[Mb-civic] CBC News - RUSSIA RECALLS 27M KILLED IN WWII

Mon May 9 16:30:54 PDT 2005

This email has been sent to you by harry.sifton at sympatico.ca
The following is a news item posted on CBC NEWS ONLINE
at http://www.cbc.ca/news
____________________________________________________
RUSSIA RECALLS 27M KILLED IN WWII
WebPosted Mon May  9 06:24:55 2005

MOSCOW---Russia marked the 60th anniversary of the end of the
Second World War with a major parade Monday, attended by more than
50 world leaders.

The 1939-45 war took the lives of 27 million civilians and soldiers from
the former Soviet Union, far more than the toll in all the other
participating countries combined.

Military marching bands and thousands of goose-stepping soldiers made
their way through Moscow's Red Square as U.S. President George W. Bush,
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and other dignitaries watched.

 RELATED STORY: Bush, Putin meeting appears cordial

The parade was the latest in a weeklong series of events in Europe
designed to celebrate the Allied victory over Nazi Germany.

Russian President Vladimir Putin also welcomed the leaders of Italy and
Japan, the first time the former enemy nations have been represented in
Moscow for the annual event.

Putin said May 9 is "a sacred day" in Russia, serving as a reminder of
"what monstrous consequences violence and moral intolerance, genocide and
persecution of others could lead to."

As vintage war-era trucks rumbled past the viewing platform, carrying
elderly veterans of what Russians call the Great Patriotic War, world
leaders gave them a standing ovation.

Canadian Gov. Gen. Adrienne Clarkson was on hand for the parade on behalf
of Canada.

Prime Minister Paul Martin and the other three federal party leaders flew
to the Netherlands late Sunday to take part in wrap-up events for VE-Day
in that country.

 FROM MAY 3, 2005: PM, other leaders to attend VE-Day ceremonies in
 Netherlands

The prime minister had planned to attend more of the week's observances
of the 60th anniversary of the European victory, but politics at home got
in the way.

He cancelled his travel plans because his minority government was in
danger of falling.

Midway through the week, Martin managed to reach a deal with Conservative
Leader Stephen Harper, Bloc Québécois Leader Gilles Duceppe and NDP
Leader Jack Layton that all four would travel to Europe for the end of
VE-Day ceremonies.

On Monday morning, Martin laid a wreath at a cemetery in Amersfoort,
about 40 kilometres east of Amsterdam, as a memorial to Canadians who
died liberating Holland from the Nazis.

Later in the day, he was to attend a luncheon with Canadian veterans and
a farewell party in the evening before flying back to Canada.