WREATH LAYING IN WEST BERLIN; PARADE IN EAST BERLIN.




Initials PBS/V & O/BHH/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: THOUSANDS OF ARMED EAST GERMAN SOLDIERS TODAY (SATURDAY) MARCHED THROUGH THE STREETS OF EAST BERLIN TO MARK THE FIFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE BUILDING OF THE 'BERLIN WALL'.

THE EAST GERMAN LEADER, HERR WALTER ULBRICHT, DECLARED DURING THE ANNIVERSARY PARADE THAT THE WALL HAD PREVENTED WAR.

THE PARADE LASTED FOR TWO HOURS, AND INCLUDED DETACHMENTS OF REGULAR ARMY FORCES, THE MILITIA AND THE PEOPLE'S POLICE.

IT WAS THE FIRST CELEBRATION OF ITS KIND SINCE THE FIRST FOUNDATIONS OF THE WALL, SEPARATING EAST AND WEST BERLIN WERE LAID BY EAST GERMAN AUTHORITIES IN THE EARLY HOURS OF AUGUST 13, 1961.

MORE THAN FIVE THOUSAND PEOPLE TOOK PART IN THE MARCH PAST DOWN EAST BERLIN'S FAMED BOULEVARD, UNTER DEN LINDEN.

HERR WALTER ULBRICHT SAID THE BUILDING OF THE WALL PREVENTED COUNTLESS WEST GERMANS FROM LOSING THEIR LIVES IN A WAR.

EAST GERMANY HAD MADE FREQUENT ATTEMPTS TO RELAX TENSIONS WITH WEST GERMANY BEFORE THE WALL WAS BUILT, SAID HERR ULBRICHT, BUT WEST GERMANY WENT AHEAD WITH PLANS TO INTRUDE INTO EAST GERMANY.

BY GUARDING THE BORDER PEACE WAS SECURED.

HERR ULBRICHT SAID THE WALL HELPED TO STRENGTHEN THE INTERNATIONAL REPUTATION OF EAST GERMANY.

IN WEST BERLIN PEOPLE LAID WREATHS AT MEMORIALS TO 58 EAST GERMANS KILLED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO CROSS INTO WEST BERLIN OVER THE WALL.

THE MAYOR OF WEST BERLIN, HERR WILLY BRANDT, DESCRIBED THE ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AS A GRIM MOCKERY OF THE POPULATION AND A RETURN TO THE COOLEST POSITION OF THE COLD WAR.