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70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany

UN appreciates input of Soviet people in victory over Fascism — Bank Ki-moon

"Russia has been playing a very important role in history," he said

MOSCOW, May 9. /TASS/. The United Nations Organisation appreciates the role of Russia in the history of World War II and the input of the Soviet people in the victory over Fascism, the organisation’s Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said in an exclusive interview with TASS First Deputy Director General Mikhail Gusman on Saturday.

"Russia has been playing a very important role in history," he said. "First of all during the war, the Second World War, I think that more than one third of victims, sacrifices came from Russia, the Soviet Union at that time."

"That we really appreciate and also pay highest tribute," he said. "Russia has been playing contributing role at peacekeeping operations around the world."

"I am also planning to ask President Putin to do more to maintain the peace through active participation in peacekeeping operations through provision of important resources and assets," the secretary general said.

While speaking about the activities of the world organisation, Ban Ki-moon said over the 70-year history, the UN had "setbacks and failures", but still it managed to improve a lot the situation in the world in comparison with the situation of 70 years earlier.

"We still have not fully achieved basic ideas and aspirations so that we could be living in a more prosperous and peaceful world," he said. "Has there not been the United Nations, I am convinced this world had been much bloodier than now."

"But we will continue to strive to make this world more peaceful and that all human beings are protected, and nobody will be left behind our society," Ban Ki-moon said.

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70th anniversary of victory over Nazi Germany

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