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Russian Victory Day parade rehearsal makes John Kerry wait

Secretary of State John Kerry found his long journey to Russia stretched just a bit longer when he was delayed after landing by a massive parade rehearsal on the streets of Moscow.
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Secretary of State John Kerry walks with Ambassador Michael McFaul, far left, and Russian officials after his plane landed in Moscow ahead of meetings with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on May 7, 2013. (State Department photo)
Secretary of State John Kerry walks with Ambassador Michael McFaul, far left, and Russian officials after his plane landed in Moscow ahead of meetings with President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on May 7, 2013. (State Department photo)
Published: May 7, 2013 at 11:23 AM
By GABRIELLE LEVY, UPI.com

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's motorcade usually stops traffic on foreign trips, but in Moscow Monday, an enormous military parade stopped him instead -- at least for a few minutes.

Russia celebrates Victory Day every year on May 9 with soldiers marching through Red Square and roaring jet flyovers to commemorate the victory over Nazi Germany during World War II. Ahead of the enormous event comes the practice parade complete with traffic delays as the military vehicles roll down busy city streets.

Kerry's first trip to Russia as Secretary was to kick off with a stop at the tomb of the unknown soldier, but the routes to both his hotel and the tomb were blocked by the parade traffic.

"I just came from your hotel and I can confirm it was surrounded by tanks,” American Ambassador Michael McFaul joked on the tarmac.

Kerry did not seem put out by the delay -- it only lasted about a half hour -- ABC News reported.

Kerry is set to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to discuss the investigation into the alleged Boston bombers, who were from the Caucasus region, and the ongoing crisis in Syria on his three-day trip.

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