Pressrelease March 10, 2009:
The Swedish EU Presidency and the celebration of the 20-year anniversary of the reunification of Europe

An international conference concerning the crimes of communism was held in Budapest on the 6-8 of March. The conference was organized by the Hungarian House of Terror and The European Foundation for the Disclosure and Investigation of Communist Crimes, founded by former Estonian Prime Minister Mart Laar. Institutions, embassies and organizations from Europe, USA and Canada were invited.

A joint letter was sent by the delegates to the Swedish Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt concerning the Swedish EU Presidency and the commemoration of the 20th anniversary of the liberation of from Communism, the democratization of the Baltic states, Eastern and Central Europe, and the peaceful reunification of the continent.

The partners in the 1989-2009 Anniversary initiative encouraged the Swedish government to mark the Anniversary, and invited Sweden to take part in the upcoming activities and initiatives during 2009. The letter was signed by delegates from the United States, Canada, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovenia, Sweden, the Ukraine, Austria and England.

Sweden was represented at the conference by Anders Hjemdahl and Camilla Andersson, Founders of the Institute for information on the crimes of communism IICC and Göran Lindblad, Member of the Swedish Parliament and Chairman of the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly Political Committee.

Mrs. Camilla Andersson and Mr. Göran Lindblad:
"- The current Swedish Declaration of Government has inspired many people by stating: "

"Sweden must be a clear and distinct voice for freedom and democracy. In line with this, the Government will present proposals on increased support to forces around the world that act against oppression and for the spread of democracy."

Mrs. Andersson and Mr. Lindblad continued -"The fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989 and the subsequent peaceful democratization were historical events for Europe, of unsurpassed importance for the spread of freedom, human rights and democracy on our continent."

"We therefore invite the Swedish Government to acknowledge and commemorate these events by celebrating the 20th anniversary of the liberation, democratization and reunification of Europe, by honouring the victims of communism, and by taking advantage of international cooperation during the forthcoming Swedish EU Presidency."

Please read the letter to Prime Minister Fredrik Reinfeldt and Foreign Minister Carl Bildt here: http://www.1989-2009.org signed by former Prime Minister of Estonia and Chair of EFDICC Mart Laar,  Camilla Andersson,CEO at IICC/UOK  and the delegates at the international conference in Budapest.

The "1989-2009 - the 20th Anniversary of the liberated and reunited Europe" project was initiated in Sweden by the Institute for information on the crimes of communism, IICC and was constituted at the EFDICC conference in Budapest as a pan-European and international project.



Please contact the 1989-2009 20th Anniversary of the Liberated and Reunited Europe working group at:

1989-2009 20th Anniversary of the Liberated and Reunited Europe
Mrs. Camilla Andersson
c /o IICC/UOK - The Institute for Information on the crimes of communism,
Box 3037, 103 61 Stockholm, Sweden, Phone: (+46) 8 442 09 40
e-mail: info@1989-2009.org
www.1989-2009.org

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