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For the citizens of Romania, communism was a regime imposed by a political group self-designated as possessor of the truth, a totalitarian regime born through violence and ended through violence. It was a regime of oppression, which expropriated five decades of modern history from the Romanian people, which trampled law underfoot and forced citizens to live in lies and fear.

— Traian Băsescu

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Source, in full

"The Speech given by the President of Romania, Traian Băsescu, on the occasion of the Presentation of the Report by the Presidential Commission for the Analysis of the Communist Dictatorship in Romania" (18 December 2006)

More quotes by Traian Băsescu

Romania stands as a catalyst for cooperation in her region, and is keen to bring up this experience at the international level.

A democracy without memory is one that finds itself in grave suffering. We must not forget, in order to avoid the errors of the past.

When we attempt to expose the mechanisms of the totalitarian regime, it is the case not to forget that its architects and beneficiaries demonstrated no form of scruple or remorse.

It is true that, during a political debate or sports event inadequate language occurs. Beyond that, I assure you that the Romanian people have a long tradition of common sense and respect for diversity.

If we are complacent, we might awake all the demons that have troubled the life of Europe: racism, xenophobia, anti-Semitism can spread like a fire, whenever the vigilance of governments and civil society decreases.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Traian Băsescu (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.