Year: 2008

Lake in Northern Moscow: Svet & her Mother walk this lake a lot!

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking about the weather here. It is now June 10th and we have 50 – 60 degree F. days and almost freezing nights. In fact a few days ago they had a frost warning & the trees are now just fully leafed out.

Right now at 2:00pm it is 13 degrees C. (translate into 55.4 degrees F.)

This is strange for me being from the Midwest America, where the temperature right now is running 90 degrees F. It will get warmer here but not much. We do not have air conditioning & I have a fan for days that do get a little warm. Our car does not have air conditioning & in fact if we had it, we would never use it.

The reason I thought of this is we have a friend in America named Bill & he just sent me an e-mail that expressed how hot it was. I smiled when I read: “The temperature is 95 degrees F. here! ” Now another friend of ours Clark from “Clark’s Picks!” just let me know that in Maryland it is 100 degrees F! (It is now at 4:00pm, 56 degrees F. in Moscow!) :))

Just thought I would let you know a little more about Moscow, Russia!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

Everyone might want to think about what the world is trying to escalate toward…..
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“If Iran continues with its programme for developing nuclear weapons, we will attack it. The sanctions are ineffective,” Mr Mofaz told Yediot Ahronot.

“Attacking Iran, in order to stop its nuclear plans, will be unavoidable,” he said.
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Iran must understand that without a diplomatic solution in the coming months, a dangerous military conflict is very likely to erupt.
Joshka Fischer
Former German FM
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Mr Fischer fears that the Middle East is drifting towards a new great confrontation in 2008.

“Iran must understand that without a diplomatic solution in the coming months, a dangerous military conflict is very likely to erupt. It is high time for serious negotiations to begin,” he said.
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None of this means an attack on Iran is coming. But it is being discussed, and that is significant.
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http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7439431.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/7440472.stm

Has any one proven that Iran is making a nuclear bomb or are we just…..

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

RBC, 06.06.2008, St. Petersburg 16:25:59.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said during a meeting with his Azeri counterpart Ilham Aliyev in Strelna, a town outside St. Petersburg, that he planned to pay an official visit to Azerbaijan in early July, the Mayak radio station reported today. In turn, Aliyev thanked the Russian President for accepting the invitation to visit Azerbaijan.

RBC, 06.06.2008, St. Petersburg 15:50:48.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor Yushchenko to make a decision on the Russian Black Sea Fleet exclusively on the basis of existing agreements with Russia and only after further consultations, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists following talks between the two Presidents in Strelna today. The Minister said that the recent steps taken by Ukraine regarding the Black Sea Fleet could harm bilateral relations, the Mayak radio station reported.

RBC, 06.06.2008, Moscow 15:15:43.Nearly five hours into today’s special euro trading session for tomorrow deals, the high on deals stood at 36.95 RUB/EUR, which is RUB 0.03 higher than the official rate set by the Bank of Russia for the next day. The euro’s further appreciation against the ruble on the domestic market can be attributed to the dollar’s unremitting recession against the European currency on international exchanges. The latter is now trading at around USD 1.56, up from roughly USD 1.5590 right after midday. Consequently, the euro has climbed almost 0.03 percent against the dollar on the global market over a fairly short period.

RBC, 06.06.2008, St. Petersburg 14:58:06.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev is poised to pay an official visit to Turkmenistan in early July. During the visit, the Russian leader plans to resume talks on bilateral cooperation with his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, Medvedev was cited by the Vesti TV channel as saying during their meeting in Strelna, a town outside St. Petersburg.

RBC, 06.06.2008, Moscow 12:55:59.Russia’s Natural Resources and Ecology Minister Yury Trutnev will hold a working meeting with Germany’s Environment and Nuclear Safety Minister Sigmar Gabriel in Moscow on Tuesday, the Russian ministry’s press office reported today. During the meeting, the parties are expected to discuss cooperation on the fulfillment of the Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change. Other items on the agenda include bilateral cooperation within the coordination council for the fulfillment of the 1992 environmental protection act, the protection of the Baltic Sea region, as well as other environmental issues.

RBC, 06.06.2008, Moscow 11:55:56.After an hour and a half of today’s special dollar trading session for tomorrow deals, the weighted average exchange rate stood at 23.68 RUB/USD. The official rate for June 7 could therefore be revised RUB 0.13, or more than 0.5 percent, lower. The current developments on MICEX can be attributed to the European currency’s significant and rapid appreciation against the dollar on international exchanges. The euro is now buying nearly USD 1.5610, up from around USD 1.5435 at midday at the previous session. Consequently, the dollar has tumbled at least 1 percent against the euro on the global market since then. This resulted in consistently high commercial bank activity at the UTS, where the trade volume was just shy of USD 900m as of 11:30 a.m.

RBC, 06.06.2008, Moscow 09:55:41.Russia is ready to work with the European Union on the establishment of international consortiums for operating transit pipelines to Europe, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev announced on Thursday while speaking to European politicians and businessmen. Such joint operations could be performed with the participation of companies from Russia, the EU, and transit countries, the leader stressed. Medvedev cited the examples of successful cooperation between the EU and Russia in such spheres as nuclear energy, space, aircraft manufacturing, and transport engineering. The Russian President added that Russia was striving to establish clear rules of the game and create a regime that would be the most favorable for foreign entrepreneurs developing high technology operations in the country, and was expecting an equally measured approach from its partners in Europe.

Hello,

I have heard & seen it all now. The Wall Street Journal publishes an article about how to just simply give Russia 2- 3 billion dollars a year + drop the missile issue & Russia will turn their back on Iran…..
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Russia: the key to Iran’s nukes?
If the U.S. wants to stop Iran’s nuclear programme, it should strike a bargain with Russia, Senator Charles Schumer believes.

In an article published in the Wall Street Journal, the American politician outlines the incentives which, in his opinion, could convince Russia to give up its stance as Iran’s defender in the UN.

Firstly, recognising Russia’s role in the Caspian region and treating it as an equal partner there may help ensure Moscow’s acceptance of strict economic sanctions against Iran.

Secondly, Schumer claims, the U.S. should realise that Russia will suffer from breaking off trade relations with Iran. This loss would need to be compensated. The Senator estimates this would cost America ‘roughly $2 billion to $3 billion a year, about what it spends in Iraq each week’.

And last but not least, Schumer suggests that Washington sacrifice its plans for missile defence sites in Europe. The project, he says, would offer protection from a ‘hypothetical and remote’ threat, while giving Russians a very real reason for concern.

Together, these three moves would make an offer Russia would find hard to refuse, Senator Schumer believes. Economic sanctions, he adds, would cause public support for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to dwindle rapidly, and the government would be forced to heed Western demands.
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Funny (Not ha ha funny!) how the USA thinks that the world revolves around what they think & want!

Since I have traveled around the world some, I have come to find out that the USA is a tiny part of this planet. When you realize that the population of the USA is only 4.56% of the worlds population & China is 20% of the world population. (India is 17% of the worlds population.)

Makes me feel like a minority in the world……

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

The Caucasus Mountains was a high point of our last trip in April. I do not have very many pictures because of the hard drive incident so looks things look like we will not have very many pictures of the trip.

In the Caucasus Mountains Svet and I got to ride a ski lift to the top of the mountains near Sochi. We have one or two pictures of being at the top of the world. The one that you see at the beginning of this article is Svet playing in the snow! Svet & I had a very exciting ride to the top. We ate at a small cafe about half way up, the food was great and the hot tea was delicious. As the picture shows you we were a long way up…..
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We were in the North Caucucasus:
The North Caucasus, or Ciscaucasus, is a region in north-central Eurasia and contains the larger majority of the Greater Caucasus Mountain range, also once known as the Major Caucasus mountains. Southwestern Russia, northern Georgia and northern Azerbaijan are included as North Caucasus.

The South Caucasus, or Transcaucasus, is a region in south-central Eurasia bordered on the north by Russia, on the west by the Black Sea, on the east by the Caspian Sea, on the southwest by Turkey, and on the south by Iran. The south Caucasus includes the Caucasus Mountains and surrounding lowlands. All of Armenia, Azerbaijan (excluding the northern part of Azerbaijan, which are within North Caucasus) and Georgia (excluding northern part of Georgia which are within North Caucasus) are in South Caucasus.
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I also found this tidbit of information about the mountains: “In Greek mythology, the Caucasus or Kaukasos was one of the pillars supporting the world. Prometheus was chained there by Zeus after Prometheus had presented man with the gift of fire.

The Roman poet Ovid placed Caucasus in Scythia and depicted it as a cold and stony mountain which was the abode of personified hunger. The Greek hero Jason sailed to the west coast of the Caucasus in pursuit of the Golden Fleece, and there met the famed Medea.”
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Yes, we enjoyed the ski ride and got to see some of the
pillars holding up the world. 🙂

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

President Medvedev, will hold talks with Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday, as well as with German President Horst Koehler and Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

The visit to Germany follows his trip to Kazakhstan and China last month. Some analysts said the fact that he went east rather than west for his first trip abroad after being sworn in showed where Russia’s foreign policy priorities lay.

Do you blame Medvedev for going East first!

I don’t…..

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

I see that we have an upcoming meeting between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and his Georgian counterpart Mikheil Sakaashvili, due to take place during the St. Petersburg Economic Forum on 6-8 June.

Do you think that this could lead to a resumption of negotiations between Moscow and Tbilisi?

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee, when I came across information that Russia is working on relations with Venezuela & Colombia. Russia wants to sell military weapons to both? Now that is a tricky thing to do since they are not really best of friends. 🙂

The thoughts came to me that this would be a good way to get close to the USA with military weapons and such. Just think: Maybe they would like to have missile bases on their soil. Just like the USA wants to do in Poland & Czech! Seems like a fair trade….

Now the catch to some of this is that the USA is trying to declare Venezuela a state sponsor of international terrorism and impose sanctions on Caracas. Looks like if the USA doesn’t like you, we just declare you a terrorist.

Speaking of terrorists issues, I have been reading about how countries that use to travel freely to the USA now must call three days in advance to tell America that you are going to be crossing the border.

US security: Visitors must give 72 hours’ notice!

Travelers from 27 countries, including Britain, will be required to register online with US authorities at least three days before leaving to visit America, it will be announced today.

This latest measure aimed at bolstering American security is expected to take effect from January 2009.

Last year, European companies expressed concern when the US homeland security department floated proposals to make passengers register with US authorities 48 hours before travel. Critics feared this could complicate last-minute business arrangements.

The introduction of the new 72-hour notice period will be announced by the homeland security secretary, Michael Chertoff, later today, according to a US government official.

The rules will apply to citizens from the 27 nations of the visa waiver scheme. This includes most of western Europe as well as Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore.

Although the measure will require registration 72 hours before traveling, successful applications will be valid for multiple entries over two years.

Passengers will be able to register in advance from August this year through travel agents, airline websites or a special US government website.
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Strange how all of a sudden Australia, Brunei, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada, and all of Europe is seeing their rights being eroded by the USA, (The land of the free is becoming less free one day at a time).

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

I read about this several months ago & now I see that they are going to get the bells swapped……
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The bells, venerated by many Russians, will be feted upon their return to Moscow in September.

In danger of destruction by Stalinists, the Danilov Bells were purchased in 1929 and removed from the Soviet Union by American diplomat, philanthropist, and businessman Charles R. Crane, who donated them to Harvard in 1930. The tower of Lowell House, then under construction as a clock tower, was redesigned to receive the bells. All but one of the 18 originals have resided in Lowell House ever since; the last, placed in the tower of Baker Library at the Harvard Business School, returned to Russia last year.

Totaling some 25 tons, the Danilov Bells range in weight from 22 pounds to 26,700 pounds. The most massive, called the Mother Earth Bell, is nearly 9 feet in diameter and is rung from within by swinging an 800-pound clapper. Most of the bells were cast in the 19th century, but the oldest is believed to date to around 1690.

The larger bells are inscribed in Old Church Slavonic. The sides and shoulders of the bells bear icons of Christ, saints, and Mary, along with winged angels, medallions, and scrolls of floral decoration. The smaller bells are unadorned.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

RBC, 03.06.2008, Moscow 09:55:16.Gazprom has offered to Azerbaijan to buy the republic’s natural gas at market prices on the basis of a long-term agreement, the Russian gas giant’s press office reported, citing CEO Alexei Miller’s statement during a meeting with Azeri President Ilham Aliyev as part of his working visit to the republic. Miller noted that Russia and Azerbaijan had common interests and, being linked by a versatile pipeline infrastructure, were poised to develop mutually beneficial energy cooperation.

RBC, 03.06.2008, Riyadh 09:28:47.Russia expects to make maximum progress in its WTO talks with Saudi Arabia, a source at the Russian delegation participating in the accession talks in Riyadh told reporters. The source said the delegation was set to resolve any outstanding issues and that a possibility was not ruled out that an agreement would be reached in Riyadh. Working meetings began on Monday. Russian Deputy PM and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin will be joining the delegation today.

RBC, 02.06.2008, Kiev 19:34:09.Ukraine’s gas transit to Europe reached a historic high of 55.7bn cubic meters, up 26 percent, or 11.5bn cubic meters in the first five months of 2008 compared with the same period in 2007, Ukrtransgaz, Naftogaz of Ukraine’s subsidiary and the operator of Ukraine’s gas transportation system, reported today. The rise is linked to Gazprom’s increased exports to Europe in order to accommodate the growing demand for natural gas in the European countries.

RBC, 02.06.2008, Moscow 18:26:23.The Russian economy will not be affected by a possible cut in investment that could result from restrictions on foreign investment in strategic industries, Russia’s Deputy PM and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told journalists following today’s government board meeting. He said that he considered the list of industries where the restrictions will be applied to be too long, adding, however, that it was his personal opinion. The restrictions could be lifted in some of the industries in the future, Kudrin noted. At the same time, the document is very clear and brings unwritten procedures in line with legislation, Kudrin stated. He also voiced the opinion that the new restrictions would not prevent Russia from attracting enough foreign investors.

RBC, 02.06.2008, Moscow 13:32:53.Over three hours into today’s special dollar trading session for tomorrow deals, the low on deals stood at 23.6955 RUB/USD, almost RUB 0.06, or 0.25 percent, below the official rate set by the Bank of Russia for tomorrow. As a result of the dollar’s decrease, the spread on deals has broadened to just shy of RUB 0.07. The ruble’s unremitting rise against the dollar on the domestic market can be traced to the euro’s continued appreciation against the dollar on international exchanges, where the euro is now trading at nearly USD 1.5555, up from some USD 1.5520 at midday.

RBC, 02.06.2008, Moscow 12:55:57.Russia and Greece plan to launch joint construction and renovation of industrial and energy facilities in third-party countries, Agriculture Minister and co-chairman of the Russian-Greek intergovernmental commission Alexei Gordeyev said today. He noted that the two countries had established political and economic cooperation, and had no serious disagreements in this respect. He added that Russia would seek to export more high-tech products, machinery, and hardware to Greece. The two countries intend to boost direct mutual investments, as well as to promote industrial, scientific, and technological cooperation. Gordeyev added that Greek investors could be attracted to the construction of Olympic facilities in Sochi.

RBC, 02.06.2008, Moscow 10:58:24.Onexim Group, owned by Russian businessman Mikhail Prokhorov, has made an offer to Polyus Gold to buy out a 6.54-percent stake held by Jenington International Inc., the Russian group’s press office told RBC today. The offer will be valid until 6 p.m. Friday June 6.