Day: July 8, 2008

TOYAKO (Hokkaido), July 8 (RIA Novosti) – Russia’s chief sanitary official criticized on Tuesday a new law that allows motorists to drive after drinking small amounts of alcohol.

“It is a crime. It is a dangerous decision for our country,” Gennady Onishchenko told reporters on the sideline of the G8 summit currently being held on Japan’s northern island of Hokkaido.

The decree, which came into force on July 1, allows motorists to drive with alcohol levels of 0.03 grams of alcohol per 100 milliliters of blood, equal to a 0.33 bottle of beer or 250-300 mls of wine drunk 15 minutes before a test.

The law brings Russia into line with other European countries. Russian motorists were previously forbidden from driving after drinking even tiny amounts of alcohol.

In 2007, drink-driving was responsible for 10% of road accidents in Russia, while almost every second fatal accident was caused by a drunk driver.

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This is an article of truth. You drive carefully and defensivly in Moscow.

Russians remind me of the old days in the USA, driving around with a beer in your hand. At one time that was very comman in the USA. In Russia it is very comman, (but worse) many are driving with a bottle of vodka in hand.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

Looks like Abkhazia has their facts together.

I am starting to see a, USA playing bad in your backyard issue!
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Abkhazia rejects U.S. proposal
Abkhazia says it won’t put into action a U.S. suggestion to place an international police force in the region. The Abkhaz President said the country needs no help from the U.S., which he says has always taken a pro-Georgian stance.

In its statement the U.S. administration underlined that it supports Georgia’s territorial integrity and insists on both sides resuming peace talks.

“We call on Russia to reverse its recent provocative steps in Abkhazia and consult Tbilisi on any future steps in both Abkhazia and South Ossetia. We note the urgent need for an international police presence in the areas where these bombings have occurred,” the U.S. statement said.

Following the proposal to deploy an international police force in Abkhazia to stop the wave of bombings there, Abkhazian president Sergei Bagapsh blamed Washington for its pro-Georgian position and pledged to keep Russian peacekeepers in the region.

“There cannot be any international police force in our territory,” Bagapsh said.

“Once the U.S. State Department stated that international police forces should be deployed where explosions occurred in Abkhazia, it became clear who organised these terror attacks and why and what for,” he added.

Several blasts have occurred in the Abkhazian towns of Gali, Gagra and Sukhumi in recent days, killing four people and injuring a dozen.
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When you can not play correctly you should be sent home……

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

RBC, 08.07.2008, Moscow 12:59:20.Swiss bank UBS is interested in managing the Reserve Fund and the National Welfare Fund, Deputy Finance Minister Dmitry Pankin told journalists today. Following a meeting with a Swiss delegation headed by Federal Councilor of Economic Affairs Doris Leuthard, UBS representatives expressed their interest in both acting as advisors for the Russian funds and in managing them.

RBC, 08.07.2008, Toyako 11:22:38.The leaders of the Group of Eight (G8) countries have agreed to form specialized funds that could help solve the current food crisis, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told journalists today. He pointed out that Russia had suggested that talks between the agriculture ministers of the G8 countries should be organized, and that a special session, the so-called ‘grain summit,’ should be held to discuss the reasons and consequences of a rise or stabilization in grain prices for the food market. Medvedev also noted that the leaders of the G8 countries had already agreed to take multi-lateral steps in order to influence the food crisis and gradually start using second generation biofuel.

RBC, 08.07.2008, Toyako 10:59:26.During a meeting with journalists today, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed his opinion that the existing financial system was inefficient, instead proposing to make the ruble a reserve currency. Medvedev noted that G8 leaders said during a summit today that neither they nor the other heads of state were satisfied with the current global financial situation. The participants of the summit discussed the possibility of bringing the methods and objectives of existing financial institutions in line with the economic realities, Medvedev said, adding that the situation with a fairly weak dollar and an overly strong euro was raising concerns among Russia’s partners. He pointed out that Russia needed to promote the idea of making the ruble one of the reserve currencies.

RBC, 08.07.2008, London 11:12:54.Severstal has completed the acquisition of US steel producer WCI Steel for $140m, the Russian steelmaker said in a press release today. Citi and Raymond James acted as Severstal’s financial advisors for the deal, whereas Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP was its legal advisor.

RBC, 07.07.2008, Toyako 18:10:18.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has met with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy today, Presidential Aide Sergei Prikhodko told journalists, adding that this was the first meeting of the two Presidents. During the talks, Medvedev praised Russian-French relations and the dynamics of bilateral trade. The leaders also discussed the implementation of major investment projects, Prikhodko said. Among other issues was bilateral economic cooperation, particularly in the automobile industry, and here the work of French automobile companies, such as Renault, Peugeot, and Citroen, in Russia came in for special praise by the Russian President. Prikhodko noted that the Presidents had also discussed Russia-EU relations and that Sarkozy had promised that France would provide support to Russia in this respect.

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & checking up on visa information. This is a constant problem in Russia…..
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Business Visas

To obtain a business visa the following documents should be submitted to the CONSULAR SECTION (CONSULATE)::
1. A completed visa application form (one per person) available at the Consulate or travel agencies and visa services.
2. A valid passport which should have at least two clear visa pages.
3. One passport size photo of the applicant which should be stapled to the marked space of the application form.
4. An official letter of invitation from your hosting organization registered with either the Russian Ministry of the Interior with its local offices or the Russian Foreign Ministry with its regional representatives. Such invitations can be delivered to us by telex or forwarded to you directly through facsimile transmission. Please note however that we reserve the right to require originals if we deem it necessary.
5. A cover letter from your company (or from yourself if traveling individually) with information on the traveler, destination, terms and purpose of the trip.
6. Please be informed that in order to obtain student or work visa an HIV-test should be presented. A person can enter the country on a student or work visa only five days after it has been issued.
7. If applying by mail (all visa documents should be sent to 2641 Tunlaw rd. N.W., Washington DC, 20007), you should enclose a completely addressed and stamped return envelope or prepaid waybill, bearing your account number with the postal service (preferably Federal Express) and showing yourself as both shipper and recipient regardless of delivery address.

We do not accept waybills marked ‘bill sender’, ‘bill third party’, bill credit card’ or C.O.D. If you fail to follow the above mentioned requirements, your visa application will not be processed. If the papers are not acceptable for any reason or some documents are missing, we will return them by regular mail. When forwarding your documents to us, please, specify “attention: visa section”. We do not accept documents for international delivery!

If you apply personally, you should get a pick-up slip from the visa officer. You should present this slip to pick up your visa, when it is ready, or refer to its number to check out the status of the application.

8. A money order or cashier’s check payable to the Russian Embassy for visa processing. Please, note that we do not accept cash or any other checks. The visa processing fees are:

As of January 1, 2008 the U.S. State Department raises the fee for American visa from 100 USD to 131 USD.

On the basis of reciprocity the fee for Russian visa (standard processing time 6-10 business days) is also raised to 131 USD, effective from January 14, 2008. The fees for expedited visa processing will however remain unchanged.

For single entry visas are:
$131 for 6-10 business days processing;
$150 for 3-5 business days processing;
$200 for next business day processing or two business days processing;
$300 for same day processing;
For double entry visas are:
$131 for 6-10 business days processing;
$200 for 3-5 business days processing;
$250 for next business day processing or two business days processing;
$350 for same day processing;

For multiple entry visas are:
$131 for 6-10 business days processing;
$300 for 3-5 business days processing;
$350 for next business day processing or two business days processing;
$450 for same day processing;

Visa processing fee is not refundable

Please, note, that drop off day is not counted as business day!

*ATTENTION FOR EU CITIZENS*

IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE VISA AGREEMENT SIGNED BY THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION AND THE EUROPEAN UNIION CITIZENS OF ALL EU COUNTRIES EXCEPT DENMARK, IRELAND AND GREAT BRITAIN ARE WELCOME TO SUBMIT THE FOLLOWING FEES FOR PROCESSING OF ALL TYPES OF VISAS TO RUSSIA

6-10 BUSINESS DAYS – 50 USD

1-3 BUSINESS DAYS – 100 USD

Visa processing starts only after the complete required set of document is submitted.

When having received your visa please check it for mistakes (passport number, date of birth, validity) and, if necessary, return it to the Consulate for corrections.

The Consulate will not be responsible for any mistakes in the visas, which were not brought to our attention prior to your departure from the USA.

Please, note that visas cannot be changed or extended. If your travel plans changed after the visa issuance you have to reapply for a new one.

Any visa applicant may be interviewed by a consular officer if necessary.

Processing time, requirements and fees are subject to change without notice.

If you need more information please call us at (202)939-8907,8918, 8913 and 8911 Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. till 12.30 .p.m. and from 2.30. p.m. till 6 p.m.

Visa applications are accepted Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. till 12.15 p.m. ONLY
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So that is the Business Visa to Russia. This comes from the American Embassy in Washington DC. (USA)

Always call your embassy because the rules change all the time.

http://www.russianembassy.org/

Tomorrow part 2 Tourist Visa!
http://kylekeeton.com/2008/07/russia-visa-part-2-tourist-visa.html

Kyle & Svet