Windows to Russia

It is becoming winter and what that means in this part of the world is that Ukraine will start her bull with Gas Delivery issues.

So everyone listen and you can almost hear the sound of the gas valve being twisted shut as it grates and squeals as the gas flow is being restricted once again. I have seen 4 winters now and this is the pattern that never ceases to amaze me.

It starts with Ukraine making a series of statements about how they will not accept this and that. Then it becomes a series of we are not sure what will happen. Then the Ukraine President has several fits about how Russia is ripping Ukraine off. They also always promise that all will be OK. This goes on and on until one day Ukraine just stops letting gas flow to Europe and then Ukraine tries to steal enough gas to get themselves through the winter…..

Russia has posted a article in Russia Today:

KIEV, October 13 (RIA Novosti) – Under the existing contracts with Gazprom, Ukraine will be unable to guarantee gas supplies from Russia to Europe during the 2010-11 winter season, the Ukrainian president’s point man on energy security said Tuesday.

Bohdan Sokolovskiy said, however, that Ukraine was fully prepared to ensure Russian gas transits during the upcoming winter period.

Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has repeatedly said that the gas deal agreed by the Russian and Ukrainian prime ministers in January should be renegotiated.

In particular, he is unhappy with the current transit fee, which he says means Ukraine’s state-controlled energy company Naftogaz receives at least $2.5 billion a year less than it should.

Sokolovskiy warned that unless the deal was reviewed, “2010 and 2011 will be unpredictable in terms of gas transit.”

Here we go again!

I would like to see a winter with out Ukraine messing up the gas flow to Europe. I do remember last year that I was in Ukraine in January for a visa run and Ukraine was out of gas at that time.

As the picture depicts – The world looks at Russia as the tyrant and Ukraine as the lesser of the evil. Ukraine plays this game every year but it seems to be getting old…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Two major things happened in Russia the last few days.

1. Putin went to China for major talks.
2. Hillary Clinton came to Russia to try to get a Iran sanction scheme going.

So what happened? Glad you asked!

1. Putin walked away with a much stronger tie with China and energy deals worth billions that extend far into the future. China will be securing 20% of her energy from Russia in the future.
2. Then Hillary ran into a brick wall and the USA had to eat crow, over all the Iran sanction talk from American press and government sources.

You need to understand that the future is in Asia not America…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

PS: Then to top it off: It seems that the US delegation that came with Hillary Clinton spent all night partying at Russian bars. The next morning they were not a very sharp looking group of delegates. The word on TV was: “The USA officials did not look very well early in the morning when they had to work.” This of course comes from the fact that the delegates were seen buying beer at local kiosks and then they went bar hopping… (Oops)

Russian Federal Security Service (FSB – Federal’naya Sluzhba Bezopasnosti) claims Georgian special services are helping Al Qaeda members to wage terrorism in Russia’s southern regions. (That is really not very nice of Georgia!)
This morning seemed like a good time as any to cause Georgia to have a hissy fit. So Russia decided to leak a little information about some of the facts they have about Georgia and Al Qaeda. Most likely it has to do with Hillary Clinton being in Moscow right now!

Bad Georgia 🙂

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Vodka Appeared as Flavored Drink in Ancient Russia:
According to chronicles, vodka appeared in Russia at the end of the 14th century. In 1386, Genoese merchants brought to Moscow “aqua vitae” (live water) that was presented to Prince Dmitry Donskoy. Later, in 1503-1505, the monks of Chudovo monastery located on the territory of the Moscow Kremlin created the first recipe of original Russian vodka

Clinton, Lavrov agree to delay sanctions against Iran:
U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said after talks with Russia’s foreign minister on Tuesday that neither country is seeking to impose sanctions against Iran under the current circumstances.

Russia’s Tver Region may cooperate with Canada in beef farming:
Central Russia’s Tver Region may cooperate with Canadian specialists to create a study center for farmers and agriculture students, the region’s governor said.

Russia, China agree on West Siberia, Far East gas supplies:
Russia and China have initialed a framework agreement on natural gas supplies from West Siberia, the Russian Far East, and offshore Sakhalin fields to China, the head of Gazprom said on Tuesday.

Georgian vice speaker calls Russia’s terrorism claim ‘absurd’:
The vice speaker of Georgia’s parliament dismissed on Tuesday the Russian security service’s allegation that Georgia has been supporting terrorists in the Caucasus, calling it a “provocation.”

Masterminds of attack on Ingush president killed – FSB chief:
The militants who organized an assassination attempt on the president of the North Caucasus Republic of Ingushetia have been killed, the head of the Federal Security Service said on Tuesday.

Moscow art museum director receives U.S. award:
The director of Moscow’s largest museum of European fine arts has been awarded the international Liberty Prize for advancing Russian-U.S. cultural ties.

Over 1,000 artillery shells found in Siberian man’s garden:
Police in an east Siberian town have found a over 1,000 artillery shells hoarded by a local resident in his vegetable garden, the Zabaikalsky Territory’s police department said.

Medvedev to Enjoy Tea-Table Talk With Hillary Clinton:
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has invited U.S. Secretary Hillary Clinton to his private residence in suburban Barvikha for a discussion Tuesday on a broad range of issues in what one senior State Department official called a “relaxed setting.”

This morning my wife and I were drinking that wonderful cup of coffee (Svet had tea) and the power and water went off. We were not surprised but just inconvenienced. A few nights ago on the front door of our building appeared a sign that said: On Tuesday – No Power or Water from 9am to 4pm…

My first reaction was about how stupid that is. Then after thinking that we live in a huge construction zone and new high-rises going up all the time. We are lucky that we do not have more outages.

So I had everything planned on what I was to do today and not have to be home while a power outage was going on. I had planned on calling Monday and then going to the American Embassy on Tuesday. I needed to get my new fresh passport and then I planned to check on some new tax laws in America while I was there. But my plans for that were laywayed by the fact that Monday was Columbus day in America and American Embassies are closed all federal holidays in other countries. So today I was able to call and will go early tomorrow morning. (Wednesday)

It is a good thing because I am running a fever today and it is not a small fever either. Looks like I caught a bad cold or something. A week ago I had to spend all day getting our car ready for winter. So as I spent hours in a rainy cold day playing with the car – it looks like I was dumb… (It had to be done because it is freezing here every night and I needed to winterize the car, amongst other things.)

Now if I get feeling better – then tomorrow I will drive to the American Embassy and pick up my passport.

Now I have to just start planning my next visa trip and that is the end of this October…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

The opposition parties in Russia all scream how there were cases of ballot stuffing, and that the ruling party was given better opportunities during the election campaign. It also claimed that the Solidarity movement was unjustly denied registration over the accusation that it forged signatures it collected. (Link)

While all this ballot stuffing was suppose to be going on, Medvedev could not get his vote in…

Ballot Box Rejects Medvedev’s Vote:
The president, wearing a shiny black leather coat, tried several times to get the electronic box to accept his ballot at a polling station in western Moscow as part of mayoral, regional and district elections that were held Sunday in 76 of the country’s 83 regions. (Link)

So while the opposition was yelling foul and you are stuffing ballot boxes, Medvedev just wanted to vote, so that his voice will be heard…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

As you know I have been following the story on the Arctic Sea Freighter! So while drinking my morning cup of coffee I decided to check on the whereabouts of the Arctic Sea! I found this updated video from Russia Today and it gives the lowdown on the desolate freighter.

As of right now the fateful Arctic Sea is located east of Gibraltar with only four sailors, who have remained on board since August with very little food and water to live on. The fuel supply of the ship is almost gone…

The Freighter is in the Mediterranean Sea now and being refused permission to dock anywhere on earth.

Well the ship has not been sunk yet…

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

Other articles on the Arctic Sea Freighter by Windows to Russia:
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/09/arctic-sea-did-what.html
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/09/arctic-sea-freighter-is-out-of-food.html
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/09/continuing-tale-of-russias-arctic-sea.html
http://www.windowstorussia.com/2009/09/russias-arctic-sea-freighter-could-have.html

Nanotechnology gets boost from state as focus turns to future:
A week with focus on nanotechnology and Russian science has seen Rosnano, and AFK Sistema announce they will invest half a billion dollars in the production of microchips, using 90 nanometers technology.

“The shift of military attention to Pakistan is happening”:
In Pakistan, the expanding number of American security firms is causing concerns. Investigative journalist Wayne Madsen sees this as a sign of the US shifting its military attention to Pakistan.

“NATO’s attack on Serbia the ultimate crime against peace”:
It’s time to recognize the US-led NATO offensive against Serbia in 1999 as a historic mistake, Zivadin Jovanovic, former Foreign Affairs Minister of Yugoslavia told RT.

CIS safe and sound despite rumors:
The leaders of former Soviet republics have gathered in Moldova for the CIS Summit on Friday. And though four of them didn’t show up, this is normal, says Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

“US hypocritical on arms reduction”:
While re-negotiating START treaty, the US calls for nuclear zero, but in reality isn’t ready to give up all weapons, says Aleksandr Pikayev, analyst from the Institute of World Economy and International Relations to RT.

Russia ready for major election day:
October 11 will be the next election day in Russia – on Sunday millions of citizens will be able to vote for deputies of local legislatures throughout the country.

Gazprom looks to longer term as exports take turn for the better:
Gazprom says gas exports are moving back towards pre-crisis levels, and that it is looking to take a long term approach to customer who may not require as much gas as they have contracted for in the short term.

Russian gang lord dies after sniper attack:
Vyacheslav Ivankov, once a top figure in Russian organized crime, died on Friday morning of wounds inflicted in a July assassination attempt.

What I like about you: what keeps foreigners in Russia?:
The Motherland may be suffering from runaway inflation, alcoholism, strangling red tape and a host of other afflictions, but this hasn’t stopped foreigners from queuing up for their Russian visas.

“No reply” from Moscow to Ukraine’s invitation:
Leaders of former Soviet republics are in Moldova for the CIS Summit on Friday. The official request from Kiev to arrange a meeting between Medvedev and Yushchenko has been met with a mute response from Russia.

NATO won’t recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia:
NATO strongly supports the territorial integrity of Georgia in the framework of internationally recognized borders of the country and doesn’t intend to recognize Abkhazia and South Ossetia, Simmons said today.

Clinton to discuss Georgian issue in Russia:
The Secretary of State arrives in Moscow next week. According to the source, she intends to express support to the territorial integrity of Georgia and urge Russia to implement all the obligations in the framework of cease-fire agreement.

Gorbachev congratulates Obama on Nobel Prize:
Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev congratulated President Barack Obama on his Nobel Peace Prize award on Friday, and welcomed the U.S. leader’s positive impact on global affairs.

Now this guy has some lungs:

It took Dzhemal Tkeshelashvili a few seconds to tear three hot water bottles, which he had inflated with his nose. The young Georgian judoka hopes that this skill will put him in the Guinness Book of Records. (Link)

He better hope he never inhales through his nose doing that. He will look like that hot water bottle.

What makes people try this stuff?

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.