Exhibition "Remember"

Ambassador Khvostov
Mr. Nikforov
Excellencies
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is an honour to welcome you to the opening of this exhibition entitled Remember on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War. I wish to acknowledge the efforts of the Permanent Missions of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus in making this event possible.

As part of the Allied Forces, the Soviet Union played a critical role in bringing an end to the War -- a war which brought untold sorrow to humankind, in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Pacific and other parts of the world. These haunting photographs serve as a stark reminder of a history that must never be repeated.

Seventy years ago, the United Nations was born out of the ashes of the Second World War. To mark this anniversary, the General Assembly adopted a resolution encouraging Member States to pay tribute to all the victims of the Second World War, and this exhibition is a fitting way of contributing to this objective.

Ladies and gentlemen:

As we come together to pay tribute to those who lost their lives in the cauldron of the Second World War, we should draw on the bravery, determination and unity of purpose of the United Nations - a term first coined in 1942 - that brought an end to what undoubtedly was one of the darkest chapters in human history. Tonight, we reaffirm our commitment to the values and principals of the United Nations Charter, and our promise to succeeding generations that they never again fall victim to the scourge of war.

Thank you.