May 8th and 9th mark the 65th anniversary of the end of the Second World War in Europe and the victory over fascism. We, the Leaders of the G8, together with the citizens of our countries, mourn all who died in that war and honour those who fought to end it. On these days of remembrance and reconciliation we pay special tribute to all those who endured occupation and the horrors of the Holocaust. Also our thoughts are with those who suffered from the division of Europe that followed.
As nations and as peoples, we are compelled to remember the lessons of that war, which inflicted loss of life and destruction on an unprecedented scale. The lessons of the Second World War testify that dictatorship, aggression, injustice and ideologies of hatred and racial supremacy have no place in the world and must be rejected. We reaffirm our unequivocal commitment to global peace, security, international law, democratic values, human rights and fundamental freedoms. G8 Leaders are determined to work together to tackle new challenges and threats, especially terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction, to ensure a future of peace, security, sustainable development, justice and prosperity for all.
On this 65th anniversary, we call upon all nations to engage in effective international and regional cooperation to achieve these goals through collective efforts in keeping with the Charter of the United Nations.
8 May 2010
