President in Moscow

President Asif Ali Zardari was shown being received only by a Deputy Foreign Minister on arrival at Shrimetva-1 airport Moscow (The News 12 May 2011).  I do not know if it is a regular practice with the Russians to accord such low protocol to all Heads of the State on their official visit to Moscow or it was so only in the case of Pakistan?  Whatever the case, one is reminded of the days when President Kennedy along with Mrs. Kennedy were personally at the Washington D.C. airport to receive President Ayub Khan accompanied by his daughter Nasim Aurangzeb.  The welcome accorded to Ayub Khan is remembered as one the best ever to any head of the state in the USA and can be viewed on the Youtube by clicking   http://www.texasarchive.org/library/index.php/America_Welcomes _President_Ayub

Col. Riaz Jafri (Retd)