Opening the meeting, Sergei Ivanov noted that when preparations for the anniversary began, it was hard to imagine how acute this topic would become as the battle for the historic truth came to the fore of the foreign policy agenda. He stressed the need for systematic and consistent efforts to defend the truth about the war.
According to Mr Ivanov, all the gala events and informational, cultural, youth and other projects that are being prepared for the anniversary all over the country should serve to promote the nation’s spiritual unity and enhanced patriotic feelings. At the same time, we should not forget that war veterans are the central figures at these celebrations. They should receive maximum attention, gratitude, respect, care and support from the state and society, Sergei Ivanov said.
First Deputy Defence Minister Arkady Bakhin and Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin also made reports at the meeting. They spoke of preparations for the military parades and the participation of other countries’ representatives in the gala events.
Representative of the Presidential Administrative Directorate Valery Soluyanov briefed the meeting participants on the implementation of the plan of events dedicated to the Victory Anniversary, while Sevastopol Governor Sergei Menyailo spoke of Victory celebrations in that hero-city.
An executive summary of the report on the main events connected to the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War will be presented to the President at a meeting of the Victory National Organising Committee.