BRUSSELS — “If you had said in 1989 that there would be three independent Baltic states, they would have sent for men in white coats,” said Oxford historian Timothy Garton Ash at a policy dialogue Thursday in Brussels.
Twenty years have gone by since the fall of the Berlin Wall, to be commemorated on Nov. 9, and yet the question of what remains to be done lingers in the air. The essence of the European Union is integration of old foes into the closest of allies. But it’s always been an improvisational affair, and that’s not going to change.
“The old rules don’t apply anymore,” said Estonian President Toomas Ilves. “We have to start thinking about what the rest of the world is to us.”
In an open and poignant discussion, President Ilves, European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek, Professor Timothy Garton Ash, former President of the German Parliament Rita Sussmuth and former Czech Minister of Foreign Affairs Alexandr Vondra came together to reminisce about the events of 1989, and speak openly about the future of Europe.
European Parliament President Jerzy Buzek outlined a future for the European Union, stating that reconciliation with “Eastern Neighbors” is key.
“The EU is about reconciliation. We have seen it between France and Germany, Poland and Germany, and we must reconcile with our immediate neighbors. No reconciliation, no EU,” said Buzek.
In his comments, President Ilves said “Reconciliation. I don’t know what it means. Does this mean admitting Stalin was an effective leader? It never would have worked if we had.”
Despite the celebratory events this year, the degree of pride and feeling of success in Eastern Europe, Ilves warns leaders not to “get too congratulatory”.
Garton Ash added that the degree of unhappiness in post-communist societies must not be glossed over.
Negative points aside, the group said that 1989 was Europe’s best year to date. The solidarity shown in the years of reunification hasn’t been seen since in Eastern Europe, something that has slowed progress in the region.
“Most changes were brought about by ordinary people in Eastern Europe, they succeeded on their own. There was no equivalent of the Marshall Plan or U.S. troops waiting in the wings,” said Ilves.
In joining the EU and the Schengen zone, many borders and metaphorical walls were torn down for the Baltics. However discrimination still exists regarding migrant workers.
“There is the demonization of Latvian construction workers in Sweden and the idea of the “’Polish plumber.’ Why do we talk about them the way we do?” asked President Ilves.
“No person in high authority in NATO or the EU is represented by Eastern Europe,” Ilves continued, “Those statistics don’t happen by accident.”
Despite the lack of representation, the Baltic financial crisis and a staggering unemployment rate, the region still ranks high in one important area-information.
“We need to talk about the freedom of the press,” said Ilves, “It has been twenty years since the fall of the wall in Eastern Europe, and the Baltics top the list of most free presses in the world.”
All three Baltic States are in the top 15 on the list of the Press Freedom Index in 2009. Russia and the United States currently rank 153rd and 20th respectively.
No one had ever attempted to take a communist society and turn it into a free market economy before 1989, and twenty years on, it is questionable the degree of effectiveness that has been attained.
Garton Ash, in summary asked “you can turn an aquarium into fish soup, but can you turn fish soup back into an aquarium?”
“Russia has to tell us what they want their role in the world to be,” Garton Ash continued.
“Poland and the Baltic states have made bridge efforts towards Russia,” said Prof. Sussmuth. “But we were almost closer twenty years ago than now- we can’t forget our basic values.”
There is a piece of the Berlin Wall in Kronvalda Park in Riga. This week a plaque commemorating both the Baltic Way and the fall of the Berlin Wall was unveiled at the park by Riga mayor Nils Usakovs and the German ambassador to Latvia.
Only time will tell if this wall will serve as a reminder of the obstacles overcome in the fight for freedom, or if the wall will remind people why good fences make good neighbors.
Monika Hanley is a freelance journalist in Belgium. She can be reached at monika.hanley3@gmail.com
