Year: 2011

Western China-Europe transit highway…


“Western Europe-Western China” highway is of great importance not only for Kazakhstan, but in the global scale as well”, First Deputy Governor of Zhambyl oblast Karim Kokrekbayev has said in an interview to a Kazinform correspondent.

As is known, within this project Kazakhstan plans to build and reconstruct about 2, 500 km of roads. The corridor’s length makes up 8,445 km, 2,787 out of which run through the Kazakhstan’s territory. And how much kilometers are passing through Zhambyl oblast?

The highway will pass seven districts of Zhambyl oblast. They are Zhualy, Zhambyl, Baizak, Turar Ryskulov, Merken, Shu, Kordai. The corridor’s axle will be on the current Almaty-Tashkent-Termez road diverging the territory of Kyrgyzstan and will be of 495,3 km length. The Islamic Development Bank and Asian Development Bank are financing the construction.

The project provides for bypass of all big and medium settlements. Residential estates, fuel filling stations, and other constructions located at the right-of-way will be pulled down, and the owners will be paid compensation of real estate value. About 1,183 ha out of about 1,911 ha of the land allocated for permanent use for the road construction were compensated, bought out and got from the national land fund.

http://www.inform.kz/eng/article/2229691

Also –

Part of the Western China-Western Europe transport corridor will run across Bashkortostan, Russian Transportation Minister Igor Levitin said.

“Bashkortostan has proposed that this section of the road run through the territory of the republic and we have agreed to this proposal. Our estimations show that this route will be optimal in terms of recouping investments made in the road,” he said.

The toll highway will run from Bashkortostan’s border with Tatarstan to its border with the Orenburg Region.

“The republic will be in charge of such issues as the design of the road, allocation of land and provision of favorable terms for the construction,” Bashkortostan President Rustem Khamitov said, pledging support for the project.

As reported earlier, the total cost of building about 2,200 kilometers of the highway in Russia will be about RUB 700bn (approx. USD 22.59bn).

The participants of the international project include the EU, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan and China.

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Last day in Turkey and some Thinking’s…


Looks like Turkey has changed some thinking’s for Sveta and I. It looks like Sveta and I have found the place that we want to have our retirement spot. There is also lots of Germans and French citizens who have made Turkey a place to have a second home and it is looks like we have the same thoughts and it just makes sense after you been here and seen what we have…

I will most likely talk about it more later in life. But this seems to be a perfect place to spend half a year and the other half in Moscow…

As I have stated before, as big of a difference that I felt in life from America to Russia, the same feeling that Sveta and I have felt from Russia to Turkey. Turkey is that much of a breath of fresh air compared to Russia. Which as we all know by my writings that Russia is a huge breath of fresh air compared to the USA… 🙂

One thing that Sveta and I have found is a place that we possibly will try to get. It is owned by someone in France and we have lots of time to work out a deal. Money talks and there are lots of places to chose from if this one does not work out. There is many Germans, British and Italians living around the area….

An interesting thing is that flats are going for 25,000+ Euros (Buying!) and they are decent. We have been surprised by the prices of everything in Turkey. Reasonable is the name of the game…

It is hard to explain and over the next few months I will jot down my thoughts on why Turkey is a paradise in humanity. I feel that there are many other places just as good as Turkey but when you find compatibility as we have with a country, then it is time to put your thoughts into motion. Life is way too short to waste it wondering about what could be and what might be. Life needs to simply be…

So that is part of my thinking’s today over a cup of chicory. Sveta has gone to the market to pick up some last minute items. I decided to write a last article before we leave. The next article will be from Moscow and they say snow will greet us as we get back to our home… 🙂

I envision a day that Sveta and I will spend 6 months in Turkey and 6 months in Moscow. Also with a few weeks in our village, (thrown in here and there ) it would be a wonderful life…

By the way! If you ever decide to come to Turkey and stay on the Mediterranean then you really need to think about this great little hotel that we are staying at. It is called Happy Dreams Beach Hotel. It is just a little gem near the beach. Not too large and not too small. It has 65 rooms a wonderful staff and the owners are Turkish local people. They eat at their hotel all the time and last night we saw grandpa and his grand kids enjoying a dinner of exactly the same food as we eat at the hotel. Big family and very nice people to boot…

So I am going to pack our bags and by 6:30pm tonight we will have our itinerary verified to go home. Right now it looks like we will be leaving around 6am Sunday morning to get to the international airport. Then we get to do a lot of waiting and standing in lines. But before you know it we will be once again home in Russia. Then I am going to be writing an article on crossing international borders. Lets see what Turkey does at the border crossing? If it is anything like when we came to Turkey then they will be as sad to see us leave as they were happy to see us come…

That is how it should be all over the world… 🙂

Kyle and Sveta
Windows to Russia!

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Windows to Russia – Mellowing Out In Turkey…


Yesterday was a big day. We did way too much and got soaked at least five times with thunderstorms. We had a blast and ate our first meal away from the hotel. I had a Big Cheeseburger the Turkey way and Sveta had a meatball dinner Turkey style. It was simply delicious and was a good change from the hotel food but it made us realize that the hotel is serving us very good food for the money…

Take a look at some pictures…

We took hundreds of pictures yesterday and were only held back from taking more by the torrential rains that never seemed to want to quit. We got soaked and dried out so many times that we gave up looking for shelter every time it would rain. Today though it is crystal clear sky and the sun is dancing across the sky in joy. It always figures that the day we decide to explore the world of Turkey we find the day with the worst weather… 🙂

So since today I have feet so sore that I can hardly walk and really just plain wore out to boot. I am settled in and writing an article to all my readers. Sveta is at the beach and worshiping the water/sun gods. While I enjoy the shade and comfort of our room…

One thing that stands out about Turkey over Russia or America is that people are very very very very respectful. There is not graffiti all over the walls of every building. There is not advertisements posted on every telephone poll. There is respect of peoples space and public property is respected. We walk by motorcycles and bicycles all along the sidewalks. They are almost never chained or locked in any form. They bike is still there in the morning where the owner left it. The people do not even worry about doors being shut at night. It is like going back in time for me in America. To the era that people had respect for society better…

As we played around yesterday. Sveta and I noticed that the Germans are predominant as tourists here in our part of Turkey. Russians are a close second and then Poland is a good third. I have found one American family and I felt sorry for them because the English language is not well known in Turkey. So communication in English is mediocre at best…

Another thing that stood out over the last few weeks is that the dollar is the worst way to purchase things in Turkey. You lose lots of money by using dollars and dollars is what they want you to use. We also went to the Wednesday market yesterday. (Told you we were busy!) We found Sveta a beautiful coat for keeping her warm in Moscow. I had a major battle to get the price reasonable on the coat and in the end I won. But not until things got a little heated. When money is spent I am no fool and I do know what things cost in this world. I have been responsible for watching pennies for my business and pennies add up to dollars… 🙂

So today I have sat here and watched the sun slowly work its way around to my balcony. I am going to wrap up this article and get the computer out of the sun. I hope that everyone has a great day and night and I will be back tomorrow to tell about what has been happening in Turkey. The trip is over come Sunday and we will be back in Moscow then.

I am starting to miss Moscow and Boza…

Kyle and Sveta
Windows to Russia!

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Western War Drums are in Huge Profit Mode…


War Drums in the Western World: (WTR of Moscow) It seems that with the latest War Drum beating over Iran, that you would think that War Drums would be worn out in the Western world…

But after looking at the statistics it seems that Western War Drums are up 427% in production and profits over last year at this time is up 1000% YTY…

It is looking like with all the failed businesses, that the West is struggling with, the War Drum business is beating louder and louder. In fact it is rumored that two new factories associated with War Drums, have been built in the USA and now War Drums are the number one factory produced item in America…

We stopped a second and contemplated the War Drum business and listed some the countries that the Western Empire is beating drums over.

  • Iran
  • North Korea
  • Russia
  • Iraq
  • Afghanistan
  • Pakistan
  • Vietnam
  • Venezuela
  • All of Africa on top of Libya
  • Syria
  • and many more…

So it looks like the War Drum business is doing so well that the West is wanting to make it into a normal part of life. Looks like we better get use to that beating of the War Drum, it is big business for the West…

In a contrast of reports: The East is proclaiming that profits have reached record levels in Peace, harmony, relaxation and fun. It is stated that peace alone has seen profit increases as high as 800% over the last year. The East is willing to accept lower profit levels due to a better karma situation and forsake the high profits of beating War Drums to death over their world partners. It seems that threats of destruction are not as much fun to the Eastern side of the world as compared to the Western side of the world…

Makes you feel sorry for the Eastern world and lets hope that the Eastern world has lots of patience, because if they don’t all hell may break loose sooner than later…

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Cup of Chicory and the Solemn World…


The more I dwell into Turkish news and the more I dig into Eastern news! The more that I realize that the Western news is total 100% corporate/government controlled. That is a sad thing because it seems that everyone has a desire to believe the corporate folly. It seems that people simply follow the implied leader and jump off the cliff with that leader…

This morning the news is some of the stupidest crud that I have seen in a long time. It is simply ignorant. From almost a thousand doctors in Israel not showing up to work. From unsaid thousands, upon thousands, upon thousands and upon thousands protesting in America. From Egypt getting ready to explode again, with the persecution of Christians. The stock markets are continuing the roller coaster ride of death and mayhem. Looks like pretty soon that the up and down pattern of the markets will reach a crescendo that will send everything flying high into the sky and when it all comes back down, crash will be a nice term…

Also I had to smile this morning. All to typical of a bully like America, when the bully gets his way and gets what is coming to him! Then he reverses direction and starts whining and crying about how unfair life is…

So now in a political play of stupidity America is going to approve legislation to punish China for alleged currency manipulation widely blamed in America for costing American jobs…

Costing American jobs? Okay – I get it! That is what you want to believe and what they are telling you. This is a good political play on sheep in their homes. But once again America needs to look in the mirror and that is where she will see the image of the fool…

It dawned on me today! The USA needs to just go away and hide behind her borders. The USA needs to leave the world stage and stop the crying. The USA needs to quit being a bully and a poor pitiful me country. The problems that America has, are caused not by the world but by the foolishness and stupidity of America herself. I realize that the World would be affected at first but then the world would adapt and grow all the more because the Bully and crybaby would be gone…

I had a saying when I grew up. “When the going gets tough – The tough get going!”…

I use that saying in my life. So after six heart attacks, two divorces, the loss of several offspring, going from rags to riches/riches to rags and numerous other devastation issues. I just get up and dust myself off and start all over again. I always thought it was the American way. Don’t blame others for what you do to yourself…

So today Sveta and I are walking to a mosque near by us. I have been studying Turkey religions and of course it is predominately Muslim. I find all religions are fascinating and the need to study them is great. Being a graduate from a Baptist University I find that other religious sects hold a strong interest to me. It allows me to see what is right, wrong and comparable to what my so called beliefs are suppose to be centered on…

That is my thoughts today over a cup or two of chicory and that cup of chicory was wonderful. Just as it is wonderful to be sitting in Turkey contemplating life…

Have a nice day!

Kyle Keeton
Windows to Russia!

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ИТАР-ТАСС : Libyan scenario should not be taken as model – Lavrov


Sergey Lavrov

Image via Wikipedia

MOSCOW, October 10 (Itar-Tass) — Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed confidence that the Libyan scenario applied by the West should not be taken as a model for solving similar internal political conflicts.

“We have been concerned about the statements of the NATO leaders saying that the Libyan model should be taken as an example for the future,” he said in an interview with the Profile weekly.

“It’s bad that our colleagues believe so, as the Libyan model is a gross violation of the UN Security Council’s decisions, i.e. violation of the international law,” he said.

“Russia has never questioned the right of the Libyan people for better future,” he said. “From the very beginning we maintained contacts with the Transitional National Council notably that happened at the early stage of the crisis and we heard assurances that Libya wants to remain a friendly country for Russia. This fully meets our interests.”

“And we’ve heard, including public statements of the new Libyan authorities that their international obligations will be fulfilled,” Lavrov said. “Now, of course, it is early to speak about this on the practical level, because their short-term tasks are to stabilise the situation and to end military operations.”

“When the Libyan people find out how to live further, I am confident that we will discuss in practice with the new authorities the ways of our cooperation,” Lavrov said.

via ИТАР-ТАСС : Libyan scenario should not be taken as model – Lavrov.

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Hummingbird Hawk-moths in Turkey…


Where ever I go I am always the biologist. My degree is in biology and I have a profound love for all things nature. I am constantly looking for that little creature that will tickle my fancy…

Well today in comes the Hummingbird Hawk-moth a close relative to the Hummingbird Moth in North America. I was so excited and I even was able to get some good picture of them while they fed on some beautiful flowers…

I will post two of the pictures here on Windows to Russia. I do not have anyway of doing a stop gap flash picture to stop the wings in flight. So I have to live with the fastest speed that my camera will do. It catches the body good but the wings are too fast… 🙂

Sveta and I were so blessed to have seen them and they even were nice enough to stay around long enough for me to get some pictures. They are so cool…

The Hummingbird Hawk-Moths were not the only thing that Sveta and I found interesting. This next picture tell a tale of another species of animal that lives on this planet. The species called man..

As you can see we found a normal human situation. If you can get just a little more on that truck? We can make a little more money… 🙂

I find it interesting to see what humans will do when they can get away with it. I have no idea what they are hauling around. But they are hauling a lot of what ever it is. This is common to see a truck in Turkey loaded so full and there is a guy sitting on top while it runs down the road. He spends his time pushing power-lines up so that the truck can navigate the city streets. They crawl around the streets like a turtle looking for food. Other words not very fast…

They are having a drink and a rest before they carry on with their business as you can see them sitting in the shade. It is a hot day…

So there you have two different species living on the same planet. The Hummingbird Hawk-moths could care less about the over grown, overloaded and old truck. Just as the two guys with the truck could careless that just around the corner is some of the most fantastic little creatures that dart and float just like a Hummingbird looking for food…

That is what makes this world so wonderful and I am so glad that I get to see things as they are…

Kyle and Sveta
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5 years in Russia…


You could say it is an anniversary for Sveta and I. 5 years ago Sveta and I were putting the finishing touches on packing for Russia. I was making the decisions of what to keep and not keep. It is not an easy decision to make. You have only so much that you can take and that is that…

It was a sad and happy mixture of emotions. After 5 years I have no regrets and that is what counts… 🙂

I remember that I was surprised that Seta had no desire to come to America. She had already made a trip to America a few months earlier. I allowed her to contemplate her own destiny and thoughts about America. Sveta and I took a long trip across America and traveled thousands upon of miles. I wanted Sveta to see what America was about. From sea to shining sea…

Sveta was more than home sick for Mother Russia and I understood that she could never leave her country. As to the fact that we really cared for each other and we knew that we should be together. I had to enlist a General friend of mine to cut the red tape, that was literally impossible to wade through. I will be forever indebted to that General and his relentless help to make sure that I got to full fill my dream…

Traveling the world is different when you travel on a tourist passport compared to a diplomatic passport. One thing that I am thankful for is that when I travel to another country now, I do not have to tell anyone who, what, where and why. Least of all I tell my country where I am. That you will learn very quickly is a No – No – No…

I travel with Sveta under my own pretenses and my life is my life… 🙂

So as I sit here and sip that cup of chicory and contemplate life. As I sit here and get ready to go swimming in the deep blue sea. As I talk to my son in America and hear all that he is accomplishing. As Sveta talks to her son and hears about how Boza the dog is doing and how Misha’s girlfriend is doing. As we watched a beautiful thunderstorm this morning, refresh the air and now the sun is out like a sparkling diamond, glinting off the sea…

We (Sveta and I) realize that 5 years ago when Sveta came to America and decided that America was not the place for her. Then my decision to uproot my life and adopt Russia as my second home. That was the start of a new life for both Sveta and I…

But I am the one who was blessed. Someone higher up, must think that I did something correct at one time in my life. For life is as good as it gets and having my sweetie by my side, is the icing on the cake…

Kyle and Sveta
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New Visa Regime Between Russia and the USA…


The Russian government approved a draft agreement with the U.S., which implies the simplification of visa regime between the two countries. It is assumed that in the near future will exchange relevant dipnotami. The changes relate to both tourist and business visas. Their duration will increase from one year to three years.

On Friday, the government approved a draft agreement with the United States and a note of the Russian side, which implies the simplification of visa regime between the two countries, “Interfax”.

According to the document, businessmen and tourists will get multiple entry visas valid for three years to stay longer than six months per visit, and officials of both governments – the annual multi-entry visas if they stay in the U.S. no more than three months date of each entry.

Now most are issued multiple entry visas valid for one year. In rare cases, be issued single entry visa valid for 3 months. At the interview at the embassy for an additional fee you can apply for a visa valid for 2 years.

According to the note, diplomatic missions and consular offices of the parties should decide to issue a visa within 15 days. In some cases this period may be extended as well as reduced to three working days. Currently, the visa processing time is 7 to 30 days depending on how busy the Consulate.

The draft document states that the diplomatic mission, in considering the issuance of visas may apply for a visa application in addition to additional information to confirm the purpose of travel and the availability of funds for it.

The document emphasizes that the competent authorities of each of the parties still have the right to refuse to grant a visa, to cancel the visa denial of entry or exit of citizens of the other party, or restrict them to remain in its territory in accordance with domestic law.

Recall the agreement to ease visa regime has been made during the July visit to Washington, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Following the talks with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, he said that an agreement will be signed later this year.

It is assumed that a note of Russia and the response of the U.S. Embassy and note constitute an Agreement which will enter into force 30 days after receiving written notification of the completion of formal procedures.

In early October, U.S. Assistant Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs, Ann Stock, said that U.S. officials hope that an agreement on visas with Russia, will come into force soon.

“We hope that very soon the agreement is approved,” – said the stock, according to ITAR-TASS.

That, in fact, it is up to Russia, and America is waiting for the Russian authorities are ready to begin implementing the agreement, the Russian told reporters on condition of anonymity, the representative of the American administration.

“In fact, we are now waiting for a response from Russia”, – he said, RIA “Novosti”.

However, the complete abolition of the visa regime of the question. In March, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin suggested that U.S. Vice President Joseph Biden, to make a “historic step” and to abolish visas at all.

“This is a good idea,” – said Biden, but refused to comment further.

More specifically, the initiative on the eve of Putin said in his blog, the U.S. ambassador in Moscow, John Byerly. According to him, the State Department prepared to issue visas to Russians for 10 years, “but this and the other party must be prepared to issue visas to Americans with the same period of validity.”

“Countries should increase the opportunities for mutual visits and the duration of the degree of flexibility in their planning”, – said ambassador.

Byerly said that last year the number of Russians who received U.S. visas, more than in 2004 twice.

Experts believe that the visa-free regime between Russia and the United States is necessary, but in the foreseeable future is unlikely to be reached.

“The introduction of visa-free regime between Russia and the U.S. need to move our bilateral relations to another level. While it is difficult to imagine, but, in principle, I believe that it is possible “, – considers the head of the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy (CFDP), Russia, Sergei Karaganov.

“The parties will, of course, work in this direction, but it is clear that if the 70s still can not repeal the Jackson-Vanik amendment, not to mention the abolition of the visa regime”, – told the director VIEW Institute of Strategic Studies Sergei Oznobishchevю

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Cup of Chicory and some Turkey Thinking’s…


Sitting here in Turkey and sipping that cup of chicory. Yes, I brought chicory with me from Russia. So far it was a smart thing to do. I have not seen any chicory in the stores here and I decided that I have had enough coffee and will get back to my chicory. I went and bought a non dairy creamer (Carnation) and am happy happy happy…

So now I am back doing some thinking’s over my cup of chicory…

I have to say that the war drums have increased 10 fold over Syria and the West is beating them loud. Looks like the only big countries that have any sense is Russia and China and I was very happy to see that they stuck together so far on Syria. The Western propaganda has all you Western people thinking that Syria needs to be saved and that like Libya we need to save them. Well sorry, but all we did in Libya was help a bunch of slime get into power and kill thousands upon thousands of people who did not deserve to die by the Western hands…

So maybe Russia and China do not want to see innocents slaughtered in the name of humanitarian aid. Syria does not deserve that and everyone needs to stay away. Especially in the interference part. Don’t kid yourself America, They do not want your brutal style of democracy. It means death from the heavens…

Also as I have said before the war drums over Pakistan have really gotten loud and it is starting to look like war is on its way with Pakistan. Pakistan is plain tired of the American crap interference. I say take our money and get the hell out of Pakistan and allow the world to be a safer place…

The beach this morning was great…

The waves were huge and smashing everyone into the ground. It was so much fun but I finally had to get out and quit swallowing salt water. Forget salting food you get more than enough from the sea… 🙂

Another thing that is fabulous here is the Mosques. They all have loud speakers on them and they blast the chanting like prayers. It is so beautiful and very pleasant to listen to. From what I understand Islam is the largest religion in Turkey accounting for over 90% of the people. I am listening right now to a prayer time. It seems to be 5 times a day and they really are very beautiful chanting. It is akin to the bells ringing in Russia at the Orthodox churches and the Orthodox chant all the time also. This kind of things just makes the trip worth it. I enjoy seeing and understanding other cultures. People who do not accept other people different from them, worry me…

Communicating with people all over the world humbles me and makes me realize that I as an American raised person, we do not have the tools taught to us to deal properly with the world. America should be working a lot harder at making our children much more worldly instead of behind closed doors…

That is enough for today. Lunch is about ready and then it is time to walk the town a little bit. This is one of the most pleasant places I have ever been and it has definitely been good for the heart and soul…

Kyle and Sveta
Windows to Russia!

PS: The last few days Windows to Russia has been rocked by hits. It seems to be holding up on the hosting end. If it gets slow just be patient because believe you me we are pushing the limits of the host these last few days. The market posts have gone crazy… 🙂

Thanks Everyone…

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