Irina Virganskaya-Gorbacheva, daughter of the former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev, who passed away earlier this year, said that she was deeply touched by Prime Minister Robert Abela’s letter of condolences.
Gorbachev, the last leader of the Soviet Union and for many the man who restored democracy to then-communist-ruled European nations, died in August after a severe and prolonged illness at the age of 91.
His daughter wrote a letter in reply to Abela’s letter of condolences, saying that out of all the letters and messages she received, Abela’s “holds a special place”.
“Mikhail Sergeyevich often shared with me warm memories of Malta and of the summit meeting with President George Bush in December 1989, which marked the symbolic end of the Cold War. He was happy to record a message of greetings for the public event commemorating the 30th anniversary of that meeting,” the letter, seen by The Malta Independent on Sunday, read.
Gorbacheva said that she is pleased that the government and the people of Malta remember and honour the historic moment.
She said that it is their hope that the legacy of the Malta summit will live on for peace and cooperation during a current difficult and tragic period of world history.
Gorbacheva thanked Abela for the “very kind and meaningful letter”.
Mikhail Gorbachev had met the US President George H. W. Bush in Malta in the first weekend of December 1989 in what is described as the occasion that brought the Cold War to an end.