Editorial: The Great European Otto Von Habsburg

Thursday, 21 July 2011 10:02

The first thought that crossed my mind when I heard the news that Otto Von Habsburg passed away in his home near Munich, was that every one of us could only wish to have such a long life where one would have the chance to see his highest goals and ideals realized. Otto Von Habsburg spent his life in constant fight to preserve the European continent from the threats upon the European principals and values, and against humanity in general. Otto Von Habsburg has timely recognized the great threat towards Europe, coming from the ideology of fascism and later the communism. He was aware that the ideology that strives to reduce the individual on a level of collective, or to say a crowd, that intends to wipe out the individual identity and the opportunity for free thought, can represent a far more serious internal peril for the European countries than any other external invasion. During his youth, the European principals and bright ideas that drew the continent out of the middle age were revoked, threatening to lead Europe in an even darker and terrifying period.

We must stop for a moment and pay due respect to the man who faced with this coming evil choose not to run away (though his position could easily allow him to) and leave his homeland to deal this threat alone, but he kept fighting to disfigure the evil in all its forms, up until the final victory against fascism.

Unfortunately, this victory did not mark the end of the European wandering. The emergence of the new threat – the communism – has broken the European continent, drawing sharp line across the historically established relations among the peoples. The open war amongst the European nations has given space to the defeating idea that half of Europe could live for a long time, maybe forever, without the basic respect for human rights, without the elementary respect for the human dignity, that the Europeans are able to build countries-dungeons for the human body and soul. In the period when after the war, the pledges to maintain the status-quo in favor of the peace were strong and loud, we must once again salute the bravery and the vision of Otto Von Habsburg who refused to allow for Europe to exist without its one half.

The Pan-European movement, lead for a long time by Otto Von Habsburg, was organized as a brotherhood of free-minded people who refuse to resign the ideals that people are created to live freely, opposite the present political opportunism or their own fears. Through the Pan-European movement and from the unfinished building of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Otto Von Habsburg repeats the message - that all the people in Europe are created to be free. That some politicians’ readiness to shut their eyes before this truth, to shut their voice against the nature of the totalitarian regimes on the other side of the Iron Curtain, will remain their eternal shame. That the situation that overwhelms Europe after the war cannot and must not be accepted and tolerated.

God has given him a long life, so he can see and enjoy the fulfillment of his vision. His restless activities have wide opened the doors for the enslaved European countries to return to the brotherhood of free democratic countries. Otto Von Habsburg and his dignified family were among the first who opened the Iron Curtain inviting the beaten Europeans from the other side back to the light. We owe Otto Von Habsburg for being one of the first who spoke out about freedom, democracy and human rights on the former Soviet bloc’s territories and those of the former socialist Yugoslavia. By all means, what I refer to here is the usage of these words in their right context, and not as a parody or evil manipulation of the totalitarian regimes.

Even though he left Europe in times where the continent is once again faced with numerous challenges and serious problems, we can rely on the fact that thanks to the visionaries like Otto Von Habsburg, there is an accumulated knowledge and experience which assure us that we can deal the challenges ahead in a constructive manner. That we will not allow recurrence of the tragic European ideological errors and misconceptions that have been entering from theory to practice vary fast, leaving behind havoc and personal and national tragedies.

I am sorry I haven’t had the chance to meet His Excellency Otto Von Habsburg. The great friend of Macedonia who has been supporting the Macedonian country from the very first day of its independence, even in times when we were uncertain in its success and longevity, and unsure regarding our previous and future place in Europe. Now when we observe two decades of independence we must be aware that the efforts of many known and unknown friends are embedded in our great success. I am glad that we have paid due respect to one of them, to the great highness Otto Von Habsburg. We have expressed our gratitude by awarding him the Order of Merit for Macedonia. The last crowned prince of Austro-Hungary is entering the eternal home of his ancestors, not as a mighty ruler, but as a great European. Here’s to his eternal glory.

Dr. Gjorge Ivanov

President of Republic of Macedonia