Transcript of the speech by Alexander Zhukov:
Colleagues, I am addressing you on behalf of President Dmitry Medvedev, who has asked me to call to order the first meeting of the state commission on preparations of the 200th anniversary celebration of Russia's victory in the Patriotic War of 1812.
It is appropriate that we are holding our first meeting here, the Battle of Borodino Panorama Museum, which celebrates our victory in that war. I'd like to thank the museum staff and the Moscow government for this opportunity.
The military leader Mikhail Kutuzov wrote to Emperor Alexander I after the battle: "The day will be for ever celebrated as a monument to the courage and unparalleled valour of the Russian soldiers, when the infantry, the cavalry and the artillery demonstrated the firmness of spirit of the Russian soldiers who sacrificed their lives for their Fatherland."
The chronicle of the heroism of the 1812 war has been an inspiration for generations of defenders of the Fatherland and the foundation on which new generations have been brought up in the spirit of patriotism and respect for the country's historical and cultural heritage.
That victory, which has been eulogised by poets, writers, artists, composers and film directors, is a glorious page in Russian history, and those who helped to achieve it are national heroes.
As the poet Alexander Pushkin wrote: "One can and must be proud of the deeds of one's forbearers. Disrespect for them is the shameful mark of a weak heart, the first sign of barbarity and immorality."
In the 200 years since that victory, our predecessors have done much to immortalise that glorious event:
- On December 25, 1812, when Napoleon's army was driven out of Russia, Emperor Alexander I, to "honour Russia's military victory and praise God," signed an Imperial Proclamation on the construction of the Christ the Saviour Cathedral in Moscow.
- For the 100th anniversary, dozens of monuments, obelisks and memorial plaques were dedicated in Moscow, St Petersburg, Smolensk, Vyazma, Maloyaroslavets, Dorogobuzh, Krasnoye and other cities to commemorate victorious regiments and war heroes. Four churches and chapels were built. The Battle of Borodino panorama painted by Franz Roubaud was put on display in a building specially built to house it. The Borodino Bridge was built in Moscow and efforts to establish the 1812 Museum were begun. A jubilee medal and a special "Borodino rouble" were minted.
- In time for the 150th anniversary, in 1962, the Battle of Borodino Panorama Museum was built and unveiled - where we are meeting today - and the wonderful films, "The Hussar Ballad" and "War and Peace," were made.
-
Considering this past experience, modern Russia should do its utmost to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the 1812 Patriotic War at the highest possible level. We have everything we need for this.
The government has issued an executive order approving an action plan on preparations of the 200th anniversary celebration of Russia's victory in the Patriotic War of 1812.
It is based on proposals from federal ministries and departments, the Russian Academy of Sciences, executive authorities of the city of Moscow and the Kaluga, Moscow, Smolensk and Tver regions.
The 2009-2012 budget sets aside 2,383,649,000 roubles for these purposes.