In his greetings to the President of Moldova, Vladimir Voronin, the Russian President wrote, in part: “Humanity will forever owe a debt to those who saved the world from violence and enslavement. On this day we bow our heads in tribute to the victors who did not spare themselves defending the freedom and independence of their Motherland.
“I warmly congratulate all the veterans and participants in the Great Patriotic War who live in the Republic of Moldova on this holiday.”
In his congratulations to President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin said: “The present bonds of friendship, brotherhood and strategic partnership between Russia and Ukraine provide a solid foundation for the progress of our countries. I am convinced that their further strengthening and development is the best monument to those who gave their lives for the freedom and independence of the Motherland”.
His message to the Tajik leader Emomali Rakhmonov reads in part: “The fraternal relations between the Russian and Tajik peoples, tempered during the years of the Great Patriotic War, have today developed into a strategic partnership between our countries. The common task facing us is to strengthen and develop the multi-faceted interaction between Russia and Tajikistan as allies.”
“Fighting shoulder to shoulder in this fierce battle for the freedom and independence of their Motherland, our peoples displayed unprecedented heroism, determination and courage. We will never forget the dear price paid for Victory and we will always remember the huge contribution Belarus made to the common cause of defeating Nazism,” Vladimir Putin stresses in a telegram to Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko. “I am convinced that Victory Day will forever remain in our hearts as a symbol of a shared heroic past, the greatness of the spirit and brotherhood of our peoples. Today we are together building a Union State, which will ensure a reliable basis for greater security and dynamic development of the two countries, and a sustained improvement of the wellbeing of Russian and Belarusian citizens. I am convinced that successful progress along that path is the best monument to Victory in the Great Patriotic War and evidence of our profound respect and gratitude to those who accomplished that immortal feat.”
The message of congratulations to the President of Uzbekistan Islam Karimov reads in part: “We bow our heads to the memory of the sons and daughters of our peoples who gave their lives to save the world from Nazi enslavement. It is our sacred duty before them to deepen the allied interaction between Russia and Uzbekistan, to strengthen international and regional stability and security. Please convey to the combat veterans of the Great Patriotic War and those who contributed to the war effort on the home front profound appreciations for their military and labour exploits and wishes of good health and longevity, and, to all the people of Uzbekistan, wishes of happiness and prosperity.”
The telegram sent to President Saparmurat Niyazov of Turkmenistan reads in part: “The heroism of those who died on the fields of battles against Nazism will forever remain in the memories of generations. I am convinced that the brotherhood of the peoples of Russia and Turkmenistan forged in the course of battles and labour during the Great Patriotic War will remain a solid foundation of friendship and cooperation between our two countries.”
“On the 57th anniversary of Victory I convey the warmest congratulations to you, veterans of the Great Patriotic War, and the friendly people of Azerbaijan,” the telegram to President Heidar Aliyev of the Republic of Azerbaijan reads, in part. “Today, when new threats to peace and security have arisen, all states bear a heavy responsibility. I am convinced that it is our duty to those who saved the world from the Nazi threat to strengthen cooperation in the fight against international terror, and to expand all-round interaction between our countries.”
In his message to the President of the Kyrgyz Republic Askar Akayev, the Russian head of state wrote: “The memory of the past war and the heroic feat of the older generations are immune to the attrition of time: May 9 will forever stand as a symbol of the self-sacrifice of our peoples on the battlefields and on the home front for the sake of victory over Nazism. I am sure that the best monument to the great victory is our joint efforts to develop the traditional relations of friendship and cooperation between the fraternal peoples of Russia and Kyrgyzstan.”
The telegram addressed to President Eduard Shevardnadze of Georgia stresses: “The fight against a common enemy added heroic pages to the history of friendship between our peoples. The memory of their great feat will forever remain in the hearts of grateful posterity. It is the duty of present generations to be worthy successors to the cause of the victors.”
“Centuries-old ties bind the fraternal peoples of Russia and Armenia together and form the basis of allied interaction between our countries,” the Russian leader writes in a telegram to President Robert Kocharian of Armenia. The contribution of the valiant representatives of the Armenian people to the defeat of Nazism is great. The 89th Taman Division formed in Armenia fought its way from the foothills of the Caucasus to Berlin; many Armenians fought in partisan units on enemy-occupied territories. I am sure that the relations of friendship and mutual trust, tested over the centuries, will continue to develop for the benefit of our peoples, in the interests of peace and stability in the Caucasus.”
The message of congratulations to President Nursultan Nazarbayev of Kazakhstan reads in part: “The sons and daughters of our peoples, many of whom gave their lives for the independence of their Motherland had made a dedicated and priceless contribution to the common struggle against the Nazi threat. I am convinced that the best monument to their heroic feat is further strengthening of friendship, alliance and strategic partnership between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Kazakhstan.”