http://www.wpherald.com/storyview.php?StoryID=20050509-115521-2522r
Analysis: Putin's victory parade
By Peter Lavelle
UPI Moscow correspondent
Published May 9, 2005
MOSCOW -- With more than 50 world leaders in attendance to observe an
impressive military parade in Red Square on Monday, President Vladimir
Putin reminded the world of the enormous Soviet sacrifice in defeating
Nazi Germany 60 years ago. While remembering the past and honoring the
Allied war effort, Putin himself was reminded that the Soviet victory
remains controversial for many of Russia's neighbors and new friends.
In many respects, Russia's commemorations of the end of World War
II - what the Russians called the "Great Patriotic War" - was
celebrated in much the same way as during the days of the Soviet
Union. Military parades marched passed dignitaries, war veterans
proudly displayed medals on their jackets, and a speech given to pay
tribute to the 27 million Soviet citizens who perished during the war.
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But there were many differences as well, including differences of
opinion.
U.S. President George W. Bush is the first American leader to
attend such a large-scale event in Red Square - an event that was
devoted to symbolism this year and without the usual presentation of
heavy military hardware. For decades after the war, Soviet leaders
spoke of victory over Nazism as part of the global ideological
struggle of the Cold War. Instead, Putin reached out to former Cold
War foes with an appeal to combat international terrorism.
Additionally, many of the honored guests interpret the meaning of
Victory in Europe differently, and those differences compound present
political issues the Kremlin has with its neighbors.
The war commemorations held in Red Square were solemn and full of
pride, masking for a short while the very heated discussions
surrounding Russia's celebration of the event and what is viewed by
many observers as Putin's growing authoritarianism at home.
George Bush's travel itinerary intentionally brackets his Moscow
visit with stopovers in Latvia, the Netherlands and Georgia - visits
not only to remember the war, but also to promote his agenda of
spreading and supporting democracy around the world.
Bush has repeatedly questioned Vladimir Putin's commitment to
strengthening Russia's democracy, a free media, property rights, as
well as expressed unease with the Kremlin's uneven reaction to
democratic upheavals on Russia's borders over the past 18 months -
particularly in Georgia, Ukraine, and Kyrgyzstan.
The American president said as much last Saturday when visiting
Latvia, strongly condemning the Soviet annexation and occupation of
the Baltic republics as a result of the World War II and claiming the
spread of democracy threatens no country.
The presidents of Estonia and Lithuania boycotted Vladimir Putin's
May 9 war commemorations in protest of the Kremlin's unwillingness to
acknowledge what many in the Baltic republics see as decades of
unwanted Soviet occupation after the war.
In the Netherlands over the weekend, during ceremonies
commemorating fallen American soldiers in Western Europe, Bush
repeated his message that not all European countries were liberated
after the war. This message was clearly directed toward Russia and the
Soviet Union's legacy in Eastern Europe.
There is every expectation that Bush will continue with this
script when he visits the former Soviet republic Georgia on Tuesday.
Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili also boycotted the Moscow event
over a border dispute with the Kremlin and the continued existence of
Russian military bases in his country.
In an effort to ease what has amounted to war of words during the
past few weeks surrounding the meaning of World War II victory and how
best to promote democracy around the world, Bush and Putin met at the
Russian president's private dacha Sunday evening on the outskirts of
Moscow to discuss issues of mutual concern.
According to Bush's national security adviser, Stephen Hadley, the
presidents covered reform of the United Nations, the Middle East peace
process, Russia's potential accession to the World Trade Organization
this year and Iran's nuclear program.
Hadley also said that each president asked for clarification
concerning a number of statements made over the past few days. What
did Putin mean when he said that the collapse of the Soviet Union was
a geopolitical catastrophe during his "state-of-the-nation" address?
Putin inquired about some specifics surrounding comments about
America's promotion of the democracy in the post-Soviet space. Both
presidents were apparently satisfied with the answers each received.
Hadley's comments on the private meeting of the two presidents
puts into sharp relief the delicate balancing act Bush has pursued
during his European tour. Publicly, George Bush has promoted an
outwardly idealist agenda to strengthen democracy around the world,
including the countries of the former Soviet Union. However, Bush as
also shown that to do business with Putin he must confront stony-faced
pragmatism.
Both presidents are net winners today. Putin got what he wanted
most - international respect for the Soviet Union's role in defeating
Nazi Germany. To get that he had to face strong emotions related to
Soviet expansion and occupation of Eastern Europe and questions about
his rule at home. Bush can feel satisfied. He delivered his democracy
message directly to Putin sitting in his counterpart's private
residence. Bush also has keep on board an important new friend when
confronting his other major foreign policy priority - the war on
terrorism.
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