Д.Медведев.Церемония вручения грамот.12.01.10.Part 1

Speech at Ceremony Conferring the Titles of City of Military Glory on Arkhangelsk, Kozelsk, and Pskov.
January 12, 2010.Part 1
The Kremlin, Moscow

Церемония вручения грамот о присвоении почётного звания «Город воинской славы» Архангельску, Козельску и Пскову.
12 января 2010 года Москва, Кремль

PRESIDENT OF RUSSIA DMITRY MEDVEDEV: Friends, veterans,

First of all, I would like to wish you a Happy New Year. I am very happy to see all of you.

This new year is a special one for our nation, because this year is the 65th anniversary of our Great Victory. Perhaps, on the eve of this Victory, we are more acutely aware of its meaning for our nation and for the entire world, as well as the historic projection of what happened during that period.

Russia will always honour the memory of those who defended our nations independence and who restored it from the ruins during the difficult post-war period. And we will remember and celebrate the military feats by the Cities of Military Glory, which will be awarded corresponding certificates. We already have nineteen such cities in our nation. Today, three more cities Pskov, Kozelsk, and Arkhangelsk will also receive this honorary title.

For centuries, Pskov served as one of Russias outposts. It was essentially the first city to take a blow from the foreign troops arriving from the West, and throughout its history, it has withstood many sieges. Alexander Nevskys victory on Chudskoye Lake was fateful for our nation and proved the unprecedented resilience of the Pskov residents. They didnt bend their necks during the Livonian War or in the early 17th century when invaders once again surrounded the city. Pskov also fought valiantly in the Great Patriotic War. The fierce battles near this city weakened the Nazis as they headed toward Leningrad. Pskovs partisans were a mighty threat to the fascists, and it is no accident that Hitler maintained here one of his best fortified defence lines. Finally, at the beginning of this decade, Pskov paratroopers from the famous 6th squadron performed a truly heroic feat by engaging in an uneven battle with militants in the North Caucasus to defend our nation.

Kozelsk, one of the oldest Russian cities, earned fame in the 13th century for its unparalleled heroism in its resistance to Batu Khan: this small city withstood a long siege during which the Mongolian army suffered very considerable losses, as recounted in many historical chronicles. During the years of the Great Patriotic War, Kozelsk played an important role in defending our nation and particularly in protecting our capital. During the Kaluga offensive operation, Kozelsk was the place where a large group of enemy forces was blocked, and this had strategic significance for the counteroffensive near Moscow. Today, the missile division stationed in Kozelsk defends our citizens peaceful life and ensures our nations security.

Arkhangelsk, founded by Ivan the Terrible, has always been a sensitive area of national defence as Russias first sea port and shipbuilding centre. It contributed to Peter the Greats success in the Great Northern War. In the grim 1940s, the city ensured uninterrupted movement of convoys carrying freight to the front, including freight delivered as part of the so-called lend-lease. The sailors of the White Sea Flotilla honourably defended their native city, and today, their descendants the officers and sailors of Russias naval forces are defending the northern borders of our Motherland.

I would like to once again sincerely congratulate all of the veterans and residents of Pskov, Kozelsk, and Arkhangelsk on being awarded the honorary titles of City of Military Glory.

I would like to wish everyone health and success in this new year and I would like to once again remind you that little time remains before our Victory celebrations. The federal government, the municipal and regional authorities all have some very serious responsibilities to carry out in a rather short period of time in preparation for the upcoming celebrations of the Great Victory anniversary.

http://www.kremlin.ru

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