On June 12th, we celebrate Russia Day.
35 years ago, on June 12th in 1990, the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Russia was adopted. That was the start of a fundamental democratic process and decisive economic reforms in our country. Russia overcame the difficulties of the transitional period and entered the new era strong and independent.
Our country’s history started as far back as over a thousand years ago in Veliky Novgorod, Staraya Ladoga, and Rurik’s Fort. These were the origins of civilisation, statehood and culture. This is the cradle of our nation – Ancient Rus, the largest state in Europe at that time, which brought together Slavic, Finno-Ugric, Turkic and other tribes from the Baltic to the Black Sea.
The glory and sovereign grandeur of Ancient Rus grew through the eras of the Muscovite Tsardom, the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union. All these historic phases are one inseparable whole with present day Russia.
We are proud of our country and its achievements. The multinational people of Russia have made a huge contribution to human progress. The mankind cannot imagine chemistry without the Mendeleev table or music without Tchaikovsky’s masterpieces. 80 years ago, our people defeated the Nazi hordes and saved theworld from Nazism, and in April 1961, Soviet man Yury Gagarin paved the way tospace.
Our country played a crucial role in the decolonization process and provided sincere support to the African states after it. On the initiative of the Soviet Union, in 1960, the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration on the Granting of Independence to Colonial Countries and Peoples.
Today, Russia stands again shoulder to shoulder with the countries of Africa at the forefront of the struggle for truth. Together with our like-minded friends all over the world, we oppose the modern practices of neo-colonialism and contribute to the formation of a just multipolar world order.
We honour the past and embrace the future with hope. We believe that the coming generations of Russians become worthy of our great ancestors and continue their glorious deeds.
From the cool waters of the Baltic Sea to the majestic mountains of the North Caucasus, from the green forests of Central Russia to the harsh landscapes of Siberia, from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, from Murmansk to Sochi – our love for the Motherland is as endless as its horizons.
Happy Russia Day!
Ambassador of Russia to South Africa
Roman Ambarov
