Word: smirnov
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1960-1969
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
...African states, who had come to Germany to discuss trade and political ties. Erhard warned them against "losing your freedom," orated that "colonialism has been overcome, but worse than colonialism is imperialism of the Communist totalitarian pattern." Up from the front row of invited diplomats jumped Andrei Smirnov, the Russian Ambassador to Bonn. Waving a fistful of papers, he rushed toward Erhard shouting: "You talk about freedom. Germany killed 20 million people in our country...
...flabbergasted Erhard remarked stiffly: "I did not come here to talk to you but with our African friends." Smirnov turned on his heel and stalked up the aisle, where a German attendant, not realizing it was the Soviet ambassador, grabbed his arm and marched him out of the hall. The 60-odd Africans present remained silent. But Bundestag President Eugen Gerstenmaier had to warn angry Germans in the audience that Smirnov had diplomatic immunity...