The Embassy of Russia in Mauritius is celebrating its Victory Week with an ambitious show of the various facets of Russia. Normally a military parade would be the most fitting show but Ambassador Irada has brought to us the Kruzenshtern which docked in Port Louis. We Mauritians are famous for making model ships to reflect part of our history and the Kruzenshtern is a lifesize model of a distinguished sailing vessel symbolizing the preservation of the maritime traditions of Russia. The sailing vessel represents what is among the best of Russian maritime history. It has reached us after crossing the Baltic and North Seas, the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, touching the ports of Agadir (Morocco) and Cape Town (South Africa).
The Kruzenshtern will remind some Mauritians, we believe firmly, of the time when Russian sailors were here 50 years ago for a rescue and clean-up operation after the passage of all-devastating Gervaise which had flattened our homeland.
Thank you, Ambassador Irada, for reminding us of our old ties which your country has kept alive with many gestures of generosity.
Dawood Auleear
