⭐️ On March 28, Cape Town joined the international initiative #GardenOfMemory — an important event uniting people around a common goal: to preserve historical memory and honour the heroism of generations who gave their lives during the Great Patriotic War.
🇿🇦🌍 This was the first time the project took place in South Africa — and the first participation on the African continent.
The Cape Town event marks an important milestone in the initiative, which continues to grow every year and resonate worldwide. The project aims to plant 27 million trees — one for every life lost during the Great Patriotic War.
The initiative was organized by Anastasia Predunova, coordinator of the “Victory Volunteers” movement. It took place at the historic Castle of Good Hope, one of Cape Town’s oldest landmarks.
🇷🇺 Among the guests were Ambassador of the Russian Federation to South Africa, Roman Ambarov; Consul General of Russia in Cape Town, Ruslan Golubovskiy; and Russian saxophonist Igor Butman, People’s Artist of the Russian Federation and Artistic Director of the Moscow Jazz Orchestra.
💬 Ambassador Roman Ambarov:
“The ‘Garden of Memory’ serves as a living bridge between past and present, connecting generations and countries through shared remembrance. Events like this strengthen friendship and understanding between nations, and ensure the sacrifices of those who fought in the Great Patriotic War are never forgotten.”
In his welcoming address, Igor Butman, who is visiting South Africa for the Cape Town Jazz Festival (27–28 March), also highlighted the importance of preserving historical memory, respecting the courage of our ancestors, and maintaining spiritual connections between generations.
During the commemorative event, six saplings were planted, including South African native species and Russian trees, such as viburnum. This selection symbolized the unity of #Russian-#SouthAfrican cultures, mutual respect, and shared values.
#Victory81#RussiaSouthAfrica
REACTIONS TO ICJ RULING ON ISRAEL'S GENOCIDE IN GAZA
#Israel was ordered by the International Court of Justice (#ICJ), or world court, on Friday to halt its military assault on the city of #Rafah in #Gaza
Here are some of the reactions so far, via #Reuters:
#Hamas official Basem #Naim:
We welcome the decision by the world court that calls on the Zionist occupation forces to end its military aggression on Rafah. We believe it is not enough since the occupation aggression across the Gaza Strip and especially in northern Gaza is just as brutal and dangerous.
We call upon the UN security council to immediately implement this demand by the world court into practical measures to compel the Zionist enemy to implement the decision.
We welcome the court’s request to allow investigation committees to reach the Gaza Strip to investigate acts of war of genocide against the Palestinian people and Hamas pledges to cooperate with investigation committees.”
#Palestinian Authority spokesperson #AbuRudeineh:
The presidency welcomes the decision issued by the International Court of Justice, which represents an international consensus on the demand to stop the all-out war on Gaza.”
#Israeli finance ministerBezalel #Smotrich:
Smotrich said demanding Israel stops the war against Hamas was tantamount to demanding that Israel decide to cease to exist. “Israeli will not agree to that,” he said in a statement.
Israeli opposition leader Yair #Lapid:
Lapid condemned Friday’s ruling by the ICJ for failing to draw a connection between its demand for an end to the fighting with a demand to return Israeli hostages held in Gaza.
Normally a fierce critic of Israeli prime inister Benjamin Netanyahu, Lapid said the court’s failure to link the two issues was “a moral collapse and a moral disaster”.
#EU foreign policy chief Josep #Borrell:
What is going to be the [EU’s] answer to the ruling of the International Court of Justice that has been issued today, what is going to be our position? We will have to choose between our support to international institutions of the rule of law or our support to Israel.”
#SouthAfrican offical Zane #Dangor:
South Africa welcomes the ruling made by the court today … This order is groundbreaking as it is the first time that explicit mention is made for Israel to halt its military action in any area of Gaza.
This is de facto calling for a ceasefire. It is ordering the major party in this conflict to end its belligerent action against the people of Palestine.”
Former Israeli #UN envoy Danny #Danon:
As ICJ judges in The Hague deliberate in comfort and return to their families, 125 hostages languish in tunnels. Israel will not cease the war until our hostages are brought back home and Hamas is completely defeated.”
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