You are here: 2004 / Plenary Sessions / Plenary Session 2 / Address by the Minister of Population and Ethnnic Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, H.E. Paul-Eerik Rummo
	Participants Countries and organizations Conference documentation Conference programme				Address by th Minister of State of Ireland, John Browne Address by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Croatia, H.E. Miomir Zuzul Address by the Minister of Justice and Constitutional Development of South Africa, Penuell Mpapa Maduna Address by the Minister of State at the Federal Foreign Office of the Republic of Germany, H.E. Kerstin Müller Address by the Minister of Human Rights of the Kingdom of Morocco, H.E. Mohammed Aujjar Address by the Minister for National Minorities of the Russian Federation, H.E. Vladimir Zorin Address by the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State, United Kingdom, Bill Rammell Address by the Ambassador of War Crimes Issues of the USA, Pierre-Richard Prosper Address by the Director of the Department for the Jewish Diaspora at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Israel, Nimrod Barkan Address by the Minister of Justice of Hungary, Péter Bárándy Address by the Danish minister of Refugee, Immigration and Integration Affairs, Bertel Haarder Address by the Chief of the Cabinet of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Zeljana Zovko Address by the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Slovenia, H.E. Ivan Bizjak Address by the Minister of Population and Ethnnic Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, H.E. Paul-Eerik Rummo Address by the Minister for European Affairs of the Republic of Bulgaria, Meglena Kuneva Address by the Minister of Justice and Ecclesiastical Affairs of Iceland, H.E. Björn Bjarnason Address by the Minister of Labour and Social Insurance of the Republic of Cyprus, Iacovos Keravnos Address by the Minister of Population and Ethnnic Affairs of the Republic of Estonia, H.E. Paul-Eerik Rummo Rummo, Paul-Eerik Address by H.E. Paul-Eerik Rummo, Minister of Population and Ethnic Affairs of the Republic of Estonia Mr. Chairman/ Madame Chairperson Distinguished Guests, Dear Colleagues, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is a great honour for me to be here in Stockholm addressing a conference on a matter of such high importance and grave implications as genocide. I am also very happy that our very close neighbour, Sweden, by arranging already a fourth high level forum in Stockholm where the questions of Holocaust, intolerance, truth, justice and reconciliation have been addressed, has taken moral leadership in raising public awareness about past atrocities as well as in the work to get the International Community more intensively involved in trying to prevent the past from reoccurring. The events of the Second World War as well as in the Balkans show that the politics of genocide constitute a planned, conscious strategy thought out and implemented by powerful people close to national or regional power holders and governments, that usually can be detected well ahead if enough attention would be paid. Therefore international vigilance and pressure on governments is understandably very important, as well as is focus on decisive enforcement of international instruments like UN Security Council resolutions, to prevent a situation for individuals and specific groups from evolving to a point of no return. However, equally important in prevention are the international instruments that will come to use after the fact. The possible perpetrators must know that they will be brought to justice. We have the experience of ad hoc tribunals but I am also convinced that the ad hoc tribunals, effective and useful tools as they are, alone are not enough. Therefore the establishment of fully operational International Criminal Court is of great importance in the process of establishing an international environment where there will be no impunity from prosecution for crimes against humanity. Developments in means of communication and changes in global political climate have remarkably enhanced opportunities to speak out freely and openly, including expressing opinions about genocide. This freedom of flow of information and opinions is crucial in prevention. However, we must also take note that freedom should never come without responsibility. Globalisation brings us powerful media channels that can influence, or at worst case, manipulate the public opinion, including on the topic of genocide. From time to time we see reporting where human suffering is being subjugated to political or mercantile purposes. In the worst case of genocide millions of human lives are lost, as was the case with the worst full-scale direct genocide – the Holocaust. Or in the case of the famine caused by communist policies in Ukraine in the 1930’s, which also led to the loss of millions of lives through deliberate state policy and could therefore be referred to as genocide. It is obvious that events of this scope reach the world’s attention. This however should not lead to neglecting cases of genocide against small nations, where much smaller number of casualties can mean full annihilation. Yet, sadly, too often small nation’s expression of their concerns goes unnoticed by the international community. The situation of minorities in Iraq can be referred to in this respect. Saddam Hussein decided that ethnic groups whom he considered disloyal and who inhabited a strategically important territory should simply be eradicated. I am convinced that we, the international community helping to establish democracy in Iraq, will also have to address the results of the genocide against the minorities in Iraq. It is the responsibility of conferences like this to help to keep the fate of small or remote nations, out of immediate media spotlight, in focus too. Estonia has in close cooperation with other states investigated thoroughly the crimes against humanity, irrespective of which regime’s supporters conducted those crimes. The final report of the Estonian International Commission for Investigating Crimes against Humanity has been of great importance in this respect and the Government of Estonia is committed to continue such investigations. The international community has long ago condemned Nazism. But it still does not have a clear picture of the Communist crimes; I think it should remain as our task to continuously investigate and condemn these crimes too. Ladies and gentlemen, Legal assessment of crimes against humanity, including genocide, is very important and should never be dominated by political agenda. Only then will it be possible to approach the topic in an objective, competent and truly humanist manner. The same applies to the historical perspective, assessing the events of the past. Assessing, studying history and educating public is equally important when planning today's activities to advance reconciliation, overcome the results of genocide and avoid its recurrence anywhere in the world. Today’s forum in Stockholm is the final one in the series of forums organised by the Swedish Government on these important topics. It is our sincere hope that all these questions will remain on the agenda of different international forums and will be further paid attention to by the international community. Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your attention. >> Back to top				Introduction Opening Session Plenary Sessions Plenary Session 1 Plenary Session 2 Plenary Session 3 Plenary Session 4 Workshops, Panels and Seminars Closing Session and Declarations Other Activities
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