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80th anniversary of the great victory over Nazism

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By Vladimir Zheltov, Ambassador of Russia to Kuwait

80 years have passed since the end of the Great Patriotic War. This is how we, in Russia, call the period of World War II from Hitler’s invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, until Germany’s eventual defeat and capitulation on May 9, 1945. Since then, several generations have passed and the political map of the globe has changed drastically. The Soviet Union, which made a decisive contribution to the victory over Nazism and saved the world from the “brown plague” of fascism, no longer exists.

For many people nowadays the events of that war are but a distant past. However, it left a deep mark in the historical memory of our nation. The war affected literally every Russian family. Our common responsibility before the past and future generations is to do everything in our power to prevent such terrible tragedies from recurring. World War II did not break out suddenly and unexpectedly overnight. It was a result of many tendencies and factors in the global politics of that historical period. What predetermined the greatest tragedy in human history was Germany’s revanchism being a consequence of its humiliation in the aftermath of World War I as well as state egoism of European powers. 

The latter tried to placate the rising aggressor and encourage him to push eastward. Now it is well known what the Western policy of appeasement has led to. Against this background, until the last moment the Soviet Union attempted to form anti-Hitler coalition. However, due to actions of the Western countries, the USSR alone had to face the Nazi Germany and its satellites. The dreams of global superiority led to the outbreak of World War II in September 1939. On the eve of Germany’s invasion of the USSR in June 1941, almost all of Europe was under the boot of the Third Reich.

Meanwhile, economies and resources of the occupied countries were put to the service of the German war machine. Its attack on the USSR was only a matter of time. For the Soviet Union that war did not come as a surprise, our country had been expecting and preparing for it. However, the onslaught was of an unprecedented and destructive force. We confronted the strongest army in the world of that time, supported by the industrial potential of almost all of Europe.

When Nazi Germany (the German Wehrmacht) invaded the Soviet Union during World War II, troops from other European countries that were allied with or controlled by Germany also participated in the invasion. The aggressors’ hopes for a quick victory over the Soviet Union in the so-called “blitzkrieg” turned into four years of war on the eastern front. It was there that the backbone of the German military machine was broken and the war rolled back to where it had come from. The Soviet people, having suffered heavy losses at the beginning, turned the tide of war in the course of the epic Battle of Stalingrad (autumn of 1942 – winter of 1943). From then on the eastern front was moving only westwards.

After driving the invaders away from its territory, the Red Army subsequently liberated half of Europe from fascism. In May 1945, the ideas of global domination were buried in Berlin. For Europe, World War II ended with the signing of the act of capitulation of German troops. It happened just before midnight on May 8, according to Berlin time, while in Moscow it was already the early morning of May 9th. This day went down in our common history as Victory Day.

Eighty years later we must not forget that it was the Soviet Union and its Red Army that made the key contribution to the defeat of Nazism. Three quarters of the military potential of Nazi Germany and subjugated European countries were pitted against the USSR. At the same time, fascists’ losses on the Eastern Front amounted to 78 percent of their total casualties. It is worth recalling that our allies opened the “second front” in Normandy only in June 1944 – less than a year before the end of World War II.

The victory came at a high price. The Soviet Union lost 27 million of its sons and daughters. The majority of them were civilians who perished due to bombings, famine, and diseases. Millions of our citizens died in Nazi concentration camps. It is our common duty to remember all of these victims. That is the heavy price of the Great Victory over fascism. And this is why Victory Day is a sacred holiday for the Russians and other peoples of the former Soviet Union.

At the same time, we value the contribution of allies who fought along with us with a mutual goal of defeating Nazi Germany and its satellites. Unfortunately, the recent generation of Western elites deliberately forgets about our alliance and cooperation. Along with the great European tragedy, we should also remember the broad Asian expanse engulfed by World War II. We pay tribute to the resistance of the Chinese people, who played a great role in defeating the Japanese militarism — yet another ally of Nazi Germany. The colossal sacrifices they made for the sake of liberation have not been forgotten. Nowadays, we regret to see the persistent efforts to rewrite the history of World War II and to belittle the Soviet Union’s decisive contribution to the victory over fascism. Besides, attempts are made to rehabilitate Nazi collaborators. The underlying reasons are short historical memory and unlearned lessons of the past.

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Kuwait Commerce Min.: Protecting industrial system is Nat’l responsibility

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 KUWAIT: Minister of Commerce and Industry, and Chairman of the Public Authority for Industry (PAI) Khalifa Al-Ajeel said on Monday that protecting the commercial and industrial system is a “national responsibility that requires concerted efforts.”

Minister Al-Ajeel emphasized in a statement to KUNA following an extensive inspection campaign in the south Amghara scrap yard, to “firmly deal with all violations and encroachments in accordance with legal frameworks where no one is above the law.”

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Al-Ajeel confirmed the continuation of inspection campaigns as well until the desired goals are reached, foremost being is restoring order and discipline to the area and removing all violations and encroachments.

He affirmed the ministry and the PAI’s commitment to cooperating with relevant authorities to continue these campaigns to ensure a safe and organized industrial and commercial environment.

The campaign resulted in the seizure of several violations and closure of several non-compliant units in preparation for taking necessary legal action against their exploiters.

Participating in the campaign was General Fire Force (KFF) Chief Major General Talal Al-Roumi, along with several executive leaders from the PAI. — KUNA

 

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Human Rights Committee session begins with focus on Gaza, regional challenges

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CAIRO: The 56th regular session of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights commenced on Monday with the participation of Kuwait and representatives from Arab states concerned with human rights affairs. In his opening address, Ahmed Maghari, supervisor of the Human Rights Department at the League of Arab States, underscored the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza, calling it a stark indicator of the region’s human rights reality. “We cannot speak of the state of human rights without acknowledging the catastrophic conditions faced by our brothers in Gaza, where securing the most basic necessities has become a matter of survival,” he said. Maghari described the ongoing Zionist aggression in Gaza as a profound moral and humanitarian challenge, noting that the Palestinian people continue to endure daily suffering under constant bombardment, displacement and destruction. He lamented the international community’s continued inaction in the face of clear violations of international law and human rights norms. “The occupying power persists in defying international legitimacy and the decisions of the General Assembly, the Security Council, and the International Court of Justice,” he said.

Held at a time of mounting regional tensions, the session comes amid escalating challenges that directly affect fundamental human rights. Maghari highlighted the Committee’s historic role since its establishment in 1968 in developing the Arab human rights framework both legally and practically, while also fostering cooperation with regional and international partners. He expressed hope that the session would yield effective recommendations to help confront the pressing challenges in the region. He pointed to the rise of conflicts and violence globally, along with the resulting serious human rights violations, as major concerns.

Emerging issues such as the intersection of human rights with climate change, artificial intelligence, and the spread of alien ideologies that undermine human dignity were also noted. “In light of these challenges, we must reinforce our solidarity and collective action to enhance peace, stability, and the security of our societies,” Maghari added. The two-day session, chaired by Ambassador Talal Al-Mutairi, Chairman of the Arab Permanent Committee for Human Rights, will review the General Secretariat’s report on the implementation of previous recommendations up to the 55th session.

Discussions will also focus on Zionist violations in occupied Arab territories, the plight of Arab prisoners and detainees in Zionist prisons, and the issue of the bodies of Palestinian and Arab martyrs held in so-called “numbered cemeteries.” Other agenda items include the Arab Charter on Human Rights and preparations for Arab Human Rights Day, which will be observed on March 16, 2026. Kuwait is represented at the meeting by a delegation led by Assistant Foreign Minister for Human Rights Affairs Ambassador Sheikha Jawaher Ibrahim Al-Duaij Al-Sabah.— KUNA

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Crown Prince receives Egyptian Deputy PM

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KUWAIT: His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah received on Tuesday at Bayan Palace the Egyptian Deputy Prime Minister for Industrial Development and Minister of Transport and Industry, Lieutenant General Kamel Abdulhadi Al-Wazir, and his accompanying delegation on the occasion of their official visit to the country. The meeting was attended by Kuwait’s Minister of Public Works Dr Noura Al-Mashaan and Egypt’s Ambassador to Kuwait Osama Shaltout.– KUNA photos

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