The World - News from July 6, 1987

West German President Richard von Weizsaecker leaves today for a visit to the Soviet Union, with both sides trying to play down an embarrassing affair in which a 19-year-old West German pilot landed a light plane in Red Square. Soviet and West German officials have been at pains to stress that pilot Mathias Rust’s monthlong imprisonment after landing near the Kremlin wall should not be used to chill relations. Weizsaecker will seek to assure the Kremlin that West Germany wants close, trouble-free contacts with Moscow. He is also expected to discuss with Kremlin leaders the issue of ethnic Germans in the Soviet Union who want to emigrate to West Germany.