Diggers tore into a Soviet World War Two memorial in Georgia on Thursday to make way for a new parliament in the former Soviet republic, drawing condemnation from Russia. Pro-Western President Mikheil Saakashvili, whose country was defeated by Russia in a brief war last year, wants parliament sessions to be relocated to Georgia’s second city of Kutaisi under an initiative to revitalise the former industrial hub. Russia’s defence ministry said it was “concerned” by the the demolition of the 46-metre-high (150-feet) concrete and bronze war memorial at the proposed construction site. Parliament member and former prime minister Sergei Stepashin called it “sacrilege“. Russia’s Foreign Ministry said the move was “disrespectful” to Georgians who had fought in the Soviet army during World War Two, of whom some 300,000 were killed. “This is an attempt to erase from memory Georgia’s hundreds of thousands of sons and daughters, who stood shoulder to shoulder with their brother nations, who selflessly fought on the front and gave their lives,” it said on its website. The dispute has echoes of Estonia in 2007, when Russia reacted furiously to the removal of a statue of a Soviet Red Army soldier in the capital Tallinn. Critics said the Georgian move reflected an indifference to public opinion by authorities under Saakashvili, whose rejection of the Soviet past has been his signature policy since taking power on the back of the 2003 “Rose Revolution“. In the midst of tense debating sessions, the UN Climate Change Summit continues with the appearance yesterday, Wednesday, of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez and his Bolivian counterpart, Evo Morales, AFP reports. ALBA yesterday raised its collective voice in Copenhagen. Two leaders (Chavez, Morales) expressed their position on behalf of their own countries and all the member nations of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America (ALBA). According to Prensa Latina, they called for a new economic model to make effective the battle against global warming, and advocated making an exceptional effort to achieve a document that responds to humanity’s expectations. Chávez and Morales affirmed that they share the viewpoint of the G77- plus China in relation to the validity of the Kyoto Protocol and the need for the 500 million rich in the world – responsible for 50% of CO2 emissions – to take on the responsibility that is theirs. The arrival in Copenhagen of President Hugo Chavez began with an incident that reflects the state of discussions: the police spent 45 minutes checking the head of state’s baggage in clear violation of international agreements, the ABI agency reports. Having accepted hosting an international meeting organized by the UN, Denmark cannot reject nor limit the presence and movement of heads of state and UN accredited delegates. However, on this occasion, and particularly in relation to the Venezuelan president, rules of protocol were ignored. Acting Honduran President Roberto Micheletti said deposed President Manuel Zelaya might “attack” Honduras should he get asylum in a neighboring country, and he won’t be allowed to leave unless he renounces claims on power. “He can go as a political refugee, but not to a Central American country because he could unleash an attack against Honduras and we want to live in peace,” Micheletti said on the 15th of December in an interview with National Honduras Radio. Zelaya will be permitted to leave the Brazilian Embassy in Tegucigalpa, where he has sheltered since September, without facing arrest if he gives up his demand to be returned to office and wins asylum outside of Central America, Micheletti said.