Windows to Russia

Belarus Finance Minister Andrei Kharkovets signed the so-called currency capitulation in Moscow yesterday. Belarus gets a new intergovernmental loan of $2 billion for 2008 and 2009 by agreeing to pay for Russia’s oil and gas supplies in rubles starting from 2009. From now on, stability of Belarus economy will depend on Russia’s ruble stability and the country will have to amass ruble reserves.

http://www.kommersant.com/page.asp?id=1059051

Hello,

I was looking at everything that Russia was up to this week and some of it is pretty good. I will say that Russia is not bored…..

First thing that came to mind was that Robert Gates from the USA came in to have a chit chat about missiles. He was not asked to come in the first place and the Kremlin put out the word that Gates was there to undermine the new Administration of Obama’s. So he was given the cold treatment and told that communication with the new administration will be considered later. After Gates was done he had an attitude and did the “USA Administration Criticize Russia Routine.”

Then Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a televised interview with French journalists broadcast Thursday that Moscow was willing to reconsider deploying Iskander missiles in its westernmost region of Kaliningrad if Washington did not place 10 missile interceptors in Poland and a missile-tracking radar in the Czech Republic.

Of course U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates had already expressed his rejection of the Russian suggestion that both countries scrap plans to place missile systems in Eastern Europe.

Medvedev then went on record for the umpteenth time: “The decision to recognize South Ossetia and Abkhazia is final and irrevocable, Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev made clear in the interview with French Le Figaro. Russia has recognized two new international entities and those entities exist in terms of the international laws, Medvedev said, specifying that one doesn’t joke about things of this kind.”

Then South Ossetia will inform the European Parliament of the failure by EU observers to properly perform their duties in the buffer zone in neighboring Georgia, South Ossetia’s envoy to Russia said on Thursday. South Ossetia is tired of the lack luster attitude that the observers have toward Georgia and allow Georgia to get away with murder and kidnapping.

So now lets touch on the sad subject of the deaths aboard the Russian submarine: “The official report is that a crew member activated without permission a fire safety system on board the Russian nuclear submarine Nerpa, causing the deaths of 20 people, investigators said on Thursday.”

While we are in the open seas lets talk about the possibility that Russia is considering opening a base for its Black Sea Fleet in Abkhazia, a former fleet commander said on Thursday. This has been a idea floating around for the last few months and seems that it might be come a fact.

Then lets go locally and wonder why a 10 year old boy needs to put a cat in the washing machine: “A Muscovite couple called rescuers after hearing their pet inside the washing machine. They called the rescuers after discovering that the door would not open to release him, the spokesman said. The unfortunate cat was put in for a spin by the couple’s 10-year-old son. “

We step to the religious side for a minute: A mysterious man donned in all black and a mask left the Holy relics that were earlier stolen from the Donskoy Monastery in Moscow on the front enterence of the Monastery! Looks like God did some soul twisting on this one.

We end with a report from FBK Audit: World’s leading countries have already spent 9.2 trillion dollars on anti-crisis measures, FBK Audit and Consulting Company said. Great Britain takes the lead at this point as it spent 37 percent of its GDP on the crisis. The United States follows with 3.5 trillion dollars (25 percent of the GDP), Germany comes third with $893 billion (25 percent). The crisis has so far cost Russia $222 billion (13.9 percent of the GDP)

9.2 trillion dollars! Can you even imagine that much money?

That is what Russia has going on this week.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Evander Holyfield, at the age of 46, will seek to win back a major heavyweight title when he fights Russian giant Nikolai Valuev for the WBA crown next month.

The fight will take place Dec. 20 in the Hallenstadion in Zurich, Switzerland, arena management announced.

Holyfield has not fought since losing an unanimous decision to then-WBO champ Sultan Ibragimov a year ago. The fighter from Atlanta known as the “Real Deal” has a 49-9-2 career record and insists he wants to keep fighting until he regains the title again.

The 7-foot, 330-pound Valuev – once referred to as the ‘Beast from the East’ but now preferring ‘The Russian Giant’ – won a unanimous decision over Ruiz in August to claim the vacant WBA crown.

He told the Zurich tabloid Blick on Thursday that he was excited to face Holyfield.

“I’m taking this fight very seriously,” said the fighter with 49-1 record and 34 knockouts. “Holyfield is a strong opponent … Ten years ago I would not have dreamed of getting into the ring with this champion.”

The fight will be the biggest in Zurich since 1971, when Muhammad Ali knocked out Juergen Blin of Germany in the 7th round.

Link to Article:

I would like to go see this fight!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

I found an interesting report today while drinking my morning cup of coffee. The report was about people who wanted to get a Russian citizenship.

It said that up to 400,000 people receive Russian citizenship a year. It said From 2005 and up, Russian citizenship has been granted to some 400,000 people a year, and over 150,000 people annually receive temporary residence permits.

Also the same report states that since July 2008, approximately 7,000 Russians have returned to the country from former Soviet republics as part of a state-run resettlement program.

The report stated that sufficient funds for the relocation of 600,000 people will be allocated from the federal budget. As of now a total of 66,000 people have applied to relocate under this program and 36,000 of them have already submitted the necessary documents. Russians mainly return from Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Moldova and Kyrgyzstan.

People who decide to return to Russia under the resettlement program can choose between 12 Russian regions. The regions are in the country’s Far East, Siberia, Central Russia and the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad.

Report is from the “Federal Migration Service of Russia!”

Hello,

Want something to make you go Hummmmm?

GM to open $300 million assembly plant in Russia this week:

* GM pushes ahead with flexible assembly plant in Shushary near St. Petersburg
* Capacity for 70,000 Opel and Chevrolet cars and SUVs
* GM Number One foreign car-maker in Russia with 11% market share

Zurich. This week General Motors (GM) will open a $300 million, flexible assembly plant in St. Petersburg, Russia. The plant will add 70,000 units of capacity to more than 100,000 already available to GM at joint venture and partner facilities in the country. It will build the Opel Antara and Chevrolet Captiva SUVs and, as of late 2009, the all-new Chevrolet Cruze compact sedan. The plant features a flexible, modern design that can accommodate a variety of different models.

“We are fully committed to our Russia growth strategy,” said Carl-Peter Forster, President of General Motors Europe. “Russia is poised to become Europe’s Number One car market for GM as early as 2009. With five strong brands on the market, we are the leading non-Russian manufacturer. That’s a position we aim to keep.”

GM grew sales in Russia by 44% in Jan-Sept 2008, outpacing industry growth of 23% and reaching a record total of 256,765. GM’s market share has reached a new high of 10.9% in Russia from 6.5% as recently as 2006. In the first nine months of the year, Chevrolet maintained its position as Russia’s favorite non-domestic brand with sales up 33.5% (or 44,000 cars and SUVs) to a total of 175,800. In the same period, Opel was the fastest growing brand in the country with sales up 73% to over 78,000.

“Our St. Petersburg plant will work to the same high standards that have recently resulted in major quality awards for our cars,” said Carl-Peter Forster. The new plant, located in Shushary on the outskirts of St. Petersburg, will employ 1700 people. GM’s new employees have undergone intensive training in the company’s global manufacturing system which focuses on top quality in all processes, continuous improvement and involvement of the workforce.

General Motors Corp. (NYSE: GM), the world’s largest automaker, has been the annual global industry sales leader for 77 years. Founded in 1908, GM today employs about 266,000 people around the world. With global headquarters in Detroit, GM manufactures its cars and trucks in 35 countries. In 2007, nearly 9.37 million GM cars and trucks were sold globally under the following brands: Buick, Cadillac, Chevrolet, GMC, GM Daewoo, Holden, Hummer, Opel, Pontiac, Saab, Saturn, Vauxhall and Wuling. In Europe, GM sells its vehicles in over 40 markets. It operates 10 vehicle-production and assembly facilities in seven countries and employs around 55,500 people. More information on GM can be found at and . GM Europe executive blog at http://drivingconversations.com.

The USA needs to bail GM out so that they can build more plants all over the world.

Things that make you go Hummmmm…..

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Svet and I like to travel and we only travel to countries that have no visa issues with Russians. Russia is one of those countries that does a visa in accordance to how you do a visa! If you require a visa for Russians than Russia requires a visa for you. (At least in most cases.)

Russia and Hong Kong could introduce a visa-free regime for its nationals by spring 2009, the South China Morning Post said on Monday citing Russia’s Consul General Sergei Gritsay.

The document was approved on September 11, during a visit by a delegation of the Russian foreign ministry to Hong Kong. The agreement is expected to be signed once all state agencies have approved the document.

Hong Kong has seen a significant increase in imports and tourism from Russia. Imports in the first nine months grew 47.3% year-on-year, while the number of Russian tourists to Hong Kong rose by more than 10,000 visitors.

This would be a good place for Svet and I to go next year…

Update:
http://www.russia.com.hk/en/node/67

The Agreement between the Government of the Russian Federation and the Government of the Hong Kong SAR of the PRC on Mutual Exemption of Visa Requirements for Nationals of the Russian Federation and Permanent Residents of the Hong Kong SAR of the PRC came into force on 1 July 2009. The Agreement provides for a mutual visa-free access to the nationals of the Russian Federation and permanent residents of the Hong Kong SAR (holders of the Hong Kong SAR passport) for a stay of up to 14 days in the area of the Hong Kong SAR and the territory of the Russian Federation respectively.

Cool and thanks to Jim Wong who gave me an update over the e-mail…

Windows to Russia!

• Hats Off to Hong Kong – Hong Kong, China (travelpod.com)
• Made in Canada? – Hong Kong, China (travelpod.com)
• The Asia Chronicles: Hong Kong / China Openings; Hiring Boom In First Quarter ’11? (abovethelaw.com)
• Hong Kong in 18 Hours – Hong Kong, China (travelpod.com)
• Hong Kong, Hong Kong (alexeysmirnov.name)

It has been an historic week for President-elect Barack Obama, but even the future leader of the free world isn’t immune to the rigors of Russian airport security. When he was a Senator, Mr Obama had first hand experience of Russian hospitality in European continent’s most eastern city, Perm.

If you show Barack Obama pictures of an airport in the city of Perm and you may see a look of horror. Although, he will tell you his time in detention here was far more pleasant than a turn in a Soviet gulag. (Link)

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He’s cool, charismatic and sexy! Americans seem to be collectively swooning over Barack Obama. And, while it’s his policies that have primarily attracted them, some haven’t been shy about admitting they find America’s President-elect fetching. (Link)
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Just two days after the outcome of the U.S. presidential election, issues of American newspapers detailing Barack Obama’s victory have become bibliographical rarities. They are now being sold on eBay for record prices. (Link)
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In his congratulation letter to president-elect Barack Obama, Victor Yushchenko used an archaic title reserved for top generals and their civil counterparts in tsarist Russia.
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The Ukrainian President wished good health and success to “His High Excellency” Barack Obama. (Link)
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Lego toys and Barbie dolls are on their way to the White House, as the newly-elected U.S. President Barack Obama makes plans to move his family to Washington DC. (Link)
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U.S. stock markets are continuing to plummet, and two days after the United States elected Barack Obama as its new leader, the economic crisis in the country is deepening. How to revive the struggling economy is one of the toughest issues America’s 44th president has to tackle. (Link)
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While the world suffers from the financial crisis, U.S. Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama has faced criticism for spending more than $US 3 million on a 30-minute campaign commercial, which was broadcast through the whole country. (Link)
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Two white supremacists have been charged with plotting to assassinate U.S. presidential candidate Barack Obama. A court in Tennessee was told the plan was uncovered by federal agents who believed the pair also planned a murder spree. They are said to have also plotted to kill over a hundred African-American people. (Link)

Interesting….

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

The Iskander Factor

The Russian President’s pledge to deploy short-range Iskander-M missiles to the Kaliningrad Region has been no surprise to specialists. First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov mentioned it back last July. In fact it is a matter of rearming the 152nd missile brigade in Chernyakhovsk area, the Kaliningrad Region (the brigade is currently equipped with 18 launch systems of the Tochka-U (Point-U) complex, with their range reaching 120 kilometers).

Rearmament will significantly improve this unit’s firepower. Iskander-M, which has been supplied to the Russian Army since 2005, is equipped with short-range ballistic missiles with the range of 500 kilometers. It will enable the brigade to hit targets in Poland, East Germany and Northern Czech Republic, taking aim at the U.S. AMD elements to be deployed to Poland and the Czech Republic. Although Iskander-M missiles’ accuracy is kept in secret, it is considered that their circular error probable (CEP) is only a few meters, which allows them to hit well-protected targets, including U.S. Ground-Based Interceptors’ (GBI) launchers. It need be added that Russia has never denied the possibility to equip Iskander-M missiles with nuclear warheads.

After 2009 Iskander-M missiles’ firepower may be even improved by means of equipping them with high-accuracy subsonic cruise missiles R-500, which are now tested. The range of these missiles, which are analogue of the U.S. Tomahawk, can amount to 1,000 kilometers. A standard Iskander-M launcher can have six missiles of this type, instead of two ballistic missiles (such a complex will be then called Iskander-K).

The 152nd brigade is unlikely to be reamed before 2010-2011. Probably its rearmament will be timed to the U.S. GBI deployment in Poland so that Russia’s measure would not appear too aggressive.

In military terms, deploying Iskander-M missiles to the Kaliningrad Region will mean boosting the Russian western group’s capabilities – it will be able to hit almost any target in North-Eastern Europe. At the same time, it is very difficult to intercept Iskander-M ballistic missiles with the West’s aircraft defense systems; and mobile launchers are hard to detect too.

Thus it is no surprise that Russia’s plan have caused Europe’s concern. Iskander may become quite an argument when Europeans consider whether their security is worth the U.S. global military and political ambitions. Iskanders in Kaliningrad are much more palpable than hypothetical Iranian missiles. (Link)