U.S Congress to Host 'Comrades in Arms' Joint Photo Exhibition by RIA NOVOSTI and the Associated Press on the 60th Anniversary of the V-E Day

Washington, D.C. (PRWEB) May 6, 2005

The American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation and the Russian News & Information Agency Novosti /RIA Novosti/ are pleased to announce the photo exhibition “Comrades in Arms” by RIA Novosti and the Associated Press dedicated to American-Russian cooperation in WWII on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of V-E Day. The exhibition opens at the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda on Monday, May 9, 2005 under the gracious patronage of the Honorable William H. Frist, Senate Majority Leader, M.D. and will be followed by a reception at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 50. H.E. the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Yuri V. Ushakov will be the Guest of Honor.

Representatives of the US Congress, veterans of WWII, representatives of the diplomatic corps and distinguished Washingtonians are expected to attend the opening and the reception. The speakers at the reception will be:

The Honorable William H. Frist, Senate Majority Leader, M.D.

H.E. The Ambassador of the Russian Federation Yuri V. Ushakov

Hon. James Billington, Librarian of Congress

Mr. Paul Rodzianko, Senior Vice President, Access Industries, Inc.

Leonid V. Burmistrov, Deputy Director General of the RIA Novosti

Hon. James W. Symington, Chair, American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation will be master of ceremonies.

The exhibition consists of 80 vivid photographs which highlight American-Russian wartime collaboration and the joint celebrations following the meeting of troops of the two countries at the Elbe River. As country after country was liberated from Nazi Germany’s forces, the American and Russian photographers captured numerous unique moments to preserve them in history so that these images might be viewed today not only as a memory of the joint victory, but also as a reminder of what should never again happen in mankind’s history. There are many unique photographs: American ‘lend-lease’ tanks in Russia, American fleets in Northern Russia, Russian and American troops operating side by side, Russian POWs freed by the American soldiers from Hitler’s death camps, allied troops celebrating together. There are official pictures and “people moments” captured, for example, the first two soldiers to meet each other on the Elbe, one American, the other Russian, thus closing the two fronts. The exhibit is also a recollection of the historic events near the end of WWII and right after it, including the allied leaders meetings in Yalta, the Nuremberg trials, interaction of high military commanders like General Patton and General Zhukov. The exhibit will be open to the public at the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda from May 9 through May 13, 2005.

“With this exhibition we salute the veterans of both nations who, together with other treasured allies, produced a victory for all humanity”, said the Honorable James W. Symington, Chairman of the Foundation, and former Member of Congress from Missouri. “Our salute goes not only to soldiers, sailors, and airmen, but to the citizens who supported them by their tireless efforts in factories, farms, and the streets of besieged cities. Most of all we salute those soldiers and civilians who sacrificed their lives to win the victory in that epochal struggle”.

Chuck Zoeller, director of the AP Photo Library, says the images were culled from tens of thousands of archive pictures, including material from the AP photo files in Europe that had not been seen since the war. “Our objective was to bring back for the viewer the immense scope as well as the individual tragedy and challenge of World War II. We wanted to create a photographic record that allows a younger generation to better understand the sacrifices made by men, women and children of our nations...” says Zoeller.

“This exhibit does not focus primarily on the atrocities of the war, but rather on the unification of forces to battle evil”, says Svetlana Mironyuk, Director General of RIA Novosti. “We hope that these striking images will not only prove to be educating and informative, but also serve as a reminder that the American and Russian people have worked together in the past and are working together today to make the world a place without terror, violence, or danger for our children”.

PREVIEW

Monday, May 9, 2005, 5:00 P.M.

The Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda

The date marks 60th Anniversary of V-E Day in WWII. By invitation only. Media should have credentials available.

RECEPTION FOLLOWS    

The Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 50. By invitation only.

Contacts for the media:

Kirill Glebov, RIA Novosti

202-422-6134

Dmitri Klimentov, RIA Novosti

914-525-6058

Alexander Potemkin, ARCCF

202-736-1236

The event is sponsored by Access Industries, Inc. The American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation, funded by private sources, strives to support cultural exchanges between Russia and the United States.

###