Victory Day 2009 on the Thames Brings Russia and the UK Closer

LONDON - Great Britain and Russia Celebrated Their Joint Victory Day Honouring the Arctic Convoys

Saturday, 9 May 2009 was a big day for the veterans of both nations. Russian and British veterans of the Arctic Convoys celebrated their joint Victory Day together in London.

Photos: picasaweb.google.com/BorisKhalfin/Belfast?authkey=Gv1sRgCNvml-T_prbpOQ

During the official ceremony held on HMS Belfast, HRH The Duke of Kent, HE the Ambassador of the Russian Federation, Yury Fedotov, British veterans, three Russian veterans from Arkhangelsk (a city in the North West of Russia) and guests commemorated their friends and celebrated their victory.

Addressing everyone present, HRH The Duke of Kent said:

“Every year we are moving further away in time from the horrors of WW2, which cost so many lives and caused so much devastation across so many countries. Generations will come and go, but what must never be forgotten is the price that humanity had to pay.

Today we celebrate the living, but we also commemorate those who are no longer with us. The Arctic Convoys represented one of the greatest examples of Anglo-Russian cooperation in that terrible war, and I feel very honoured to be present with these brave men, who had the difficult and dangerous task of carrying supplies to our Russian allies under attack from both enemy and the elements.

I’d like particularly to pay my respects to our Russian friends, some of whom I know are present today, who were fighting shoulder to shoulder with the British Royal and Merchant Navy. The Arctic Convoys of 1941-1945 signify the close historical ties between our two countries. We had a common evil to defeat and we did so together.

To you brave veterans of the Convoys I offer my congratulations and my best wishes for the future.”

Mr Yury Fedotov, The Ambassador of Russian Federation, noted that “…The brotherhood in arms we had with the Royal Navy in the Arctic Convoys is a good illustration of how we can meet common threats and challenges. Both of our countries have a lot to remember and be proud of, and I hope that our future generations will remember and keep up the traditions, which are so necessary for us to link our present with our past, to lead us to our future…”

The organiser, Eugene Kasevin, Chairman of Finance and Investment Markets Players Club “KIFIR” (www.kifir.info) stated that “despite the world’s current economic difficulties, such a joint effort of the business communities of Great Britain and Russia to celebrate their historical unity during the dark days of Wold War Two highlights the strong historic ties between the two great nations and reinforces the prevailing respect of current generation to those who gave their lives in defeating the oppressors”.

The Royal Signals Band performed military music during the event. The minute silence was followed by anthems of Russia and Britain the four-inch gun salute from HMS Belfast concluded the ceremony. Russian folk dance from an East-European ladies dance group brought happy smiles on veteran’s faces. The long abolished naval tradition of Pusser’s Rum “Up Spirits!” was re-enacted, followed by festive food, drinks and wartime music and songs.

This celebration was supported by Peter Hambro Mining Plc (UK), J.P.Morgan Cazenove (UK) and VTB Capital (Russia). Others contributing include the Imperial War Museum (UK), British Embassy in Moscow and St. Petersburg, Finance Magazine (Russia), PR Newswire (UK), Angliya Newspaper (UK), Interfax (Russia), Pusser’s Rum (UK), Russky Standart Vodka (Russia), The Russia House (UK) and others.

Organizer website: www.kifir.info

PR Newswire Europe is the Official News Distribution Partner (www.prnewswire.co.uk/cgi/news/release?id=226970)

Contact details:

For press accreditation and further details please contact Eugene Kasevin. T. +44-(0)207-403-9922 or kasevin@kifir.info

Source: KIFIR.info

For press accreditation and further details please contact Eugene Kasevin. T. +44-(0)207-403-9922 or kasevin at kifir.info