2004 press releases

U.S. Embassy Statement on Dziady (November 2, 2004)

On November 2, 2004, the day known in Belarus as Dziady when Belarusians traditionally honor ancestors, Ambassador of the United States of America to Belarus George A. Krol joined the European Union Heads of Mission in visiting Kurapaty to commemorate the tens of thousands of innocent people murdered and buried there during the Stalinist purges in the late thirties of the last century.

Ambassador Krol laid flowers at the memorial bench presented on behalf of the people of the United States to the people of Belarus by President William Clinton during his historic visit to Belarus on January 15, 1994. Ambassador Krol, who had been present at President Clinton's dedication of the bench ten years ago, reaffirmed the historical importance of the tragedy of Kurapaty to the people of Belarus and joined his European colleagues in stressing that only democratic and accountable governments that respect human rights can ensure that crimes such as occurred at Kurapaty will never be repeated in Belarus or elsewhere in the world.

Following the visit to Kurapaty, Ambassador Krol visited the memorial on the site of the Trostenets Concentration Camp to pay tribute to the hundreds of thousands of victims of Nazi atrocities -- Belarusian, Jewish, and Polish civilians, partisans and Soviet prisoners of war -- who were cruelly tortured, starved, murdered and burned there during the years 1942-44. The enormous horror of Trostenets, a searing example of intolerance and evil, should never be forgotten and never be repeated.

Finally, Ambassador Krol participated in ceremonies at the grave of celebrated Belarusian writer and patriot Vasil Bykau. Speaking in Belarusian, Ambassador Krol paid tribute to Bykau, calling him "the conscience of Belarus," and Belarus, "the conscience of Europe." (full text of Ambassador Krol's remarks below)

On Dziady, the Embassy of the United States pays honor to all the people of Belarus and their ancestors and especially to the millions of Belarusians and people of various national, ethnic and religious backgrounds who have died in Belarus at the hands of cruel invaders and oppressors. The Embassy hopes today's Belarusians and their children may live in peace and prosperity in a free, democratic state in a society and a world free from terror, hatred and oppression.

(begin text Ambassador Krol's remarks)

Dear Friends,

Vasil Bykau's heritage is treasured by all Belarusians. Every opportunity to honor the memory of Vasil Uladzimiravich is indeed a great honor for me. Vasil Bykau is considered to be the conscience of Belarus. I often say in my interviews that, in my opinion, Belarus is the conscience of Europe. It seems to me that the role of Vasil Uladzimiravich in the past, present and future of your country cannot be overestimated. Regrettably, it so happened that I didn't know him personally. It is wonderful, however, to realize that a great number of Belarusians, the people I have met over the past year, see the world through the eyes of Vasil Bykau.

(end text Ambassador Krol's remarks)