A day against totalitarianism, celebrating liberty
Mrs.Cecilia Malmström, EU Minister of Sweden, 2009 Presidency of the European Union.

"Today we celebrate for the first time the international day against totalitarian regimes. It is an excellent initiative taken by the European Parliament and the Council of Europe. It is also very appropriate to have the ceremony today, exactly 70 years after the Molotov-Ribbentop-pact was signed, a pact that led to the horrible second world war, the killing of millions of people and the atrocities of the Holocaust.

We also commemorate that 20 years have gone since the fall of the Berlin Wall. This led to freedom and democracy in former dictatorships and enabled the reunification of Europe. This is indeed worth celebrating, and I am honoured to give the inauguration speech at the ceremony here in Stockholm." 
Read more here


The several hundred strong audience at the Day of Remembrance and the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the liberated and reunited Europe in Stockholm; the Swedish EU Minister Mrs. Cecilia Malmström; the premier Estonian folk dance troupe Leigarid.

"The strong show of support from the Swedish EU Minister in commemorating the Remembrance Day is especially important during this year's Swedish EU Presidency, which coincides with several historically important anniversaries. This historic year allows Sweden to inculcate its unswerving commitment to Human Rights, freedom and democracy, whilst celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the liberated and reunited Europe."
Camilla Andersson, Founder of the 1989-2009 20th Anniversary Alliance.

The August 23 Remembrance and celebration day was held at Stockholm's Norrmalmstorg square, site of the Monday Meetings for the Freedom of the Baltic States, where crowds of many thousands met regularly to support the liberation struggle against Communism.

The day was introduced by Camilla Andersson and Anders Hjemdahl, founders of the 1989-2009 20th Anniversary Alliance, and featured speeches by representatives of Swedish-Baltic exile organizations, performances by Estonian folk dance troupe Leigarid, and speeches by prominent Swedish MP:s, including Anna Kinberg-Batra, Chairman of the Parliament Committee on EU Affairs, Birgitta Ohlsson and Gustav Blix, members of the Parliament Foreign Policy Committee, Fredrik Malm, member of the Parliament Education and Cultural Committees.

The 20th Anniversary Alliance would like give special thanks to the City of Stockholm, the Embassies of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, The Estonian National Congress in Sweden and The Latvian National congress in Sweden. Please find additional information at www.1989-2009.org.

According to the Resolutions of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly,
the European Parliament, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly, and Parliament Resolutions all over Europe, the August 23 is the international remembrance day to honor the victims of National Socialism and Communism.

Please read the European Parliament resolution "European Conscience and Totalitarianism": here

"The European Parliament calls for the proclamation of 23 August as a Europe-wide Day of Remembrance for the victims of all totalitarian and authoritarian regimes, to be commemorated with dignity and impartiality."

Press:
EU-minister Mrs.Cecilia Malmström. Press contact: Mrs. Elin Boberg,
Cell +46 70-308 44 06

The 1989-2009 20th Anniversary working group, Initiator and founder
Mrs.Camilla Andersson, phone +46 8-442 09 40 mail: info@1989-2009.org

Please find additional information regarding the 20th anniversary initiative at www.1989-2009.org