Opinions & Interviews

MOSCOW, 4 May (BelTA) - Remembering the lessons of the Great Patriotic War, Belarus has pursued a consistent policy of good-neighborliness and peace, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Belarus to Russia Igor Petrishenko said at a ceremony dedicated to the Victory Day in the business and cultural center of the embassy on 4 May, BelTA has learned.

“The past must not be forgotten, especially today, when the relations between the states are worsening and when there are armed conflicts in different parts of the world. The memory of the terrible war and the Great Victory may not fade away: it is part of the history of the homeland, every family. Belarus and Russia hold sacred the memory of those events and the lessons of the Great Patriotic War,” Ambassador Igor Petrishenko said.

The diplomat stressed that the Belarusians highly appreciate the friendship and cooperation with other nations and states. “We will do our best to make sure Belarus will always remain a land of stability, creativity and goodwill,” the ambassador said.

The event was attended by the war veterans, representatives of the integration bodies, Russian regional administration, diasporas, diplomats, and figures of culture and arts. With a standing ovation they welcomed the last surviving defender of the Brest Fortress Piotr Kotelnikov. Sharing his memories, he called on the current generation to learn from the heroes of the war and their boundless love for the fatherland.

The business and cultural center also hosted an exhibition of posters of the Great Patriotic War prepared by Belarus’ National History Museum. The evening ended with a concert featuring Irina Dorofeeva’s song theater and a ballet company of the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts directed by Svetlana Gutkovskaya.