Alexander Yakovenko, the Spokesman of Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Answers a Media Question Regarding the Holding of a Special UNGA Session to Mark the 60th Anniversary of the Liberation of the Nazi Concentration Camps

Unofficial translation from Russian

Question: How could you comment on the statement of UN Secretary General Kofi Annan that a Special Session of the UN General Assembly is to be held on January 24 to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the liberation of the Nazi concentration camps?

Answer: Russia not only decisively backed the idea of convening the Special Session of the UN General Assembly, but also from the outset joined the action core of nations seeking its full-scale realization. This is only natural, because our country played a key role in the liberation of the prisoners of the concentration camps. We welcome the decision that the Special Session will be opened on January 24 in New York, and intend to make our contribution to its being held in a worthy manner.

The upcoming session will be an important link in the chain of commemorations of the 60th anniversary of the Great Victory in World War II. Central among them is the UN General Assembly resolution, adopted by consensus with support from a number of CIS states, including Russia, proclaiming the 8th and 9th of May the Days of Memory and Reconciliation. From now on these dates will annually be observed, and a special solemn meeting of the General Assembly will take place in May 2005 in memory of all the war victims.

January 12, 2005