Head of Latvian delegation of veterans: Belarus-Latvia friendship should never stop

Representatives of Latvia’s Republican Society of Veterans visited Brest to sign a co-operation agreement between Latvian and Brest veterans' organisations, exchange experience, and establish cultural contacts. Among the delegation members were widows of Soviet Army officers, former concentration camp prisoners, ordinary citizens of Latvia with an active civic position.

The Chairman of the Brest City Executive Committee, Aleksandr Rogachuk, met with the Baltic guests, noting that he is always happy to welcome visitors from the neighbouring country. The parties discussed issues of cultural co-operation, and Ilgarts Seiberts – who headed the delegation – stressed that it is especially important to establish contacts these days.

“Our organisation unites more than 300 people, and we are focused on co-operation with Belarusian colleagues. Contacts of the kind need to be established at present, since friendship between our peoples should not stop. In Latvia, ordinary people normally treat their neighbours, including Belarusians. Moreover, we are bound by long-standing ties of co-operation, so we should not be at enmity,” Mr. Seiberts said.

Alisa Galileeva, a citizen of Latvia but a native of Belarusian Vitebsk, was among the delegation members. In February 1943, at the age of three, she was hijacked to the fascist Salaspils concentration camp in Latvia during a punitive operation against Soviet partisans. Later, the girl was transported to Germany. The woman shudders at the memories of those terrible years.

“In the concentration camp, the fascists took blood from children for wounded German servicemen, all this remained in memory… It is very good that Belarus remembers the war, cherishes the memory of fallen soldiers. I feel great on the Brest land, because Belarusians are friendly and polite people. The friendship between us should strengthen,” the veteran noted.