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President Vladimir Putin sent greetings to members of the Association of German Veterans of the Resistance, the Allied Armed Forces and the Free Germany Movement on the occasion of that organisation's 10th anniversary

May 30, 2002

The message reads, in part:

“Russia remembers those who contributed to liberating mankind from Hitler’s enslavement, and had the strength and courage to oppose the man-hating Nazi regime. We honour the feat of the international fighters who fought shoulder to shoulder with the Allied Armies for the sake of peace, freedom and prosperity of the peoples of Europe.

“The lofty mission of German anti-fascist veterans has lost none of its relevance today, half a century after the end of the Second World War. Those who will build the Europe of the 21st century must know and remember it.

“Today we sometimes see attempts to rewrite history. I am convinced that in this connection it is particularly important to remember the causes of the bloodiest of wars which brought untold suffering on the Europeans, including the German people, and to prevent a revision of the fundamental international legal principles of the post-war arrangement of the world.

“Today the relations between Russia and Germany are actively developing on the basis of the common interest in securing peace and stability in a united and indivisible Europe. German anti-Nazi veterans who risked their lives and made a priceless contribution to eliminating hostility and hatred from our continent have a significant role to play in the process of historical reconciliation between our countries.”

May 30, 2002