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People with different political views and belonging to different religious denominations come to visit Khatyn in order to commemorate the victims of the Second World War killed without guilt. The sorrowful bell ringing reminds about the tragic fate of a Russian village of Krasukhi, a Ukranian village of Kortelisy, Lithuanian Ablinghi, Czech Lidiza, French Oradur-sur-Glan and many others.
  
After visiting the memorial, people come to realize how vulnerable the world is. They start thinking about The Eternal. The memorial complex "Khatyn" reveals peaceful vectors of politics of our state.
     
A solemn meeting was held on the eve of the 60th anniversary of the liberation of Belarus from fascist invaders. It was on July 1, 2004 in Khatyn. The Ukranian president L. D. Kuchma, the Russian president V. V. Putin and the president of Belarus A. G. Lukashenko took part in it.
More than 35 million people have visited the state memorial complex "Khatyn" in these 35 years. These people came from more than 100 different countries. Among them there were such distinguished guests as UNO Secretaries General U Tan and H. Perez de Cuehlar, the president of the United States of America Richard Nixon, the president of Finland U. K. Kekkonen and M. Koivisto, the Indian prime-minister Radzhiv Ghandi, the Secretary General of the Cuban Communist Party Fidel Castro, the chairman of the Executive Committee of Palestinian Liberation Organization Yasser Arafat, the Romanian president I. Iliesku, the president of the Republic of Kazakhstan N. Nazarbaev, the Chinese Communist Party chairman Hu Tzintao and many other famous politicians.
The book of appreciation. Comments made by visitors of the state memorial complex of "Khatyn":
"Without the past there is no present or future. Today Belarus enters the 60th year of peaceful life, but we do not forget the struggle and suffering which were the price we paid for our happiness. The flames of Khatyn burns our hearts and reminds us of our sacred duty to take care of peace and rest in our home and not to let the horrors of war happen again.
Here in Khatyn, courage and heroism of the Belorussian nation are embodied in granite.
The memorial complex reconstructed for the great anniversary is visible proof of descendants' eternal memory of the tragedy of burnt villages.
We are forever grateful to those who at the cost of their own lives fought for the victory and independence of our Motherland.
Khatyn is a symbol of strength of mind and impregnability and it will always serve the cause of peace and mutual understanding between nations."
The Belorussian president A. Lukashenko
July 1, 2004
"Remembrance of victims, heroic past of our nations — that is what unites us forever."
President of the Russian Federation V. Putin
July 1, 2004
"However much time passes, there is no excuse for fascism. Remember your history and preserve it for descendants. May fascist fiend victims memory live on forever."
G.Seleznev
2004
"I feel very emotional. Oradur-sur-Glan and Khatyn are linked by means of the memory of its victims. This place reminds about the past. And you too — remember to be vigilant."
Memorial complex Oradur-sur-Glan director
2004
"Up to today we have only heard about genocide and mass destruction of people. But now, after we have visited the memorial, we saw all horros of the Second World War with our own eyes. I bow low to the innocent inhabitants of Khatyn and pray God to let similar horrors never happen again. We are against racism and genocide. We want peace in the whole world.
This monument is an eternal and unforgettable symbol of grief."
Indian Minister for sports and youth matters
2003
"We are unable to express ourselves by words. On behalf of Walloon government we admire the Belorussian nation which survived the horrors of fascism and regained peace."
Albert Colignon, Belgian Parliament Chairman
2003
"We, people, need memorials like Khatyn for not letting this dark part of history happen again."
Ulrich Haunheld, mayor of Bonn
2003
"The visit to this historic place was very moving. The place reminds all civilized humanity about the darkest pages of history. We will never forget this impression. We will always work in harmony to maintain peace for the welfare of all people."
Nemik K. Pek, president of tthe Turkish science and technolgy research council
2002
"It is important to remember victims of all wars in the world."
Seinti Mimura Kavaguti, a priest of the temple of Urakami (the city of Nagasaki)
"The 20th century tragedies must warrant the future of the world."
Tosiko Iokoska, Japan
2000
"It is very touching and impressive. Thanks for telling the world about the sacred things which you remember.
The memorial complex gives very vivid and real impressions. It is unforgettable. Peace, love and forgiveness."
USA, Minnesota University, teaching staff
1999
"Khatyn mournful bells ring and keep time with the Piskarev cemetery heart beat. Let it never happen again."
Participants of the 'Peace march'
1991
"Never again!!! I hope Khatyn people suffering will teach a lesson to all people of the world and have them be merciful. All of us must think about how brutal a war is and how salutary peace is. We admire and respect the heroic people of Khatyn!"
Xavier Peres de Cuehlar, UNO Secretary General
1987
"It is a stirring reminding about what a war can bring with itself. Let none of us forget how people used their energy for destroying each other. Let it be a reminder to all those who hamper the process of disarmament, because today the consequences could be even worse. The memorial deeply impresses anyone who visits it. Minsk and Belorussia have suffered for the ideals of humanism to live. Let the world remember it and struggle for a better future for humanity."
Radzhiv Ghandi, Indian Prime-Minister
1985
"For someone who came from a country (Sweden) which was not occupied during the war, the memorial "Khatyn" is a horrible proof of what a war can do to people, wherever it takes place. We express our deepest feelings for the Belorussian nation for everything it has suffered. Let it be a warning! Let it be something what you have to remember and forget!"
1982
"A deep impression which I got after visiting the memorial reminds me of the words from the UNESCO charter: "Since wars begin in people minds, it is therefore people minds where we should try to build the defense of the world." Let us explain it to children, because our children are our future."
Nasum A Beg. UNESCO. Pakistan
Comments made by visitors of the documentary photo exposition "Khatyn":
"This little museum is like the Red Book of our white earth. Each exhibit reveals the very moment or the permanent frozen state of tragedy and explicit belief in the better destiny for the nation.
The beauty of the Belorussian land is reflected in every glance of each picture of the Man.
We must remember..."
Leonid Levin, Lenin Prize laureate, honoured architect of the Republic of Belarus, member of the Academy of Architecture, co-author of the complex "Khatyn"
2005
"Founders of the unique museum of memory of the Second World War and Nazi victims! We are deeply grateful to you for your noble and self-sacrificing work! What you have done and still do is invaluable. Belorussian people's resistence during the hard times of the Great Patriotic War will live through the ages."
Doctor of History, professor of the Russian Academy of Civil Service under the head of the Russian Federation president, "Historic archives" magazine chief editor - A. Chernobaev
2004
"I'm glad that in addition to the memorial complex itself, there was opened a documentary photo exhibition, which narrates about the victims of the Belorussian people. All people of the world must know about it and remember it, and lead a life which will never permit this happen again anywhere in the world."
K.Ivankina, born in Belorussia, now living in the city of Irkutsk (Russia)
2004
"Thanks to the people of the Republic of Belarus and the president mister Lukashenko for the memory of the perished during the Great Patriotic War."
Latvia, the Borisovs (a family)
2004
"We express deep gratitude to the founders of the museum. It is vital for our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We must know our history for preserving our Slav nationality."
Korovina R. L., Izhevsk
2004
"We are from Estonia where monuments are being destroyed and here we have been deeply impressed by what we saw. It feels like keeping silent and remembering here".
2004
"The materials of the exposition make an absolute impression on anyone who sees them. The young must necessarily know about what the people of our country endured. Thank you very much for collecting the photos for the museum."
Secondary school No. 19, the town of Baranovichy, students and teachers
2004
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