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President Klaus Iohannis voices worries over investigation of communist crimes
President Klaus Iohannis on Monday voiced worries over what he said is investigation of communist crimes being stymied, calling on the decision makers to take the necessary measures.
"The past should be an alarm for today's youth, while justice action is fundamental in this sense. I am worried about investigation of communist crimes being stymied after years of progress. Continuing the investigations should be a priority with the organisations entitled by law and the decision makers to take measures to unblock the situation," said Iohannis.
He added that the crimes in the December 1989 Revolution in Romania should not go unpunished.
He said that signals have emerged lately that some people call into question or trivialise the sacrifice and tragedy of the victims of the communist regime, adding that a new legislation is needed.
"Consequently, we need legislation that will forbid any form of denying communist crimes. Such a law should also penalise any tendency toward the articulation of personal cults guilty of promoting abuses along political lines under communism. Only that way can we prove that we have understood the drama of our totalitarian past and that we defend the guiding principles of the rule of law," said Iohannis.
He reasserted support for the opening in Romania of a national museum of communism.
"Today's generations need to be educated in the spirit of truth. The young people must know that the communist regime trivialised death and suffering while systematically denying citizens' rights and freedoms and committed numerous abuses in the name of a criminal utopia. We cannot allow the repeat of such tragic slippages, irrespective of their form," said Iohannis.
The President on Monday attended the inauguration of the "Aripi" (Wings) monument in the Free Press Square of Bucharest City dedicated to the anti-communist resistance.
The same day, President Klaus Iohannis on Monday signed a decree decorating former political prisoners.
The Presidential Administration says that in recognition of high moral conduct and dignity in fighting for democracy at the price of own freedom, for the courage to opposite the totalitarian communist regime, Romania's President Klaus Iohannis has bestowed Faithful Service National Order in rank of Cavalier on Nicolae Tomaziu, Elena Ion-Arnautoiu, Nicolae Ciurica and Dumitru Moldovan.
The decree was signed as part of the inauguration on Monday in Bucharest of the "Aripi" (Wings) memorial dedicated to the fighters in the anti-communist resistance (1945 - 1989).
The "Aripi" (Wings) monument in the Free Press Square of Bucharest City dedicated to the anti-communist resistance in Romania and Moldova, 1945-1989, was inaugurated on Monday in the presence of Romanian and foreign officials, including Romania's President Klaus Iohannis.
Invited to the unveiling and consecration of the monument were officials of the INTER-ASSO international association of former political prisoners from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, Croatia, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Slovakia and Slovenia.
The over 20-m high stainless steel monument "Aripi"depicting three wings weighs over 100 tonnes. It is the work of sculptor Mihai Buculei, whose father was a political prisoner at Aiud.