Denmark and World War II: Truth and Apologies
of 202 Danes executed and buried by the Germans, or who died in concentration camps during the war, were discovered.
Fogh Rasmussen's position is that reconciliation and peace can only occur when people acknowledge the truth of the past and apologize for what they have done to harm another. In that spirit he has advised Russian President Vladimir Putin to apologize for the Soviet Union's occupation and repression of the three Baltic States so that relations can improve.
"We know from experience that reconciliation is facilitated by admitting mistakes and apologizing on behalf of the nation," said Rasmussen to daily Danish newspaper Politiken.
The Danish Prime Minister's advice is being supported by politicians and others watching the events in Russia and the Baltic states that are rife with violence. "We have seen German leaders apologize for the mistakes and criminal actions of the past."
While he acknowledges that present leaders are free of blame for past leaders' actions, he sees truth-telling as vital to honestly moving forward in the present.
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