The Ball of Winners!

4 December 2011

On December 4, 2011 representatives of the International Advisory Council of Reserve Officers (IAC) participated in the traditional Ball of Winners held in the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War on Poklonnaya Mountain. The event was dedicated to the celebration of the Day of Military Glory and the 70th anniversary of counter offensive of the Soviet troops in vicinity of Moscow.

The ball was initiated by the Maris Liepa Charitable Fund in association with the United Metallurgic Company (UMC). In return, IAC and the National Association of Unions of the Armed Forces Reserve Officers (MEGAPIR) rendered an organizational assistance to carry out the event. The Ball was attended by over 500 veterans of the Great Patriotic War, Armed Forces, participants of hostilities and military conflicts represented by Heroes of the Soviet Union and Russia, the Socialist Labour, Companions of Glory and Labour Glory Orders, CIS and the Baltic states veterans. A gala — concert performed by masters of Arts, ballet dancers, theatre, cinema and variety artists was organized for the celebration participants. Then, a ceremonial dinner took place.

«During the event a number of discussions with the leadership of various IAC member — organizations of reserve officers were held: Deputy Chairman of the Association of Veterans of the Republic of Moldova Efim Donos, Chairman of the Republican Committee of Veterans of Kirghizia Ali Tokombaev and his Deputy Karavay Asanaliev, Head of the Union of Veterans of War, Labour, Armed Forces and Law Enforcement Agencies of the Republic of Armenia Simon Esayan, Chairman of the Union of Veteran Organizations of Estonia Georgiy Dzevulskiy, Chairman of the Commonwealth of Veterans and Pensioners of Kohtla — Jarve Valeriy Tumko, Chairman of the Council of Organizations of Veterans of the Republic of Tadjikistan Rakhmat Kudratov and his Deputy Vally Saerabekov, Republican Committee of Association of World War II Antihitlerite Coalition Veterans Living in Lithuania Yulyus Deksnis," Executive Secretary of the International Advisory Council of Organizations of Reserve Officers Anatoly Kumakhov said.

During the meetings they were briefed on current activities of IAC Secretariat, the preparation process for the second meeting of IAC scheduled for May 2012 in Bratislava, handed over the first issue of IAC Officer’s Fraternity Journal and other materials. «In the near future IAC members are intended to submit photo, video and printed materials on activities of their organizations to be published in Officer’s Fraternity Journal and place on IAC official web — site," the Executive Secretary of IAC said.

Chairman of the Council of Officer’s Assembly of the «Megapir» Association, marshal of the Soviet Union Dmtriy Yazov congratulated the ball participants on the anniversary of the great battle. Remarkably, all the participants of the event were presented with Yazov’s new book entitled «Panfilov’s Soldiers Fighting for the Motherland.»

«I am very glad to see you at today’s festive event attended by the guests from near abroad whom we were jointly striving for the shared Victory with," President of the Officer’s Fraternity Fund artillery marshal Vladimir Mikhalkin stated. He pointed out that «distances make no obstacles for the fraternity of the military men»

«I highly appreciate care of those defending our Motherland and believe that similar events should be rendered a substantive state assistance and dedicated not to anniversaries only," Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Officer’s Fraternity Fund colonel — general Michael Popkov noted. «As a participant of war, I am bound to state that events of this kind are not merely a spiritual and moral support for the veterans, the arrangements make an important contribution to preserve the historic truth on our heroic past which some are recently trying to underestimate or simply forget," Chairman of the Council of the Military and Philosophic Society general -major Stepan Tushkevich said.

Head of the child and youth programmes of the Association Olga Savvateeva voiced confidence that similar events would be held in the years to come. «Participation of the younger generation in such kinds of arrangements is of great importance as children are, as never before, in need of social contacts with veterans capable of passing a hand — on experience and telling the truth about war and the outstanding deeds of our people».