Spanish Crown Prince unveils monument to compatriots perished in WWII

HRH Felipe de Borbon Prince of Asturias unveiled a monument to Spaniards who perished during WWII, and laid flowers to it at the Poklonnaya Memorial Hill in Moscow Thursday.

Speaking at the unveiling ceremony, Moscow Vice Mayor Valery Shantsev noted the symbolism of this event taking place on the days marking the anniversary of the beginning of the war (Nazi Germany attacked the USSR on June 22nd, 1941). He also recalled a monument to Soviet military volunteers who went to Spain to fight against the fascists was situated in Fel Coral outside Madrid.

The Spanish Crown Prince began his address in Russian, saying almost without any accent: "I'm glad to be with you at this touching ceremony," and was hailed with a storm of applause.

The prince said that when he was on a visit to Moscow in February 2002 and visited the Spanish centre, he was shown the sketch of the future monument. "And now it has become a reality," he said.

Prince Felipe also noted the Spanish children who came to the USSR to avoid the war immediately found themselves in another. "They went through all the horrors and torments of the war together with the Soviet people." He also underscored that today Spanish people warmly speak about their compatriots living in Russia.

The monument is a small chapel built in the Roman style with a bell and Catholic cross. The author of the monument is Miguel Antonio.