Major meets Yeltsin as Russia remembers Great Patriotic War

briefly in the Kremlin this morning after watching a march past through

Red Square by veterans of the Great Patriotic War -- the Russian name

for the Second World War.

The parade of 5000 Russian veterans was scheduled for 9am today.

After he sees the president, Mr Major will lay a wreath at the Tomb of

the Unknown Soldier in the Androvsky Gardens just outside the Kremlin's

walls.

He will then go to Poklonnaya Gora for the opening of a massive

memorial complex the Russians have erected outside the city. But he is

unlikely to see the military parade which is being held there.

Some of the other world leaders including President Mitterrand,

Chancellor Kohl and the Canadian Prime Minister Mr Jean Chretien, either

have other engagements or will arrive too late for the military display.

It is thought that none of them wishes to be filmed watching the

parade which could include Russian troops who have served in Chechnya.

The event promises to awaken memories of Soviet times, since no such

show of military might has been seen in Moscow since the fall of

Communism.

Some 10,000 soldiers, 253 tanks, an unspecified number of armoured

personnel carriers and 70 war planes will be taking part.

Mr Major will be present at the unveiling of the monument and is

expected to make a brief speech before touring a new state museum which

deals with the history of the war.

This afternoon Mr Major will unveil a plaque commemorating a British

war mission to Moscow before he attends a state banquet in the Kremlin

along with the other 50 heads of state or government who have come to

the Russian capital.

All EC countries are represented by their leaders, as are all the

members of the Commonwealth of Independent States.

As far as the people of Moscow are concerned, there will be a May Ball

for the veterans and in the afternoon a parade with brass bands from the

Belorussky station to Red Square. The day will end with what is promised

to be a spectacular fireworks display from 33 sites around the city.

Yesterday central Moscow was closed to traffic as President Yeltsin

inaugurated the celebrations. He laid a wreath at the Tomb of the

Unknown Soldier and then unveiled an equestrian statue of Field Marshall

Zhukhov, just outside Red Square.

He also addressed an assembly of veterans in the Great Hall of the

Palace of Congresses. As a result, Moscow was full of elderly men and

women, some in uniform, torsos plated with medals which rattled as they

walked.

In a little park in front of the Bolshoi Theatre one veteran with an

accordion was playing and two women in uniform decked with medals were

dancing to the delight of the crowd.

It was a day of parades throughout Russia. On television there were

wreath-laying ceremonies and parades from cities all over the country.

Moscow itself was bedecked with flags and banners in preparation for

today's festivities.

Later today Mr Major and Irish Premier John Bruton are to have talks

about the situation in Northern Ireland during a break in the VE Day

celebrations.

The meeting will be at the British Embassy in Moscow and comes as the

first meeting between Sinn Fein and a British Minister is due to take

place. It is thought that Mr Major will use the occasion to update Mr

Bruton on the situation.