posted by FerrasB on December, 2005 as Imperialism
Open Gallery... Silvio Berlusconi (left) is responsible for the southern branch of Vladimir Putin’s gas project. Photo: Ilya Pitalev
The Putin and Pals Project The whole Europe may soon find itself in Russia’s gas hands if Gazprom is successful in its expansion in the West. The Russian authorities have already started building up a mega corporation to be headed by Vladimir Putin and his confidants among world leaders. Until recently, the Kremlin viewed headstrong European leaders as the most uncomfortable and unpleasant partners to deal with. Europe leveled criticism about Chechnya and freedom of speech. Vladimir Putin often found it easier to come to terms with Asian leaders like Hu Jintao and Mohathir Mohamad or even Latin Americans like Ugo Chavez than with old friends like Aleksander Kwasnewski or Tony Blair.
But things have changed. When Vladimir Putin arrived at the Russia-EU summit in London in October, he was greeted with cheers everywhere. Critics have ... >>full
Open Gallery... Russian President Vladimir Putin presents flowers to actress Lyudmila Gurchenko after giving her a state award at Catherine's Hall of the Kremlin in Moscow, December 21, 2005. Photo: Reuters
Vladimir Putin Gives Out Awards // Ceremony Russian President Vladimir Putin presented awards in Catherine's Hall in the Kremlin yesterday to people who had made contributions to their homeland. Colonel Viktor Ren received the Star of the Hero of Russia award. Ren distinguished himself testing equipment for use in space. Chairman of the People's Assembly of the Republic of Dagestan Mukhu Aliev received the order For Service before the Homeland, third degree. Actress Lyudmila Gurchenko received the same award, as did composer Andrey Petrov and actor Gennady Khazanov, who celebrated his 60th birthday at the Kremlin as well recently. Chief coach of the Russian national gymnastics team Irina Viner and chief coach of the Russian national synchronic swimming team Tatyana Pokrovskaya and gymnast Alina ... >>full
MosNews A number of telephone lines have been cut at the headquarters of the Russian Strategic Missile Troops in Vlasikha near Moscow.
The disconnection was caused by a technical failure, a source in the headquarters was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying.
“The disconnection has not affected the administration of troops, as military communications systems are unaffected and we can use mobile phones for the time being,” the source added.
The agency failed to reach the press service of the troops for comment, evidently because of the lack of functioning phone lines. http://www.mosnews.com/news/2005/12/13/vlasikhaphones.shtml
MosNews Russian Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov said on Wednesday that 70 percent of next year’s state defense order would be spent on the procurement of new armaments and military hardware, the Interfax news agency reported.
“The state defense order will amount to 237 billion rubles ($8.27 billion) next year, which is nearly 54 billion rubles ($1.88 billion) more than this year. This will allow the spending of 70 percent of the funds on the procurement of new armaments and military hardware or comprehensive upgrades of the hardware currently available in military units,” Ivanov told reporters in Moscow.
He stressed that “next year we are planning to procure as much hardware as is needed to rearm a whole military unit — a battalion, a squadron or a regiment”.
Washington Post Relations between Russia and <NOBR>Ukraine</NOBR>, tense since the election of pro-Western President Viktor Yushchenko last year, are facing a potentially major rupture over the price of natural gas. Russia’s state-controlled energy giant <NOBR>Gazprom</NOBR> is moving to raise Ukraine’s annual bill by more than $1 billion by ending below-market prices that were part of an effort to maintain the Kremlin’s influence with its neighbor.
The dispute comes as Gazprom is set to raise gas prices for a number of other former Soviet republics, including <NOBR>Georgia</NOBR> and Moldova, which have turned away from Russia in favor of the West, and the three <NOBR>Baltic</NOBR> states, now members of NATO and the European Union.
“The time when we built relations by quasi-subsidizing neighboring economies is gradually passing,” Russian Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin was quoted as ... >>full
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