Brezhnev not at Czech congress

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34127, 13 April 1976, Page 21

Brezhnev not at Czech congress

(New Zealand Press Association—Copyright) MOSCOW, April 12. A Soviet Union delegation headed by a memjber of the Politburo, Mr Andrei, Kirilenkq, instead of the General Secretary of the Communist Party (Mr Brezhnev), has flown to Prague for the fifteenth congress of the Czechoslovak party.

Politick! analysts in Moscow are not willing to read any significance into the absence of the Mr Brezhnev from the Prague gathering, although he has not been seen in public since March 7, when he appeared at ceremonies to mark International Women’s Day. Mr Brezhnev, whose health gave rise to concern last year, did not attend the recent congress of the Bulgarian party, neither did he meet the Swedish Prime Minister (Mr Palme), who visited the Soviet Union last week. Swedish sources said then they were told that Mr Brezhnev was on holiday, and was willing to return to Moscow to met Mr Palme, but the Swedish leader said it was not necessary. Mr Kirilenko is regarded in Moscow as Mr Brezhnev’s second-in-command. N.Z.P.A.-Reuter reports from Prague that congress opened amid signs of a growing rift between Communist parties in East and West Europe. Czechoslovakia, now the most striking example of So-

viet-style Communist orthodoxy, has endorsed the Kremlin’s doctrine of proletarian internationalism, but several other parties have shown considerable reluctance to support appeals from Moscow for joint strategy and action. The rift can be demonstrated in the strength of foreign delegations to the congress: most East European countries have sent their party leaders; the Italian party is represented only by an observer; France by a Politburo member, Mr Andre Vieuguet, rather than a more prominent personality;: the Yugoslav and Rumanian delegations are under strength; and the Spanish Communists are apparently not coming at all.