The Russian Embassy to Tirana commemorated Tuesday with a special reception one of the most glorious feasts in Russia - the Day of the Victory of the Russian people in the Great Patriotic War of the years 1941-1945, on the 9th of May.
In an exclusive interview the Russian Ambassador to Tirana, Alexander Karpushin told Albanian Daily News that "It was a common war against a frightful and brutal enemy, and therefore we rightly express also our deepest gratitude to all veterans of the Albanian partisan movement". He quoted many experts admitting that the current international situation is very similar to the one on the eve of the Second World War. "We should remember and admit openly that the aggressive plans of the Nazis were not confronted by any collective counter action at that time," he said.
In a comment on Albania's decision to expel two Russian diplomats after the diplomatic scandal involving the poisoning of two Russian citizens in Salisbury in Britain, Mr. Karpushin considered it an unjustified act being adopted under the foreign pressure to demonstrate the so called "transatlantic solidarity". "There is no doubt that the effect of this decision has already started to appear in the bilateral relations leading our efforts for the normalization of the relations to zero ground," he said.
But the Ambassador considered as an historical event the visit of the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to Albania. "We hope very much that the unique friendship, which reigned during the visit of the Patriarch Kirill to Albania, will also help for the normalization of the political dialogue between our two countries," noted Russian Ambassador Karpushin in the interview which follows:
- The 9th of May marks the 73rd anniversary of the victory of the Great Patriotic War this year. First, Mr. Ambassador, which is the significance of this Day for the Russian people, and secondly, how will it be marked in Russia?
- Yes, it is true that we commemorate one of the most glorious feasts in Russia - the Day of the Victory of the Russian people in the Great Patriotic War of the years 1941-1945. Some 73 years ago Nazism, this frightful and cynical power, was defeated. We have no right to forget how this power appeared, kept growing becoming ever more arrogant in the eyes of the world, how the barbarians aimed at liquidating entire people and turn into the rulers of the destinies of countries and continents.
Now that we are commemorating this national holiday we should express honors to the veterans, who were part of that terrible war. The people of the Soviet Union waged the war united in one front linked in a fraternal bond and suffered so grave hardships and tests which seemed that man could not face. It was a common war against a frightful and brutal enemy, and therefore we rightly express our deepest gratitude to all veterans of the Albanian partisan movement, too. Like the Russian soldiers, they did not succumb to the enemy and became the real authors of the common victory over fascism. For us, the 28,000 Albanian martyrs, who fell during the fights in their land, deserve the same respect and gratitude as their heroism kept here a part of the fascist forces and made possible the saving of lives of our soldiers in the eastern front.
- As a matter of fact, it is the case to make a resume of 'Russia Today' in the sense what has been achieved and are the people pleased with the current situation?
- I could dwell at length on this subject. But I will try to be short. After a very severe political, economic, military and social destruction of the 1990s, today Russia is rising in a very solid way. I do not believe that there might be any man who would put in doubt the current role of Russia in the world politics. The most important thing is that Russia has regained its voice, which is taken into consideration by the majority of the world countries where at least three-fourths of the global population lives. If others like it or not that is a subjective question. But now it is impossible to put Russia again in those frames which seemed normal for the West at the end of the last century. It suffices to consider the impact of the so called sanctions. The Russian economy has resisted and shows sustainability and growth even though moderate. The revival of our country's military power does not constitute any secret for anyone. Even our adversaries do not ignore such a thing.
And if we talk on the last part of the question, that is how much the Russian citizens are satisfied, you can recall the result of the last presidential elections in our country. The elections marked a record with regard to the high turnout in the voting as well as the popular support for the current President. All of this speaks for itself.
- In the meantime, internationally the situation seems a bit complex especially after the diplomatic scandal involving the poisoning of two Russian citizens in Salisbury in Britain. Which is its impact on the atmosphere of the daily life among Russian people? Is the world heading towards a new Cold War like in the '70s?
- I share your concern. Lately, a very serious aggravation of the international situation has occurred which has been caused by an escalation of baseless accusations, distrust and suspicions among countries. Many political analysts believe that the world is not merely on the brink of a new Cold War rather it has already entered that stage. Many experts even admit that the current international situation is very similar to the one on the eve of the Second World War. We should remember and admit openly that the aggressive plans of the Nazis were not confronted by any collective counter action at that time. The contradictions and ideological confrontations among countries were exactly the causes making impossible the prevention of a world conflict.
Today, one of the absolute guarantees to avoid such a tragedy is the rigorous implementation of the international rule of law, the respect of the state sovereignty and the independent choice of any people. Unfortunately, we have lately heard many times from our Western partners of threats for exercising force against certain countries. A missile attack has lately been undertaken against Syria, and it has been carried out under a completely engineered claim. As it is known, the undertaking of "the first attack" in the nuclear war is now part of the official doctrine of the national security of the United States, which was changed in December 2017. In the meantime, it is crystal clear that today any war could cause the liquidation of all humankind.
Currently, the main objective of all progressive forces should be the positive agenda and solution of the problems which are common for all the countries. The fight against terrorism and organized crime, the minimization of the danger of military confrontation, the response towards the environment challenges are amongst them. It remains to be hoped that as President of Russia Vladimir Putin has said that sound
judgement and self defensive instinct will rule and prevent the eruption of the Third World War. As far as the daily life of the Russian people is concerned, there is little likelihood that they will feel any direct impact of the foreign confrontation. Russia is a self sufficient country having extraordinary resources and possibilities. The sanctions imposed against it just only help the internal consolidation of the society and encourage the development of the country relying on its forces in all directions.
- Albania was a self-isolated country before 1990s and it blamed both superpowers, the US and the Soviet Union, at that time. Now it is a NATO member country and consequently it has joined the bloc in the latest expulsion campaign of Russian diplomats. How much will it affect the current relations between the two countries?
- I have answered some times to this question. The decision of the Albanian side is unjustified and has been adopted under the foreign pressure to demonstrate the so called "transatlantic solidarity". There is no doubt that the effect of this decision has already started to appear in the bilateral relations leading our efforts for the normalization of the relations to zero ground.
- Speaking on suppositions of a worldwide geopolitical "rearrangement" how can some movements of Russian diplomacy be considered vis -a- vis Turkey, Greece, China, Iran etc., and especially the impact of the confrontation in Syria, which has taken biblical dimensions of human losses?
- It is not clear to me what you mean with "some movements of Russian diplomacy" towards the above mentioned countries. China and Iran are traditional and tested partners of Russia. Meanwhile, Greece and Turkey are not the only NATO and EU member countries that have not accepted to join the latest Russophobia campaign. You have seen by yourself the list of the "renegades" and it is long, and then not to speak of the overwhelming majority of the countries which are watching with great surprise all this shameful spectacle.
The decision of Ankara and Athens not to expel our diplomats indicates the independence and impartiality of their foreign policy as well as their capability to see the directions coming from the English and Americans in a critical way. Turkey and Greece as well as many other countries have shown with their actions that they continue to be reliable partners. Certainly, this will contribute to their relations with Russia.
Now Russia is usually accused by the Western propaganda of "revisionism" and its alleged wish to destroy the existing international system as if we were they that bombarded Yugoslavia in 1999 in violation of the UN Charter and the Helsinki Final Act, that occupied Iraq in 2003 and distorted the UN Security Council resolutions overthrowing the Libyan regime of Muammar Gaddafi through violence in 2011. And other examples of the sort continue still to be displayed. The most flagrant one is the tragedy in Syria. The suppositions on "revisionism" are powerless in face of criticism and they are practically based on a logic which is simply primitive: according to it the only one that can "give orders" on international matters is Washington today. The safest solution to the problems of the modern world can be achieved through a serious and fair cooperation among the major states and their unions with the aim of fulfilling common objectives.
- Your Excellency, an historical event occurred in the religious world of the two countries on April 28-30 April, 2018. His Holiness Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia paid a visit to Albania and besides talks with his host Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana, Durres and All Albania he had meetings with senior leaders of this Balkan country. In your view, which is the significance of this event, the first of the kind in the history of Albania and Russia?
- The visit of the Patriarch Kirill of Moscow and All Russia to Albania which was made at the invitation of the Archbishop Anastasios is really an historical event, which showed the unity of the Orthodox world and the common engagement of the local Orthodox Churches for fulfilling their valuable mission: to make our societies more successful and prosperous free of hostility, aggression and radical displays as well as to preserve and strengthen the values of the traditional family. The visit of the Patriarch was a great success, first and foremost, thanks to the fraternal welcome offered to the Head of the Russian Church by the Orthodox community of Albania, which expected impatiently this event. It was prepared with a sincere joy for the visit of the Russian Patriarch and after all welcomed him according to the best tradition of the famous Albanian hospitality. Consequently, the three-day stay of the Patriarch on the Albanian land turned into a real feast filled with bright emotions of the Easter.
As it is known, the Orthodox Churches of our countries have passed through similar experiences of atheist persecution. In the 20th century, both Churches suffered frightening times and they succeeded to resurrect the religious life completely in the 1900s. The common lessons of the past, but, of course the half-century friendship of the two archbishops constitute a solid foundation for the further development of the inter-church cooperation. We hope very much that the unique friendship, which reigned during the visit of the Patriarch Kirill to Albania, will also help for the normalization of the political dialogue between our two countries. The visit showed that Russians and Albanians nourish a mutual sympathy, respect each other, want to communicate and cooperate. And this very thing should encourage us to build an overall bilateral relationship.
- In conclusion, Mr. Ambassador, Tirana has recently become an epicenter of cultural activities from different countries under the motto of 'cultural diplomacy'. Your Embassy, too, has been very active. Seeing no competition in such a 'race', in your view, how do you consider the response of Albanian art lovers towards Russian art, culture, literature and education?
- It is not a secret how great the love of Albanians for the Russian culture is and how well the local people know of Russian literature, music and classical painting. We are aware of the enthusiasm with which the Albanian public greets the cultural activities of the Russian Embassy. The latest case was the performance of the Moscow Synodal Choir in Berat and Tirana, and before that the concert of the Russian cornist, Arkady Shilkloper in the frame of the Albanian International Brass Festival.
Likewise, regular publishing of new works of Russian literature translated into Albanian continue: during the last year the works of Fyodor Dostoyevsky, Mikhail Bulgakov, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and other renowned writers were published. The free of charge Russian language courses organized by our Embassy continue with the support of the "Russian World" Foundation. Scholarships for universities in Russia are much in demand by Albanian youth. We set a new record this year by granting 50 scholarships for Albanian high school graduates. The humanitarian diplomacy remains a priority for us in Albania. The key objective is to meet the great need of the Albanian society to get in contact with the Russian culture.