Russian envoy takes a dig at the West for Middle East, Ukraine

The conflict in Syria, Iraq and Ukraine are the result of “dirty attempts by some forces” to rewrite the history of the world and the contribution of countries such as Russia and India during World War II, the Russian envoy said on Thursday.

The conflict in Syria, Iraq and Ukraine are the result of “dirty attempts by some forces” to rewrite the history of the world and the contribution of countries such as Russia and India during World War II, the Russian envoy said on Thursday.

“Compassion for other people’s pain is an alien notion for the self-appointed ‘new masters of the world’. Hitler’s ghost must be haunting them,” Ambassador Alexander Kadakin said in a statement.

The statement, issued to mark Indian President Pranab Mukherjee’s upcoming visit to Russia to participate in celebrations marking Moscow’s victory in World War II, dwelt at length on efforts to change history and the role of countries during the conflict of 1939-45.

“As regards the cynical, hypocritical and dirty attempts on the part of some forces to rewrite the real history of the world and our two nations’ contribution to the great victory, such countries show immoral and shameless amnesia to sacrifices and sufferings,” Kadakin said, without naming the nations he was referring to.

“Such forgetfulness today results in destruction and devastation in various parts of the world, be it Syria, Iraq, Yemen, South-East Ukraine or elsewhere,” he said.

Kadakin said Russia “cherishes India’s active role in the last World War and the sympathy of the most illustrious founding fathers and all sons and daughters of this great land showed for the heroic efforts of the former Soviet Union”.

Russia, he said, highly values Mukherjee’s participation in the “celebrations of our victory in the Great Patriotic War against Nazism”.

Describing Mukherjee as a “long-time and tested friend”, he said the visit was a symbol of solidarity of Indian people towards the 27 million lives Russia lost during the World War.

Mukherjee will begin a five-day visit to Russia on May 7 and participate in celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of Victory Day (May 9).

The Russian envoy’s remarks were apparently a reference to the role of Western powers in countries like Syria and Iraq and their position on the fighting in Ukraine.

The West has accused Russia of trying to redraw the map of Europe with the annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula and its support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi said last year that India stands for the peaceful resolution of the Ukrainian crisis and refused to join Western leaders in blaming Russia for the situation. India has also kept a low profile on the crisis.

Though Russia remains the largest supplier of military hardware to India, it has warily watched the growing strategic and defence ties between India and the US.