India PM congratulates Russian people on 60th anniversary of Victory
By Yuri Sidorov
ITAR-TASS News Agency
May 4, 2005 Wednesday 3:05 PM Eastern Time
NEW DELHI, May 4 — A solemn meeting devoted to the 60th anniversary
of the Victory in World War II was held at the Russian Science and
Culture Centre in New Delhi on Wednesday.
An address by Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was read out at the
meeting. Mr Singh expressed best wishes to the Russians in connection
with this remarkable event.
Everybody knows very well about heroism, courage and sacrifices of the
Russian people during the World War II, the prime minister said in the
address, adding that India had also made a due share of contribution
to the defeat of fascism.
An exhibition of photographs entitled The People Who Won the War
opened in the lobby of the Centre. It showed episodes from the key
battles and phases of the War.
Russia’s victory over Nazi Germany marked a pivotal point in world
history and brought forward the moment of national liberation, the
president of the Indian-Russian Friendship Society, Bali Ram Bhagat,
told Itar-Tass.
The 60th anniversary of Victory became a noticeable event in the
Indian memorial dates calendar, Mr Bali Ram Bhagat said.
The forthcoming trip of the country’s prime minister to Russia
for joining festivities on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of
the Great Victory will promote further strengthening of strategic
partnership between the two countries, he said.
Russian ambassador to India Vyacheslav Trubnikov took part in the
meeting.
The list of invitees included Indian government officials, members
of national parliament, heads of Armenian, Belarussian, Bulgarian,
Ukrainian, Uzbekistan diplomatic missions, and others.