The telegram reads, in part:
“World War II was an enormous tragedy for all of humanity. Its horrible outcomes included tens of millions of victims, the annihilation of cultural assets, and the destruction of economies. Russia – a country that experienced an enormous share of the war’s adversity and losses – and other nations will always remember those terrible years and do everything to ensure that nothing like this happens again.
Today, all those involved in politics in some way – statesmen, public figures, non-governmental organisations, or the media – have a great responsibility to strengthen humanitarian principles in international relations – principles of mutual respect and regard for one another’s interests. Only this way can we successfully counter modern threats and challenges, effectively prevent conflicts, and ultimately, eliminate the threat of war in Europe and the world forever. In the 21st century, it is imperative to adhere strictly to the principle of equal, indivisible security. This is the goal behind Russia’s initiative on developing a new pan-European security treaty, which is now being widely discussed throughout the continent, including within the framework of your forum.
Resolving these problems requires particular efforts by all reasonable forces in Europe. Recently, we have seen an increase in attempts to blasphemously rewrite history, including the events of World War II. It is important to counter the spread of biased versions of history, which insult the memory of those who defeated Nazism and which poison the public consciousness.
I am certain that this event will significantly boost the noble work of supporting the historical memory of World War II and the great Victory over Nazism.”