Dear friends!

We will soon be seeing in the New Year, greeting 2009.

Getting straight to the point, I would like to give you all my best wishes for this, everyone’s favorite celebration, when we take a moment to remember the past year, in which we saw happiness and disappointment, joy and loss. We each have our own experiences, and now is the time to remember them. And all our individual lives, actions and feelings are what combine to make our great country, Russia.

We have already proved how much we can do together, that we can triumph. And this year our nation has been sorely tested, and has come through with confidence and dignity, thanks to you – its citizens. I am certain that we will be able to deal with whatever difficulties we may meet in the future. And also that the state will do everything it can to make this possible.

In a few moments the dates on the calendars will change, but our essential values remain unchanging, these values – devotion to our loved ones, friendship, loyalty, sympathy and charity – remain as an anchor for us at all times. They give us strength in any difficult situation and help us not just overcome difficulties but raise us to new heights.

Now, in these minutes I would like to turn to our parents and thank them for their care and understanding, and wish them above all good health. We really do need you, and you are very dear to us. I would like also to congratulate our children on this holiday. We will do everything we can to make sure you are happy, but remember, that a lot depends on you yourselves.

Dear friends. It is time to greet the New Year. Let us take this moment to wish our loved ones, our dear ones, well. Wherever we are seeing in this New Year – whether we are at home, among friends, or even at work, now we are thinking about our nearest and dearest.

New Years Eve is a time of hope. I wish each of us peace, love and the fulfillment of all your wishes.

I wish you happiness! Happy New Year!

Medvedev

С Новым Годом! (Happy New Year!)

Hello,

I was drinking my cup of wonderful coffee and was thinking about who is some of the first to get to celebrate New Years?

Russia of course!

There is an island owned by Russia, located right next to the border of the USA. It is called the Romanov Frontier Outpost. Just four kilometers away from the USA, It is called ‘The International Date Line’, as it starts the new day on earth every day. Well today is a special day for them. The guardsmen who stay at this outpost are some of the first people on earth who get to celebrate The New Year!

The guardsmen got to celebrate the New Year even though they were on duty: fireworks were shot off and Father Frost and his granddaughter (Snegoruchka) came by helicopter to give some gifts to the Romanov Frontier Guardsmen.

This is not the only interesting thing about Russia on New Years: The New Year time period will last for 11 hours across Russia (11 time zones) and will conclude at 1 am Moscow time in Kaliningrad.

So Russians are tucked away in bed before America starts the New Year parties!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and thinking about what Putin said, “They don’t want to pay”

Putin is talking about the Refusal of Ukraine to pay her very past due gas bill to Russia. I think that the better statement is “Ukraine can not pay her gas bill”. Ukraine is flat busted, the piggy bank is broke, the coffer is empty and the pantry is bare! I am not excusing Ukraine and Ukraine has had the money to pay her gas bill. (it is lining someones pocket)

You see this past year Ukraine has been receiving gas to sell from Russia to Europe. Ukraine is to pay $179 per 1,000 cu m to Russia. Then Ukraine sells the gas to Europe at market rate of $400 to $500 per 1,000 cu m. So as you can see Ukraine makes a tidy profit on gas. They should have more than enough to pay Russia and then have extra money to help the country.

Europe pays her gas bill on time and in full. As far as I can tell Europe is not behind in gas payments. Ukraine is just a supply route country from the old Soviet Union days.

Russia in trying to help out Ukraine gives Ukraine a good deal on gas and Ukraine gets to turn a sweet profit.

The issues of gas started during the Rose revolution era. The new government of Ukraine has turned their back on Russia and expect Russia to forever supply discounted gas. What Ukraine has not learned is that you must not burn bridges with the neighbors.

The discounted gas was a favor not a right! Ukraine has destroyed her right to discounted gas by the lying and cheating against Russia over the gas issues!

Russia now says that Ukraine should pay the market rate for Russian gas of $418 per 1,000 cu m from January 1, 2009. Russia says that they no longer feel that Ukraine deserves the discount with all her past accusations and issues.

Russia is correct and Ukraine should have better control of the money and how it disappeared!

But I feel sorry for the Ukraine and European people who are caught in the middle…….

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Kiev 17:43:45.The Ukrainian president’s administration does not rule out the possibility that Naftogaz of Ukraine could file for bankruptcy in 2009, RBC Ukraine reported today. The source in the administration said that the 2009 budget provided for a mere USD 211.9m to cover the gap between the gas import price and prices for the population. However, the actual amount could run up close to USD 1.22bn, suggesting that Naftogaz of Ukraine will either raise gas tariffs, or go bust.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 17:15:33.No crises can affect the priorities of Russia’s economic and social policy, Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev told the final government meeting today. The priorities, including innovative development, upgrading of and maximum support for the social sphere, and entrepreneurship development, remain unchanged, he stressed. However much macroeconomic forecasts may change, the major development guidelines for the economy must remain unshakable.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 16:27:00.Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev termed Russia’s overall performance for the full year as “decent,” with the government moving confidently towards objectives it had set. At the government’s final meeting this year, he stressed that their efforts had been focused on implementing fundamental principles of the social and economic development strategy until 2020, as well as those laid down in short- and mid-term planning documents. In the second half of 2008, Russia was forced to kick-start preparations for the global economic crisis. “We are fully aware that the source of the crisis lies outside the Russian economy, and we are effectively paying a high price for a string of irresponsible decisions made in other countries,” which “warmed” their economies by putting the global economy at risk, the president stated.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 15:57:45.At today’s government meeting, Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev lauded the government’s anti-crisis program as well-balanced. Although the program “is not perfect,” it is nevertheless able to withstand “the toughest challenges,” the president observed. Moreover, the program is being adjusted on a weekly basis, he noted, adding that this was an indispensable measure.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 15:42:49.It is vital to preserve the unity of power in the face of global challenges and Russia is lucky to have it, Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev said today. He elaborated that the president, the government and the Federal Assembly had been cooperating closely to tackle their common tasks. This has to be maintained, Medvedev asserted, lest the nation be confronted with tremendous problems.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 15:19:57.Russia’s Prime Minister Vladimir Putin believes that Russia has built an “anti-crisis decision-making architecture.” According to a statement he made at a government meeting today, he expects that all the measures will work in 2009, particularly the system to prop up liquidity in the financial sector, steps to maintain demand, and aid to strategic core companies in the real economy. The moves the government has made so far will help prevent a sharp drop in living standards and production, and lend resilience to the financial system. The government, is even ready to take further action, if needed, the PM said. He thanked the State Duma for rapidly passing anti-crisis laws, as prompt implementation of the measures was of critical importance for the economy.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 11:22:48.According to an unofficial source in the Bank of Russia, the bank has once again widened the ruble’s trading band against the basket of two currencies – the euro and the dollar. The source, however, withheld any further details.

RBC, 29.12.2008, Moscow 15:24:19.Rosneft is planning to refinance or pay back roughly $9bn of its debt, the Russian oil company’s President Sergei Bogdanchikov said in an interview today. He pointed out that the company’s total debt currently amounted to $23bn. Bogdanchikov reiterated that Rosneft paid back $16bn in 2008, including $7bn from its own funds. The company is also planning to repay another $250m before the year-end.