Windows to Russia!

What is Going on in Russia? December 3rd, 2008!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 10:01:00 -0600

Hello,

Russia is busy and at it again. We have watched the roads and have seen more new cars than anytime in my life. We see a lot of new Chevy's and Fords now Nissan tells us how much they made:

"Sales of Japanese Nissan automobiles in Russia rose 29.7 percent between January and November 2008, in comparison with the same period of 2007, to reach 134,677 vehicles, the Russian office of the company announced on Tuesday. November was not a particularly successful month for the company, however. It sold 7218 cars, 31.4 percent less than November 2007. Between January and November, Nissan sold 6970 Infiniti models (the maker’s luxury model), which is up 41.4 percent over last year. In November, it sold 719 Infinitis, an increase of 18 percent over November 2007."

While Nissan has increased its luxury car market by over 41% the Russian Space Agency has extended its contract with NASA so that America can keep flying into space.

"Russia’s Federal Space Agency Roskosmos and the U.S. NASA have inked a modification to the current International Space Station contract for the pre-flight training of the U.S. crew members and the transportation services in 2011 and 2012, according to official webs of Roskosmos and NASA."

Of course all this money from cars and space travel has to be kept somewhere. A bank merger to become one of the largest banks in Russia is happening as of now.

"The biggest holders of MDM Bank and Ursa Bank Sergei Popov and Igor Kim respectively are setting up a united bank holding that will emerge as one of the major private financial holdings in Russia, Interfax reported citing the official statement of both banks."

While banks are heating up and growing we are having a growing heat wave. Moscow is not cold and records for warm temperatures are dropping everyday.

"The temperature in Moscow climbed to 6.6 degrees Celsius (44 degrees Fahrenheit) on Wednesday, breaking a 47-year-old record, the Russian meteorological website www.hmn.ru reported."

Speaking of warming up: Russia, China and the USA refuse to sign a ban for cluster bombs.

"100 countries are meeting in Oslo on Wednesday in a summit aimed at banning cluster bombs. The explosives have been guilty of causing numerous injuries to civilians in many conflicts."

Now that Russia, China and the USA are cluster bomb buddies and plan on using them at any opportunity maybe they should all get together and work on nano-science together. That would make some great science fiction movies come true.

"Russia’s bid to step away from an economy based on producing and exporting energy and metals has moved in several directions. One of them is Rosnano – a state-owned non-profit company that promotes and finances nano-science and nano-technology projects."

So last but far from least is another issue that Russians seem to be working on:

"Sociologists report a drastic change in Russian people’s attitude to representatives of other nationalities. Russians’ sympathies to Georgians, Ukrainians and Americans reduced most of all. The sympathies of the Russian population reduced considerably to those, whom the Russian public opinion blames for the war in South Ossetia, including the USA"

Seems that Russia is having another wonderful week, we did not even touch upon the NATO issues that made the Kremlin happy!

Nor will we at this moment because "NATO called upon Russia on Wednesday to refrain from "Confrontational statements" that could further harm relations between the military alliance and Moscow." :(

We think they mean statements like: "Georgia and Ukraine are unlikely to join NATO within the next two decades, a chief analyst at the Russian Institute for Military and Political Analysis said on Wednesday." :)

So you did not hear about NATO from us! (shhhhhh)

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

One Thousand and Twenty Years Since the Arrival of Christianity in Russia!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 08:44:00 -0600

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and reading about the project that the Orthodox Church has underway. Three new churches are to be built simultaneously and in one day in the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian capitals. The remarkable Orthodox project being undertaken in Moscow, Kiev and Minsk marks one thousand and twenty years since the arrival of Christianity in Russia.(Link)

It was said on TV last night that they are using a prefabbed wood block system that will cut the cost by 60%. The cost is estimated at around $50,000 per church. This project is a start toward replacing churches that had been destroyed during the Stalin era.

The Orthodox Church says that it is not the glitter that makes a church but the spiritual hunger that makes a church. So costs will be kept at a minimum. Churches are to be located in areas that are lacking in churches from destruction. The day has not been announced yet for this one day event.

THE JUBILEE OF RUSSIA’S CHRISTENING: For all Orthodox believers of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus July 27th is traditionally a day of remembering the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir.

We are so glad to see the strong revival of the Orthodox Church in the old Soviet areas....

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: Ukraine Would Like to Work Together! (Now)

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:46:00 -0600

Hello,

I have written before about Kiev, Ukraine. It is a city that I love but it is also a city that has lots of problems. It seems the main problem is the government of the country or more specifically: The Ukraine President....

KIEV, December 2 (RIA Novosti) - Ukraine's president (Viktor Yushchenko) has ordered a high-level group be set up to improve ties with Russia in the face of the ongoing financial crisis, the country's top security official said on Tuesday.

Seems that now as Ukraine finds itself broke and going bankrupt. Ukraine has come to the realization that the America is not going to throw funds their way. It is obvious that America is broke. It is obvious that America is not buying any goods from Ukraine.

Now the Ukraine President looked around and said whoops - I hope that I have not pissed Russia off too much. Viktor Yushchenko is quoted as saying, "Naturally Russia, with trade turnover due to reach some $30 billion this year, is our largest partner, and it must be a partner in finding ways of overcoming the crisis."

Good job President Yushchenko you figured out who buys more Ukraine goods all on your own!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Update: Russia has announced if Ukraine is serious that Russia will give Ukraine a chance. Russia said that they are there for Ukraine and that Ukraine needs to realize where the reality is.

Cool....

News From Russia: December 2nd, 2008!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:34:00 -0600

RBC, 02.12.2008, Moscow 15:04:50.The Russian judicial system must be made effective enough to reduce the number of lawsuits filed with international courts to a minimum, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told the 7th congress of judges in Moscow today. He did not rule out the possibility that, to achieve this goal, the Russian court system would have to be transformed. The Strasbourg Court and any other international courts cannot, and should not, substitute for Russian courts, the president stressed.

RBC, 02.12.2008, Moscow 14:47:58.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev assured the 7th congress of judges in Moscow that the fundamental problems of Russia's judicial system had been solved. He pointed out that over the last several years, Russia saw the establishment of constitutional relations, economic and administrative court proceedings, and reestablished trial juries.

RBC, 02.12.2008, Moscow 14:38:11.Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev will pay an official visit to India on December 4-6. According to the president's press office, Medvedev will take part in an official ceremony marking the end of the Year of Russia in India on December 5.

RBC, 02.12.2008, Moscow 12:40:07.The Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank) and the Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) have signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation today, the Russian state corporation's press office reported. The document stipulates deeper ties between Russian and Bahraini financial institutions and the joint financing of product and service exports to other countries. The agreement also aims at the development of long-term interests of Russian industrial producers involved in the mechanical engineering, transportation, timber, and construction materials industries.

RBC, 02.12.2008, Moscow 09:58:10.As of December 1, Russia's Reserve Fund totaled RUB 3.661 trillion (USD 131.63bn), and National Wealth Fund amounted to RUB 2.108 trillion (USD 76.38bn), the Russian Finance Ministry said in a statement. The balances of accounts in the Reserve Fund stood at RUB 20bn, USD 63.99bn, EUR 43.81bn, and GBP 7.31bn, while the National Wealth Fund's currency accounts break down as follows: RUB 474.9bn, USD 22.05bn, EUR 15.35bn, GBP 2.62bn, and RUB 365bn on deposits in Vnesheconombank.

RBC, 01.12.2008, Moscow 19:48:42.Transneft will issue long-term ruble bonds to finance the Baltic Pipeline System-2 project. The issue is provided for in today's government's decree to launch the pipeline's design. According to the document, the Energy Ministry, in collaboration with the Economy Ministry, Regional Development Ministry, the Finance Ministry, Russia's Federal Tariff Service and Vnesheconombank, is to work out schemes to finance the pipeline expansion project within three months after receiving a feasibility study from Transneft. In addition, they will devise a financing scheme to revamp the existing pipelines. To this end, the long-term bonds will be placed by private subscription among financial organizations with considerable state-run stakes. In addition, the financing for a branch to Kirishi, a city in the Leningrad region, should be approved within the same period.

RBC, 01.12.2008, Moscow 15:59:09.The current price level of Russian company shares is "an ugly and unfair phenomenon," Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at the opening of today's Presidium meeting. He noted that the fall had primarily resulted from trading decisions made abroad, which were hardly based on the actual state of affairs. As a result, the market capitalization of companies is much lower than their real value, Putin maintained, adding that there were even cases when Russian companies' market value was lower than the amount of funds on their accounts. He added that, while the Russian leadership did not plan to limit foreign activities on domestic markets, the creation of a wide class of Russian investors was still among its priorities.

RBC, 01.12.2008, Moscow 14:59:15.The Bank of Russia has extended another loan worth RUB 65.9bn (approx. USD 2.39bn) to rehabilitate 10 different banks, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told a Presidium meeting today. He explained that the money would be lent to regionally important banks. The minister added that the banks would be able to recover and continue their activities. He noted, however, that there were difficulties with other banks, whose licenses were now being revoked by the Central Bank. Kudrin stressed that these banks were not significant for federal or regional financial markets, adding that the Deposit Insurance Agency would be involved at once in case of such banks.

Russia: The Recession That is a year old!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 06:14:00 -0600

Hello,

Yesterday once again was a interesting day in the world. I spent yesterday cleaning house and ignoring the blogs. I was drinking my cup of coffee in between loads of laundry and came across a news flash that America might be in a recession. I laughed and thought to myself, "America is in a recession and has been for a long time!" I went on about my business. Later an article came out that stated 7 economic advisers have gotten together and proclaimed "America in Recession and has been in recession since December of 2007!"........ (OMG)

Then the world financial systems did a systematic melt down, over news that we all knew was true and we all knew about along time ago. It was hard to convince me that America was not in a recession when Japan and Europe have (already a month ago) excepted that they are in recession.

The American Wall street nose dived 680 points on Monday over this tidbit of news (that we all knew anyway). The Asian markets are slip sliding away, the European markets are gurgling at he surface as they sink and last but not least the Russian stock market has sank and just bounces along merrily at the silt laden bottom of the Financial ocean.

I have something to say about Wall Street: Close It! Shut The Doors!

The world has pumped trillions of dollars to salvage Wall Streets all over the globe. Governments have injected trillions of dollars of funds that should have gone to help the world become a better place. What do you see, as the result of all this money being infused into failing businesses and banks? What do you see, as a huge portion of humans in the world are starving? What do you see, as we struggle all over the world to fund cancer research and aids cures? What do you see, as Wall Street gets trillions of dollars but the home owners are setting record numbers of defaults, bankruptcies and homelessness. What do you see?

I see the money lining the Rich peoples pockets. I see a failure of governments to put the money where it would help the most. I see the money going down a huge Money Hole with no bottom.....

I have owned several businesses in my lifetime. I have failed and also been very successful at these businesses. I failed because I messed up and made bad decisions, I succeeded because I worked hard and made the right decisions.

What ever happened to running a business with in its means? We as people are told to live with in our means.

If you have a business and sell 1,000,000 x $1.00 thingamajigs = $1,000,000. You operate your business with in that million dollars. (No more than a million dollars but any less is profit.)

What I really see, is that Recession is the old word for the American economy. What you will see sometime next year, is the new word Depression!

But then that really is not a new word is it? We all know that a depression is going on now.

I bet the stock-market would really crash on the Big D word!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Ukraine Needs Obama to Reconstruct The White House!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 03:12:00 -0600

Barack Obama is being asked to authorize the reconstruction of the White House – but not the one which serves as the presidential residence in Washington. The call has come from custodians of an exact replica in a remote area of Ukraine. (Read More)

Hummmmm...

Kyle & Svet

Russia: Medvedev Speaks About his Latin American Trip!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 16:39:00 -0600

On his way back from Havana to Moscow Dmitry Medvedev talked about his impressions of his visits to Latin American countries (Peru, Brazil, Venezuela, Cuba).

Hello,

We decided to get signed and registered on to the Russian Presidents web site. So we get to have a heads up on what he is up to. We received this video and decided to embedded this video that he made on his way back to Russia.

We found it interesting that he uses an Apple Laptop computer. Nice jet he travels on also. :)

He gives a good explanation of what he thinks is important in his trip and what will be accomplished from his trip.

Just thought it would be interesting and there are sub-titles in English.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: The Russian Government Links to Statements About the South Ossetia Situation!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 01:00:00 -0600

Starting from August 8th, 2008 to October 8th, 2008! You will be surprised what you will learn about Medvedev thoughts on this war....

Statement on the Situation in South Ossetia, August 8, 2008

Beginning of the Meeting on the Conflict in South Ossetia with Defence Minister
Anatoly Serdyukov and the Chief of General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces
Nikolai Makarov, August 9, 2008

Beginning of the Meeting on Providing Humanitarian Assistance to the Population of South Ossetia, August 9, 2008

Beginning of Working Meeting with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, August 10, 2008

Beginning of Working Meeting with Chairman of the Russian Federation Prosecutor General’s Office Committee of Inquiry Alexander Bastrykin, August 10, 2008

Beginning of Working Meeting with Minister of Defence Anatoly Serdyukov, August 11, 2008

Beginning of Working Meeting with Director of the Federal Security Service Alexander Bortnikov, August 11, 2008

Beginning of Working Meeting with Minister of Internal Affairs Rashid Nurgaliev, August 11, 2008

Opening Remarks at a Meeting with the leaders of parties represented in Russian Parliament, August 11, 2008

Meeting with Defence Minister Anatoly Serdyukov and chief of Armed Forces General Staff Nikolai Makarov, August 12, 2008

Beginning of the Meeting with President of France Nicolas Sarkozy, August 12, 2008

Press Statement following Negotiations with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, August 12, 2008

Beginning of Meeting on Drafting the Federal Budget for 2009 and Planning the Budgets for 2010-2011 , August 13, 2008

Beginning of a Meeting with Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan, August 13, 2008

Meeting with the President of South Ossetia Eduard Kokoity and President of Abkhazia Sergei Bagapsh , August 14, 2008

Meeting with Servicemen from the Russian Armed Forces, August 14, 2008

Beginning of Working Meeting with Minister for Civil Defence, Emergency Situations and Disaster Relief Sergei Shoigu, August 15, 2008

Joint Press Conference with Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel, August 15, 2008

Beginning of a Meeting with the Plenipotentiary Presidential Representative in the Southern Federal District Vladimir Ustinov, August 16, 2008

Statement on the Situation in South Ossetia at the Meeting with Veterans of the Battle of Kursk , August 18, 2008

Speech at an Awards Ceremony for Russian Servicemen who Distinguished Themselves in Battle in the Georgian-South Ossetian Conflict Zone, August 18, 2008

Meeting with Servicemen who Distinguished Themselves in Battle in the Georgian-South Ossetian Conflict Zone, August 18, 2008

Beginning of Meeting with Russian Permanent Envoy to the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) Dmitry Rogozin, August 25, 2008

Statement by President of Russia Dmitry Medvedev, August 26, 2008

Interview with TV Channel Russia Today, August 26, 2008

Interview with CNN, August 26, 2008

Interview with BBC Television, August 26, 2008

Interview with TF1 Television, August 26, 2008

Interview with Al-Jazeera Television, August 26, 2008

Interview given by Dmitry Medvedev to Television Channels Channel One, Rossia, NTV, August 31, 2008

Interview with Television Channel Euronews, September 2, 2008

Interview with Italian Television Channel RAI, September 2, 2008

Press Conference following the Collective Security Treaty Organisation Summit, September 5, 2008

Opening Address at the Meeting of the State Council on the Situation Around South Ossetia and Abkhazia, September 6, 2008

Beginning of Meeting with President of France Nicolas Sarkozy, September 8, 2008

Press Conference following Talks with President of France Nicolas Sarkozy, September 8, 2008

Transcript of the Meeting with the Participants in the International Club Valdai, September 12, 2008

Statements following Signing of the Treaties on Friendship, Cooperation and Mutual Assistance with the Republics of Abkhazia and South Ossetia , September 17, 2008

Transcript of Meeting with Representatives of Public Organisations, September 19, 2008

Speech at State Decorations Presentation Ceremony, October 1, 2008

Speech at World Policy Conference, October 8, 2008

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

News From Russia: November 28th, 2008!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 09:46:00 -0600

RBC, 28.11.2008, Moscow 17:59:31.Viktor Vekselberg, TNK-BP executive director and one of its co-owners, believes that, at current oil prices, the oil export duty of $192.1 per tonne will make it impossible for companies to implement large investment projects, as he told journalists today. Oil companies will be able "to survive, but not develop," Vekselberg said.

RBC, 28.11.2008, Moscow 17:05:10.More than two thirds of Russians (60 percent) do not have minor children and do not plan to have children in the near future, a poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center revealed. Meanwhile, a mere 5 percent said that they wanted to have a child within a year or two. Every third Russian (34 percent) has at least one minor child, including 22 percent with one minor child, 10 percent with two children, and 2 percent with more than two minor children.

RBC, 28.11.2008, Moscow 16:28:44.LUKoil has attracted two loans to buy a 49-percent stake in the Italian oil refinery ISAB, the Russian oil company said in a press release today. Specifically, LUKoil Finance Ltd, the Russian giant's subsidiary, secured a EUR 400m loan at an annual interest rate of 5.9 percent for six months, with an option to extend the loan period by another six months. ABN AMRO, Barclays Capital, and ING Bank arranged the loan. Furthermore, LUKoil Finance raised a three-year loan worth USD 280m at an interest rate of 5.4 percent. The loan was organized by ABN AMRO, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Barclays Capital, BNP Paribas, Citibank, and others. LUKoil is to make the first payment worth EUR 600m for the refinery by December 1.

RBC, 28.11.2008, Moscow 15:59:13.Steady economic growth is impossible without a reliable banking sector in Russia, Presidential Aide Arkady Dvorkovich said during a meeting of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP). He added that conditions must be created for banks to extend loans comfortably.

RBC, 28.11.2008, Yerevan 15:30:15.Russia's partners within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have supported Moscow's initiative to create a new security system in Europe, the Armenian news agency ARMINFO cited CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha as telling a press conference in Yerevan today following a meeting of CSTO defense ministers. He added that an informal meeting of CSTO foreign ministers to be held in Helsinki in mid-December would be dedicated, among other things, to specific concerted steps in implementing Russia's initiative.

RBC, 28.11.2008, Moscow 13:07:10.The Bank of Russia will raise its overnight interest rate to 13 percent from December 1, the bank's external and public relations department said in a statement today.

RBC, 28.11.2008, Moscow 09:56:48.Yesterday, the dollar rate grew RUB 0.05 against the ruble, closing at 27.41 RUB/USD. The trading session was fairly calm on MICEX yesterday against the background of consolidating FOREX currency pairs. The U.S. trading floors were closed yesterday on account of Thanksgiving Day, and the macroeconomic statistics issued in the euro zone could be interpreted differently and did not have a marked impact on the European currency. Today, therefore, markets are likely to remain calm.

Russia: The Kremlin has Their Sights on Mikheil Saakashvili!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 07:24:00 -0600

Hello,

Looks like the Kremlin has cranked the pressure up on Mikheil Saakashvili. I would say his days are numbered....

To start with as the last few weeks have unfolded, the word coming from NATO is that it is thumbs down on Saakashvili. This news report confirms that information....

MOSCOW, November 27 (RIA Novosti) - The United States is planning to replace Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili with former parliamentary speaker Nino Burdzhanadze, Russia's NATO envoy said on Friday. "Georgia's friends at NATO are deeply disappointed with Saakashvili," Dmitry Rogozin said in an interview with Russia's Vesti news channel, "Another leader for Georgia is being prepared. Most likely it will be Nino Burdzhanadze." (Link)

Last week I wrote an article about Saakashvili and his replacment (Nino Burdzhanadze)......

The rumor of blessings from the West is former parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze visited Europe and the U.S. and that the West sent her a clear message: "Georgia is located in the zone of the West’s energy interest, and it cannot allow the country to be governed by a leader who may jeopardize the region’s security." (Link)

So today the news is hot on Saakashvili and the prospect of his escaping the country......

TBILISI, November 28 (RIA Novosti) - A senior Georgian opposition party figure said on Friday that President Mikheil Saakashvili and his immediate circle were preparing to flee the country, and had already started transferring money into foreign banks. "Saakashvili and his government have already packed their suitcases in the hope that they will be able to live abroad calmly and without any worries on the property they stole here," Georgy Gugava, one of the Labor Party's leaders, told journalists. (Link)

Get ready because who knows what is really going to happen. I do know that Poland is in a uproar over Saakashvili and his theatrics in Georgia. The Polish Secrete Service has already slammed the incident in Georgia as staged. (Link)

Crying Wolf has happened to many times by Saakashvili and now he is meeting the real wolf....

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: NATO Woke Up - Ukraine and Georgia Put On Hold!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 06:16:00 -0600

Hello,

While drinking my morning cup of coffee I was thinking about the news that I read last night before going to bed. Sometimes things come across the airwaves that make you stop and say Huh!

I had found a news article that at first I thought was a joke. But then I realized that Russia news has been hinting at this outcome for about a week.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice conceded to European demands Wednesday by indicating she would not press for granting NATO membership to Georgia and Ukraine at the alliance's ministerial meeting in Brussels next week.

"Georgia and Ukraine are not ready for membership. That is very clear," Rice told a press conference.

"There does not need at this point in time to be any discussion" of the alliance membership action plan (MAP), she added.

The top US diplomat insisted the move did not signal a policy shift. "It really is just a question of how we would execute the Bucharest decision. It is not a change in policy," she said.

But this declaration represented a concession to European demands, as Washington had previously pushed for the two Eastern European nations to join the MAP, which provides de-facto membership to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Amid opposition from Russia, Germany and France, the United States has cooled its support for a formal path to help Georgia and Ukraine join NATO. (Link)

Condoleezza has been hot and furious on the phone looking to seal of the deal with NATO over Georgia and Ukraine. Condoleezza has worked over time trying to sneak then in with out a MAP (membership action plan) but old NATO is smart and has held their ground.

Medvedev is happy right now,

I bet Condi is grouchy right now!

Things that make you go Hummmm......

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: Matrona of Moscow and Iosif Vissarionovich! (Stalin)

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 09:34:00 -0600

Icon and Stalin

Hello,

One of our readers named MattMacL brought my attention to an interesting subject in Russia that is happening at a time when anti Stalin sentiments are running rather high in the old Soviet areas.

An interview of Father Yevstafiy can be found at the Georgia Daily by Paul Goble of Window on Eurasia. (Link)

His superiors in the Russian Orthodox Church denounced this action as “inappropriate.” And story after story on Russian television (www.islamnews.ru/video-view-184.html), the print media (www.newizv.ru/news/2008-11-26/102216/) and the Russian blogosphere (www.mk.ru/blogs/MK/2008/11/27/society/383332/) played up the debate.

In comments to “Novyye izvestiya,” Father Yevstafiy stood his ground. “The feeling that Stalin is the father of the peoples, that he is thus in part my high father has never left me in the course of my life. I thus have two fathers, besides the Heavenly Father: one is my father in the flesh and the other is the father of the peoples who was strict” and may “have made mistakes.”

Any attacks on him are wrong and inappropriate the dissident priest continued, and he said that he “remembers Iosif Vissarionovich in all services where this is appropriate, especially on those days when he died, was born and when he celebrated the common Victory of our people.” And he insisted that Stalin was “a believer.”

But at the same time, Yevstafiy was careful to specify that “this is not an icon glorifying Stalin. This is an image of. Matrona of Moscow. And Iosif Vissarionovich is one of those people whom she blessed. She blessed many people,” the priest said, including “a well-known architect and a well- known composer of those times. And Stalin too.”

Now we are not really here to debate the good and or bad about Stalin. I am finding out that this is getting to be a heated argument around this part of the world.

I have no right to say much myself because American history painted a whitewashed picture of the Soviet Union during the WWII times, America needed the help of the Soviet Union and slam dunking Stalin was not the way to get help. The history books held a mild opinion of him for many years. Even with a minor in History the class that I took in collage on WWII hardly touched the subject of Stalin.

My wife has said nothing about her feelings of the Stalin era nor about her Mothers feelings of that era.

So if anyone has more information then please present it!

Kyle & Svet

Russia: Credit Crises Managment in Ukraine!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 08:44:00 -0600

Hello,

I was drinking my second cup of coffee today and was thinking about the snow outside. Then my eyes caught this tidbit of information about how to handle the credit crises....

Petr Kostenko, a former Ukranian city official and ex-mayoral candidate from Kharkov, Ukraine, borrowed a few thousand dollars in a local bank to buy a Range Rover, but ‘forgot’ to pay back. After a few insistent reminders from the bank debt collecting department he came to the branch to solve the problem, but didn’t manage to get his credit refinanced. Moreover, after the visit he found his expensive car blocked, with all four tires punctured. To get out of the bank’s car park, he had to run over a car that belonged to the branch.

On his next visit, according to Mr Kostenko, for fear of sustaining more damage to his precious vehicle, he arrived on a reconditioned APC purchased at an army sale. The personnel carrier was disarmed and officially registered with local traffic police. The spectacular arrival, though, was not appreciated by the bank workers. They told the extravagant ex-official to finally pay what he owed, and in the other branch – the one that actually worked with private clients. (Link)

My question is where can I get one of these that is street legal?

That would be fun and safe.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russian News: November 27th, 2008!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 04:14:00 -0600

RBC, 27.11.2008, Moscow.Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has arrived in Venezuela on a first visit in more than 150 years of relations. Opening the Russian-Venezuelan talks, Medvedev announced that he considered Latin American countries to be Russia's friends enjoying "privileged relations."

RBC, 27.11.2008, Moscow.Russian shares were rising steadily at the opening today. Around 10:45 a.m. on MICEX, Gazprom and Rosneft climbed 4.5 percent each, and LUKoil gained 3.8 percent. The MICEX index was up 3 percent at 607 points. On the RTS, LUKoil increased 1.6 percent. Federal Grid Company was among the best performers on both trading floors, having soared 12 percent on MICEX and 21 percent on the RTS.

RBC, 27.11.2008, Moscow.Russia and Venezuela have agreed to use national currencies - rubles and bolivares - in bilateral trade and even discussed the possibility of creating reserves in national currencies, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev was cited by the Mayak radio station as saying after talks with his Venezuelan counterpart in the country's capital Caracas today. The Russian leader also noted that Russian-Venezuelan cooperation was not directed against other countries. He also pointed out that Russia might join the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), the international organization aiming for integration between the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. Russia is ready to discuss membership in the ALBA, probably as an associate member or in some other status, if it is good for Latin American countries and consistent with the idea of a multipolar world.

RBC, 27.11.2008, Moscow.Most Russians (72 percent) approve of President Dmitry Medvedev's initiative to increase the controlling powers of the State Duma, obliging the government to report to it on an annual basis, a poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center showed. Roughly two thirds of Russians (68 percent) welcome the president's suggestion on legislation ensuring media coverage of the State Duma parties' work. Similarly, 62 percent of Russians approve of the initiative entitling local legislatures to remove mayors from office. However, a mere 30 percent of Russians approve of the move reducing the number of signatures required by parties to take part in State Duma elections.

RBC, 27.11.2008, Moscow.At the close of today's special dollar trading session for tomorrow deals, the U.S. currency's exchange rate rose RUB 0.05 to 27.41 RUB/USD. Thanksgiving Day celebrated in the United States today calmed down speculative moods on the Russian market, where commercial bank activity was low today. The trade volume stood at USD 3bn as of 1 p.m. The stabilization of oil prices at USD 50 per barrel and the 6-percent rise on the stock market eased negative expectations of the ruble's fall, experts point out.

RBC, 27.11.2008, Moscow.The Bank of Russia has deposited roughly RUB 1.2 trillion (approx. USD 43.9bn) with commercial banks, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told a briefing following today's cabinet meeting. He noted that the Central Bank had increased the maximum amount of uncommitted funds it could deposit to RUB 3.5 trillion (approx. USD 127.9bn). The minister also reiterated that the maximum amount that the Finance Ministry could place had been reduced from RUB 1.5 trillion (approx. USD 54.8bn) to RUB 400bn (approx. USD 14.6bn), "as the Central Bank has taken on the main part of the burden."

What is Russia Up to: November 27th, 2008!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 15:13:00 -0600

Looks like Russia has been busy this week. To start with:

PM Putin to get tough on monopolies

The government will use anti-monopoly laws to improve competition in Russian business. Prime Minister Vladimir Putin discussed an action plan with Russian entrepreneurs. He called for tougher penalties - singling out the natural monopolies.

While Putin continues to terrorize the big boys in Russia a:

Crazy grandma hijacks off-road car

A pensioner has hijacked an off-road vehicle in Russia’s Republic of Karelia. The owner of the Hyundai Santa Fe was near his car when all of a sudden a 57-year-old woman jumped in and drove off.

So while a Babushka was stealing a car a interview of a well known professor in Russia stirred some Western peoples attitudes.

Professor Igor Panarin: When America fell to pieces the shouting was outrageous

As early as autumn 2009 the economic crisis may lead to a civil war in the USA and then to its division into parts. Igor Panarin, doctor of political science, dean of the foreign affairs department at the Diplomacy Academy of the Russian Foreign Ministry, presented this forecast ten years ago. At that time his forecasts seemed unrealistic, but now many of them are coming true.

During the car theft and American bashing, Toyota is crossing their fingers and hoping that Russia still buys cars at the furious pace that they are buying them at:

Toyota counts on Russia as sales wilt

The world's biggest automaker, Toyota, which recently lost its AAA rating from Fitch is counting on Russia to save its global business from operating at a loss.

Now while Toyota and other car manufacturers are dreaming of a profit we do not have to dream if we have enough missiles in the world, Russia has made sure they have up to date ballistic missiles so that they can launch up to date nuclear weapons:

New missile can beat any defence system

Russia’s military has tested a new-generation of intercontinental nuclear ballistic rocket. Defence sources say the RS-24, capable of carrying multiple independent warheads, can penetrate any defence system.

Speaking of Military: Looks like Ukraine and Georgia are have NATO issues...

’Ukraine and Georgia will wait a long time to join NATO’

It is unlikely Ukraine and Georgia's admission to NATO will be fast-tracked, says Russia's envoy to NATO, Dmitry Rogozin. He was commenting on the latest US attempts to bring Kiev and Tbilisi closer to joining the alliance.

Russia seems to keep the fires stirring and they always seem to have fun doing it...

Kyle & Svet

PS: Medvedev is running all around Latin America making good friends and selling Gazprom. He also has made a visa free deal with Brazil! (Pretty cool huh)

PSS: Happy Thanksgiving world from Windows to Russia!

comments always welcome.

Russia: Shooting Provocation Staged by Georgians

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 08:15:00 -0600

Poland has dismissed last week’s shooting incident involving the motorcade of the Georgian and Polish presidents as a stunt. Special services in Warsaw say the alleged attack near the South Ossetian border was a provocation staged by Georgians.

A report by Poland’s Internal Security Agency (Agencja Bezpieczenstwa Wewnetrznego – ABW), published by the Dziennik newspaper, claims Georgia staged the incident for propaganda purposes.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Windows To Russia - Thanks to Siberian Light: The Russian Blog!

peppy200@gmail.com (Kyle and Svet Keeton) — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:48:00 -0600

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and thinking about the blog Siberian Light!

I have watched Andy Young at Siberian Light for a long time now and have watched as he tweaks the blog to make it better for his readers. I have learned a lot from just watching what he does with his blog.

Andy has been blogging about Russia for a long time so I consider him a wealth of information. I have also watched as he implemented a new blog about Russian News!

Andy's Flagship site is: http://www.siberianlight.net/ Siberian Light!
His New site is: http://www.russiannewsonline.com/ Russian News Online >> All the Russian News - all in one place!

Excerpt from Andy's blog about Siberian Light: "Covering Russia and the Former Soviet Union since February 2004, Siberian Light aims to increase understanding of Russian politics and culture by providing thought provoking and entertaining analysis of the most topical issues.

Andy Young, its author, has degrees in Third World Politics and International Security. He has lived and studied in Irkutsk, Russia."

We are honored that Andy put Windows to Russia in his new web site Russian News Online.

Thanks Andy!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.