14 October 2016
On 28 – 30 September 2016, WVF President Dan-Viggo Bergtun attended the 60th Anniversary of the Russian Union of Veterans (OOVV) and the 9th Congress of the Commonwealth of Anti-Fascists of the World in Moscow, Russia.
The Russia Union of Veterans (formerly the Soviet Committee of War Veterans) was established in September 1956 to strengthen ties with international and foreign national organizations fighting against the threat of war. Their main objectives were to resolve social and veteran issues and also to educate the youth. The Union today has 75 local chapters nationally and internationally, counting some 15 million veterans as well as having links with 60 national and international organisations from 40 countries. The Union has been a member of the WVF since 1988.
The congress was opened by the Chairman of Russian Union of Veterans, Army General Mikhail Moiseyev Alekseevicha. The Chairman addressed the congress and went through the history and activities of the union’s 60 years in the service of veterans. He also stated:
”We are told today that we are still the ancestors of veteran movements in Russia. Our Union has received national and international recognition and our movement will be further strengthened in the future.”
Mr. Bergtun also made a speech, congratulating the Union of Russian Veterans with the anniversary and presenting the WVF to the audience. Mr. Bergtun also highlighted the tense situation we have in the geopolitical world today.
Among the delegates and guests, the President of the WVF had meetings with some of our Member Associations who were present to inform them of our progress at the WVF. Mr. Bergtun had the chance to meet with Prof. DR. Sekulic from the Union of Associations of Antifascists of Montenegro, President Tit Turnšek from the Union of the Associations of the War Veterans and Participants of the National Liberation Struggle of Slovenia, Mr. Jovan Vejnovic with a delegate from Antifascist Combatants’ Association of the Republic of Croatia (SAB RH), as well as the Veterans Association of Vietnam (VAVN).