Kohl Will Go to Moscow for War Memorial
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BONN — Chancellor Helmut Kohl has decided to travel to Moscow to mark the 50th anniversary of Germany’s defeat in World War II, but he will not attend the military parade at the heart of the celebration, officials said Tuesday.
President Clinton, President Francois Mitterrand of France and Prime Minister John Major of Britain have confirmed they will attend the Red Square parade, which Russian officials said would include soldiers who helped crush the Chechnya rebellion this year.
Kohl will take part in a wreath-laying ceremony and a Kremlin reception, and may visit a cemetery for German soldiers outside Moscow, said the German officials, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Diplomatic strains over the planning of the May 9 ceremony and a V-E Day ceremony May 8 in Berlin reflect differences in how the war is interpreted.
Kohl, Clinton and other officials wanted to give Russian President Boris N. Yeltsin political support on the anniversary of a victory that is still extremely meaningful to the Russians. But they did not want to be seen endorsing Yeltsin’s use of force in Chechnya.
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