After Russia’s invasion, Hiroshima cancels commemorative project with its sister city in Russia
Mar. 10, 2022
by Junji Akechi, Staff Writer
In response to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, the Hiroshima City government announced on March 9 it would cancel an exchange program scheduled for this fall to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its sister city relationship with the Russian city of Volgograd. Both city governments planned to send delegations and art troupes to one another’s cities but decided they could not ensure their safety.
In the commemorative project, the Hiroshima City government planned to send a delegation including Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui to Volgograd to attend the commemorative event in September and to welcome the mayor of Volgograd and other officials to an event to be held in Hiroshima in November. The initial budget proposal for the general account for fiscal year 2022 included 16 million yen for related costs.
The staff in charge explained the situation at the special budgetary meeting of the city assembly held on March 9. He condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement suggesting the use of a nuclear weapon, saying they “trampled on the wishes of the citizens of the atomic-bombed city of Hiroshima.” He explained the current situation, in that they have not been able to get in contact with people in Volgograd since February and said, “We had no choice but to cancel the dispatch of the delegation due to concerns over ensuring safety.
Meanwhile, since one purpose of the sister city relationship is to deepen friendship at a grassroots level, friendly relations between the cities will continue, apart from national trends.
The city of Volgograd (then Stalingrad) was the site of a hard-fought battle during World War II, and Volgograd and Hiroshima established the sister city relationship in 1972, as both cities were severely damaged in the war. Now Volgograd is one of the 24 lead cities of the Mayors for Peace organization, (for which Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui serves as president).
(Originally published on March 10, 2022)
In response to Russia’s military invasion of Ukraine, the Hiroshima City government announced on March 9 it would cancel an exchange program scheduled for this fall to commemorate the 50th anniversary of its sister city relationship with the Russian city of Volgograd. Both city governments planned to send delegations and art troupes to one another’s cities but decided they could not ensure their safety.
In the commemorative project, the Hiroshima City government planned to send a delegation including Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui to Volgograd to attend the commemorative event in September and to welcome the mayor of Volgograd and other officials to an event to be held in Hiroshima in November. The initial budget proposal for the general account for fiscal year 2022 included 16 million yen for related costs.
The staff in charge explained the situation at the special budgetary meeting of the city assembly held on March 9. He condemned Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement suggesting the use of a nuclear weapon, saying they “trampled on the wishes of the citizens of the atomic-bombed city of Hiroshima.” He explained the current situation, in that they have not been able to get in contact with people in Volgograd since February and said, “We had no choice but to cancel the dispatch of the delegation due to concerns over ensuring safety.
Meanwhile, since one purpose of the sister city relationship is to deepen friendship at a grassroots level, friendly relations between the cities will continue, apart from national trends.
The city of Volgograd (then Stalingrad) was the site of a hard-fought battle during World War II, and Volgograd and Hiroshima established the sister city relationship in 1972, as both cities were severely damaged in the war. Now Volgograd is one of the 24 lead cities of the Mayors for Peace organization, (for which Hiroshima Mayor Kazumi Matsui serves as president).
(Originally published on March 10, 2022)
