Windows to Russia

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and reading about the project that the Orthodox Church has underway. Three new churches are to be built simultaneously and in one day in the Russian, Ukrainian and Belarusian capitals. The remarkable Orthodox project being undertaken in Moscow, Kiev and Minsk marks one thousand and twenty years since the arrival of Christianity in Russia.(Link)

It was said on TV last night that they are using a prefabbed wood block system that will cut the cost by 60%. The cost is estimated at around $50,000 per church. This project is a start toward replacing churches that had been destroyed during the Stalin era.

The Orthodox Church says that it is not the glitter that makes a church but the spiritual hunger that makes a church. So costs will be kept at a minimum. Churches are to be located in areas that are lacking in churches from destruction. The day has not been announced yet for this one day event.

THE JUBILEE OF RUSSIA’S CHRISTENING: For all Orthodox believers of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus July 27th is traditionally a day of remembering the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Prince Vladimir.

We are so glad to see the strong revival of the Orthodox Church in the old Soviet areas….

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Hello,

I have written before about Kiev, Ukraine. It is a city that I love but it is also a city that has lots of problems. It seems the main problem is the government of the country or more specifically: The Ukraine President….

KIEV, December 2 (RIA Novosti) – Ukraine’s president (Viktor Yushchenko) has ordered a high-level group be set up to improve ties with Russia in the face of the ongoing financial crisis, the country’s top security official said on Tuesday.

Seems that now as Ukraine finds itself broke and going bankrupt. Ukraine has come to the realization that the America is not going to throw funds their way. It is obvious that America is broke. It is obvious that America is not buying any goods from Ukraine.

Now the Ukraine President looked around and said whoops – I hope that I have not pissed Russia off too much. Viktor Yushchenko is quoted as saying, “Naturally Russia, with trade turnover due to reach some $30 billion this year, is our largest partner, and it must be a partner in finding ways of overcoming the crisis.”

Good job President Yushchenko you figured out who buys more Ukraine goods all on your own!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Update: Russia has announced if Ukraine is serious that Russia will give Ukraine a chance. Russia said that they are there for Ukraine and that Ukraine needs to realize where the reality is.

Cool….

RBC, 02.12.2008, Moscow 15:04:50.The Russian judicial system must be made effective enough to reduce the number of lawsuits filed with international courts to a minimum, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev told the 7th congress of judges in Moscow today. He did not rule out the possibility that, to achieve this goal, the Russian court system would have to be transformed. The Strasbourg Court and any other international courts cannot, and should not, substitute for Russian courts, the president stressed.

RBC, 02.12.2008, Moscow 14:47:58.Russian President Dmitry Medvedev assured the 7th congress of judges in Moscow that the fundamental problems of Russia’s judicial system had been solved. He pointed out that over the last several years, Russia saw the establishment of constitutional relations, economic and administrative court proceedings, and reestablished trial juries.

RBC, 02.12.2008, Moscow 14:38:11.Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev will pay an official visit to India on December 4-6. According to the president’s press office, Medvedev will take part in an official ceremony marking the end of the Year of Russia in India on December 5.

RBC, 02.12.2008, Moscow 12:40:07.The Bank for Development and Foreign Economic Affairs (Vnesheconombank) and the Bahrain Development Bank (BDB) have signed a memorandum of understanding and cooperation today, the Russian state corporation’s press office reported. The document stipulates deeper ties between Russian and Bahraini financial institutions and the joint financing of product and service exports to other countries. The agreement also aims at the development of long-term interests of Russian industrial producers involved in the mechanical engineering, transportation, timber, and construction materials industries.

RBC, 02.12.2008, Moscow 09:58:10.As of December 1, Russia’s Reserve Fund totaled RUB 3.661 trillion (USD 131.63bn), and National Wealth Fund amounted to RUB 2.108 trillion (USD 76.38bn), the Russian Finance Ministry said in a statement. The balances of accounts in the Reserve Fund stood at RUB 20bn, USD 63.99bn, EUR 43.81bn, and GBP 7.31bn, while the National Wealth Fund’s currency accounts break down as follows: RUB 474.9bn, USD 22.05bn, EUR 15.35bn, GBP 2.62bn, and RUB 365bn on deposits in Vnesheconombank.

RBC, 01.12.2008, Moscow 19:48:42.Transneft will issue long-term ruble bonds to finance the Baltic Pipeline System-2 project. The issue is provided for in today’s government’s decree to launch the pipeline’s design. According to the document, the Energy Ministry, in collaboration with the Economy Ministry, Regional Development Ministry, the Finance Ministry, Russia’s Federal Tariff Service and Vnesheconombank, is to work out schemes to finance the pipeline expansion project within three months after receiving a feasibility study from Transneft. In addition, they will devise a financing scheme to revamp the existing pipelines. To this end, the long-term bonds will be placed by private subscription among financial organizations with considerable state-run stakes. In addition, the financing for a branch to Kirishi, a city in the Leningrad region, should be approved within the same period.

RBC, 01.12.2008, Moscow 15:59:09.The current price level of Russian company shares is “an ugly and unfair phenomenon,” Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said at the opening of today’s Presidium meeting. He noted that the fall had primarily resulted from trading decisions made abroad, which were hardly based on the actual state of affairs. As a result, the market capitalization of companies is much lower than their real value, Putin maintained, adding that there were even cases when Russian companies’ market value was lower than the amount of funds on their accounts. He added that, while the Russian leadership did not plan to limit foreign activities on domestic markets, the creation of a wide class of Russian investors was still among its priorities.

RBC, 01.12.2008, Moscow 14:59:15.The Bank of Russia has extended another loan worth RUB 65.9bn (approx. USD 2.39bn) to rehabilitate 10 different banks, Deputy PM and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin told a Presidium meeting today. He explained that the money would be lent to regionally important banks. The minister added that the banks would be able to recover and continue their activities. He noted, however, that there were difficulties with other banks, whose licenses were now being revoked by the Central Bank. Kudrin stressed that these banks were not significant for federal or regional financial markets, adding that the Deposit Insurance Agency would be involved at once in case of such banks.

Hello,

Yesterday once again was a interesting day in the world. I spent yesterday cleaning house and ignoring the blogs. I was drinking my cup of coffee in between loads of laundry and came across a news flash that America might be in a recession. I laughed and thought to myself, “America is in a recession and has been for a long time!” I went on about my business. Later an article came out that stated 7 economic advisers have gotten together and proclaimed “America in Recession and has been in recession since December of 2007!”…….. (OMG)

Then the world financial systems did a systematic melt down, over news that we all knew was true and we all knew about along time ago. It was hard to convince me that America was not in a recession when Japan and Europe have (already a month ago) excepted that they are in recession.

The American Wall street nose dived 680 points on Monday over this tidbit of news (that we all knew anyway). The Asian markets are slip sliding away, the European markets are gurgling at he surface as they sink and last but not least the Russian stock market has sank and just bounces along merrily at the silt laden bottom of the Financial ocean.

I have something to say about Wall Street: Close It! Shut The Doors!

The world has pumped trillions of dollars to salvage Wall Streets all over the globe. Governments have injected trillions of dollars of funds that should have gone to help the world become a better place. What do you see, as the result of all this money being infused into failing businesses and banks? What do you see, as a huge portion of humans in the world are starving? What do you see, as we struggle all over the world to fund cancer research and aids cures? What do you see, as Wall Street gets trillions of dollars but the home owners are setting record numbers of defaults, bankruptcies and homelessness. What do you see?

I see the money lining the Rich peoples pockets. I see a failure of governments to put the money where it would help the most. I see the money going down a huge Money Hole with no bottom…..

I have owned several businesses in my lifetime. I have failed and also been very successful at these businesses. I failed because I messed up and made bad decisions, I succeeded because I worked hard and made the right decisions.

What ever happened to running a business with in its means? We as people are told to live with in our means.

If you have a business and sell 1,000,000 x $1.00 thingamajigs = $1,000,000. You operate your business with in that million dollars. (No more than a million dollars but any less is profit.)

What I really see, is that Recession is the old word for the American economy. What you will see sometime next year, is the new word Depression!

But then that really is not a new word is it? We all know that a depression is going on now.

I bet the stock-market would really crash on the Big D word!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Barack Obama is being asked to authorize the reconstruction of the White House – but not the one which serves as the presidential residence in Washington. The call has come from custodians of an exact replica in a remote area of Ukraine. (Read More)

Hummmmm…

Kyle & Svet

We decided to get signed and registered on to the Russian Presidents web site. So we get to have a heads up on what he is up to. We received this video and decided to embedded this video that he made on his way back to Russia.

We found it interesting that he uses an Apple Laptop computer. Nice jet he travels on also. 🙂

He gives a good explanation of what he thinks is important in his trip and what will be accomplished from his trip.

Just thought it would be interesting and there are sub-titles in English.

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Starting from August 8th, 2008 to October 8th, 2008! You will be surprised what you will learn about Medvedev thoughts on this war….

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

RBC, 28.11.2008, Moscow 17:59:31.Viktor Vekselberg, TNK-BP executive director and one of its co-owners, believes that, at current oil prices, the oil export duty of $192.1 per tonne will make it impossible for companies to implement large investment projects, as he told journalists today. Oil companies will be able “to survive, but not develop,” Vekselberg said.

RBC, 28.11.2008, Moscow 17:05:10.More than two thirds of Russians (60 percent) do not have minor children and do not plan to have children in the near future, a poll conducted by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center revealed. Meanwhile, a mere 5 percent said that they wanted to have a child within a year or two. Every third Russian (34 percent) has at least one minor child, including 22 percent with one minor child, 10 percent with two children, and 2 percent with more than two minor children.

RBC, 28.11.2008, Moscow 16:28:44.LUKoil has attracted two loans to buy a 49-percent stake in the Italian oil refinery ISAB, the Russian oil company said in a press release today. Specifically, LUKoil Finance Ltd, the Russian giant’s subsidiary, secured a EUR 400m loan at an annual interest rate of 5.9 percent for six months, with an option to extend the loan period by another six months. ABN AMRO, Barclays Capital, and ING Bank arranged the loan. Furthermore, LUKoil Finance raised a three-year loan worth USD 280m at an interest rate of 5.4 percent. The loan was organized by ABN AMRO, Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Barclays Capital, BNP Paribas, Citibank, and others. LUKoil is to make the first payment worth EUR 600m for the refinery by December 1.

RBC, 28.11.2008, Moscow 15:59:13.Steady economic growth is impossible without a reliable banking sector in Russia, Presidential Aide Arkady Dvorkovich said during a meeting of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP). He added that conditions must be created for banks to extend loans comfortably.

RBC, 28.11.2008, Yerevan 15:30:15.Russia’s partners within the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) have supported Moscow’s initiative to create a new security system in Europe, the Armenian news agency ARMINFO cited CSTO Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha as telling a press conference in Yerevan today following a meeting of CSTO defense ministers. He added that an informal meeting of CSTO foreign ministers to be held in Helsinki in mid-December would be dedicated, among other things, to specific concerted steps in implementing Russia’s initiative.

RBC, 28.11.2008, Moscow 13:07:10.The Bank of Russia will raise its overnight interest rate to 13 percent from December 1, the bank’s external and public relations department said in a statement today.

RBC, 28.11.2008, Moscow 09:56:48.Yesterday, the dollar rate grew RUB 0.05 against the ruble, closing at 27.41 RUB/USD. The trading session was fairly calm on MICEX yesterday against the background of consolidating FOREX currency pairs. The U.S. trading floors were closed yesterday on account of Thanksgiving Day, and the macroeconomic statistics issued in the euro zone could be interpreted differently and did not have a marked impact on the European currency. Today, therefore, markets are likely to remain calm.

Looks like the Kremlin has cranked the pressure up on Mikheil Saakashvili. I would say his days are numbered….

To start with as the last few weeks have unfolded, the word coming from NATO is that it is thumbs down on Saakashvili. This news report confirms that information….

MOSCOW, November 27 (RIA Novosti) – The United States is planning to replace Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili with former parliamentary speaker Nino Burdzhanadze, Russia’s NATO envoy said on Friday. “Georgia’s friends at NATO are deeply disappointed with Saakashvili,” Dmitry Rogozin said in an interview with Russia’s Vesti news channel, “Another leader for Georgia is being prepared. Most likely it will be Nino Burdzhanadze.” (Link)

Last week I wrote an article about Saakashvili and his replacment (Nino Burdzhanadze)……

The rumor of blessings from the West is former parliamentary Speaker Nino Burjanadze visited Europe and the U.S. and that the West sent her a clear message: “Georgia is located in the zone of the West’s energy interest, and it cannot allow the country to be governed by a leader who may jeopardize the region’s security.” (Link)

So today the news is hot on Saakashvili and the prospect of his escaping the country……

TBILISI, November 28 (RIA Novosti) – A senior Georgian opposition party figure said on Friday that President Mikheil Saakashvili and his immediate circle were preparing to flee the country, and had already started transferring money into foreign banks. “Saakashvili and his government have already packed their suitcases in the hope that they will be able to live abroad calmly and without any worries on the property they stole here,” Georgy Gugava, one of the Labor Party’s leaders, told journalists. (Link)

Get ready because who knows what is really going to happen. I do know that Poland is in a uproar over Saakashvili and his theatrics in Georgia. The Polish Secrete Service has already slammed the incident in Georgia as staged. (Link)

Crying Wolf has happened to many times by Saakashvili and now he is meeting the real wolf….

comments always welcome.

Hello,

While drinking my morning cup of coffee I was thinking about the news that I read last night before going to bed. Sometimes things come across the airwaves that make you stop and say Huh!

I had found a news article that at first I thought was a joke. But then I realized that Russia news has been hinting at this outcome for about a week.

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice conceded to European demands Wednesday by indicating she would not press for granting NATO membership to Georgia and Ukraine at the alliance’s ministerial meeting in Brussels next week.

“Georgia and Ukraine are not ready for membership. That is very clear,” Rice told a press conference.

“There does not need at this point in time to be any discussion” of the alliance membership action plan (MAP), she added.

The top US diplomat insisted the move did not signal a policy shift. “It really is just a question of how we would execute the Bucharest decision. It is not a change in policy,” she said.

But this declaration represented a concession to European demands, as Washington had previously pushed for the two Eastern European nations to join the MAP, which provides de-facto membership to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

Amid opposition from Russia, Germany and France, the United States has cooled its support for a formal path to help Georgia and Ukraine join NATO. (Link)

Condoleezza has been hot and furious on the phone looking to seal of the deal with NATO over Georgia and Ukraine. Condoleezza has worked over time trying to sneak then in with out a MAP (membership action plan) but old NATO is smart and has held their ground.

Medvedev is happy right now,

I bet Condi is grouchy right now!

Things that make you go Hummmm……

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.