Transcript:

Ladies and gentlemen, this is an exciting event we're witnessing today – the inauguration of the 1812 Patriotic War Museum. Heritage preservation will be the primary purpose of this new museum – of any museum, for that matter.

And that it's based here, in this building, is great news in itself. I can read some historical parallels here; to me this is about the triumph of historical justice, if you will. It's no secret that the idea to create a museum dedicated to the 1812 Patriotic War was suggested a hundred years ago.

The public contributed lots of exhibits and the tsar made a handsome donation. But the museum failed to materialise then. So by opening it now, during the bicentenary for Russia's victory over Napoleon, we are righting historical wrongs in a way.

I haven't been able to see all the exhibits yet, but I've noticed already that the museum brings together period memorabilia with some of the newest multimedia technology, which is absolutely appropriate, I think. In a modern museum environment, historical artefacts should be showcased using modern display technology. This helps bring history to life, which I hope will be very much the case at this new museum.

As for the event whose bicentenary we are now celebrating, it was, indeed, a glorious chapter in Russian history, a period when the nation's patriotism soared. Every nation's history has such special hours, weeks, sometimes years. In retrospect, we can see that there could have been no other outcome to that war; the Russian army proved its worth, routing the invader. Our history has many glorious names and events that we revisit time and again. You know, "Borodino" was actually the first poem I memorised in my childhood. I won't recite it now, though. That's a very special poem, and I'm happy I learned it first. I hope today's schoolchildren will do the same.

Please accept my warmest congratulations on the occasion. Symbolically, this museum is opening in the Year of Russian History. Let me express my sincere thanks to everyone who has contributed to the creation of the displays and to the exhibition halls' renovation. Thanks to everyone involved, including those who are no longer with us; thanks to our forbears who laid the foundation for this splendid museum.

Congratulations!