Six West German Groups Pull Out of Moscow Youth Fete
Six West German youth groups Sunday announced they are pulling out of participation in the Moscow Youth Festival, accusing the Soviet authorities of breaking political agreements.
The six groups, including the youth wing of the opposition Social Democratic Party, the Evangelical church and a youth sports organization, said they are protesting Soviet treatment of West Berlin as a separate national group.
Representative of West Berlin’s pro-Moscow Communist Party marched under a city flag in Saturday’s Olympic-style opening pageant, emphasizing the Soviet view that the western half of the divided city is a separate entity.
In a communique issued Sunday, the West German groups said this was a violation of the four-power agreement on the status of Berlin and of agreements made in organizing the festival.
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