In his address in the Riga Castle and by the Freedom Monument, President Levits underlined that genocide and crimes against humanity committed by communist regime have no statute of limitations. Current generations have the moral duty to remember and commemorate Latvians who fell victim to crimes of Soviet occupation in 1941. ‘Restoration of independent and democratic Latvia was the most coveted dream of Latvians deported on 14 June. And we have achieved it. Justice and truth have prevailed. Our values have defeated the evil and immoral regime. We should never forget that. We should constantly remind ourselves that,’ said Egils Levits.
Address of the President of Latvia, Egils Levits, to deportees who returned from Siberia and pupils who took part in ‘Children of Siberia’ competition for schools
Good afternoon,
Welcome to Riga Castle,
Like every year, on 14 June we remember everyone who suffered deportation in 1941. Soviet mass deportations ruined lives of many Latvians. Family members were separated forever. Innocent people perished.
It was a crime of magnitude, and the whole world recognises that. You, of course, know it too well. Some of you went through this experience yourself and can attest to experiences of your parents, relatives or neighbours. And it is very important to constantly remind everyone that these crimes have no statute of limitations.
Generations that have been deported have the most vivid recollections of those dreadful moments. Every voice, every life story matters. Continuity of memories becomes more and more valuable with time. Generational closeness can only be achieved if next generations value life experiences of their predecessors, when memories are treasured, when continuity at the family and national level is ensured.
Essay competition organised by ‘Children of Siberia’ Foundation establishes a strong intergenerational bond, although some essays give accounts of even four generations back, describing experiences of great-grandparents who were deported as little children.
Suffering and experiences of our ancestors give us a different perspective on today’s turbulences and challenges. Our life is a lot easier and we live in a relatively safe world, whereas deportees embody an admirable toughness, self-abnegation, will to live and mental strength that helped them overcome harsh and severe conditions.
Dream of the scorned and detested about revival of Latvia, about free Latvia rising again, has come true.
I would like to conclude with an excerpt of Roberts Rūdolfs Apinis essay submitted for this competition. ‘Writing the essay, I caught myself thinking whether we truly appreciate the price of national independence. I thought to myself, ‘What can we, the young generation, do for Latvia, what kind of sacrifice would we be able to make?’ Are we really doing everything we can for our country, ourselves and our families, and honouring the legacy of our grandparents? I started thinking about my life. What should we do to make sure our children and grandchildren can still live in free and independent Latvia hundred years from now?’
Let us respect our history and build future Latvia together!
Thank you!
Remarks by the President of Latvia, Egils Levits, at the Freedom Monument
Good afternoon,
We commemorate our fellow-countrymen and women, who fell victim to crimes committed by Soviet occupation regime in 1941, every year on this date. These victims were selected in a very carefully calculated manner, wiping out those who built free Latvia. Soviet occupation regime used deportations to break the spirit of the Latvian nation, making sure it never rises again and never attempts to regain its national independence.
We commemorate all Latvians, including native Latvians and Latvians of different ethnic origins. Everyone who was driven from their home, their homeland and sent into exile. We commemorate all those who died and whose lives were broken by deportations. We honour those who survived and passed these occupation stories to us.
Stories about a time when Latvia was ruled by a foreign power and unable to protect its people.
But, despite their exile to Siberia and imminent death, and all the hardship of everyday existence, deportees never stopped believing in revival of free Latvia.
It is the moral duty of current generations to keep the memory of victims of crimes committed by soviet regime in their families and on the national level. These crimes have no statute of limitations.
Tragic fate of victims of soviet repressions solidified our determination to restore Latvia’s independence.
Restoration of independent and democratic Latvia was the most coveted dream of Latvians deported on 14 June. And we have achieved it. Justice and truth have prevailed. Our values have defeated the evil and immoral regime. We should never forget that. We should constantly remind that to ourselves.
Our nation’s historic experience is a great source of strength we need to overcome today’s challenges, to put today’s problems in the perspective of much tougher past experiences our parents and grandparents went through.
Let us keep nurturing Latvia to fulfil the dreams of those whom we are remembering and paying tribute to today.
