Word: smirnov
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: all
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...
...West German government stiffly advised the Soviet embassy of its "regret" that the incident had occurred, but a spokesman emphasized this did not imply diplomatic apology. Since Smirnov is noted among Soviet diplomats for his even-voiced courtesy and easy charm, the German news agency D.P.A. concluded: "Smirnov could hardly have acted in such an unusual manner for a diplomat if he had not had instructions from Moscow...
Moscow at once sent beefy Ambassador Andrei Smirnov lumbering to tell him, almost mockingly, that West Germans ought to be pleased over the Soviet plan to get the British, French and U.S. occupation forces out of Berlin. According to drastically edited versions of the old man's outrage, he grimly and bitterly exchanged unpleasantries with his caller for an hour...
...rasped the Chancellor himself next evening at a state election rally in Munich, "that we look upon the forces of our Western allies at Berlin as defenders of freedom, and that it is of the greatest importance that they should remain there." But at an Indonesian embassy reception Smirnov told reporters: "We will give Berlin back to the Germans. I hope it will go quickly, the quicker the better. Everything will be settled by Christmas...