2007 programs and events

Embassy Exhibit and Documentary Highlight US Role in Post War Relief Efforts

During the first half of November 2007 the U.S. Embassy organized an exhibition on the activities of the United Nations Relief and Rehabilitation Administration in Belarus in 1946-47 at the “Pobeda” (Victory) movie theater in the capital city of Minsk.  The exhibition was based on photographic and other materials found in Belarusian, U.S. and international archives with the help of the United Nations Office in Belarus and the local World War II Museum and served to demonstrate to the wider Belarusian public the international involvement and prevalent US role in the post-war reconstruction effort in Belarus.  Screenings of a 20-minute documentary “The Forgotten Mission” produced by the Public Affairs Section that tells the story of the UNRRA Mission to Belarus, even describing the unselfish acts and death of one of the American staffers here, further augmented the message and made this important project more visually attractive and emotionally moving.  The two open-door events marking the opening of the exhibition on November 1 and its closure on November 14 were attended by U.S. Ambassador Karen Stewart and DCM Jonathan Moore, respectively.  Both spoke to audiences of several hundred people who came to learn more about this page in bilateral history and hear—for many, for the first time—that the U.S. help to the Soviet Union in the years after the devastating hostilities and occupation was significant, well-organized and life-saving.  About 10,000 Belarusians—primarily young people—viewed the exhibition located in the lobby of the movie theater and saw the documentary on UNRRA shown prior to evening events at the theater over the course of two weeks.  When a full auditorium of exhibition attendees was given the chance to ask questions about UNRRA of Deputy Chief of Mission Moore on November 14, they did so enthusiastically reflecting interest even in details of the historical topic.

"The Forgotten Mission." Language: Russian. Go to the playlist or directly to part 1, part 2 or part 3 of the documentary.