EASTERN EUROPE KNOWS WE LOST WWII:

Two Baltic States Stoke Moscow Row (David Mardiste, 08/03/2005, Reuters)

The presidents of Estonia and Lithuania have spurned a Russian invitation to World War Two victory celebrations, risking a diplomatic spat with Moscow and a rift with Baltic neighbour Latvia.

Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga had already decided to join other world leaders in Moscow on May 9, sparking anger in Estonia and Lithuania as all three leaders originally planned to issue a joint response to Russia.

Many Balts are happy to celebrate the defeat of Nazi Germany, but also feel the end of the war led to 50 years of Soviet occupation.

Swapping dictators was no victory.

Posted by Orrin Judd at March 10, 2005 4:25 PM