Russians demonstrated their adherence to peace, support of Putin on Victory Day - Ban Ki-moon
MOSCOW. May 9 (Interfax) - UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon said the Victory Day in Moscow had convinced him of Russia's adherence to peace and their genuine support of President Vladimir Putin.
During a meeting with Putin in the Kremlin, Ban Ki-moon said he was happy to see with his own eyes the proud faces of the people who took part in the celebrations and to see their adherence to peace.
Ban Ki-moon said he would like to congratulate the Russian president on this achievement.
Ban Ki-moon said that, when he saw thousands of people stay in the streets after the parade, he initially thought they were protesting against the government, but later he saw that the people were, on the contrary, welcoming the government. He said he had seen that the people were doing that with pride and had waved to the UN delegation as it drove by, adding that the UN officials were very pleased to see that.
For that reason, Ban Ki-moon told Putin he believes he really deserves the people's love.
At the beginning of the meeting, Ban Ki-moon spoke to Putin in Russian: "I am very happy to be in Moscow again. Thanks for having me."
Ban Ki-moon continued speaking in English, saying it was a great honor to him to attend the celebrations of the Victory of Nazism.
Ban Ki-moon said he and the other UN officials were happy to remember the sacrifice of the people who laid down their lives, their work and their efforts to achieve peace, freedom and more humanity seventy years ago.
The UN secretary-general reiterated that he understand that it was a big tragedy and thanked the Russian president again for inviting them.
