Luanda — The Union Veterans of Angola in Russia, a local Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Friday in Luanda awarded medals to the Angolan and foreign nationalists who extended support to the Russian fighters.

The ceremony was attended by the minister of Former Combatants and Motherland Veterans, Kundi Paihama, Defense and Military Attaché of Russia in the country, Colonel Nikolay Alexandrovich.

The tribute went to the generals Salviano de Jesus Cerqueira, José Luis Caetano Higino de Sousa "Ze Grabde", Joaquim António Lopes "Farrusco", the Deputy Defence military attaché of Cuba, Colonel Lazaro Triano Bonilla , and interpreter of Russian military mission Vastrikov Konstantia.

Addressing the ceremony, the Military Defence Attaché of Russia in Angola, Colonel Nikolay Alexandrovich said that the beginning of the liberation struggle in Angola that led to the country's independence in 1975 not only resulted in the liberation of Namibia, but also accelerated the fall of the apartheid system in the Republic of South Africa.

Speaking on behalf of the organisation, the official added that this allowed the rise to power of the majority black African National Congress (ANC).

According to him, in this struggle for freedom the brothers Angolans and Cubans fought not only on the outskirts of Kuito Kuanavale locality, but also in Ondjiva, Kahama, Xangongo."

"Angola is the country where we have accomplished our internationalist duty and left a part of our hearts, I'm sure it all worth it," said the Russian Military Defence Attaché in Angola.