Transcript of Speech by Ambassador L. Moiseev at the ceremony of awarding Mr. James Ford a commemorative medal

April 14,2005

Ladies and Gentlemen

It is a great pleasure to greet Mr. James Ford and his family today at my Residence.

Only several days separate us from the 60-th anniversary of the Victory over Fascism which will be celebrated worldwide.

World War II was not only a global battle exceeding in scale all the previous armed conflicts in world history. For the first time in history the stake in this struggle was the preservation of the life of whole peoples. Gas chambers and crematoria of Aushwitz, Buchenvald, Mauthauzen and other death camps have shown what fascism carried with it, what future its so called "new order" was preparing for the world.

Therefore the main outcome of the war was not merely the victory of one coalition of states over the other. In essence, it was the Victory over the forces of destruction and barbarism, it was the Victory of life over death.

The war turned into the greatest tragedy for the peoples of Europe and the entire world, irrespective of on whose side their countries fought. Not a single family, not a single human story was left untouched by its consequences.

For us in Russia it was the Great Patriotic War, the war in which the central, decisive role in achieving the Victory belongs to the people of our country. The war started on June 22, 1941, when the total strength of the German war machine supported by German allies was brought on us.

The thousand-year history of Russia had not known any similar ordeals. The will for victory united people of all the many nationalities of our country and of all age and social groups. And therefore the approaching anniversary of the Victory is in the first place a tribute of veneration and the profoundest gratitude to those who upheld the independence of our Fatherland and brought the long-awaited liberation to the people of Europe enslaved by fascism.

The Victory was achieved by enormous sacrifice. Russia's human losses were close to 30 million people. Our country lost one third of its national wealth. During 1418 days and nights all the major battles of the World War II were fought on the Eastern Front. American President Franklin Roosevelt, recognizing Russia's war efforts, wrote that Russians were killing more enemy soldiers and destroying more enemy weapons than all the rest 25 Allies taken together. The total length of the Russian front was 2200 kilometers (the minimal length) and 6200 kilometers (the maximum length). German losses on the Russian front accounted for 73 percent of the total German human losses and for 75 percent of the total tank, aviation and artillery losses during World War II. The Stalingrad battle involved two million armed personnel from both sides. Only one episode of the battle of Kursk involved 1200 tanks.

Our diplomacy also made its journey to Victory together with the entire people. The establishment of the anti-Hitler coalition can rightfully be called the largest diplomatic breakthrough of its time. The coalition became an example of the rallying of states of different ideologies and political systems in the face of common mortal threat. Today, 60 years on, there is no need to simplify or embellish history. Each of the members of the anti-Hitler coalition pursued its own aims, had its own national interests. Achievement of mutual trust did not come easy. But still, the participants of the coalition succeeded in rising above their differences and putting aside all that was secondary for the sake of achieving common Victory as their principal task. Opponents of fascism were united by a common understanding of the fact that evil had to be resisted, sparing no effort for that, allowing no compromises, concessions or separate deals. This lesson in full measure retains its relevance in our days as well.

The outcome of the war exerted profound influence on the development of international relations. Even now, 60 years later, when the world has changed beyond recognition, elements of the postwar arrangement of Europe and the world retain enormous significance for the cause of safeguarding peace and security on our planet.

It is logical that the main celebrations of the Victory over Fascism will be held this year in Moscow on the 9th of May, where dignitaries from nearly 60 countries are invited. Australia will be represented by the Governor General. Mr. Derek J Robson, National Secretary of RSLA will represent Australian war veterans.

The Embassy took the initiative in organizing several functions in Australia to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of the War and the Australian contribution to the Russian war effort.

Australians visited Russia in 1942 in the ranks of the 455th RAAF squadron. The squadron flew Canadian-made Hampden bombers. In spring 1942 the Hampdens were refurbished into torpedo-carriers to cover the convoy PQ-18 to Russia and hunt for the German battleship "Tirpitz" - the "King of the Ocean" which was scarring the Allies during the war. Five Australian military personnel were awarded Russian military decorations during the War.

The "Sheepskins for Russia" campaign to manufacture warm winter uniforms for Soviet soldiers was organised and chaired during the Second World War by Lady Jessie Mary Grey Street. For more than three years Australian sheepskins were purchased, tanned and dispatched to the Soviet Union. By the time of German surrender in May 1945 almost half a million cured sheepskins had been sent to Russia together with boxes of drugs and many cases of other medical supplies. One of the most active participants in the "Sheepskins for Russia" campaign was Betty Bloch, who died two years ago.

Several months ago the President of Russia by his decree decorated war veterans with commemorative medal. Today it is a great priviledge for me to confer this decoration to Mr. James Ford of Canberra.

Mr James Ford during the WWII served as an able seaman on the British destroyer "Musketeer" and took part in several Arctic Convoys to Russia between 1942-1944. In total there were 42 Arctic Convoys and the Arctic Route was absolutely vital for Russia as a supply of fighter planes, tanks, ammunition, trucks, fuel, provision, locomotives. Other supply routes established during the war through the Far East and via Iran were not as effective as the Polar route. Those who read the famous novel by Alistar Mclean know well how dangerous it was to be on the Arctic convoy ships. There were confronting not only the weather - sub-zero temperatures and snow blizzards - they had to be alert 24 hours a day because German submarines - "wolf packs" and planes were prowling on them.

Hundreds of Australians took part in the convoys heading to the Northern ports of Russia during WWII. They served in the British Navy and on merchant ships.

Russian medal "60th Anniversary of the Victory in the Great Patriotic War 1941-1945" is not the first one on Mr Ford's chest. He was also awarded the medals "40 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War" and "50 years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War".

Mr Ford is the first Australian out of 491 to be decorated with the Russian Medal this year.

The medal will be conferred to 259 war veterans in Victoria, 138 in New South Walles, 33 in Western Australia, 45 in South Australia, 12 in Queensland.

To commemorate the anniversary we are organizing a Gala concert in one of the biggest venues in Australia - Hamer Hall, The Arts Centre in Melbourne on Sunday 1 May.