "The recent examples are utterly absurd and provocative fights in Lviv on the Victory Day, which led to the exchange of hardline official statements between Ukraine and Russia. To tell the truth, the dialogue should be more thorough."
"Today, we have to admit that the winners and their descendants are divided and demoralized," V.Lytvyn stated.
The Chairman of The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine focused on the issue of political morality and psychological health of the society, reminding that Nuremberg Trials introduced the term ‘banality of evil´ into the international political lexicon. V.Lytvyn drew attention to the outbursts of terrorism, Nazism, xenophobia and racism. "Why has unrestrained violence become a standard of our life?" he asked.
V.Lytvyn deems necessary to focus on the humanitarian-legal aspects of Nuremberg Trials. "From the World War II we have learned the lesson to be strong. However, we need another inoculation to strengthen the genes of memory on the basis of humanistic and moral principles," he admitted.
Projecting the legacy of Nuremberg Trials onto the present day, relations between the states and the nations, and internal problems, V.Lytvyn called for reconsidering history in general, not only the results and lessons of the war. "I would like to stress: reconsidering, not revision or let alone rewriting. It is necessary to delineate the concepts of history of war and history of victory," he stated.
V.Lytvyn calls on the humanity to unite in the face of the common enemy international terrorism. "Demonstrating such unanimity and will for responsibility, international community will prove that it learned the lessons of the great war and epoch-making trials," he stated.
"Today Nuremberg Trials demand an absolutely different benchmark, dynamical thinking, responsible and moral politics, and answerable moral politicians," V.Lytvyn summed up.