Windows to Russia

The Eastern press news in Russia is hopping today with the issue of America selling arms to Taiwan! It seems that America has a bunch of little deals going on with weapons in the world and one of these deals involves Taiwan. This has got China in a bad mood and it looks like China is getting ready to slap America back if America does not get her priorities straight. (Problem is that America thinks that she has her priorities in order…)

China urged the United States on Saturday to reverse its decision to sell arms to Taiwan, Xinhua reported.
The U.S. arms sales to Taiwan undermine China’s national security as well as the peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait, Vice Foreign Minister He Yafei told the agency, stressing Beijing’s “resolute opposition” to the sales.
This was China’s sixth official warning over the issue in a week, as government officials denounced the U.S. move.
He Yafei said China had strongly protested the U.S. government’s recent decision to allow Raytheon Company and Lockheed Martin Corp. to sell weapons to Taiwan.
The sales plan was part of an arms package announced in October 2008 by the Bush administration, which included weapons and equipment such as Patriot III anti-missile systems.
He said the Taiwan issue was “the most important and sensitive issue at the core of Sino-U.S. relations.”
BEIJING, January 9 (RIA Novosti)

This is a soft article about the issue and if you have a desire look at any Chinese articles on this subject. They are getting real tired of American interference in this side of the world…

Here in Russia we have been taking a nice break from the normal routine. Russia has been in her New Years Holidays and tomorrow the 7th of January is Orthodox Christmas time here in Russia! So in Russia things have been looking wonderful and a beautiful holiday spirit is everywhere…

But as we look out of the “Window from Russia” we see an interesting world that seems to have gone a lot off the deep end. We have, total uncontrolled chaos about the Christmas Airline Bomber. – We have, a new war starting to take shape in Yemen. – We have, Belarus playing games with oil. – We have Ukraine starting her issues with gas. – We have a shortage of fuel in Europe, because of the tremendous cold wave. – We have, an increase in drone bombings in Pakistan, Afghanistan and now Yemen. – We have, full body scanners being installed in International Airports all over the world. – We have, Obama trying to lay a blame game on issues that seems to be dragging America into a deep cesspool. – We have,the UN handing out a report that the Afghanistan war is “teetering on the edge of a chasm”. – We have, … (About a hundred more things to say but it has depressed us enough!)

But hey, it is Christmas in Russia so Svet and I are enjoying life as best we can. I decided to ignore the world for a few days and may ignore a few more days after reading all the doomsday reports from the Western Press!

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

“Ukraine’s Naftogaz cannot pay for Russian gas” – president – RT Top Stories: “Ukraine’s president has said that the country’s gas giant Naftogaz has no money to pay for Russia’s natural gas delivered in December. The sum of the payment comes to $892 million.

Viktor Yushchenko has asked Vladimir Stelmakh, the head of the Ukraine’s national bank (Natsbank), to help solve the problem with paying for the Russian gas.

“Due to a critical situation with the Russian gas payments, I ask the Natsbank board to meet urgently and find the way to solve the problem through the mechanism of repurchase of Ukrainian government securities,” Yushchenko was quoted by Itar-Tass news agency as saying.”

Strangely, Ukraine Fails to Bribe US Government Officials: “While it is no secret that Ukraine is an overly corrupt nation that excels in bribery, the recent attempt to bribe, or some may say blackmail, US officials in order to secure further IMF funding is audacious to ridiculous extremes.” (Read More From Mizozo)

Friends,

Tonight, I have a few unique minutes when I can address each and every one of you.

The outgoing year was not the easiest in our country’s life. Above all, I want to thank you for bearing up together. Together we have got through the difficulties, and we can therefore start moving forward to build a strong and modern country with a stable smart economy. We will do everything possible to make the lives of each of us safer and more comfortable.

This coming year will see us mark the 65th anniversary of Victory. It is our common duty to look after those who fought for our freedom. We need to be worthy of the victory they won. We still have much work ahead. The New Year is a new opportunity and we must not let it slip. The success of our undertakings depends on each of us, on what each of us does for our families, for our country.

New Year is our cherished family holiday. Today, we are all thinking of our loved ones, our parents, who we wish good health. We think of our children. We love you and we place our hopes in you. We want you to succeed in all your endeavours and we want you to be happy.

Dear friends,

The New Year is just around the corner now. Only a few moments remain. It is time to make our New Year’s wishes. May your biggest dreams come true, and may you always have your loved ones close by. I hope that all will go well.

I wish you all happiness.

Happy New Year 2010!

Windows to Russia!
comments always welcome.

PS: The New Year’s Eve this year will also see a rare blue moon – a second full moon in a month. The next will be in 2028. Now that is a cool ending to a great year!

Russia is smiling all the way to the bank on this situation. Lithuania is going to almost be totally dependent on Russia for their electrical needs. Can Lithuania afford the electricity bill?

Lithuania is to shut down its one and only nuclear power station in Visaginas on 31 December. One hour before midnight, staff at the Ignalina plant will flick the switches, shutting down the only nuclear reactor in the Baltic states. The closure of the Soviet-era plant was a condition of Lithuania’s membership of the European Union.

This nuclear power plant supplies 80% of Lithuania’s power needs. With the plant turned off, Russia has to take up the energy slack and it will skyrocket the cost for Lithuania. Is the EU going to help pay the electricity bill?