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In his letter to the President of October 22, 2004, King Harald V wrote, in particular:

“During these days we remember the events of sixty years ago when Red Army soldiers crossed the Norwegian border and liberated our northern regions from Nazi occupation. The liberation of Sor-Varanger is one of the great milestones in Norwegian military history. This liberation came through fierce and bloody battles that caused great losses among the Soviet soldiers, including on Norwegian soil. All Norwegians are deeply and sincerely grateful to the courageous Red Army soldiers for their contribution and the losses they suffered.

Sixty years ago, Norwegians and Russians stood side by side in the fight against our common enemy. The dramatic events of 2004 have become part of our shared historical heritage. Today, Norwegians and Russians cooperate peacefully in the name of a better future for our peoples.”

On behalf of the Norwegian people, King Harald V also expressed gratitude and respect for the Red Army soldier-liberators and the Russian people. “Their deeds played a decisive part in bringing us peace and freedom 60 years ago,” he wrote.

In his response, Mr Putin noted in particular:

“We highly appreciate the respect and attention your country’s leadership and ordinary citizens show for the memory of the Soviet soldiers who lost their lives on Norwegian soil. The struggle against Nazism that we fought, shoulder to shoulder, has strengthened the centuries-old traditions of good-neighbourliness between Russians and Norwegians.

Today, this historical experience forms a good foundation for further all-round development of Russian-Norwegian relations and expanding our countries’ cooperation on the international stage.”

In conclusion, Mr Putin congratulated King Harald V on the sixtieth anniversary of the liberation of northern Norway and wished the Norwegian people peace and prosperity.