Návrh rezoluce Rady Evropy

1.The Assembly refers to its Resolution 1096 (1996) on measures to dismantle communist totalitarian systems.

2. The totalitarian communist regimes which ruled in Central and Eastern Europe in the last century, and which are still in power in several countries in the world, have been, without exception, characterised by the massive violation of human rights. The violations have differed depending on the culture, country and the historical period, and have included individual and collective assassinations and executions, death in concentration camps, starvation, deportations, torture, slave labour and other forms of mass physical terror.

3. The crimes were justified in the name of the class struggle theory and the principle of dictatorship of the proletariat. The interpretation of both principles legitimised the "elimination” of people who were considered harmful to the construction of a new society and, as such, enemies of the totalitarian communist regimes. A vast number of victims in every country concerned were its own nationals. It was the case particularly of peoples of the former USSR who by far outnumbered other peoples in terms of number of victims.

4. The Assembly recognises that in spite of the crimes of totalitarian communist regimes, some European communist parties have made contributions to achieving democracy.

5. The fall of totalitarian communist regimes in Central and Eastern Europe has not been followed in all cases by an international investigation on the crimes committed by them. Moreover, the authors of these crimes have not been brought to trail by the international community as was the case with the horrible crimes committed in the name of National Socialism (Nazism).

6. Consequently, public awareness of crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes is very poor. Communist parties are legal and active in some countries, even if in some cases they have not distanced themselves from the crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes in the past.

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7. The Assembly is convinced that the awareness of history is one of the preconditions to avoiding similar crimes in the future. Furthermore, moral assessment and condemnation of crimes committed play an important role in the education of young generations. The clear position of the international community on the past may be a reference for their future actions.

8. Moreover, the Assembly believes those victims of crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes who are still alive or their families deserve sympathy, understanding and recognition for their sufferings.

9. Totalitarian communist regimes are still active in some countries of the world and crimes continue to be committed. National interests perception should not prevent countries from adequate criticism of present totalitarian communist regimes. The Assembly strongly condemns all violations of human rights.

10. The debates and condemnations which have taken place so far at national level in some Council of Europe member states, cannot give dispensation to the international community from taking a clear position on the crimes committed by the totalitarian communist regimes. It has a moral obligations to do so without any further delay.

11. The Council of Europe is well placed for such a debate at international level. All former European communist countries, with the exception of Belarus, are now its members, and the protection of human rights and the rule of law are basic values for which it stands.

12. Therefore, the Parliamentary Assembly strongly condemns the massive human rights violations committed by the totalitarian communist regimes and expresses sympathy, understaning and recognition to the victims of crimes.

13. Furthermore, it calls on all communist or post-communist parties in its member states which have not so far done so, to reassess the history of communism and their own past, clearly distance themselves from the crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes and condemn them without any ambiguity.

14. The Assembly believes that this clear position of the international community will pave the way to further reconciliation. Furthermore, it will hopefully encourage historians throughout the world to continue their research aimed at the determination and objective verification of what took place.

II. Draft Recommendation

1. The Parliamentary Assembly refers to its Resolution 1096 (1996) on measures to dismantle communist totalitarian systems, and to Resolution ... on the need for international condemnation of crimes of totalitarian communist regimes.

2. The Assembly is of the opinion that there is an urgent need for an in-depth and exhaustive international debate on the crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes with a view to giving sympathy, understaning and recognition to all those affected by these crimes.

3. It is convinced that the Council of Europe, being an organisation which stands for the rule of law and protection of the human rights, should take a clear position on the crimes committed by the communist regimes.

4. Therefore, the Assembly urges the Committee of Ministers:

1. to set up a committee composed of independent experts with the task of collecting and assessing information and legislation related to violations of human rights under different totalitarian communist regimes;

2. to adopt an official declaration for the international condemnation of the crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes, and to pay tribute to its victims irrespective of their nationality;

3. to launch a public awareness campaign on the crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes at European level;

4. to organise an international conference on the crimes committed by totalitarian communist regimes with participation of representatives of governments, parliamentarians, academics, experts and NGOs.

5. to urge the Council of Europe member states which had been ruled by totalitarian communist regimes:

   • to establish committees composed of independent experts with the task of collecting and assessing information on violations of human rights under the totalitarian communist regime at national level with a view to collaborate closely with a Council of Europe committee of experts;

   • to revise national legislation with a view to making it comply fully with Committee of Ministers’ Recommendation (2000) 13 on a European policy on access to archives;

   • to launch a national awareness campaign about crimes committed in the name of communist ideology including the revision of school books and the introduction of a memorial day for victims of communism and the establishment of museums.

   • to encourage local authorities to erect memorials as a tribute to the victims of the totalitarian communist regimes.