MOSCOW, 1 December (BelTA) – Ministers of foreign affairs of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) member states believe it is inadmissible to glorify Nazism and spread the ideology of hatred and extremism. The ministers have released a joint statement to that effect on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the end of World War Two. The statement was adopted at the session of the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council on 1 December, BelTA has learned.
The statement reads: “The 75th anniversary of the end of the bloodiest war in the history of mankind is celebrated this year. That war affected most of the planet's population. It is our sacred duty to preserve memory about the great deed of our compatriots, who gave their lives and endured tremendous privations to destroy the enemy and free peoples of European countries and other countries of the world from enslavement by the Nazi.”
The statement underlines that the adoption of the United Nations General Assembly resolution on the 75th anniversary of the end of World War Two on 5 November 2020 is a testimony to the recognition of the victory secured in 1945 as a common value of humankind. The resolution was coauthored by CSTO member states. The victory in World War Two was crucial to the modern system of international relations while rulings of the Nuremberg Tribunal legally recognized the civilized world's victory over National Socialism.
The CSTO foreign ministers stated with regret that attempts to distort history and forget lessons of that war became more frequent in the last few years. “We believe that the international community must by all means counteract any manifestations of Neo-fascism, chauvinism, all forms of xenophobia, enmity, racial and national supremacy as well as radical nationalism,” the joint statement reads.
“We emphatically condemn any attempts of individual political forces to rewrite history and distort results of World War Two,” the ministers of foreign affairs of the CSTO member states stated. “We express deep concern about glorification of the Nazi movement, neo-Nazism, and former members of the organization Waffen-SS in any form, including the construction of monuments and memorials and the organization of public rallies in order to glorify the Nazi past, the Nazi movement, and neo-Nazism and by means of declaring or attempting to declare members of this organization and those, who fought against the anti-Hitler coalition, those, who cooperated with the Nazi movement and committed war crimes and crimes against humanity, as participants of national liberation movements.” The CSTO foreign ministers also condemned the renaming of streets in honor of such people.
The CSTO foreign ministers believe it is inacceptable to wage a war on monuments and memorials on communal graves of the liberator warriors. “Attempts to rewrite history may result in the repetition of tragic errors of the past,” the statement warns. “We urge for support for the UN General Assembly's annual resolution on combating glorification of Nazism, neo-Nazism and other practices that contribute to fueling contemporary forms of racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance.”
“We underline the need to step up efforts to prevent crimes against humanity, prevent the spread of the ideology of hatred and extremism, discrimination based on ethnicity, race or religion, prevent other inhuman actions. It is our sacred duty to preserve the historical truth about the liberation of the world from the hateful ideology of the Nazi for the current generation and future ones. It is our sacred duty to maintain traditions and the spirit of Allied relations,” the CSTO foreign ministers stated.
According to CSTO Press Secretary Vladimir Zainetdinov, the session of the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council was held in the videoconference format. Participants of the session exchanged opinions about topical problems of security and the enhancement of the CSTO's effectiveness, practical aspects of enhancement of interaction of the member states within the framework of the organization and in the international scene. They also exchanged opinions about cooperation between the Collective Security Treaty Organization and the United Nations Organization, including within the framework of UN-sponsored peacemaking efforts. UN Under-Secretary-General for Peace Operations Jean-Pierre Lacroix delivered a video address to participants of the session.
Chairman of the CSTO Foreign Ministers Council Sergey Lavrov informed colleagues about results of Russia's presidency in the organization in 2019-2020. The ministers presented evaluations of the state and prospects of development of the international situation and the regional situation and their influence on stability in the CSTO space. A number of documents and political statements were approved. They will be presented for consideration and approval of the CSTO heads of state at the next session of the CSTO Collective Security Council on 2 December, including draft declarations of the council and statements in favor of establishing a fair and stable world order.
