BREST, 21 June (BelTA) - The memory of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War unites the peoples of the Commonwealth of Independent States, Chairman of the CIS Executive Committee - Executive Secretary Sergei Lebedev said during a visit to the Brest Hero Fortress memorial complex, BelTA has learned.
"These June days are reverent for all citizens of the CIS countries, the former Soviet Union, which survived the terrible war and, most importantly, won it. The memory of our common Victory unites us today. It teaches us a lesson that we are strong and capable of defending the freedom and independence of our countries only if we are together. This is the most important conclusion that you make when visiting the Brest fortress. By paying homage, paying tribute to those buried here, we are thinking about the future. Both the past and the future oblige us to be together," Sergei Lebedev said.
He noted that the Brest fortress, which took the first blow during the Great Patriotic War, remains a symbol of courage, resilience and devotion to the Motherland. "The memory of the heroic defenders of the Brest fortress is alive in the hearts of citizens of the CIS countries. This is why tourists come here to honor the memory of their grandfathers. People are alive as long as the memory of them is alive," Sergei Lebedev said.
Representatives of the CIS laid flowers to the Eternal Fire and to the necropolis in the Brest fortress and observed a minute of silence to honor the memory of the defenders of the citadel.
On 21 June Brest hosted an on-site meeting of the CIS Council of Permanent Plenipotentiary Representatives . The signed an agreement on cooperation to combat infectious diseases and mitigate the economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic. Tourism development in the CIS was also discussed.
