Posted on 05/07/2005 3:20:28 PM PDT by neverdem
Filed at 1:34 p.m. ET
RIGA (Reuters) - President Bush denounced Soviet Cold War rule of eastern Europe as ``one of the greatest wrongs of history'' on Saturday in a jab at Moscow two days before celebrations of the 1945 victory over Hitler.
Bush, visiting Latvia before the ceremonies in Moscow marking 60 years since the end of World War II in Europe, also held up the three Baltic states as examples of democratic reform since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
He said the end of the war brought liberty from fascism for many in Germany but meant the ``iron rule of another empire'' for the Baltic states -- Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia -- and nations from Poland to Romania.
Bush admitted the United States shared some responsibility for the Cold War division of Europe after the 1945 Yalta accord between Russia, the United States and Britain.
``Once again, when powerful governments negotiated, the freedom of small nations was somehow expendable,'' he said. ``Yet this attempt to sacrifice freedom for the sake of stability left a continent divided and unstable.
``The captivity of millions in central and eastern Europe will be remembered as one of the greatest wrongs of history,'' he said in a speech at Riga's guildhall.
The three Baltic states joined both NATO and the European Union last year.
Bush's visit to Riga has angered Russia by reviving tensions about the Soviet occupation when Moscow is focusing on celebrating the end of World War II, a conflict that cost 27 million Soviet lives.
Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed calls by the Baltic states for an apology for Soviet rule and accused them on Saturday of trying to cover up past Nazi collaboration.
BUSH MEETS PUTIN
The differing versions of history may make for frictions when Bush meets Putin in Moscow on Sunday and Monday.
Putin insists the Red Army was a liberator, not an oppressor, of Eastern Europe.
``Our people not only defended their homeland, they liberated 11 European countries,'' Putin said on Saturday after laying a wreath at a monument to Russia's war dead.
In a recent state of the nation speech he bemoaned the demise of the Soviet Union as ``the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.'' He has also said Washington should not try to export its own brand of democracy.
Bush said Russia's leaders had made ``great progress'' in the past 15 years.
``In the long run it is the strength of Russian democracy that will determine the greatness of Russia and I believe the Russian people value their freedom and will settle for no less,'' he said.
``As we mark a victory of six decades ago, we are mindful of a paradox. For much of Germany, defeat led to freedom. For much of Eastern and Central Europe, victory brought the iron rule of another empire.''
He also held up the Baltics as examples of successful shifts to democracy, a theme he stressed for nations including Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Belarus.
``These are extraordinary times that we're living in and the three Baltic countries are capable of helping Russia and other countries in this part of the world see the benefits of what it means to live in a free society,'' Bush told a news conference.
But Bush did not back pleas by the Baltic countries for an apology from Russia. ``My hope is that we are able to move on,'' he said.
He later flew to the Netherlands where he will spend Saturday night.
The presidents of Lithuania and Estonia will boycott the May 9 ceremonies in Moscow. Georgia's president will also stay away, but Latvia's president will attend.
All three Baltic nations, whose combined population is now about 6 million, were occupied by the Soviet Union in June 1940 after a pact between Nazi Germany and Stalinist Russia which divided up spheres of influence in East Europe.
In 1941, German troops occupied the Baltics and remained there until the end of the war when Soviet troops returned and ruled with an iron fist. The collapse of communism enabled the Baltic states to win their independence in 1991.
Bush also urged free elections in Belarus, which shares borders with Lithuania and Latvia, and ruled out any secret U.S deal with Moscow allowing President Alexander Lukashenko to remain in power. ``We don't make secret deals,'' he said.
Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga wrote in the Washington Post on Saturday: ``Russia would gain immensely by ... expressing its genuine regret for the crimes of the Soviet regime.
``Until Russia does so ... its relations with its immediate neighbors will remain uneasy at best.''
But writing in the French daily Le Figaro, Putin dismissed calls for an apology and accused the Baltic countries of trying to justify their own government's ``discriminatory and reprehensible policy'' toward their Russian-speaking populations.
Police detained about 20 protesters from Latvia's big Russian minority after they hurled smoke bombs in a demonstration against Bush.
``Bush is a horror,'' said protest leader Beness Aija. Posters in another demonstration said: ``Stop the war in Iraq.''
But many Latvians welcome Bush. ``It's important to recognize the struggle that our fathers had against communists and the Soviet Union,'' said Ugis Senbergs, a 50-year-old architect.
How does it prove that I am wrong and you are right ?
That is not the same thing as you said that the Polish Home Army was acting on Russian orders and then was betrayed.
"That is not the same thing as you said that the Polish Home Army was acting on Russian orders and then was betrayed."
When I said It ?
>>This is payback for Putin's remarks earlier this weekend. Puck Futin.<<
I think it's more than just payback - I think it was a planned decision by the President to be frank about the past - it's very refreshing.
What is propaganda? ==
I already told you. Propaganda is your words about "700 thousands poles killed by russians and 2 mlns poles sent to Sibiria".
It is not true. Hence it is anti-russian propaganda. Got it now:)).
M_68 is phyco or someting:). His hate probably will cause him a stroke and he will one more victim of russians:))).
"While going through these articles, I notice unprecedented personal attacks against people’s nationality and what they stand for. We disagree with so many issues; it would be impossible to have adult debate or even sit down and have a cool dinner. Lets take deep breath of fresh air and relax, let’s take walk on boulevard, and enjoy our life, for life its too short to be nasty and angry all the time at others. As far as Putin goes, as I said before; he went too far criticizing US and her people, and Putin is last of the bunch of people to tell US how should she conduct herself and what she stands for. US people are not stupid, and many of them used to and still fight for what US believes in; freedom, dignity, respect and most above liberty. As far as Kwasniewski goes, at least he has guts to stand up what he believes in. You may criticize me all you want, I won't hold this against you, after all; as humans we are critical bunch of species; however we should have rational and adult discussion, instead getting personal. I'm too young to debate folks who have more expertise in history and lived through wars, though my country went through her ordeal; putting all Russians as communistic and sadistic people is fatal mistake being made here, or putting all Poles same way is fatal mistake as well. There is enough blame going around on both sides, neither though should we allow our self to degrade our standing. I would stand by Poland with my soul and heart and nothing would change that. I am a Pole and I will die as a Pole, how God would decide that. So let’s take this huge breath of air and enjoy ourselves. Let’s concentrate on emerging threat to us all-Terrorism. If you think WWII was twisted, wait till terrorist would get their hands on nuclear weapons or other biological and chemical devices.”
What exactly are you questioning:
- the fact, that Soviets deported hundreds of thousands of Poles?
- the number of them given by ms_68?
- location (Siberia)?===
Who was depoted. Where. How much. Just few remembraces of "deported to Sibiria".
Because I never heard about polish citizens in Sibiria.
Soviet citizens collaborators with hetlirites I heard. POWs of germans and japanese. No poles.
My husband do have had write Thank you this is 250
And at the same time they knew, that they would stop on the other side of the Wisla river.===
But lizol it was ame Armia Kraiowa who attacked Red Amrmy supply lines.
WHY on earth Red army had to pay lifes of her soldiers to save Armia Kraiowa?
BTW they started Uprising without any information to Red Army command.
There is no criticism here Sara. We know the truth as we have family who experienced it. We will leave it at that. You are right, it is time for a lovely walk. On with Life!
Soviet radio-stations were also calling for an uprising. ===
It is new for me. I personaly doubt it. I red before and got from our opponents here that poles uprised in Warsaw by themselves.
Do you have proves that soviets asked for uprising? What stations called in what dates and so on. I'll will check it on russian historical forum.
Greg relax:)). Go drink some vodka for victory!
And again my question - if Soviets were not going to support the uprising, why they urged Poles to fight by broadcasting such a BS???==
If they did it then it is betrayal. But I want to know more about it. Facts, proves, not propaganda.
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