Turkish Press
May 10 2005
Erdogan Shakes Hands With Kocharian Of Armenia
MOSCOW (AA) – The parade of 7 thousand Russian soldiers and 2,600
veterans in Moscow’s Red Square on the 60th anniversary of the Allied
victory over Nazi Germany ended.
Dozens of world leaders, including U.S. President George W.
Bush, French President Jacques Chirac, German Chancellor Gerhard
Schroeder and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan gathered in
Moscow to attend “Victory in Europe Day” ceremonies.
Prime Minister Erdogan, who represented Turkey at the
ceremonies, shook hand with President Robert Kocharian of Armenia. He
also chatted with Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi of Italy.
President Vladimir Putin paid tribute to the huge wartime
sacrifice of the Soviet Union and called for unity against new
threats.
He stressed that said his country would never forget the debt
owed to the tens of millions of Soviet citizens who died to defeat
Nazism.
Fighter jets streaming smoke in the Russian blue, white and red
tricolor screamed over Red Square as soldiers sang patriotic wartime
songs.
The word “victory” was emblazoned on the Kremlin wall in several
languages, including those of the vanquished.
Soldiers in modern and World War II-era uniforms, and veterans
bedecked in their medals, marched.
Following the parade, President Putin and the other leaders laid
red carnations and a huge carpet of red roses at the Tomb of the
Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin Wall to honor soldiers who
perished in World War II.
Later, President Putin hosted a lunch in honor of guest leaders.