The flame of unity from Moscow
In a conversation with Vietnamese reporters, Viktor Alekseevich Petrov could not hide his pride as he recalled the days when the entire Soviet Union turned to Viet Nam. He quoted a slogan that was widely spread by the Soviet Committee to Support Viet Nam: “Every Soviet citizen, especially all Communist Party members, every morning when they wake up, they need to think about what they need to do for Viet Nam and what more they need to do to support Viet Nam.”
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| Viktor Alekseevich Petrov during his visit to Viet Nam to attend activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Viet Nam. (Photo: Thu Ha) |
The Soviet Committee to Support Viet Nam was established in 1965, based on the initiative of prominent social activists, artists, and painters of the Soviet Union, and received support from the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. Following the Gulf of Tonkin incident, the United States escalated its military operations against the Democratic Republic of Viet Nam. The Committee’s main task was to support the Vietnamese people's just struggle in the international arena.
From its inception, the Committee quickly grew into a major center for mass mobilization. Workers in most enterprises, sometimes numbering in the hundreds of thousands, voluntarily contributed a day’s salary to the Viet Nam Support Fund. Even Pioneer Truth, a Soviet children’s newspaper with a daily circulation of 20 million copies, continuously called on children to donate to their Vietnamese friends.
Petrov stated that, thanks to the substantial financial and material support for Viet Nam, the Soviet Peace Foundation was able to sponsor up to 50 Vietnamese delegations each month. These delegations initially traveled to the Soviet Union, and later to Europe and other parts of the world, to present and promote Viet Nam’s perspective on the international stage.
His Soviet Committee to Support Viet Nam also played a key role in fostering global mass movements in solidarity with Viet Nam. In France, this support contributed to the formation of the Versailles Conference in support of Viet Nam. In Sweden, under the leadership of lawyer and parliamentarian Hans Göran Franck, a tribunal was established to examine and discuss US war crimes in Viet Nam. Petrov further noted that the Committee invited American soldiers who had deserted during the war to Moscow, where they spoke out about the crimes of US imperialism in Viet Nam. These testimonies were later shared across various European countries, amplifying international awareness and condemnation.
"I have participated in many international support movements, but the movement for Viet Nam was unprecedented in terms of scale. It is a vast and widespread movement throughout the world," he said.
He explained that the Soviet people, having endured immense suffering and loss during the Great Patriotic War, deeply empathized with the hardships and sacrifices faced by the Vietnamese during their struggle. They empathized with all their hearts with the just struggle of the Vietnamese people against the American aggression. "This was a profound source of spiritual, moral, and political strength of the Soviet people regarding the events in Viet Nam," he stated.
Deep impression
In Petrov's memory, the image of Nguyen Thi Binh, former Minister of Foreign Affairs, former Head of the Negotiation Delegation of the Provisional Revolutionary Government of the Republic of South Viet Nam, left the deepest impression.
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| Viktor Alekseevich Petrov (fifth from left) was awarded the Medal "For Peace and Friendship among Nations" - the most prestigious award of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, January 2023. (Photo: Thu Ha) |
Graduated from the French major at the Moscow State Pedagogical University of Foreign Languages (now the Moscow State Linguistic University - MGLU), from 1973, Petrov was assigned to accompany Nguyen Thi Binh on various business trips to Moscow. She often called him by the intimate name "Viktor". Petrov accompanied her to meetings with Soviet leaders, speeches at Moscow State University, visits to the Taman Tank Division barracks, and the renowned Kremlin Military School.
Recalling those days, he said: "Everyone was very impressed with her intelligence and work expertise (...) She was a great woman, and I still keep the best feelings about her". Petrov admired not only the intelligence, ingenuity, and courage of Nguyen Thi Binh as a diplomat, but also recognized in her “a surprising combination of femininity and the fighting spirit of a soldier.”
He also spoke with deep honor about having met two of Viet Nam’s most remarkable women. Alongside Nguyen Thi Binh, he had the privilege of working with General Nguyen Thi Dinh during her visit to the Soviet Union. “I hold a warm affection and profound respect for the great women of Viet Nam,” he shared.
Viet Nam has undergone miraculous changesTalking to the VietnamTimes during his visit to attend activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement on ending the war and restoring peace in Viet Nam, Petrov commented that Viet Nam has undergone miraculous changes. "If you were in Viet Nam at the time of the Paris Agreement signing and experienced today's life, you would see how miraculously the country has changed. I have visited Viet Nam many times, once during the height of the war, once for the 40th anniversary of the Paris Agreement, and now again on the occasion of its 50th anniversary. Each time I return, I am struck by the remarkable transformation of the country. From the changes that are visible to the naked eye: modern cities and soaring skyscrapers now stand where war-torn houses, villages, and streets once lay in ruins, to the changes that are more fundamental and sustainable. Viet Nam is flourishing, with its economy and society advancing impressively, people's lives improving and becoming more prosperous, free, and joyful. We deeply value the affection Viet Nam continues to show toward the former Soviet Union and today's Russian Federation. We are proud and honored that we always stand shoulder to shoulder with the destiny of Viet Nam. A special friendship, deeply loyal and close between the people of the two countries from the past to the present, will continue to grow stronger." |
Source: Vietnamtimes
