Baltic States common nomination „The Baltic Way – Human Chain Linking Three States in Their Drive for Freedom” - inscribed on the International Register of UNESCO Memory of the World programme
The document summarizes the 1956 Hungarian Revolution against Soviet domination. It began as student demonstrations in Budapest that grew larger. The government withdrew from the Warsaw Pact and declared free elections. On November 4th, the Soviet Union sent tanks into Budapest to reassert control. Many Hungarians were killed and Budapest was damaged. Imre Nagy, who had become leader, was arrested and later hanged in Moscow, sending the message that Soviet control would not be challenged.
The Warsaw Pact was a post-World War II military alliance between the Soviet Union and Eastern European communist countries that was established in 1955 in Warsaw, Poland. It required member states to defend each other in response to an attack and recognized Soviet dominance over Eastern Europe. The Pact integrated the armed forces of Eastern Bloc countries under unified Soviet command and provided a counterbalance to NATO during the Cold War.
The Commonwealth of Nations is an intergovernmental organization of 54 independent member states. It was formerly known as the British Commonwealth. Its main objectives are to promote democracy, human rights, good governance, rule of law, individual liberty, equality, free trade, international relations, and world peace. Queen Elizabeth II has been the Head of the Commonwealth since 1952. The organization aims to facilitate cooperation among member states.
The document summarizes the history and structure of the Commonwealth of Nations. It began in the late 19th century as Britain's colonies gained independence and became dominions with self-government. Over time, declarations established the modern Commonwealth as a voluntary association of equal members united by common values of democracy, human rights, and rule of law. The Commonwealth now includes 53 member countries with over 1.7 billion people. While originally centered around Britain, most members are now republics. The Commonwealth is held together by shared history, language, and democratic traditions, and works to promote prosperity, democracy and international cooperation among its diverse members.
This Hungary Power Point highlights these facts and much more including: 16 Points on General Information, 13 Points on Family Life, 14 Points on Food, 16 Points on Food Etiquette, 6 Points on Social Etiquette, 28 Points on Business Etiquette, and 19 Points on Trivia.
The document discusses the history and types of international organizations. It describes how the first international organization was the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine established in 1815 after the Congress of Vienna. The two main types of international organizations are international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) composed of sovereign states. Some key organizations mentioned include the League of Nations formed after WWI, the United Nations formed after WWII, and the European Union.
Global politics involves the study of political systems across states and non-state actors. There are typically four main types of political systems: (1) monarchies, (2) aristocracies, (3) republics, and (4) theocracies. Legitimate forms of government include systems that rule in the interest of all citizens, while corrupt forms rule in the self-interest of a select few. The three branches of government that separate powers are the legislature, executive, and judiciary. A key aspect of sovereignty is that states have supreme internal authority over domestic affairs within their borders, and independence from external interference in international affairs.
The document provides information about the Czech Republic, including:
- It has a population of 10.5 million citizens and was formed on January 1, 1993, covering a total area of 78,866 square kilometers.
- The official language is Czech, with ethnic minorities including Slovakian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Vietnamese people. Around 32% of the population is Catholic, 59% are atheist, and 8.8% follow other religions.
- Czech culture is characterized by being reserved, distrustful, polite, with a sense of humor and tendency to avoid confrontation.
The document summarizes the 1956 Hungarian Revolution against Soviet domination. It began as student demonstrations in Budapest that grew larger. The government withdrew from the Warsaw Pact and declared free elections. On November 4th, the Soviet Union sent tanks into Budapest to reassert control. Many Hungarians were killed and Budapest was damaged. Imre Nagy, who had become leader, was arrested and later hanged in Moscow, sending the message that Soviet control would not be challenged.
The Warsaw Pact was a post-World War II military alliance between the Soviet Union and Eastern European communist countries that was established in 1955 in Warsaw, Poland. It required member states to defend each other in response to an attack and recognized Soviet dominance over Eastern Europe. The Pact integrated the armed forces of Eastern Bloc countries under unified Soviet command and provided a counterbalance to NATO during the Cold War.
The Commonwealth of Nations is an intergovernmental organization of 54 independent member states. It was formerly known as the British Commonwealth. Its main objectives are to promote democracy, human rights, good governance, rule of law, individual liberty, equality, free trade, international relations, and world peace. Queen Elizabeth II has been the Head of the Commonwealth since 1952. The organization aims to facilitate cooperation among member states.
The document summarizes the history and structure of the Commonwealth of Nations. It began in the late 19th century as Britain's colonies gained independence and became dominions with self-government. Over time, declarations established the modern Commonwealth as a voluntary association of equal members united by common values of democracy, human rights, and rule of law. The Commonwealth now includes 53 member countries with over 1.7 billion people. While originally centered around Britain, most members are now republics. The Commonwealth is held together by shared history, language, and democratic traditions, and works to promote prosperity, democracy and international cooperation among its diverse members.
This Hungary Power Point highlights these facts and much more including: 16 Points on General Information, 13 Points on Family Life, 14 Points on Food, 16 Points on Food Etiquette, 6 Points on Social Etiquette, 28 Points on Business Etiquette, and 19 Points on Trivia.
The document discusses the history and types of international organizations. It describes how the first international organization was the Central Commission for Navigation on the Rhine established in 1815 after the Congress of Vienna. The two main types of international organizations are international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and inter-governmental organizations (IGOs) composed of sovereign states. Some key organizations mentioned include the League of Nations formed after WWI, the United Nations formed after WWII, and the European Union.
Global politics involves the study of political systems across states and non-state actors. There are typically four main types of political systems: (1) monarchies, (2) aristocracies, (3) republics, and (4) theocracies. Legitimate forms of government include systems that rule in the interest of all citizens, while corrupt forms rule in the self-interest of a select few. The three branches of government that separate powers are the legislature, executive, and judiciary. A key aspect of sovereignty is that states have supreme internal authority over domestic affairs within their borders, and independence from external interference in international affairs.
The document provides information about the Czech Republic, including:
- It has a population of 10.5 million citizens and was formed on January 1, 1993, covering a total area of 78,866 square kilometers.
- The official language is Czech, with ethnic minorities including Slovakian, Ukrainian, Polish, and Vietnamese people. Around 32% of the population is Catholic, 59% are atheist, and 8.8% follow other religions.
- Czech culture is characterized by being reserved, distrustful, polite, with a sense of humor and tendency to avoid confrontation.
1) The Great Leap Forward failed in the late 1950s, resulting in a massive famine that killed over 20 million people.
2) In the early 1960s, Mao lost some power and moderates implemented more realistic economic policies to address the famine.
3) In the mid-1960s, Mao launched the Cultural Revolution to remove capitalist and traditional influences and consolidate his power, forming the Red Guards student militia who spread violence and chaos.
4) By the late 1960s, order was restored but the Cultural Revolution continued political turmoil and cost many young people their education. Mao remained in power until his death in 1976.
The document discusses Samuel Huntington's theory of the clash of civilizations, focusing on the clash between Western and Islamic civilizations. It summarizes that Huntington argued civilizations are distinguished by factors like religion, and conflicts between civilizations will often be caused by religious differences. It then discusses how the 9/11 attacks highlighted the clash between the secular West and religious East. After 9/11, Islam became seen as a threat in the West, leading to Islamophobia and hate crimes against Muslims. The document concludes that multiculturalism is doomed to fail due to the irreconcilable differences between Western secularism and Eastern religious traditions.
The document provides an overview of culture and traditions in the Czech Republic. It discusses the country's flag, sports, currency, population demographics, largest cities, atheism rates, architectural styles, famous composers, landmarks like Prague Castle and Charles Bridge, religious holidays, food and drink traditions including beer and coffee, name days, weddings, and more. The culture is shaped by influences from Gothic, Roman, Baroque, Renaissance, and Art Nouveau styles as well as religious and political motifs.
Taha Hussein was one of the most influential Egyptian intellectual figures and is considered the father of Egyptian modernism. He believed Egypt belonged to the wider Mediterranean civilization that includes Greece, Italy, and France. Gamal Abdel Nasser modernized Egypt's education system and promoted pan-Arabism and anti-colonial ideology, which helped restore Arab pride. The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in 1928, called for a return to original Islam and believed the Arab world had been corrupted by Western influences. They often conflicted with Nasser and an assassination attempt against him in 1954 led to their full repression. Sayyed Qutb argued the Quran and Hadith provide principles for how Muslims should live and redefined important Islamic
The Thirty Years' War ended in 1648 with the Peace of Westphalia, which established new political boundaries and order in Europe. It affirmed that German princes could determine the religion of their territories and nullified the Edict of Restitution. The Peace of Westphalia also established the sovereignty of states and non-intervention in other states' internal affairs, forming the basis of the modern international system. The war left Germany fragmented politically and economically weakened, while France emerged as the dominant power in Europe.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to extensively explore and establish trade relationships along the west coast of Africa between the 15th and 16th centuries. They sought to circumvent Arab control of trade routes and gain access to gold and other resources. Key events included establishing coastal forts and trading posts, Diaz rounding the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, and da Gama's voyage connecting Europe and India around the Cape in 1497-1499. The Dutch later supplanted Portuguese control over sea trade and began regularly rounding the Cape of Good Hope in the 16th century to establish resupply stations for trade with Asia.
Brian Mulroney became prime minister in 1984 and faced a large federal debt. He pursued free trade agreements but the economy struggled and unemployment rose. Jean Chretien became prime minister in 1993 and balanced the budget by 1998. New political parties like the Bloc Quebecois and Reform Party emerged representing Quebec separatism and Western Canadian interests. The economy shifted to services and inequality grew, though free trade with the US and Mexico under NAFTA was meant to benefit businesses.
United nations security council presentationSaudMalik10
This document summarizes information about the United Nations Security Council (UNSC):
- The UNSC has 15 members, including 5 permanent members (China, France, Russia, UK, US) who have veto power, and 10 non-permanent members selected for two-year terms.
- The UNSC was formed in 1945 and is the UN body tasked with maintaining international peace and security through actions like investigating disputes, recommending dispute resolution methods, and taking military action against aggressors.
- There is ongoing debate around reforming the UNSC to address issues like regional representation, the veto power of the permanent members, and the categories of membership.
The document discusses the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional organization formed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It is comprised of 12 former Soviet republics, excluding the Baltic states. The CIS was established through agreements signed in 1991 by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Its goals are cooperation in political, economic, environmental, and other domains. The largest members by population and territory are Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. The organization's bodies include the Council of Heads of State, Council of Heads of Government, Council of Foreign Ministers, and others.
Ukrainians are traditionally family-oriented, with multiple generations often living together to help raise children. While older generations had traditional gender roles, modern Ukrainian families now often work together. Ukrainians tend to express emotions freely in private but are less smiley in public, though they form warm relationships. When meeting for business, Ukrainians shake hands firmly with everyone, repeating names, and maintaining eye contact.
NATO was formed in 1949 by the United States in response to fears about Soviet control over Eastern Europe following World War II. It was intended as a defensive alliance between North American and Western European countries. In 1955, the Soviet Union responded by forming the Warsaw Pact, a defensive alliance between Eastern European countries and the Soviet Union, in order to counter NATO's inclusion of West Germany and perceived threat against Soviet control. Both alliances contributed to increased tensions and an arms race between the U.S. and USSR during the Cold War.
This document discusses the history and meaning of antisemitism. It defines antisemitism as prejudice or discrimination against Jews and traces its roots to early Christianity, driven by theological differences and misunderstandings between Christians and Jews. The document outlines some notable historical instances of antisemitic persecution against Jews, such as pogroms in medieval Europe and the Holocaust in the 20th century. It also notes that while the term "antisemitic" refers to hostility toward Jews, it is technically a misnomer since Arabs are also Semites.
The document summarizes the rise of communism in China under Mao Zedong from the 1920s to modern day. Key events include Mao forming the People's Liberation Army in the 1920s to end inequality, his Long March in the 1930s after being driven from power, and declaring the People's Republic of China in 1949 after defeating the Nationalists. Under Mao, China adopted Soviet-style collectivization and 5-year plans, but the Great Leap Forward failed and caused a famine killing millions. The Cultural Revolution purged Chinese culture and society, until Mao's death led to Deng Xiaoping implementing economic reforms. Student protests in 1989 calling for democracy were crushed by the army in Tiananmen Square
Contributions of Indian Muslims to the Ottoman Caliphate and the Turkish NationKhalid Noor Mohammed
Postgraduate Student in the International Islamic University Malaysia, Noor Mohammed Khalid, presents his findings about the phenomenal sacrifices made by the Muslims of the Indian sub-continent to the Ottoman Caliphate, and the Turkish nation, subsequently. The period covered is from 1874-1924
The document summarizes four failures of the United Nations (UNO):
1) The Rwandan genocide in 1994 where over 800,000 Tutsi were killed by Hutus despite the UN being aware of the risks. The UN failed to stop the genocide.
2) The UN's inability to resolve the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan over 70 years later, failing to implement its own resolution calling for a referendum in the region.
3) Allegations in 2005 of UN peacekeepers sexually abusing locals in the Congo and other countries, which senior UN officials tried to ignore to preserve peacekeeping forces.
4) Corruption in the UN's Oil-for-Food program in Iraq,
The document provides information about a group presentation on Iran. It lists the group members and contents to be covered, including an introduction to Iran, its history, flag, language, religion, political and economic systems, and cultural and business norms. Key points are that Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979, its official language is Persian, the majority religion is Shia Islam, and the economy relies heavily on oil exports.
The US established diplomatic relations with Pakistan in 1947. Relations improved under President Eisenhower, with Pakistan seeking military and economic support from the US against threats from India and the Soviet Union. Pakistan joined defense pacts like SEATO and CENTO that aligned it with the West during the Cold War. This provided military and economic aid from the US, but also compromised Pakistan's foreign policy and hurt relations with other countries.
Hungary was occupied by Soviet forces after World War 2 who imposed Communist rule. This led to poverty, repression of freedoms, and the secret police terrorizing citizens. Inspired by reforms in Poland, Hungarians launched a revolution in 1956 against Soviet domination. A new prime minister negotiated the withdrawal of Soviet troops but the USSR later invaded with a large army to reassert control, killing and imprisoning resistors. The revolution demonstrated the Soviets' willingness to use military force to maintain influence over Eastern Europe and the lack of response by Western nations.
Two million people formed a human chain spanning 675.5 kilometers connecting the three Baltic capital cities of Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn on August 23, 1989. This marked the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Known as the Baltic Way, the peaceful protest helped publicize the Baltic cause around the world and symbolized the solidarity of the Baltic peoples.
The document summarizes key events in Lithuania's restoration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It describes how the Reform Movement of Lithuania (Sąjūdis) led the struggle for independence in the late 1980s. It also discusses the Baltic Way protest in 1989, where over 2 million people formed a human chain across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Finally, it provides details of the January Events in 1991 when 14 civilians were killed after Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union.
1) The Great Leap Forward failed in the late 1950s, resulting in a massive famine that killed over 20 million people.
2) In the early 1960s, Mao lost some power and moderates implemented more realistic economic policies to address the famine.
3) In the mid-1960s, Mao launched the Cultural Revolution to remove capitalist and traditional influences and consolidate his power, forming the Red Guards student militia who spread violence and chaos.
4) By the late 1960s, order was restored but the Cultural Revolution continued political turmoil and cost many young people their education. Mao remained in power until his death in 1976.
The document discusses Samuel Huntington's theory of the clash of civilizations, focusing on the clash between Western and Islamic civilizations. It summarizes that Huntington argued civilizations are distinguished by factors like religion, and conflicts between civilizations will often be caused by religious differences. It then discusses how the 9/11 attacks highlighted the clash between the secular West and religious East. After 9/11, Islam became seen as a threat in the West, leading to Islamophobia and hate crimes against Muslims. The document concludes that multiculturalism is doomed to fail due to the irreconcilable differences between Western secularism and Eastern religious traditions.
The document provides an overview of culture and traditions in the Czech Republic. It discusses the country's flag, sports, currency, population demographics, largest cities, atheism rates, architectural styles, famous composers, landmarks like Prague Castle and Charles Bridge, religious holidays, food and drink traditions including beer and coffee, name days, weddings, and more. The culture is shaped by influences from Gothic, Roman, Baroque, Renaissance, and Art Nouveau styles as well as religious and political motifs.
Taha Hussein was one of the most influential Egyptian intellectual figures and is considered the father of Egyptian modernism. He believed Egypt belonged to the wider Mediterranean civilization that includes Greece, Italy, and France. Gamal Abdel Nasser modernized Egypt's education system and promoted pan-Arabism and anti-colonial ideology, which helped restore Arab pride. The Muslim Brotherhood, founded in 1928, called for a return to original Islam and believed the Arab world had been corrupted by Western influences. They often conflicted with Nasser and an assassination attempt against him in 1954 led to their full repression. Sayyed Qutb argued the Quran and Hadith provide principles for how Muslims should live and redefined important Islamic
The Thirty Years' War ended in 1648 with the Peace of Westphalia, which established new political boundaries and order in Europe. It affirmed that German princes could determine the religion of their territories and nullified the Edict of Restitution. The Peace of Westphalia also established the sovereignty of states and non-intervention in other states' internal affairs, forming the basis of the modern international system. The war left Germany fragmented politically and economically weakened, while France emerged as the dominant power in Europe.
The Portuguese were the first Europeans to extensively explore and establish trade relationships along the west coast of Africa between the 15th and 16th centuries. They sought to circumvent Arab control of trade routes and gain access to gold and other resources. Key events included establishing coastal forts and trading posts, Diaz rounding the Cape of Good Hope in 1488, and da Gama's voyage connecting Europe and India around the Cape in 1497-1499. The Dutch later supplanted Portuguese control over sea trade and began regularly rounding the Cape of Good Hope in the 16th century to establish resupply stations for trade with Asia.
Brian Mulroney became prime minister in 1984 and faced a large federal debt. He pursued free trade agreements but the economy struggled and unemployment rose. Jean Chretien became prime minister in 1993 and balanced the budget by 1998. New political parties like the Bloc Quebecois and Reform Party emerged representing Quebec separatism and Western Canadian interests. The economy shifted to services and inequality grew, though free trade with the US and Mexico under NAFTA was meant to benefit businesses.
United nations security council presentationSaudMalik10
This document summarizes information about the United Nations Security Council (UNSC):
- The UNSC has 15 members, including 5 permanent members (China, France, Russia, UK, US) who have veto power, and 10 non-permanent members selected for two-year terms.
- The UNSC was formed in 1945 and is the UN body tasked with maintaining international peace and security through actions like investigating disputes, recommending dispute resolution methods, and taking military action against aggressors.
- There is ongoing debate around reforming the UNSC to address issues like regional representation, the veto power of the permanent members, and the categories of membership.
The document discusses the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional organization formed after the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991. It is comprised of 12 former Soviet republics, excluding the Baltic states. The CIS was established through agreements signed in 1991 by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus. Its goals are cooperation in political, economic, environmental, and other domains. The largest members by population and territory are Russia, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, and Belarus. The organization's bodies include the Council of Heads of State, Council of Heads of Government, Council of Foreign Ministers, and others.
Ukrainians are traditionally family-oriented, with multiple generations often living together to help raise children. While older generations had traditional gender roles, modern Ukrainian families now often work together. Ukrainians tend to express emotions freely in private but are less smiley in public, though they form warm relationships. When meeting for business, Ukrainians shake hands firmly with everyone, repeating names, and maintaining eye contact.
NATO was formed in 1949 by the United States in response to fears about Soviet control over Eastern Europe following World War II. It was intended as a defensive alliance between North American and Western European countries. In 1955, the Soviet Union responded by forming the Warsaw Pact, a defensive alliance between Eastern European countries and the Soviet Union, in order to counter NATO's inclusion of West Germany and perceived threat against Soviet control. Both alliances contributed to increased tensions and an arms race between the U.S. and USSR during the Cold War.
This document discusses the history and meaning of antisemitism. It defines antisemitism as prejudice or discrimination against Jews and traces its roots to early Christianity, driven by theological differences and misunderstandings between Christians and Jews. The document outlines some notable historical instances of antisemitic persecution against Jews, such as pogroms in medieval Europe and the Holocaust in the 20th century. It also notes that while the term "antisemitic" refers to hostility toward Jews, it is technically a misnomer since Arabs are also Semites.
The document summarizes the rise of communism in China under Mao Zedong from the 1920s to modern day. Key events include Mao forming the People's Liberation Army in the 1920s to end inequality, his Long March in the 1930s after being driven from power, and declaring the People's Republic of China in 1949 after defeating the Nationalists. Under Mao, China adopted Soviet-style collectivization and 5-year plans, but the Great Leap Forward failed and caused a famine killing millions. The Cultural Revolution purged Chinese culture and society, until Mao's death led to Deng Xiaoping implementing economic reforms. Student protests in 1989 calling for democracy were crushed by the army in Tiananmen Square
Contributions of Indian Muslims to the Ottoman Caliphate and the Turkish NationKhalid Noor Mohammed
Postgraduate Student in the International Islamic University Malaysia, Noor Mohammed Khalid, presents his findings about the phenomenal sacrifices made by the Muslims of the Indian sub-continent to the Ottoman Caliphate, and the Turkish nation, subsequently. The period covered is from 1874-1924
The document summarizes four failures of the United Nations (UNO):
1) The Rwandan genocide in 1994 where over 800,000 Tutsi were killed by Hutus despite the UN being aware of the risks. The UN failed to stop the genocide.
2) The UN's inability to resolve the Kashmir conflict between India and Pakistan over 70 years later, failing to implement its own resolution calling for a referendum in the region.
3) Allegations in 2005 of UN peacekeepers sexually abusing locals in the Congo and other countries, which senior UN officials tried to ignore to preserve peacekeeping forces.
4) Corruption in the UN's Oil-for-Food program in Iraq,
The document provides information about a group presentation on Iran. It lists the group members and contents to be covered, including an introduction to Iran, its history, flag, language, religion, political and economic systems, and cultural and business norms. Key points are that Iran became an Islamic republic in 1979, its official language is Persian, the majority religion is Shia Islam, and the economy relies heavily on oil exports.
The US established diplomatic relations with Pakistan in 1947. Relations improved under President Eisenhower, with Pakistan seeking military and economic support from the US against threats from India and the Soviet Union. Pakistan joined defense pacts like SEATO and CENTO that aligned it with the West during the Cold War. This provided military and economic aid from the US, but also compromised Pakistan's foreign policy and hurt relations with other countries.
Hungary was occupied by Soviet forces after World War 2 who imposed Communist rule. This led to poverty, repression of freedoms, and the secret police terrorizing citizens. Inspired by reforms in Poland, Hungarians launched a revolution in 1956 against Soviet domination. A new prime minister negotiated the withdrawal of Soviet troops but the USSR later invaded with a large army to reassert control, killing and imprisoning resistors. The revolution demonstrated the Soviets' willingness to use military force to maintain influence over Eastern Europe and the lack of response by Western nations.
Two million people formed a human chain spanning 675.5 kilometers connecting the three Baltic capital cities of Vilnius, Riga, and Tallinn on August 23, 1989. This marked the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact between the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. Known as the Baltic Way, the peaceful protest helped publicize the Baltic cause around the world and symbolized the solidarity of the Baltic peoples.
The document summarizes key events in Lithuania's restoration of independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. It describes how the Reform Movement of Lithuania (Sąjūdis) led the struggle for independence in the late 1980s. It also discusses the Baltic Way protest in 1989, where over 2 million people formed a human chain across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Finally, it provides details of the January Events in 1991 when 14 civilians were killed after Lithuania declared independence from the Soviet Union.
This document provides an overview of Ukraine, including its history, culture, geography, and modern industries. It discusses Ukraine's location in Europe, the Ukrainian language, and historical figures like Taras Shevchenko. Key events in Ukraine's history are summarized, such as the establishment of Kyiv Rus in the 9th century, the Ukrainian Cossacks from the 15th to 18th centuries, and Ukraine's independence in 1991. Modern industries discussed include agriculture, information technology, aerospace, and science. The document aims to give background on Ukraine's position, development, and potential for the future.
The origins of the Cold War can be traced back to differing ideologies between the Soviet Union and Western allies like the US and UK. The Soviets established communist control over Eastern Europe after WWII, while the Western countries sought to promote democracy and capitalism. This divide was symbolized by Winston Churchill's reference to an "Iron Curtain" separating the two spheres of influence. Tensions increased as NATO and the Soviet-led Warsaw Pact formed opposing military alliances. The construction of the Berlin Wall in 1961 showed how rigid the East/West divide had become during this period known as the Cold War.
Lithuania has a long history dating back to 1009. It established itself as a kingdom in the 13th century and later formed a powerful union with Poland. However, Lithuania was later partitioned and ruled by the Russian Empire for several centuries. Gediminas Castle was founded in the 13th century by Grand Duke Gediminas according to a prophetic dream. Trakai Castle was constructed in the 14th century by Grand Duke Kęstutis. In 1989, over 2 million people formed a 600km human chain across Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania known as the Baltic Way to protest the Soviet occupation and demonstrate solidarity for independence.
The document provides historical background on relations between Russia and Ukraine from the 10th century to present day. It details how parts of Ukraine were annexed by the Russian Empire over centuries and periods of Ukrainian independence. Tensions increased in the 20th century as Ukraine was brought under Soviet control, experiencing forced collectivization, famines, and crackdowns on Ukrainian nationalism. After the Soviet collapse, Ukraine declared independence but ethnic Russian populations in eastern regions and Crimea opposed this. The current conflict was triggered by Ukrainian protests in 2014 that led to a new pro-Western government, which Russia opposed by annexing Crimea and supporting separatists in eastern Ukraine. The document examines issues like demographics, sanctions, and arguments regarding Western involvement.
This document discusses the historical legacies and development of nationalism in Belarus and Ukraine after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. It outlines how both countries were initially quite similar economically and politically in the early 1990s, but then diverged in their paths. This divergence is attributed to differences in their historical experiences, the timing and mechanisms of their incorporation into the Russian Empire and USSR, and the development of their national identities over time. Key influences included periods of prior statehood, experiences under the Russian Empire versus Austro-Hungarian Empire, and the policies of early independence-era presidents.
Poland has a long and complex history. It is located in Central Europe and has experienced occupation by both Germany and the Soviet Union during WWII. Warsaw, the capital, was nearly completely destroyed but has since been rebuilt. Poland transitioned to democracy in 1989 after the Solidarity movement led widespread protests against communist rule. Key events in Polish history include accepting Christianity in 966, gaining independence in 1918 after being partitioned for over 100 years, and overthrowing communist control through peaceful protests in the late 1980s.
The origins of the Cold War began in 1945 due to differences in ideology between the Soviet Union and Western allies like the US and UK. The Soviets established communist control over Eastern Europe, while the West allied under NATO. Germany was divided, and tensions increased as both sides sought to prevent the other from gaining more global influence through espionage, the arms race, and competing economic systems. This division was symbolized by the Berlin Wall, erected in 1961 to stop East Berliners from fleeing to the West. Reforms under Gorbachev in the 1980s weakened Soviet control until the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, leading to German reunification and the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, ending the Cold War.
Russia is a transcontinental country located in Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It has a population of over 144 million and its capital and largest city is Moscow. Russia spans over 17 million square kilometers and has a diverse landscape that ranges from tundra and forests in the north to grasslands and deserts in the south. Throughout its history, Russia has been led by influential rulers like Ivan the Terrible, Peter the Great, and Catherine the Great, who expanded the territory of the state and transformed Russia into a major European power.
Hungary is a landlocked country in Central Europe with over 2,000 kilometers of boundaries shared with seven countries. It has a population of around 10 million people and its capital and largest city is Budapest, located along the Danube River. Some of Hungary's most notable landmarks include the Buda Castle, Hungarian Parliament building and Heroes' Square in Budapest as well as Lake Balaton, the largest lake in Central Europe. Famous Hungarians include composer Ferenc Liszt, footballer Ferenc Puskás and 20th century composer Béla Bartók.
Eyewitness to Successful Secession MovementsPeter Hammond
1) The document discusses several successful secessionist movements in Eastern Europe and Africa in the late 20th century. It details how Croatia, Slovenia, Slovakia, South Sudan, and the Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia all successfully separated from the Soviet Union or Yugoslavia between 1990-1993.
2) It also discusses the author's involvement in advocating for South Sudan's independence from Sudan since 1995 through missionary work, publications, and international campaigning. South Sudan ultimately gained independence in 2011 after decades of civil war.
3) The author argues that decolonizing borders drawn in the 1884 Berlin Conference to better reflect ethnic and cultural divisions could help prevent conflicts in Africa by avoiding situations where groups
The document provides a history of Europe from 1945 to 1968. It describes key events including Victory Day on May 9th 1945 marking the end of World War 2, the announcement of the Truman Doctrine in 1947 to stop Soviet imperialism, the founding of NATO in 1949 as a system of collective defense, the establishment of the Warsaw Pact in 1955 putting the Soviet Union in command of member states' armed forces, the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957 starting the space age and US-Soviet space race, the building of the Berlin Wall in 1961 dividing the city, the Beatles releasing their first single "Love Me Do" in 1962, and the Prague Spring reforms in Czechoslovakia from 1968 until being halted by the Soviet invasion
The most important_events_in_the_historyLarisa Gubina
The document summarizes some key events in Moldovan history:
1) The Treaty of Lutsk in 1711 saw Moldova enter into an agreement with Russia against the Ottoman Empire in exchange for protection and independence.
2) In 1940, as a result of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact, Bessarabia was annexed to the USSR and the Moldovan SSR was formed.
3) Moldova was liberated from fascist occupation in 1944 after the successful Iasi-Chisinau military operation by the Soviet Union.
4) Moldova declared independence from the Soviet Union on August 27, 1991.
This document summarizes several successful secession movements throughout history:
- Croatia and Slovenia successfully seceded from Yugoslavia in the 1990s after holding independence referendums and declarations. Similar events led to the dissolution of Czechoslovakia and the separation of the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
- The Baltic states of Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia regained independence in the late 1980s and early 1990s after decades of Soviet occupation, through non-violent resistance movements and independence referendums.
- Switzerland has existed as a confederation of independent cantons since 1291 after seceding from Austrian rule, becoming one of the oldest republics in the world.
The document lists eight schools from different European countries that participated in a Erasmus+ project on European history from 1945-2015. It provides an introduction to the project, outlining its goals of improving knowledge of European history, promoting critical thinking on EU issues, and developing students' sense of European identity and citizenship. The project activities described include research, debates, lectures, conferences, and study visits. The expectation is that it will offer students new perspectives and skills while helping teachers introduce a more European dimension to their lessons.
The document lists eight schools from different European countries that participated in a Erasmus+ project on European history from 1945-2015. It provides an introduction to the project, outlining its goals of improving knowledge of European history, promoting critical thinking on EU issues, and developing students' sense of European identity and citizenship. The project activities described include research, debates, lectures, conferences, and study visits. The expectation is that it will offer students new perspectives and skills while helping teachers introduce a more European dimension to their lessons.
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3. 3
August 23, 1939
• Roughly two million people
• The Three Baltic countries – Estonia, Latvia,
Lithuania
• A 600 km long human chain from the Toompea
Castle in Tallinn, all across Riga and the river
of Daugava to the tower of Gediminas in Vilnius.
4. 4
The Baltic Way 1989
• Events Prior to the Baltic Way
• The Course and the Significance of the Baltic Way
• Documentary Heritage of the Baltic Way
• The 20th Anniversary of the Baltic Way
(1989 -2009)
6. 6
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
• A "Treaty of Non-aggression between the Third
German Reich and the Union of Soviet Socialist
Republics" is signed on August 23, 1939.
• Appending the pact were secret protocols that
marked the spheres of interest of the Nazi Germany
and the USSR in Europe.
• With this pact both powers divided their influence
in Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and
Romania.
7. 7
The First Paragraph of
the Secret Protocol
• Für den Fall einer territorial-
politischen Umgestaltung in den zu den
baltischen Staaten (Finnland, Estland,
Lettland und Litauen) gehörenden
Gebieten bildet die nördliche Grenze
Litauens zugleich die Grenze der
Interessensphären Deutschlands und der
UdSSR.
• Only later was Lithuania added to the Soviet sphere
of interest.
8. 8
The Admission of the
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
• After the end of the Second World War the USSR
denied the very existence of the pact and everything
even remotely connected to it was made
confidential.
• According to the official propaganda of the USSR,
the presence of the Baltic states within the USSR
was completely voluntary and the results of the
elections were called upon to confirm it.
9. 9
The Uncovering of the
Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
• In 1986 M. Gorbachov began to approve a more
candour approach towards the crimes of Stalinism.
• In 1986, during a USA-USSR conference in
Jūrmala (Latvia) the USA demanded the USSR to
cease the occupation of the Baltic States.
• The radio stations from Western Countries like
“Voice of America” and “Radio Free Europe/Radio
Liberty” supported the propagation of ceasing the
occupation.
10. 10
The United Path of the Baltic
States
• In 1986, the former political detainees from the
Baltic States agreed upon organizing different
actions on August 23.
• On August 23, 1987, extensive actions of protest
took place in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn and were
dispersed by local militsia.
• Widespread national movements began to develop
in the Baltic States in 1988.
• On August 23, 1988, actions of protest took
place in all three capitals of the Baltic States.
12. 12
August 23, 1989
• 50 years since the signing of the Molotov-
Ribbentrop Pact.
• A unified goal – the restoration of independence of
the Baltic States and public acknowledgment of the
secret protocols of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.
15. 15
August 23, 1989
The Baltic Way was organized by the national
movements of the Baltic countries:
•The Rahvarinne – the Popular Front of Estonia,
•The Popular Front of Latvia
•And the Reform Movement of Lithuania – the
Sajūdis.
The practical organizing of the Baltic Way relied
upon the regional branches of these national
movements.
18. 18
August 23, 1989
• People joined hands at 7pm o'clock,
commemorating the events of the August 23, 1939,
and demanding their international
acknowledgment.
• The human chain ranged from Tallinn, all through
Riga to Vilnius.
• People of various ages and social, national and
religious backgrounds had all joined together in this
human chain.
22. 22
August 23, 1989
in the Press of the World
• News headlines all over the world were dedicated to
the impressive and important action of the Baltic
states.
• Gatherings of solidarity with the Baltic states were
held in Moscow, Leningrad, Stockholm, Melbourne,
Toronto, Berlin, Tbilisi and in many other places all
over the world.
• Newspapers all over the world paid a special
attention to the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and
it's consequences in Eastern Europe.
24. 24
August 23, 1989
in the Press of the World
“Two million link hands in protest over the
Kremlin's iron rule”
// “Hands of Hope”, Daily Mail, 24.08.1989.
“Three-deep they stood, old and young, almost all
carrying a votive candle tied with a black
ribbon.”
// “Human chain stands up against the Soviet Union”,
Independent, 24.08.1989.
26. 26
August 23, 1989
in the Press of the World
“Yesterday's 400-mile-long human chain dramatically
symbolized the shared passion for freedom of the Baltic
peoples.”
// “Crumbling empire”, Daily Express, 24.08.1989.
“...human chain stretching 370 miles through Estonia,
Latvia and Lithuania in protest against the secret 1939
pact between Germany and the USSR which gave control of
the Baltic states to the USSR; and to demand more
autonomy.”
// “Joining hands across the Baltic states” The Times,
24.08.1989.
29. 29
The Baltic Way – for the People
• A unified goal – fair evaluation of the past events
and the restoration of independence.
• The feeling of unity and fraternity both in
national scale and in between all three Baltic
States.
• Expression of believing in the ideas of democracy
• The symbol of unity – the song “Atmostas Baltija,
Bunda jau Baltija, Argake Baltimaad”.
33. 33
The Baltic Way –
for Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
• The injustice that ensued as a result of the Second
World War was publicly acknowledged.
• The Supreme Councils of all three Baltic States
signed declarations of restoration of independence
in 1990.
• The foundation of the unified path of the Baltic
States in the following years was created – joining
the European Union and the NATO in 2004.
35. 35
The Baltic Way – for the World
• The USSR officially acknowledged the existence of
the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and it's secret
protocols and on December 24, 1989 it was
announced to be abeyant.
• The abeyance of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact
showed the World the decline of the USSR as a
superpower and contributed to the further
democratic movements in the USSR and the
countries of the Warsaw Pact.
• It demonstrated the Baltics as united and
democratic region of the world.
38. 38
Documentary Heritage
of the Baltic Way
The Baltic Way has left a significant documentary
heritage:
• The organization documents of the Baltic Way –
letters, announcements, audio and video
recordings of the meetings;
• Photo, audio and video footage of the Baltic Way,
it's course, organization and repercussions.
39. 39
Documentary Heritage
of the Baltic Way
The National commissions for UNESCO together
with the respective memory institutions of the
Baltic States nominated this documentary evidence
to be included in the UNESCO “Memory of the
World” International Register in 2008.
July 30, 2009 the documentary heritage
of the Baltic Way was inscribed upon the
UNESCO “Memory of the World”
programme International register
40. 40
The UNESCO Programme
“Memory of the World”
• Conservation, access, cognition and study of the
documentary heritage of the world.
• The “Memory of the World” International Register
- documentary heritage that is of high significance
for the whole world.
• The repository of the memories of humanity.
41. 41
The Nomination of the
Documentary Heritage of the Baltic
Way
The documents are united by:
• time / the organization and course of the Baltic Way,
July 15 to August 23, 1989.
• place / documents during and along the Baltic Way – in
Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania.
• people / the Baltic Way was positively international –
Estonians, Latvians, Lithuanians, Russians,
Belarussians, Poles, Tatars and other nationalities
participated in it.
• Subject and theme / the action of people in the name of
a significant political goal, neglecting the risk and
standing up for human rights
42. 42
The nomination of the Baltic Way by Estonia,
Latvia and Lithuania
“The Baltic Way – Human Chain Linking Three
States in Their Drive for Freedom”
www.balticway.net
43. 43
IV The 20th Anniversary
of the Baltic Way (1989 – 2009)
44. 44
2009 – 20th Anniversary
of the Baltic Way
“It was a special day and I didn't even consider of not going and
not participating [..] We stood in a place that was free. But the
Akmens [Stone] bridge was crowded. We stood with our hands
joined and risen above our heads and foreign tourists which had
come out of a hotel in Pārdaugava were astonished and took
pictures of us [..] We stood for a more honest Latvia and were
hoping that the government would be more considerate and
understanding of it's people, –
tells participant of the Baltic Way Zenta Denisova.”
“Vienotības ceļš”, Latvijas Avīze, 28.08.2004.
46. 46
2009 – 20th Anniversary
of the Baltic Way
“In the evening of August 23, at 7pm o'clock the residents of
Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, from border to border for 600
kilometers joined their hands in order to tell the world “We want
our independence and countries back – a free Estonia, free Latvia
and free Lithuania!” Hundreds of journalists were filming the
Baltic Way and it was broadcast by all major news channels of
the world. The Baltic problem was no longer just a political and
diplomatic issue, it had gained a wide support in the Western
society. If we bother to take a look in the bibliography, the
statistical increase of the publications on Baltic states is clearly
visible.” –
remembers Sandra Kalniete, one of the organizers of the
Baltic Way.
“Baltijas ceļš piepildīts”, Diena, 23.08.2004.
48. 48
2009 –
20th Anniversary of the Baltic Way
• The Baltic Way – a symbol of unity of the Baltic
states.
• The Baltic Way – a symbol of common aspirations
for restoring the independence of the Baltic States.
• The Baltic Way – a symbol of spiritual unity to face
the injustice of the past.
• The Baltic Way – a historical symbol of the power of
non-violent action.
49. 49
2009 –
20th Anniversary of the Baltic Way
On August 23, 2009
it will be the 70 years since the darkest day in the
history of the Baltic States and
20 years since the unity of the Baltic States
managed to change the course of history.
Information about Baltic Way:
www.balticway.net
51. 51
Commemorative Events
of the Baltic Way in 2009
Events all over the Baltic States – in Ape, Ilzene, Padedze,
Trapene, Valmiera, Naukšēni, Karksi, Vireši, Smiltene, Valka,
Bauska, Jelgava, Jēkabpils, Viļņa, Sigulda, Tallina, Rīga ...
52. 52
Materials about Baltic Way
In the result of cooperation between the Latvian
National Commission for UNESCO and
Museum of the Occupation of Latvia the useful
materials was developed:
• a study of the school history textbooks;
• methodological material on how to include and
present the regaining the independence in the
school curricula.
53. 53
The Baltic Way – Human Chain Linking Three
States in Their Drive for Freedom
1989
Thank you for your attention !
55. 55
• The presentation was prepared by the Latvian National Commission
for UNESCO.
• The materials from the nomination file “The Baltic Way – human
chain linking three states in their drive for freedom” of the
nomination for the international registry “Memory of the World”
were used for this presentation, as well as the reproductions of the
collections of Museum of the Popular Front of Latvia.
• The photos of the travelling photo exhibition “Baltic Way that Moved
the World” were also used in this presentation. Latvian National
Commission for UNESCO thanks for the support in developing this
presentation to the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs of the Republic of
Latvia and photographer Ilmārs Znotiņš.
• Design by Kārlis Vilītis.
Editor's Notes
On August 23, 1989 approximately two million people joined hands, forming a 600 km long chain from the Toompea Castle in Tallinn to the Gediminas Tower in Vilnius, all across Riga and the Daugava R iver, creating the unity of the three Baltic countries in their thriving for freedom. By joining their hands the people showed that unity can change the course of history and overcome obstacles, political realities and dishonourable agreements of totalitarian regimes. The Baltic Way showed that if the people unite for a just cause, if they join both physically and spiritually for the success of a common idea, the dictatorship and aggression – the major threats of the 20th century – cannot last!
Content of the Presentation: Events Prior to the Baltic Way ; The Course and the Significance of the Baltic Way ; Documentary Heritage of the Baltic Way ; The 20th Anniversary of the Baltic Way .
On August 23, 1939, the foreign commissar of the USSR Vyacheslav Molotov and the Foreign minister of the Nazi Germany Joachim von Ribbentrop signed the “ Treaty of Non-aggression between the Third German Reich and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ”. The expansive politics of both countries could easily become the reason of conflict about territories between these two powers and thus in order to evade such a conflict a secret protocol was made to divide spheres of interest in the Eastern Europe between these powers (however the treaty became abeyant on June 22, 1941, when the Nazi Germany invaded the USSR).
The Appendix of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact stated that « In the event of a territorial and political rearrangement in the areas belonging to the Baltic States (Finland, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania), the northern boundary of Lithuania shall represent the boundary of the spheres of influence of Germany and U.S.S.R. » A new “ German-Soviet Boundary and Friendship Treaty ” of September 28, 1939, further stated that Lithuania is also included in the Soviet sphere of interests. After the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was signed by both sides, they also agreed that the appendixes would be confidential and no information regarding them is to be made public.
After the end of the Second World War the USSR denied the existence of any kind of agreements between the USSR and the Nazi Germany. Everything that could prove the existence of such agreements was either destroyed or hidden in classified archives. It was presumed that the copy belonging to the Nazi Germany was destroyed during the bombing of Berlin, but it is known that a microfilm of the copy of the pact was acquired by the Great Britain during the war and was leaked to the mass media afterwards. Nevertheless, the USSR continued to deny the existence of the pact. Regardless of all the efforts of the Nazi Germany and the USSR to keep the pact a secret, the first information on the possible agreement about the spheres of interest between the Nazi Germany and the USSR reached the West and the Baltic States already in the September-October of 1939. The leaders of the Baltic States believed that their Western allies wouldn't allow such territorial changes and that both the Nazi Germany and the USSR would honour the international treaties signed with the Baltic States. In spite these hopes in June 1940 the Soviet Union occupied the Baltic States. The official reason for the inclusion of the Baltic States in the USSR w as the parliament elections that took place on July 14-15, 1940, just after the Soviet occupation. (According to the official results of the polls released by the USSR, people of some regions of the Baltic States had been so eager to join the USSR that 110% and more had voted “PRO” on joining the USSR, this being an indirect evidence that the returns were falsified).
Only at the second half of 1980s the question of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was raised again in the Soviet Union: To avoid the criticism on hiding the information on the Chernobyl incident (April 26, 1986) and the stricture for being too secretive, Mikhail Gorbachev the General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union made a decision to establish the so called Glasnost policy on matters of environmental protection and the crimes of Stalinism. On August 23, 1986, the exiles of the Baltic States that lived in the Western countries and their supporters tried to draw the attention of the Western media and leaders to the secret appendixes of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. On September 15-19, 1986, a conference on the relationships between the USA and the USSR took place in Jūrmala. During the conference the delegation of the USA raised and issue on ending the occupation of the Baltic States. The news were immediately translated by the radio stations “Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty” and “The Voice of America” and thus reached the Baltic States.
The Baltic Way is without any doubt the largest and the most important mass non-violent solidarity event along the path towards regaining the independence of the Baltic States, however it was in no way the first or the only one. On June 14, 1986, a commemorative day in honour of the people deported by the USSR took place in Riga at the Monument of Freedom. After this event the former political prisoners of all three Baltic States agreed on a joint commemorative event to be organised also on August 23 in all three states. On August 23, 1987, massive demonstrations took place in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn. The demonstrations had gathered around 10 000 people in Riga, 2 000 to 5 000 people in Tallinn and around 1000 in Vilnius. The demonstration in Tallinn was peaceful, but in both Riga and Vilnius violent clashes with the militsia occurred and several hundred people were detained. The Baltic Way is without any doubt the largest and the most important mass non-violent solidarity event along the path towards regaining the independence of the Baltic States, however it was in no way the first or the only one. On June 14, 1986, a commemorative day in honour of the people deported by the USSR took place in Riga at the Monument of Freedom. After this event the former political prisoners of all three Baltic States agreed on a joint commemorative event to be organised also on August 23 in all three states. On August 23, 1987, massive demonstrations took place in Vilnius, Riga and Tallinn. The demonstrations had gathered around 10 000 people in Riga, 2 000 to 5 000 people in Tallinn and around 1000 in Vilnius. The demonstration in Tallinn was peaceful, but in both Riga and Vilnius violent clashes with the militsia occurred and several hundred people were detained. On August 23, 1988, the commemorative events were coordinated by the national movements of the Baltic States and rallied tens of thousands of people. The awakening of the Baltic States had grown from a movement of isolated enthusiasts to a movement that united the three countries.
Despite the previous actions that had already gathered tens of thousands of people, the official standpoint of the USSR was that those were just individual incidents embracing just a small part of the people of the Baltic States. On the 50th anniversary of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact on August 23, 1989, the three Baltic States shocked the world by joining hands in a common demonstration. The people of the Baltic States asked the public acknowledgment of the secret appendixes of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and the restoration of independence of the Baltic States. This event showed both the Western countries and the Soviet Union the desire of the Baltic States to regain the independence they lost due to the treaty of the powers and the Second World War.
The Baltic Way was organized by the national movements of the Baltic States – the Popular Front of Estonia - the Rahvarinne , the Popular Front of Latvia and the Reform Movement of Lithuania – the Sajūdis . The main task of the regional divisions of the national movements was to mobilize the participants and confederates to join the Baltic Way in specific places so to succeed the creation of a human chain. The participants of the Baltic Way assembled in towns and districts and were collectively transported to less populated areas along the route of the Baltic Way by any means of transportation available. Taking into account the mass media and means of communication available at the time (no modern means of communication like the Internet, cell phones etc. were available) the main sources of information were nationalistic radio and TV programs, because the press was mostly reflecting only the official standpoint of the USSR.
According to the information of the news agency REUTERS, the action had gathered around 700 000 people from Estonia, 500 000 from Latvia and 1 000 000 from Lithuania. According to the numbers disclosed by TASS, the official Soviet news agency, the participation in the Baltic Way was as follows – 300 000 from Estonia and 500 000 from Lithuania, no information on the number of participants from Latvia was ever disclosed. Therefore nowadays it is impossible to get the correct number of the participants due to the differences in various sources of information as well as due to the differences in the number of participants in towns and rural regions. The people showed everyone that the independence can be achieved by uniting in a joint protest, a non-violent action. The determination of the people and their unity was the key that allowed the three Baltic States to regain their independence. The Baltic Way also showed the fellowship and the brotherhood of the Baltic States – that similar fate in the past and aspirations for independence in the present could unite the people that spoke different languages and were of different nationalities.
The Baltic question became the main issue not only among politicians and diplomats, but also a concurrent issue of the international society. The Baltic Way was actively discussed in the world media, by human rights activists and academic society. The August of 1989 had succeeded to bring the message to the world telling that the power of the USSR was declining and that it was the beginning of the end of the Cold War. One of the most apparent actions being The Baltic Way.
“ Two million link hands in protest over the Kremlin's iron rule ” // “Hands of Hope”, Daily Mail, Thursday, August 24, 1989. “ Three-deep they stood, old and young, almost all carrying a votive candle tied with a black ribbon. ” // “Human chain stands up against the Soviet Union”, Independent, 24.08.1989.
“ Yesterday's 400-mile-long human chain dramatically symbolised the shared passion for freedom of the Baltic peoples. ” // “Crumbling empire”, Daily Express, 24.08.1989. “ ...human chain stretching 370 miles through Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania in protest against the secret 1939 pact between Germany and the USSR which gave control of the Baltic states to the USSR; and to demand more autonomy. ” // “Joining hands across the Baltic states” The Times, 24.08.1989.
The song “Atmostas Baltija, Bunda jau Baltija, Argake Baltimaad” was performed in all three languages of the Baltic States. It is one of the greatest symbols of the value given to unity and fraternity among the Baltic States in their strive for freedom. It was performed by Viktors Zemgals, Žilvins Bubelis, Tarmo Pirlaps . Atmostas Baltija, Bunda jau Baltija, Argake Baltimaad Trīs māsas jūras malā stāv, Tās nespēks un nogurums māc. Tur bradāta zeme un dvēseles, Trīs tautu gods un prāts. Bet torņos jau likteņa zvani skan, Un jūra bangoties sāk. Trīs māsas no miega modušās, Par sevi pastāvēt nāk. Atmostas Baltija, atmostas Baltija, Lietuva, Latvija, Igaunija! Prie jūros miega sesės trys Jas slegia pančiai, neviltis Klajoja lyg elgeta pajūriu Dvasia tautų garbės Bet varpas likimo nuaidi vėl Ir jūra šiaušia bangas Trys sesės iš miego kyla jau Apginti savo garbės. Bunda jau Baltija, bunda jau Baltija, Lietuva, Latvija, Estija! Kolm õde mere palged ees, neid uinutas lainete laul. Kolm rahvast siin sajandeid heideldes tõid ohvriks muistse au. Kui tornides juba lööb kella hääl, merd haarab vabaduspüüd. Et saatust ja elu kaitseda, kolm õde virguvad nüüd. Ärgake Baltimaad, ärgake Baltimaad, Leedumaa, Lätimaa, Eestimaa!
The main achievement of the Baltic Way was the fact that the USSR yielded to the joint protest of the residents of the three Baltic States by confessing part of it's crimes in the past. The attained acknowledgment of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact by the USSR was one of the steps towards the restoring of independent states in the Baltic region. The struggle for independence of the Baltic States had received so much support during the Baltic Way that it was self-evident that the national movements achieved a decisive victory in the elections of the Supreme Councils of the states in 1990 (February 24, 1990, in Lithuania, March 16, 1990, in Estonia and March 18, 1990, in Latvia). Without much hesitation the newly elected Supreme Councils of the three Baltic States made a decision to reinstate the independence – the decree was made on March 11, 1990, in Lithuania, March 30, 1990, in Estonia and May 4, 1990, in Latvia. . The Baltic Way also marked the beginning of the cooperation of the Baltic S tates that continues to this day.
Only after the Baltic Way and the resonance of this event in the world press a special commission of the USSR led by Alexander Yakovlev was established to evaluate the Pact and the situation. Later that year it acknowledged the existence of the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and even elaborated about it to the Congress of People's Deputies of the USSR in Moscow announcing that the Pact was abeyant. Still officially the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact was declassified only in 1992, after the dissolution of the USSR. The action of unity of the Baltic Way contributed to the movements of democratic unity all over the world and was also a positive sign for other countries struggling for independence as well as the reunification process of Germany. The Baltic Way also demonstrated the Baltic’s as united and democratic region of the world.
The documentary heritage of the Baltic Way consists of a significant collection of different text, video and photo documents about this historical event. The National commissions for UNESCO of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania started to work on the nomination in collaboration with respective memory institutions in the Baltic countries and different documentary heritage experts already in 2005. The Baltic working group for the nomination consisted of experts from National archives, National libraries, Ministries of Culture, National commissions of the UNESCO programme “Memory of the World”, National commissions for UNESCO, the Museum of the Popular Front of Latvia and the Museum of Occupation of Estonia. The nomination commonly developed by all three Baltic S tates was handed to the UNESCO Secretariat on March 31, 2008. The significance of the documentary heritage of the Baltic Way and its nomination for the UNESCO “Memory of the World” international register lies in acknowledgement of this event in the collective memory of the whole world as a mutual non-violent act of people striving for independence, justice and freedom and thus enhancing the understanding of solidarity and the value of togetherness.
In July 2009 the decision was adapted to include the documentary heritage of the Baltic Way in the I nternational register of UNESCO program ‘Memory of the World’.
The UNESCO program “Memory of the World” was established in 1992 in order to preserve the documentary heritage of the world, facilitate its accessibility and promote the studies and cognition of different documentary objects regardless of their place of origin, medium or kind. The program promotes study of this heritage, conservation and protection of it as well as its availability and recognition all over the world. Documentary heritage is part of the cultural heritage of humanity. It reflects the diversity of languages, peoples and cultures. It is the mirror of the world and its memory. But this memory is fragile, destruction of such heritage would also mean the loss of a source of memories of humanity. However every day, irreplaceable parts of this memory disappear for ever. In order to facilitate the preservation, proper protection, diverse study and evaluation of this heritage an international register was created in 1995 within the framework of the UNESCO programme “Memory of the World”. This register therefore presents and reflects the documentary evidence that is important for the whole world. Presently 158 items of documentary heritage from all over the world are included in this regist er . For example the negatives of the movie “Metropolis” (1927) by Fritz Lang, the Quing Dynasty Yangshi Lei archives from the beginning of the 18th century till the beginning of the 20th, Russian posters collection of the end of the 19th century and early 20th century, the Phoenical alphabet of Lebanon etc.
Only the most important documents on the organization and course of the Baltic Way have been selected for the nomination. The selection criteria for the documents were the significance of the document in disclosing the making of the historic decisions and the unique emotional state of the Baltic Way. The nomination of the Baltic Way includes 7 documents from the National archives of Estonia, 8 documents form the Museum of the Popular Front of Latvia, 23 documents from the Central State archive of Lithuania. Among others the nominated documents include: The Baltic Council Pärnu Communiqué, 15 July 1989, Pärnu, Estonia (currently in the Museum of the Popular Front in Latvia); audio recordings of the meeting of the Lithuanian Sajūdis Saeimas Council on July 25 (currently in Lithuanian Central State Archive) and August 15, Vilnius, Lithuania ; video recording of the Newsreel "Eesti Kroonika" (Estonian Chronicle) No. 18, 1989 - "The Baltic Way" (currently in Lithuanian Central State Archive) ; a poster made by the participants of the Baltic Way and other documents.
In this slide you can see reproductions of the documents included in the nomination „The Baltic Way – Human Chain Linking Three States in Their Drive for Freedom”. In the website www.balticway.net one can acquaint with all documents of the nomination .
“ It was a special day and I didn't even consider of not going and not participating [..] We stood in a place that was free. But the Stone Bridge was crowded We stood with our hands joined and risen above our heads and foreign tourists that had come out of a hotel in Pārdaugava were astonished and took pictures of us [..] We stood for a more honest Latvia and were hoping that the government would be more considerate and understanding of it's people. ” – Zenta Denisova, participant of the Baltic Way. // Latvijas Avīze, 2004.gada 28.augusts
In the evening of August 23, at 7pm o'clock the residents of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, from border to border for 600 kilometers joined their hands in order to tell the world “We want our independence and countries back – a free Estonia, free Latvia and free Lithuania!” Hundreds of journalists were filming the Baltic Way and it was broadcast by all major news channels of the world. The Baltic problem was no longer just a political and diplomatic issue, it had gained a wide support in the Western society. If we bother to take a look in the bibliography, the statistical increase of the publications on Baltic states is clearly visible.” – Sandra Kalniete, one of the organizers of the Baltic Way. // Diena , 2004.gada
In 2009 v arious events we re organized in Baltic States to commemorate the Baltic Way!
The materials developed in the result of the Latvian National Commission for UNESCO and the Museum of Occupation of Latvia cooperation are available on Museum web page - www.omip.lv . The target audience of the materials are history teachers, historians etc. Contact person: Danute Dūra, Museum of Occupation of Latvia, + 371 67211030, [email_address]