18 June 2003
Lukashenko to visit Brest Fortress Memorial on June 19
Aleksandr Lukashenko is expected to visit the Brest Fortress Memorial on June 19 to discuss the funding of its renovation and the organization of festivities on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from the Nazi invaders, which will be observed in 2004.
In order to complete the renovation, the administration of the memorial needs $2 million, Valery Gubarenko, the memorial's director, said in an interview with BelaPAN. A total of $2 million has been provided by Belarus, Russia, Kazakhstan and Moldova for the renovation since 1996. Ukraine delivered $175,000 worth of granite. The money allowed the administration to mothball the monument "Zhazhda" (Thirst), renovate Square of Ceremonials, the Bayonet Obelisk, build three boiler stations, clean a bypass and turn barracks into an art museum. However, Mr. Gubarenko noted, funds so far have not been made available for the reconstruction of the monument "Muzhestvo" (Courage) and the fortress' gate, the ruins of the White Palace, the Brest Fortress Defense Museum, and bridges. Over 4 million Russian rubles, given out of the Belarusian-Russian Union State's budget in 2003, was not enough, the director said.
Mr. Gubarenko noted that he would like more former USSR republics and sponsors to donate money for the preservation of the memorial.
On June 22, the Brest Fortress Memorial is to host events commemorating the 62nd anniversary of Nazi Germany's attack on the Soviet Union.
http://brestonline.com/en/news/news422.html