Putin lays war monument cornerstone, calls for honesty in history

May 8, 2010, 16:30 GMT

Moscow - Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Saturday praised the role of the former Soviet Union in defeating Nazi Germany in World War II and insisted on history being dealt with honestly.

In remarks at ceremonies laying the cornerstone for a new war monument in Moscow, Putin said Russia would continue to use its entire influence in the world to preserve the heritage of the Soviet army's great victory over Hitler's fascism.

'It is our general duty to preserve the historical truth and to protect the honour and dignity, the good names of the still living and the fallen heroes,' Putin said at the ceremonies in Victory Park, according to the Interfax agency.

Those who aimed to try to use the victorious heritage of the Soviet Union for political intrigue against Russia would have no future, he said. He warned against misusing history to try to sow new divisions and hostility between the nations.

A number of Georgian opposition politicians attended Saturday's ceremonies, during which Putin also condemned as an act of 'barbarity' the explosive attack on a war monument in the Georgian city of Kutaissi in December 2009.

The ceremonies came a day before Moscow was to host a huge May 9 victory day celebration and military parade on Red Square marking the 65th anniversary of the end of World War II.

A number of foreign leaders, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, were due to attend Sunday's celebrations.