Remarks by Mr. Dmitry Chumakov, Deputy Permanent Representative of the Russian Federation to the United Nations, at the Memorial Wreath Laying Ceremony in honor of the heroes of the Alexandrov Choir Ensemble who perished on 26th December 2016
Dear friends,
I would like to congratulate you on New Year! We have gathered today to pay tribute to tragic events of 26th December 2016, when we lost the Alexandrov Choir Ensemble, journalists, humanitarian worker, philanthropist Elizaveta Ginka. We are still mourning the losses, terrible and tremendous, and we are grateful to the American people who show solidarity during those trying times, we are thankful to the Schiller Institute and the Fire Department of Bayonne for organizing this event.
Time passes by but the loss is still felt. The best way to pay tribute to those courageous men and women who were present at that night is to remember them and to continue their course.
In Russia the Alexandrov Choir Ensemble was reconstituted just 2 months after the tragedy. Now new performers, new singers, new dancers were found. And they were found not only because of their merits, because of their voices, because of their craftsmanship but because of their moral qualities, because of their solidarity. So, the Ensemble is there, it is performing. The Charity foundation that was founded by Elizaveta Glinka is continuing its noble course helping people in need, sometimes in very difficult situations.
So let's remember these people who are trying to show solidarity, to show sympathy with people all over the world, especially the people in Syria.
Considerable progress has been made on Syria in 2018. Now we need to step up joint efforts to launch the Constitutional Committee in Geneva, that would enjoy support of the Syrian parties, in accordance with the decisions of the Syrian National Dialogue Congress in Sochi. Syria’s future must be determined by the Syrians themselves in a political process they conduct and control with international mediation. Such an approach would contribute to settling and overcoming the consequences of the war; re-establishing the country’s full sovereignty and territorial integrity.
And again, the best tribute to those people who perished, will be to remember them, may their souls rest in peace. Thank you!
