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From: Dimitri Klimentov <DKlimentov@msn.com>
Subject: US CONGRESS TO HOST "COMRADES IN ARMS" JOINT PHOTO EXHIBITION
Date: Fri, 6 May 2005 10:20:42 -0400

MEDIA ADVISORY

US CONGRESS TO HOST "COMRADES IN ARMS" JOINT PHOTO EXHIBITION BY RIA NOVOSTI AND THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ON THE 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF V-E DAY

Washington, D.C., May 5. - The American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation and the Russian News & Information Agency Novosti /RIA Novosti/ are pleased to announce the photo exhibition "Comrades in Arms" by RIA Novosti and the Associated Press dedicated to American-Russian cooperation in WWII on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of V-E Day. The exhibition opens at the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda on Monday, May 9, 2005 under the gracious patronage of the Honorable William H. Frist, Senate Majority Leader, M.D. and will be followed by a reception at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 50. H.E. the Ambassador of the Russian Federation Yuri V. Ushakov will be the Guest of Honor.

Representatives of the US Congress, veterans of WWII, representatives of the diplomatic corps and distinguished Washingtonians are expected to attend the opening and the reception. The speakers at the reception will be:

The Honorable William H. Frist, Senate Majority Leader, M.D. H.E. The Ambassador of the Russian Federation Yuri V. Ushakov Hon. James Billington, Librarian of Congress Mr. Paul Rodzianko, Senior Vice President, Access Industries, Inc. Leonid V. Burmistrov, Deputy Director General of the RIA Novosti

Hon. James W. Symington, Chair, American-Russian Cultural Cooperation Foundation will be master of ceremonies.

The exhibition consists of 80 vivid photographs which highlight American-Russian wartime collaboration and the joint celebrations following the meeting of troops of the two countries at the Elbe River. As country after country was liberated from Nazi Germany's forces, the American and Russian photographers captured numerous unique moments to preserve them in history so that these images might be viewed today not only as a memory of the joint victory, but also as a reminder of what should never again happen in mankind's history. The exhibit will be open to the public at the Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda from May 9 through May 13, 2005.

"With this exhibition we salute the veterans of both nations who, together with other treasured allies, produced a victory for all humanity", said the Honorable James W. Symington, Chairman of the Foundation, and former Member of Congress from Missouri. "Our salute goes not only to soldiers, sailors, and airmen, but to the citizens who supported them by their tireless efforts in factories, farms, and the streets of besieged cities. Most of all we salute those soldiers and civilians who sacrificed their lives to win the victory in that epochal struggle".

Chuck Zoeller, director of the AP Photo Library, says the images were culled from tens of thousands of archive pictures, including material from the AP photo files in Europe that had not been seen since the war. "Our objective was to bring back for the viewer the immense scope as well as the individual tragedy and challenge of World War II. We wanted to create a photographic record that allows a younger generation to better understand the sacrifices made by men, women and children of our nations..." says Zoeller.

"This exhibit does not focus primarily on the atrocities of the war, but rather on the unification of forces to battle evil", says Svetlana Mironyuk, Director General of RIA Novosti. "We hope that these striking images will not only prove to be educating and informative, but also serve as a reminder that the American and Russian people have worked together in the past and are working together today to make the world a place without terror, violence, or danger for our children."

PREVIEW

Monday, May 9, 2005, 5:00 P.M.

The Russell Senate Office Building Rotunda The date marks 60th Anniversary of V-E Day in WWII. Media should have credentials available Reception to follow at the Dirksen Senate Office Building, Room 50.

Contacts for the media:

Kirill Glebov, RIA Novosti
202-422-6134

Dmitri Klimentov, RIA Novosti
914-525-6058

Alexander Potemkin, ARCCF
202-736-1236.