ROGOZIN WANTS TO RENAME VOLGOGRAD AS STALINGRAD

VOLGOGRAD, April 6 (RIA Novosti)-The leader of the Rodina (Homeland) Duma faction, Dmitry Rogozin, proposed that the issue of renaming Volgograd as Stalingrad should be reviewed. Volgograd is a regional center in the Southern Federal District of Russia. In 1943, Soviet troops won a crucial victory in WWII near Stalingrad. In 1961, several years after Stalin died, the city was renamed as Volgograd.

"We do not insist on it, but we would like to review this question before the 60th anniversary of the victory in 2005," Mr. Rogozin told journalists in Volgograd.

According to Mr. Rogozin, the name of the region should be preserved while the city itself should be renamed as Stalingrad. Mr. Rogozin believes it is the question of historical importance.

Opinion polls to this extent are to be held in Volgograd. Mr. Rogozin has not excluded the possibility of arranging a referendum to determine the opinion of the residents of Volgograd.

"We are trying to be tactful when dealing with this problem," noted Mr. Rogozin. He also added that the return of the celebrated name to the political maps of the world would make the city more attractive for investments.