OREANDA-NEWS. April 30, 2009. A solemn meeting in commemoration of the regular Anniversary of the Soviet and American troops link-up on the Elbe in April 1945 was held at the Receptions House of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, reported the press-centre of Alfa-Bank.

Among honorary guests attending the meeting were the Heroes of the Soviet Union — those who took part in a legendary link-up on the Elbe — S.A.Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Lieutenant General Yevgeny Buzhinsky, head of the Russian Defence Ministry’s chief department for international military cooperation, John Beyrle, US Ambassador to Russia, Petr Aven, Alfa-Bank’s President, and participants of the Alfa Fellowship program.

Alfa-Bank’s manifold social policy makes it possible for the complex and multitask projects to come true. Over the period of 5 years now, the Bank has been successfully running an international exchange program for young American professionals Alfa Fellowship. This program perfectly meets the "reset" concept approved by heads of Russia and the USA, — says Petr Aven, President of Alfa-Bank. — Having returned to the USA after a lengthy stay in Russia, young experts will build up relations with Russia in various spheres, being directly involved in realization of the above concept. Another Bank’s continual social program on support of the Heroes of the Soviet Union, has made it possible to find those who took part in the link-up on the Elbe, as well as to arrange an informal meeting sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to represent three generations: WWII Veterans — Heroes of the Soviet Union, representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Russian Defence Ministry, US Embassy in Russia, and young American professionals — participants of the Alfa Fellowship Program.

- The history of the Russian-American relations does not exist on reserved diplomatic documents only. In fact, history is interweaving of human lives. The father of Mr. John Beyrle had been heroically fighting on WWII fronts and was awarded with the Red Star Order. Alexei Prokhorovich Voloshin, the Hero of the Soviet Union and the Companion of the Silver Star Order, one of the highest US military awards, who has honored the solemn meeting with his presence, saw each other several years ago. Mr. Ambassador had been present at that meeting of the two WWII veterans, and he saw Alexei Prokhorovich on 27 April again. We have to solicitously convey the remembrances of our joint history heroic pages to young generations. These generations are going to become prerequisite to any trustworthy and constructive relations between our countries, — noted Sergei Ryabkov, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.