France Unveils Monument to Famous Russian Astronaut Gagarin
A monument to Yuri Gagarin was unveiled yesterday in Montpellier, France. The bronze figure of the first man in space is a gift from Russia and a piece of grassroots diplomacy. According to the project's authors, Gagarin's legendary smile unites people around the ideas of peace and a better world. Soon, Gagarin will appear in another 5 countries. Anastasia Popova reports on how he was received in France.
- Dobro pozhalovat'
- Dobro pozhalovat.
Our delegation, led by the Kaluga Region Governor, received a warm welcome from the Montpellier authorities who even hoisted a Russian flag at the city hall. The idea was to share best practices on how to organize traffic, how to teach and treat people.
Anatoly Artamonov, Kaluga Region Governor: "I wouldn't call it a breakthrough, but it's definitely an improvement. And with our regional authorities contributing to that constant partnership which already existed between Obninsk and Montpellier, we're hoping to take that relationship to the next level".
Over the past 10 years, Montpellier has really changed. It's whimsical buildings wherever you look. Some ideas were borrowed from Russia which has long been of significance to the Mayor, Phillipe Saurel. Under his shirt, he wears an icon of Vladimir Mother of God.
Phillipe Saurel, Mayor of Montpellier: "I was born in 1957, the year of Sputnik. My Dad even nicknamed me Sputnik. I was marked by Russia even then. And later I went to the USSR".
So it's with deep emotion that today he unveiled a Gagarin monument in his town. It's the exact copy of the one in the Kaluga Museum of Cosmonautics.
The first flight of a man around the Earth was a sensation to the whole world. Everyone knew Gagarin's name. But what about now?
- Do you know the name of the first man in space?
- He was a Russian, Yuri Gagarin.
- Do you know what he said before launch?
- Poehali.
- Poehali.
Back in 1965, Gagarin was greeted in Le Bourget as an honored guest by the entire Paris. He would be recognized on the street, given flowers and asked for his autograph.
George Klimov, Gagarin's Translator: "Gagarin was very shy and humble. He wasn't even comfortable accepting a drink. He'd just say, "Yes, please." He had good manners and was very humble and polite. It was a very pleasant encounter".
"He's facing Russia and looking at the stars", — the mayor jokes. A star is a symbol of Montpellier. The monument stands at a road junction, on the bridge named in his honor.
This bridge almost connects the past with the present. But today it can become a symbol of Russia-France partnership. A metaphor of a developing cultural, spiritual, and economic relationship between the two cities.
Anastasia Popova, Ilya Bernadsky. Vesti, Montpellier, France.