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KOZHIN: MOSCOW'S V-DAY MANIFESTATION OF IMPERIAL AMBITIONS? NO.

MOSCOW, May 5 (RIA Novosti) - Vladimir Kozhin, Presidential office maintenance chief, disagrees with the statement that Moscow celebrations of May 9, to which the leaders of 53 foreign states have been invtied, is a manifestation of Russia's imperial ambitions.

Commenting on a publication in one influential Western newspaper, which alleged that Russian imperial and strategic ambitions would be again displayed on May 9, Kozhin said in a Rossia TV Channel interview that it was very difficult to agree with this opinion.

"This celebration is staged to show to the whole world the role of the winner soldiers, those who, thanks God, have lived to see this day and can testify to wartime events. What imperial ambitions can one talk about?" said Kozhin. "What can they be expressed in?"

"In that the whole world has been invited to lay wreaths to the Unknown Soldier Grave? And people have agreed to come and I hope they will be here . In that thousands of war veterans have got justified allowances from the state?" Kozhin inquired rhetorically.

He also expressed confidence that the event would not be limited to festivities and the president had promised this.

In the opinion of Kozhin, the involvement of a great number of foreign delegations in the V-Day holiday in Moscow is an international recognition of Russia's current status.

"This is the recognition of Russia's role in 1945, but what is more important-the recognition of Russia's role in 2005. This what matters above all these days. The rest-salutes, fireworks and performances-is good but of secondary importance," underlined Kozhin.

He reported about the expected arrival of war veterans from different countries but added that celebrations would be interlaced with business talks by the heads of state. May 8 will see an informal CIS summit while May 10 will be the day of a Russia-EU summit, he added.

"But undoubtedly May 9 when a Victory parade will be held is our strategic point," said Kozhin, emphasizing that it is above all the day of war veterans and everything has been done to let them participate in it.