Unity vs common enemy needed as the world faces COVID-19 pandemic, says Russian Amb. Khovaev

Ambassador Khovaev cites unity vs Nazi Germany; thanks Philippine government

MANILA – Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev said the united efforts of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republic, the United Kingdom and the United States and the support of their respective allies resulted in the victory over Hitler’s regime 75 years ago.

In a virtual press conference, Ambassador Khovaev said this year’s celebration will be low-key due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In lieu of grand parades and other social events, they will remember the Allies who stood shoulder to shoulder during the war.

“The Great Patriotic War went down in our country’s history with this name,” he said in a statement. He explained during the virtual press conference that their victory did not come easy because nearly 27 million of their citizens died. He added 2/3 of the casualties were women and children. The Russians, the Jews and Gypsies took the blunt of the Nazi Germany.

He added the leaders of the United States, President Theodore Roosevelt, United Kingdom, Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Russian leader Joseph Stalin and supported by other states, prevailed over Hitler’s Nazi army.

“They set aside their differences and fought the common enemy, the Nazi Germany. The victory against Nazi Germany and its allies taught the world a lesson, that unity is important to fight the common enemy and today, the common enemy is the novel coronavirus,” he said.

He said they will propose to ASEAN member countries to hold a special meeting with the Russian Foreign Minister to discuss ways to cooperate to fight COVID-19.

Ambassador Khovaev said they would study the possibility of exchanging medical experts to learn about the best practices that may be adopted in other countries.

“The meeting will take place within the month,” Ambassador Khovaev said. He also took time to extend his government’s appreciation to the Philippines for assisting hundreds of Russian tourists return to their homeland.

Asked about the possibility of Russian tourists returning to the Philippines, Ambassador Khovaev said they would. (Melo M. Acuña)

Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev. (Screen Grab from Zoom Teleconference)