The Russian State flag on the roof of the State Hermitage Museum is lowered as a token of the disaster happened in New York, US, on 11 September 2001.

"I am in New York now, participating in the preparation of the joint exhibition project with the specialists from the Guggenheim Museum. On 11 September I was a witness to the disaster, which shows that all of us are vulnerable in this world and it is necessary for us to act jointly.

I saw common American people acting during the disaster. All of them stood to protect values common to the mankind.

The members of the Hermitage staff present their condolences to the residents of the US, including our colleagues who must to protect both their lives and treasures of the world culture.

I regret that the tentacles of the world terrorism well known in Russia, have reached now the United States."

Mikhail Piotrovsky,
Director of the State Hermitage Museum

Broken peace...