Holocaust Remembrance Day: Jews from Belarus and Ukraine

   Today is the International Holocaust Remembrance Day. On this day in 1945 the Auschwitz Concentration Camp was liberated by Soviet Army. More than a million people were killed in the death camp. Initially it was directed to Polish political prisoners, then Jewish question was moved along, then Roma and Sinti. Before the World War II two-third of Jewish population in Europe lived in Poland and Eastern Europe (Western Belarus and Western Ukraine). The population of towns in these parts of Belarus and Ukraine consisted from around 40% of Jews. After the war the numbers decreased dramatically. We should always remember it and these tragic facts cannot be denied. As the fact that other human slaughtering is happening nowadays. There are things in this world that have a special meaning for entire mankind and genocide is the biggest of them.

Aushwitz

Books that should be always accessible

             We all like different genres of literature and different authors. We read in different languages. Recently I found a very wise quote on the cover of the book written by E. M. Remarque "All Quiet on the Western Front": this book should be printed out in millions of exemplars in different languages, be read in schools and be sent to all fighting groups. Remarque was one of the few being able describe all the tragedies of war: there is no place for glory, there is only hopelessness. To my big surprise I found only one book by Remarque in the biggest book shop in Bonn. And I felt it was not right. Books of Remarque should be always present on the book shelves in Germany as all books of S. Alexievich should be accessible in all book shops in Eastern Europe and Russia. There are things in history that we cannot afford to forget.

Four-way talks in Berlin: the weight of promisses

            The one and half years ago four-way talks were focused on armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine only. Yesterday the Syrian issue was added to a meeting of the heads of Germany, France, Ukraine and Russia. Apparently, the meeting was more a formal way of showing that West is interested in regulate the conflict though dialog in a peaceful way. Putin agrees on certain things, however the question is would these agreements be respected? Putin used to agree and sign documents on e.g. ceasefire anf the OSCE Special Monitoring Mission to Ukraine but keep destabilizing the situation in Ukraine and bombing Syrian city Allepo targeting kindergartens and hospitals. What is the cost of the word when Kremlin talks?

Corruption is not the tradition

                One of the biggest myths in fighting corruption is an opinion that the corruption is embedded in the tradition and culture of the country. Indeed, certain mentality might become an obstacle in diminishing the level of corruption, however, it can be changed. Everyone agrees that the political will plays the greater role in combating corruption. It is also able to change the way people perceive the presence and necessity of corruption in their life. By a Soviet mentality people used to blame corruption, nevertheless, rarely refuse to use it for a personal gain. Eastern European countries will prosper only when “you can't buy your way into the queue” (I.Clendinnen)

Glory of Ukraine

Yesterday Nadiya Savchenko imprisoned by Russia pilot and deputy of the Ukrainian Parliament has been released and safely arrived to her motherland. Presidential aircraft transported her from Russia to Ukraine where her mother and sister could not wait to greet her. As well as entire Ukrainian nation and people from all over the world who were waiting for that day for a long time. Let’s hope that this day would mark the time when a country started value its citizen, when its fight for him/her. There were dark times in Eastern Europe when prisoner of war returned to a country and immediately accused for betrayal was sent to concentration camp. A motherland did not want such heroes, hero had to die no matter what. Is it worth to die for your motherland or is it worth to live for it? Live and bring glory to your land, unbroken bravery and endless readiness to serve it.

Foto: charter97.org