Trieste held inauguration of Obelisk to 104 soldiers including 36 Kazakhs who died for liberation of Italy
ASTANA. May 1. KAZINFORM Inauguration of an Obelisk to 104 soviet soldiers of the "Russian battalion" of Yugoslavia's People's Liberation Army took place at the military cemetery of Trieste, Italy, on April 25, 2010. 36 Kazakhs were among those soldiers who fought and died for liberation of northern regions of Italy.
The search for the fallen soldiers was initiated by Kazakh writer, veteran of the War Kalmukan Isabay. Erection of the Obelisk could be possible due to four-year hard work of the Kazakhstan Embassy in Italy on search for burial places and surnames of the dead soldiers, the press service of the Kazakh Foreign Office informs.
Veterans of the Great Patriotic War Kamali Duisembekov, Anatoly Ogay, Orush Tursunov and representatives of the People's Assembly of Kazakhstan participated in the opening ceremony. From the Italian side the event was attended by the veterans of Yugoslavia's People's Liberation Army, mayor of Trieste Roberto Di Piazza, President of the province Mrs. Maria Teresa Poropat, prefect of Trieste Alessandro Giachetti, Senator Milos Budin. At the foot of the Obelisk stood honor guard represented by the Armed Forces of Italy.
Kazakhstan Ambassador to Italy Almaz Khamzayev expressed gratitude to Italian authorities for all-round support in search for names and burial sites of the soldiers, allocation of land at the military cemetery in Trieste for erection of the monument. The Ambassador noted importance of the event for political and public life both in Italy and Kazakhstan and strengthening of both countries' bilateral cultural-humanitarian cooperation and upbringing of younger generation.
The Kazakh delegation also participated in a memorial meeting held by the Mayor's Office of the city at the former Nazi Concentration Camp Risiera di San Sabba near Trieste and laid a wreath to the victims of the Nazi regime.
Thousands of Italian citizens took part in the meeting.