The Prime Minister’s Address in a Commemorative Event at the Salaspils Memorial 8 May 2016
Honourable Chairman of the Salaspils County Council,
Excellencies,
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today in Latvia, in countries of Europe, and in other parts of the world, we commemorate those who perished during World War II.
8 May has forever become a day of remembrance of the defeat of Nazism and of the victims of World War II.
Here, at the site of the Nazi camp in Salaspils, we promise to commemorate and remember the crimes that occurred during World War II, and commit to prevent crimes in the future.
It ruined, it destroyed, and it murdered. States and nations were humiliated; people were massacred and even erased from the surface of the globe. Salaspils is a reminder of these tragic past crimes and an encouragement to remember and prevent them.
World War II, which ended on 8 May 71 years ago, unfortunately, brought neither freedom nor peace for Latvia and a number of European countries. It was followed by many years of captivity.
This is the date when a new and better life began in many countries around the world, while in Latvia one occupation was replaced by another - the Soviet occupation, which was not a bit more humane than the previous one.
The new despots brutally repressed any expression of freedom. Even a word uttered could destroy a person. The people of Latvia restored their country and their freedom, by getting rid of foreign domination in the ¹990s. It was victory of light over darkness!
The Salaspils camp was established in 1941 in Nazi-occupied Latvia. There, people were deprived of freedom; they were humiliated and often murdered. It was a place of suffering established by a foreign power.
We are pleased with the thorough, academic study of the history of the Salaspils camp. It is an evidence-based, non-partisan study that dispels the myths, fictions and lies generated by the Soviet regime.
There is no doubt that the Salaspils camp was a place of suffering. Several thousand innocent people - Jews, Latvians, Russians, Poles and Belarusian children were held in the camp and many others were massacred there.
The members of the Latvian National Resistance Movement were imprisoned in the Salaspils camp. Additionally, Konstantīns Čakste, member of the Latvian Central Council, was imprisoned in the camp. The Latvian legionnaires, as well as others who resisted the German occupying power, for example, the physician and writer Miervaldis Birze, were imprisoned there for disciplinary offences.
This memorial for remembrance of the victims of the Salaspils camp was opened in 1967.
Let me express my gratitude to the Salaspils local government, which has maintained the monument and continues to take care of it. It is not an easy job, but it is very necessary for Latvia. We must communicate the historical truth unambiguously and as objectively as possible. The truth is the most powerful weapon!
Even today, the atmosphere in Europe and across the world is tense. Innocent people are dying in conflicts and terrorist attacks. Here we must mention the tragic events in the Middle East, the continuous war in Syria, the acts of terrorism in the capital cities of Europe. The events in the east of Ukraine also show that the aggressors have not understood anything and have learnt nothing from the history.
On behalf of the victims of World War II and all victims since, I urge all to do their utmost with a view to prevent the recurrence of hatred and horrors of war.
We must all be courageous and honest to deal with those who disdain democracy, who violate human rights and the rule of law. We must stand up for the European core values, which are a cornerstone of the future of our country and its people.
Let us bow our heads in memory of the victims of World War II!
Prime Minister of Latvia
Māris Kučinskis
Andrejs Vaivars
Press Secretary to the Prime Minister
Phone:29228678
E-mail: Andrejs.Vaivars@mk.gov.lv