Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07MINSK922
2007-11-05 15:57:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Minsk
Cable title:
AMBASSADOR HONORS STALIN VICTIMS AT KURAPATY
how-toVZCZCXRO8179 RR RUEHAG RUEHAST RUEHDA RUEHDBU RUEHDF RUEHFL RUEHIK RUEHKW RUEHLA RUEHLN RUEHLZ RUEHPOD RUEHROV RUEHSR RUEHVK RUEHYG DE RUEHSK #0922 3091557 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 051557Z NOV 07 FM AMEMBASSY MINSK TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 6621 INFO RUEHZL/EUROPEAN POLITICAL COLLECTIVE RUEHVEN/USMISSION USOSCE 1717 RHMFISS/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
UNCLAS MINSK 000922
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HONORS STALIN VICTIMS AT KURAPATY
UNCLAS MINSK 000922
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HONORS STALIN VICTIMS AT KURAPATY
1. On November 2, Ambassador, several EU Heads of Mission, and
the Israeli Ambassador visited Kurapaty, a wooded area outside Minsk
where Stalin's secret police murdered thousands of victims and buried
them in mass graves during the 1930s and 1940s. The Heads of Mission
held the ceremony in observance of Dziady, a Belarusian holiday
honoring ancestors. Ambassador Stewart placed flowers and a candle at
the site of a memorial bench presented by President Clinton in 1994.
The bench, which symbolizes friendship between the Belarusian and
American people and stands in memory of victims of persecution, had
been vandalized several times in the past and had been restored prior
to the ceremony.
2. In response to journalists' questions after the ceremony,
Ambassador explained the importance of remembering and openly
discussing tragedies like Kurapaty in order to ensure that such
atrocities not be repeated. Belarusians held commemorations
throughout the week around the country, including an opposition-run
commemoration at Kurapaty on October 28.
Stewart
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM BO
SUBJECT: AMBASSADOR HONORS STALIN VICTIMS AT KURAPATY
1. On November 2, Ambassador, several EU Heads of Mission, and
the Israeli Ambassador visited Kurapaty, a wooded area outside Minsk
where Stalin's secret police murdered thousands of victims and buried
them in mass graves during the 1930s and 1940s. The Heads of Mission
held the ceremony in observance of Dziady, a Belarusian holiday
honoring ancestors. Ambassador Stewart placed flowers and a candle at
the site of a memorial bench presented by President Clinton in 1994.
The bench, which symbolizes friendship between the Belarusian and
American people and stands in memory of victims of persecution, had
been vandalized several times in the past and had been restored prior
to the ceremony.
2. In response to journalists' questions after the ceremony,
Ambassador explained the importance of remembering and openly
discussing tragedies like Kurapaty in order to ensure that such
atrocities not be repeated. Belarusians held commemorations
throughout the week around the country, including an opposition-run
commemoration at Kurapaty on October 28.
Stewart