The Russian Embassy in Washington celebrated Russia Day with a reception on June 11. Russian Ambassador Alexander Darchiev gave his comments on the occasion of the celebration:
“Russia Day symbolizes the unity and the historic continuity of the Motherland, which has become a homeland for hundreds of nationalities, with the most diverse confessions and cultural-linguistic tradition, united by loyalty to a common Fatherland in the limitless Eurasian space. I would like to stress that for the Russian people sovereignty is an absolute value for which they paid an enormous price, which does not exclude, but rather implies an openness to the rest of the world on the basis of mutual respect and the recognition of its national interests amidst the emerging geopolitical multipolarity.”
He underlined the long 250-year history of the US-Russia relations, which began with the aid given by Empress Catherine to the US in their fight with the British in the American Revolution. He also noted the assistance given to the US during the American Civil War with the dispatch of the Russian fleet to the United States, throwing a monkey wrench in any British intervention on behalf of the Confederacy.
