Dear Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear friends,

 

 

Unlike politicians we, diplomats, are usually very conservative, even stubborn people. And I am no exception. We have a saying – your first posting is like your first love. And all these years at diplomatic service I dutifully believed it was true. Until I arrived in Scotland.

It is almost four years since I have started my posting in Scotland, and I admit that since my arrival I had zero chance not to fall in love with this country. I mean, all my predecessors told me what a quiet, peaceful, predictable and even cozy posting I should expect. And here I am after a storm of various referenda, general and local elections and still counting.

Moscow is being puzzled as well. Was it because of me that Scotland has stormed into the epicenter of world politics and refuses to let go a former First minister and his TV show? Only time will tell.

So, not a single chance to get bored. Even if I do not leave my office in Edinburgh at Melville Street, my life here would not be dull. Just look at our neighbors – the Scottish Salmon Company, next door is the Edinburgh Employment Tribunal (one wrong step and you are in dock), Scotland’s Office and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle Psychic Spiritual Medium Centre, not to mention the Early Days Nurseries.

The second reason that makes my posting to Scotland so unique is an impressive number of links that unite our two nations sharing one Patron Saint, St Andrew. Now you understand how honoured and privileged I am to be here tonight in this friendly atmosphere on this wonderful occasion  in a presence of the Arctic Convoys veterans and their relatives that makes this evening absolutely exceptional.

What I personally respect and admire about Scotland is not just its extraordinary nature, but due to our shared St Patron the extraordinary people. The Scottish spirit has revealed itself many times throughout the history and has not vanished, but is flourishing now in the time of globalization and new global challenges.

And you don’t need to go far to find the embodiment of that very spirit.

Chronicles of the Arctic Convoys are an integral part of the history of Russian-British relations. Just a few weeks after the treacherous attack of Nazis on our country, Arkhangelsk was greeting British ships, which brought first aid from the Allies in this most merciless war in the history of mankind.

The fate of thousands of sailors of Great Britain, the Soviet Union, the United States and other allied countries was to challenge formidable Northern seas to confront the enemy, ready to attack at any moment. Many of them didn’t reach the land. Yet, the arrival of each ship to the harbors of the northern Russia was not just the delivery of a valuable cargo, it was a significant sign that the Soviet people were not alone in their fight against fascism. Courage and dedication of those seamen who steadfastly served on the Arctic Convoys brought much nearer the day when the man-hateful Nazi machine was finally defeated.

But the story of convoys is not solely about a fight and survival; life was still going on even in the darkest hours. Did you know, for example, what a crew of one of the ships received as a gift of gratitude when its ship called the port of Polyarnoe – her destination in Russia in 1943? It was nothing less than a beefy reindeer with a female name Olga. You can imagine the heat of a dispute between those on board who were interested in improving their diet and those who felt sympathy for this creature. I am delighted to make an official declaration that the humane side prevailed again; reindeer Olga survived and led a rich life of an expat in the Edinburgh Zoo, a fact that was formally confirmed to us by from the Zoo administration.

When I started my posting here, I was honoured to present highly esteemed Russian Military Award, The Ushakov medal, to the Veterans of the Arctic Convoys residing in Scotland. I did it personally to each of them either at the ceremony in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Inverness, or at their homes, carehomes, even hospitals. It always makes me feel special warmth and pride when I recall our conversations and jokes while drinking tea with shortbreads and sometimes enjoying even stronger liquids.

There are so many stories which are still vivid in my memory. For example, last year in the middle of preparations to host a Gala-Reception onboard the Royal Yacht Britannia on the occasion of the 75^th Anniversary of the First Arctic Convoy we received a confirmation of attendance from one of the veterans with an interesting note attached.

The veteran was complaining that he had to cancel his dancing class, which he was attending at least three times a week travelling to Glasgow 40 minutes by train and return. He kindly offered to teach me some dance steps, and I am actually seriously considering his offer as he looks 30 years younger his age.

This year I was delighted to take part in the Official Opening of the Russian Arctic Convoys Project’s Exhibition Centre in Aultbea, Scotland, and I also look forward to opening of the Arctic Convoys Museum in St. Petersburg in 2018. I hope to see all these important historical places of worship, grief and pride working together in a strong global network aimed at remembering and promoting the strength of human spirit of those who sailed in these legendary convoys.

 

Every year we, diplomats of the Russian Consulate General in Edinburgh, together with the representatives of the local communities are laying wreaths to the Arctic Convoys memorials at Loch Ewe and Scapa Flow in the Orkneys in early May, when we celebrate Victory Day. It is a sacred duty for all of us and deeply personal to each of us. You can still hardly find a single Russian who did not lose a relative in that war. It is no wonder that in Russia all the veterans of the World War II enjoy enduring love and respect.

We have a saying in Russia that each soldier who has never returned from war dies twice. For the first time – in combat and for the second time when the memory of him has gone.

The brotherhood in arms forged between our nations stands as an indispensable chapter of our shared and proud past, providing us with an obligation to unite our efforts – being private or public – to build an enduring and lasting legacy of the Arctic Convoys and their heroes. That is why any support and attention to the matter is much appreciated. And we are most grateful for your generous help tonight.

 

Ladies and Gentlemen.

 

What we should not forget is that friendship between people, families and nations is not made by the officials, bureaucrats or even diplomats, but by the ordinary people who built up this friendship step by step, sometimes with their lives in deadly peril, and the story of the Arctic Convoys gives us this example.

 

Please, raise your glasses for the Arctic Convoys legacy, Scotland and St Andrews!

Thank you for your attention.