World | Other World Stories
Medvedev warns against 'irresponsible ambitions'
Medvedev, in his first major public event since being sworn into office, told 8,000 parade troops and guests at a ceremony to mark the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany that Russia would not tolerate "disrespect for international law".
- Reuters
- Published: 23:56 May 9, 2008
Moscow: President Dmitry Medvedev warned yesterday against "irresponsible ambitions" that lead to war as tanks and missile launchers rumbled over Red Square in a show of Russian fire-power not seen since the fall of the Soviet Union.
Medvedev, in his first major public event since being sworn into office, told 8,000 parade troops and guests at a ceremony to mark the Soviet victory over Nazi Germany that Russia would not tolerate "disrespect for international law". "We must treat very seriously any attempt to sow racial or religious enmity, foment the ideology of terror and extremism or meddle in other states' affairs, especially by redrawing borders," Medvedev said.
War veterans boasting chestfuls of medals applauded, some with tears in their eyes, as supersonic fighter jets and bombers screamed overhead in formation and impeccably uniformed, goose-stepping honour guards saluted the Russian flag. Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov rode past the massed ranks of troops in a silver open-top Soviet Zil limousine to take their salute, barking congratulations to each group in turn on the 63rd anniversary of Russia's World War Two victory, which cost more than 20 million lives.
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, at times looking emotional, sat next to Medvedev on a viewing platform listening to martial music from a brass band and watching the parading troops, but did not speak. It was Putin who as president ordered the revival of the Soviet tradition of parading military hardware through Red Square on Victory Day for the first time since 1990. Medvedev succeeded Putin as president on Wednesday.
Opinion polls showed the decision was popular with most Russians, who hail Putin for restoring some of Russia's greatness and power after the chaos which followed the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. "We can sleep easily at night with an army like this," said Yakob Vasilyevich, a former World War Two fighter pilot watching the parade. "Europe has always coveted our territory - just look at Hitler and Napoleon."
Gesturing to the Tu-160 supersonic bomber whistling overhead, he added: "That can carry 10 nuclear bombs - if we used them, it would be as if Europe had never existed."
Putin denied earlier that the parade was intended as sabre-rattling. "However, it is a demonstration of our potential in the defence sphere," he told ministers.
Share this article
Related Articles
News Editor's choice
-
Reader helps police to bust brothel
More than 20 gang members recently arrested from running brothels in Dubai
-
Philippine areas under emergency rule
Toll rises to 46 in brutal kidnap and murder in the south
-
Obama seeks to reassure Singh on ties
Singh is on elaborate state visit that will include talks on US ties with Pakistan
