Politics
Interview: Condemning Communism, a European Perspective
Reading Time: 6 minutes Interview Condemning Communism European Perspective
Interview of Mr. Goran Lindblad, swedish-european parliamentarian, by Gabriel Gherasim for Moldova.ORG
Motto: "Growing up in Sweden, so close to the Evil Soviet Empire, I have always been against communism… This was the first time ever that an international body of parliamentarians condemned communism… All Western communist parties got sponsoring from the Soviets, but also from D.D.R. (East Germany)…" – Goran Lindbald
by Gabriel Teodor Gherasim, New York
Gabriel Gherasim: Mr. Lindbald, please give us some biographical information about yourself, both before and after your election to the Parliamentary position you hold now.
Goran Lindbald: I’ve been active in politics since my teens, vice-president of the National Union of students 1976-77. I gave my dental exam at "Goteborg University" in 1977. I’ve been practising dentistry ever since. I’ve been a prison dentist for almost 20 years. I still keep up my skills about once a week, in my own dental clinic. I was elected as a member of The Goteborg City Council in 91-97; Vice-President and subsequently, President of the township in Goteborg, in about the same era. I’ve been a member of the Swedish Parliament since 1997. I’ve been a member of the delegation to the PACE European Council, since 2004. I’m currently the President of the Swedish delegation to PACE. I am also an observer on Iran’s nuclear situation. I’m married, I have four children ages 4, 7, 9, and 28.
G.G.: Describe to our readers what is and what motivated you to write "The motion to condemn communism", that you have proposed for voting to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe on January 25th, 2006?
G.L.: The motion was actually already proposed, when I became a member of PACE, by one of the MPs signing it; Mr. Van der Linden authored it. However, I volunteered to become an observer, when the position became vacant, as my Portuguese colleague, the appointed observer, was not re-elected. Growing up in Sweden, so close to the Evil Soviet Empire, I have always been against Communism.
G.G.: The majority of the "free Europeans" voted down the motion you are referring to. What were the "arguments" of those who fraternized with Communism, a system that has made itself guilty of killing over 100,000,000 so far, for NOT considering this a criminal regime?
G.L.: Actually, the resolution was adopted by PACE; this was the first time ever that an international body of parliamentarians condemned Communism. However, the recommendation for action, which needed two-thirds majority, was voted down by only 15 votes. This means that the condemnation in the resolution is adopted, but a recommendation for actions among member countries was voted down. Yet, any member country can act anyway they see fit on this issue. You can read the whole debate on www.coe.int, look for January session 2006.
G.G.: Lenin used to say that he needs the "useful idiots" of the West (the Western communists), in order for Moscow to eventually control their countries. To what level are the Western communists (socialists, left in general) ignorant about communist made genocides and persecutions and to what level have they simply became dependent on the Russian payroll, irrespective of the crimes against humanity that (neo)communists have been committing every day in the East?
G.L.: Lenin used the term "useful idiots" about everyone collaborating without knowing. I think that it is impossible to calculate how many leftists from the West are idiots and how many are on the Russians’ pay role. However, very few can have been unaware of the Communist atrocities of past and present. All Western communist parties got sponsoring from the Soviets, but also from DDR (East Germany). Some went to Black Sea for vacation, others to East Berlin for education in Marxism-Leninism, and all got gifts like vodka and beer for Christmas.
G.G.: One of the communist methods of dealing with critics of their crimes is to "attack the messenger". In fact, following your role in condemning Communism, a plethora of Communist/Socialist mass-media from Western Europe and the USA (sic!), started a campaign of "ad hominem", gratuitous invectives, against you. I think the "preferred" one is to call you a "fascist". Has this bombardment of slander discouraged you from prompting the Europeans to condemn Communism and its crimes, or have they gotten you even more determined? Did you ever feel threatened in your safety following this initiative?
G.L: I am not easily discouraged. Ironically, in addition of being on the leftists "black list" for condemning Communism, I’m also blacklisted by the… aryan/fascist movements. The latter don’t like that I am in favour of immigration. It seems like I have "the right mix" of enemies. I did not feel threatened by these extremists’ name-calling, however the Police have been watching me carefully for a while.
G.G.: What was the reaction from the Eastern European parliamentarians, already members of the European Union, to your recommendation? Were they predominantly supportive, or against this recommendation? What did that say to you?
G.L: Actually, colleagues from Eastern Europe, some of them socialists notwithstanding, voted for my recommendation. On the other hand, for some strange reason, both Labor from Great Britain, as well as, social democrats from Finland, voted against it. Also, the whole Greek delegation voted against it. Their motivations to oppose this might be due to mercantilist, hideous reasons, or due to actual ideological conviction to support Communism.
G.G.: In Eastern Moldova (Transnistria), Russia still maintains an occupation army, despite Moscow’s commitment that they would withdraw it by 1996. A group of ethnic Romanians are still kept behind bars for simply wanting to speak Romanian (which the Russians call ‘Moldavian’) in their country. What is it that the E.U. can do in terms of leverage, in order to pressure Russia into respecting sovereign nations and their rights?
G.L.: From my perspective, things are going backwards in Russia. However, some EU countries seem more concerned about buying cheap gas and oil than to promote human rights.
G.G.: Eastern Europe (including Central Europe) has a preponderance of (neo)communist politicians in power, many of whom have literally had their parents torture and kill people by the thousands. Since there was never a Nuremberg Trial for Communism, these politicians are now still leading their countries. What kind of justice can be done to the victims of communism?
G.L: Regarding the neo communist politicians, for me, it is strange that they get (re)elected, but apparently they must be liked by their voters. With regard to justice for the victims of communism, we still have to be working on that.
G.G.: Earlier this year, the Romanian president Traian Basescu, was asked to condemn communism and he stated that he had to have a commission "evaluate" the evidence first, in order to make an informed decision. What kind of evidence did you have that the Romanian president didn’t posses, to convince you about the necessity of condemning this most atrocious system of inhumanity of all times?
G.L: I do not have any idea about why this information is "lacking" to the Romanian president. But to me, there is more than enough evidence in public sources, (and has been for decades), about communist atrocities. I see no need for a commission to look into the "if" there is evidence; however, I could suggest a commission that could investigate further into secret archives, in Romania’s Securitate records, so that Romania could bring to trial some communist criminals into its courts.
G.G.: Many American corporations have been doing sweet deals with the tyrannical Chinese Communist governments of the pre and post Tianamen Square massacre of 1989. Tell us a little bit about the reality of Chinese Communist society and whether these corporate-communist deals are benefiting the Chinese population at large.
G.L.: Not only American companies are responsible of this, but also European ones. I do not think isolation of China is a good way of promoting the downfall of the Chinese Communist Party, instead I suggest open exchange, BUT without Lenin’s "useful idiots". There have been too many naïve visitors in China. Lots of trade and student exchange, tourism etc., will help change things in China. We also must always be observant, in order to condemn promptly organ harvesting and forced labor. Also, we should be aware that China’s GNP growth is creating an all together catastrophic environmental disaster. In China, I predict a change towards democracy within 4 years.
G.G.: What do you think are the reparatory measures that England/USA have to make for Yalta? That the Russians (and their Eastern European acolytes) have to make for Communist oppression? And that the Communist/Leftist governments of the EU nations have to make for misleading and justifying the Communist crimes, to millions of people in their own countries?
G.L.: I suggest an open debate, continuously upgrading the teaching of recent history in schools, as well as, giving at least moral restitution to the victims and their families.
G.G.: What do you think future generations are going to say to this generation, for being either indifferent, or for actively supporting Communism, despite the Communist holocausts?
G.L.: That this generation was naive.
G.G.: How can our readers get involved in educating and lobbying European and American politicians, on the importance of an official condemnation of Communism?
G.L.: Keep the debate alive, never let the politicians forget.
G.G.: What are your future professional plans?
G.L.: Keep up the work against all kinds of repressive regimes, whether they are ideological, religious, or just in the form of evil power.
G.G.: How may our readers contact you?
G.L.: E-mailing me at:
[email protected] is the easiest way.
G.G.: Thank you, for your time and we wish you a lot of SUCCESS in these future endeavours!
G.L.: Thank you too and best thoughts!
———–
This interview in Romanian
A new football club has earned a leading place in the UEFA Champions League groups and starred in the headlines of worldwide football news yesterday. The Football Club Sheriff Tiraspol claimed a win with the score 2-1 against Real Madrid on the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium in Madrid. That made Sheriff Tiraspol the leader in Group D of the Champions League, including the football club in the groups of the most important European interclub competition for the first time ever.
International media outlets called it a miracle, a shock and a historic event, while strongly emphasizing the origin of the team and the existing political conflict between the two banks of the Dniester. “Football club from a pro-Russian separatist enclave in Moldova pulls off one of the greatest upsets in Champions League history,” claimed the news portals. “Sheriff crushed Real!” they said.
Moldovans made a big fuss out of it on social media, splitting into two groups: those who praised the team and the Republic of Moldova for making history and those who declared that the football club and their merits belong to Transnistria – a problematic breakaway region that claims to be a separate country.
Both groups are right and not right at the same time, as there is a bunch of ethical, political, social and practical matters that need to be considered.
Is it Moldova?
First of all, every Moldovan either from the right or left bank of Dniester (Transnistria) is free to identify himself with this achievement or not to do so, said Vitalie Spranceana, a sociologist, blogger, journalist and urban activist. According to him, boycotting the football club for being a separatist team is wrong.
At the same time, “it’s an illusion to think that territory matters when it comes to football clubs,” Spranceana claimed. “Big teams, the ones included in the Champions League, have long lost their connection both with the countries in which they operate, and with the cities in which they appeared and to which they linked their history. […] In the age of globalized commercial football, teams, including the so-called local ones, are nothing more than global traveling commercial circuses, incidentally linked to cities, but more closely linked to all sorts of dirty, semi-dirty and cleaner cash flows.”
What is more important in this case is the consistency, not so much of citizens, as of politicians from the government who have “no right to celebrate the success of separatism,” as they represent “the national interests, not the personal or collective pleasures of certain segments of the population,” believes the political expert Dionis Cenusa. The victory of FC Sheriff encourages Transnistrian separatism, which receives validation now, he also stated.
“I don’t know how it happens that the “proud Moldovans who chose democracy”, in their enthusiasm for Sheriff Tiraspol’s victory over Real Madrid, forget the need for total and unconditional withdrawal of Russian troops from Transnistria!” declared the journalist Vitalie Ciobanu.
Nowadays, FC Sheriff Tiraspol has no other choice than to represent Moldova internationally. For many years, the team used the Moldovan Football Federation in order to be able to participate in championships, including international ones. That is because the region remains unrecognised by the international community. However, the club’s victory is presented as that of Transnistria within the region, without any reference to the Republic of Moldova, its separatist character being applied in this case especially.
Is it a victory?
In fact, FC Sheriff Tiraspol joining the Champions League is a huge image breakthrough for the Transnistrian region, as the journalist Madalin Necsutu claimed. It is the success of the Tiraspol Club oligarchic patrons. From the practical point of view, FC Sheriff Tiraspol is a sports entity that serves its own interests and the interests of its owners, being dependent on the money invested by Tiraspol (but not only) oligarchs.
Here comes the real dilemma: the Transnistrian team, which is generously funded by money received from corruption schemes and money laundering, is waging an unequal fight with the rest of the Moldovan football clubs, the journalist also declared. The Tiraspol team is about to raise 15.6 million euro for reaching the Champions League groups and the amounts increase depending on their future performance. According to Necsutu, these money will go directly on the account of the club, not to the Moldovan Football Federation, creating an even bigger gab between FC Sheriff and other football clubs from Moldova who have much more modest financial possibilities.
“I do not see anything useful for Moldovan football, not a single Moldovan player is part of FC Sheriff Tiraspol. I do not see anything beneficial for the Moldovan Football Federation or any national team.”
Is it only about football?
FC Sheriff Tiraspol, with a total estimated value of 12.8 million euros, is controlled by Victor Gusan and Ilya Kazmala, being part of Sheriff Holding – a company that controls the trade of wholesale, retail food, fuels and medicine by having monopolies on these markets in Transnistria. The holding carries out car trading activities, but also operates in the field of construction and real estate. Gusan’s people also hold all of the main leadership offices in the breakaway region, from Parliament to the Prime Minister’s seat or the Presidency.
The football club is supported by a holding alleged of smuggling, corruption, money laundering and organised crime. Moldovan media outlets published investigations about the signals regarding the Sheriff’s holding involvement in the vote mobilization and remuneration of citizens on the left bank of the Dniester who participated in the snap parliamentary elections this summer and who were eager to vote for the pro-Russian socialist-communist bloc.
Considering the above, there is a great probability that the Republic of Moldova will still be represented by a football club that is not identified as being Moldovan, being funded from obscure money, growing in power and promoting the Transnistrian conflict in the future as well.
Photo: unknown
Prime Minister of the Republic of Moldova, Natalia Gavrilita, together with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nicu Popescu, pay an official visit to Brussels, between September 27-28, being invited by High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell Fontelles.
Today, Prime Minister had a meeting with Charles Michel, President of the European Council. The Moldovan PM thanked the senior European official for the support of the institution in strengthening democratic processes, reforming the judiciary and state institutions, economic recovery and job creation, as well as increasing citizens’ welfare. Natalia Gavrilita expressed her confidence that the current visit laid the foundations for boosting relations between the Republic of Moldova and the European Union, so that, in the next period, it would be possible to advance high-level dialogues on security, justice and energy. Officials also exchanged views on priorities for the Eastern Partnership Summit, to be held in December.
“The EU is open to continue to support the Republic of Moldova and the ambitious reform agenda it proposes. Moldova is an important and priority partner for us,” said Charles Michel.
Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita also met with Paolo Gentiloni, European Commissioner for Economy, expressing her gratitude for the support received through the OMNIBUS macro-financial assistance program. The two officials discussed the need to advance the recovery of money from bank fraud, to strengthen sustainable mechanisms for supporting small and medium-sized enterprises in Moldova, and to standardize the customs and taxes as one of the main conditions for deepening cooperation with the EU in this field.
Additionally, Prime Minister spoke about the importance of the Eastern Partnership and the Deep Free Trade Agreement, noting that the Government’s policies are aimed at developing an economic model aligned with the European economic model, focused on digitalization, energy efficiency and the green economy.
A common press release of the Moldovan Prime Minister with High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, Josep Borrell Fontelles, took place today, where the agenda of Moldova’s reforms and the main priorities to focus on in the coming months were presented: judiciary reform; fighting COVID-19 pandemic; promoting economic recovery and conditions for growth and job creation; strengthening state institutions and resilience of the country.
“I am here to relaunch the dialogue between my country and the European Union. Our partnership is strong, but I believe there is room for even deeper cooperation and stronger political, economic and sectoral ties. I am convinced that this partnership is the key to the prosperity of our country and I hope that we will continue to strengthen cooperation.”
The Moldovan delegation met Didier Reynders, European Commissioner for Justice. Tomorrow, there are scheduled common meetings with Oliver Varhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement, Adina Valean, European Commissioner for Transport and Kadri Simson, European Commissioner for Energy.
Prime Minister will also attend a public event, along with Katarina Mathernova, Deputy Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations.
Photo: gov.md
Politics
Promo-LEX about Maia Sandu’s UN speech: The president must insist on appointing a rapporteur to monitor the situation of human rights in Transnistria
The President of the Republic of Moldova, Maia Sandu, pays an official visit to New York, USA, between September 21-22. There, she participates in the work of the United Nations General Assembly. According to a press release of the President’s Office, the official will deliver a speech at the tribune of the United Nations.
In this context, the Promo-LEX Association suggested the president to request the appointment of a special rapporteur in order to monitor the situation of human rights in the Transnistrian region. According to Promo-LEX, the responsibility for human rights violations in the Transnistrian region arises as a result of the Russian Federation’s military, economic and political control over the Tiraspol regime.
“We consider it imperative to insist on the observance of the international commitments assumed by the Russian Federation regarding the withdrawal of the armed forces and ammunition from the territory of the country,” the representatives of Promo-LEX stated. They consider the speech before the UN an opportunity “to demand the observance of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the Russian Federation with reference to this territory which is in its full control.”
“It is important to remember about the numerous cases of murder, torture, ill-treatment, forced enlistment in illegal military structures, the application of pseudo-justice in the Transnistrian region, all carried out under the tacit agreement of the Russian Federation. These findings stem from dozens of rulings and decisions issued by the European Court of Human Rights, which found that Russia is responsible for human rights violations in the region.”
The association representatives expressed their hope that the president of the country would give priority to issues related to the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region and would call on relevant international actors to contribute to guaranteeing fundamental human rights and freedoms throughout Moldova.
They asked Maia Sandu to insist on the observance of the obligation to evacuate the ammunition and the military units of the Russian Federation from the territory of the Republic of Moldova, to publicly support the need for the Russian Federation to implement the ECtHR rulings on human rights violations in the Transnistrian region, and to request the appointment of an UN Human Rights Council special rapporteur to monitor the human rights situation in the Transnistrian region of the Republic of Moldova.
**
The Promo-LEX Association concluded that 14 out of 25 actions planned within the National Action Plan for the years 2018–2022 concerning respecting human rights in Transnistria were not carried out by the responsible authorities.
The association expressed its concern and mentioned that there are a large number of delays in the planned results. “There is a lack of communication and coordination between the designated institutions, which do not yet have a common vision of interaction for the implementation of the plan.”
Promo-LEX requested the Government of the Republic of Moldova to re-assess the reported activities and to take urgent measures, “which would exclude superficial implementation of future activities and increase the level of accountability of the authorities.”
Photo: peacekeeping.un.org
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