Vladimir Putin took part in the final session of the Valdai International Discussion Club’s 13th annual meeting, which this year took the theme The Future in Progress: Shaping the World of Tomorrow.
Over the three-day event, 130 experts and political analysts from 35 countries examined current issues concerning development of international relations, internal political organisation, the economy, demography, and technology.
The participants looked, in particular, at ways to mitigate the consequences of radical changes on the global political map and the crisis in democratic systems and their work, and discussed development roads for Russia-EU relations and what the global system might look like in 10 years’ time.
The final session was also attended by former President of Finland Tarja Halonen, former President of Austria Heinz Fischer, and former President of South Africa Thabo Mbeki.
* * *
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: Tarja, Heinz, Thabo, colleagues, ladies and gentlemen,
It is a great pleasure to see you again. I want to start by thanking all of the participants in the Valdai International Discussion Club, from Russia and abroad, for your constructive part in this work, and I want to thank our distinguished guests for their readiness to take part in this open discussion.
Our esteemed moderator just wished me a good departure into retirement, and I wish myself the same when the time comes. This is the right approach and the thing to do. But I am not retired yet and am for now the leader of this big country. As such, it is fitting to show restraint and avoid displays of excessive aggressiveness. I do not think that this is my style in any case.
But I do think that we should be frank with each other, particularly here in this gathering. I think we should hold candid, open discussions, otherwise our dialogue makes no sense and would be insipid and without the slightest interest.
I think that this style of discussion is extremely needed today given the great changes taking place in the world. The theme for our meeting this year, The Future in Progress: Shaping the World of Tomorrow, is very topical.
Last year, the Valdai forum participants discussed the problems with the current world order. Unfortunately, little has changed for the better over these last months. Indeed, it would be more honest to say that nothing has changed.
The tensions engendered by shifts in distribution of economic and political influence continue to grow. Mutual distrust creates a burden that narrows our possibilities for finding effective responses to the real threats and challenges facing the world today. Essentially, the entire globalisation project is in crisis today and in Europe, as we know well, we hear voices now saying that multiculturalism has failed.
I think this situation is in many respects the result of mistaken, hasty and to some extent over-confident choices made by some countries’ elites a quarter-of-a-century ago. Back then, in the late 1980s-early 1990s, there was a chance not just to accelerate the globalisation process but also to give it a different quality and make it more harmonious and sustainable in nature.
But some countries that saw themselves as victors in the Cold War, not just saw themselves this way but said it openly, took the course of simply reshaping the global political and economic order to fit their own interests.
In their euphoria, they essentially abandoned substantive and equal dialogue with other actors in international life, chose not to improve or create universal institutions, and attempted instead to bring the entire world under the spread of their own organisations, norms and rules. They chose the road of globalisation and security for their own beloved selves, for the select few, and not for all. But far from everyone was ready to agree with this.
We may as well be frank here, as we know full well that many did not agree with what was happening, but some were unable by then to respond, and others were not yet ready to respond. The result though is that the system of international relations is in a feverish state and the global economy cannot extricate itself from systemic crisis. At the same time, rules and principles, in the economy and in politics, are constantly being distorted and we often see what only yesterday was taken as a truth and raised to dogma status reversed completely.
If the powers that be today find some standard or norm to their advantage, they force everyone else to comply. But if tomorrow these same standards get in their way, they are swift to throw them in the bin, declare them obsolete, and set or try to set new rules.
Thus, we saw the decisions to launch airstrikes in the centre of Europe, against Belgrade, and then came Iraq, and then Libya. The operations in Afghanistan also started without the corresponding decision from the United Nations Security Council. In their desire to shift the strategic balance in their favour these countries broke apart the international legal framework that prohibited deployment of new missile defence systems. They created and armed terrorist groups, whose cruel actions have sent millions of civilians into flight, made millions of displaced persons and immigrants, and plunged entire regions into chaos.
We see how free trade is being sacrificed and countries use sanctions as a means of political pressure, bypass the World Trade Organisation and attempt to establish closed economic alliances with strict rules and barriers, in which the main beneficiaries are their own transnational corporations. And we know this is happening. They see that they cannot resolve all of the problems within the WTO framework and so think, why not throw the rules and the organisation itself aside and build a new one instead. This illustrates what I just said.
At the same time, some of our partners demonstrate no desire to resolve the real international problems in the world today. In organisations such as NATO, for example, established during the Cold War and clearly out of date today, despite all the talk about the need to adapt to the new reality, no real adaptation takes place. We see constant attempts to turn the OSCE, a crucial mechanism for ensuring common European and also trans-Atlantic security, into an instrument in the service of someone’s foreign policy interests. The result is that this very important organisation has been hollowed out.
But they continue to churn out threats, imaginary and mythical threats such as the ‘Russian military threat’. This is a profitable business that can be used to pump new money into defence budgets at home, get allies to bend to a single superpower’s interests, expand NATO and bring its infrastructure, military units and arms closer to our borders.
Of course, it can be a pleasing and even profitable task to portray oneself as the defender of civilisation against the new barbarians. The only thing is that Russia has no intention of attacking anyone. This is all quite absurd. I also read analytical materials, those written by you here today, and by your colleagues in the USA and Europe.
It is unthinkable, foolish and completely unrealistic. Europe alone has 300 million people. All of the NATO members together with the USA have a total population of 600 million, probably. But Russia has only 146 million. It is simply absurd to even conceive such thoughts. And yet they use these ideas in pursuit of their political aims.
Another mythical and imaginary problem is what I can only call the hysteria the USA has whipped up over supposed Russian meddling in the American presidential election. The United States has plenty of genuinely urgent problems, it would seem, from the colossal public debt to the increase in firearms violence and cases of arbitrary action by the police.
You would think that the election debates would concentrate on these and other unresolved problems, but the elite has nothing with which to reassure society, it seems, and therefore attempt to distract public attention by pointing instead to supposed Russian hackers, spies, agents of influence and so forth.
I have to ask myself and ask you too: Does anyone seriously imagine that Russia can somehow influence the American people’s choice? America is not some kind of ‘banana republic’, after all, but is a great power. Do correct me if I am wrong.
The question is, if things continue in this vein, what awaits the world? What kind of world will we have tomorrow? Do we have answers to the questions of how to ensure stability, security and sustainable economic growth? Do we know how we will make a more prosperous world?
Sad as it is to say, there is no consensus on these issues in the world today. Maybe you have come to some common conclusions through your discussions, and I would, of course, be interested to hear them. But it is very clear that there is a lack of strategy and ideas for the future. This creates a climate of uncertainty that has a direct impact on the public mood.
Sociological studies conducted around the world show that people in different countries and on different continents tend to see the future as murky and bleak. This is sad. The future does not entice them, but frightens them. At the same time, people see no real opportunities or means for changing anything, influencing events and shaping policy.
Yes, formally speaking, modern countries have all the attributes of democracy: Elections, freedom of speech, access to information, freedom of expression. But even in the most advanced democracies the majority of citizens have no real influence on the political process and no direct and real influence on power.
People sense an ever-growing gap between their interests and the elite’s vision of the only correct course, a course the elite itself chooses. The result is that referendums and elections increasingly often create surprises for the authorities. People do not at all vote as the official and respectable media outlets advised them to, nor as the mainstream parties advised them to. Public movements that only recently were too far left or too far right are taking centre stage and pushing the political heavyweights aside.
At first, these inconvenient results were hastily declared anomaly or chance. But when they became more frequent, people started saying that society does not understand those at the summit of power and has not yet matured sufficiently to be able to assess the authorities’ labour for the public good. Or they sink into hysteria and declare it the result of foreign, usually Russian, propaganda.
Friends and colleagues, I would like to have such a propaganda machine here in Russia, but regrettably, this is not the case. We have not even global mass media outlets of the likes of CNN, BBC and others. We simply do not have this kind of capability yet.
As for the claim that the fringe and populists have defeated the sensible, sober and responsible minority – we are not talking about populists or anything like that but about ordinary people, ordinary citizens who are losing trust in the ruling class. That is the problem.
By the way, with the political agenda already eviscerated as it is, and with elections ceasing to be an instrument for change but consisting instead of nothing but scandals and digging up dirt – who gave someone a pinch, who sleeps with whom, if you’ll excuse me. This just goes beyond all boundaries. And honestly, a look at various candidates’ platforms gives the impression that they were made from the same mould – the difference is slight, if there is any.
It seems as if the elites do not see the deepening stratification in society and the erosion of the middle class, while at the same time, they implant ideological ideas that, in my opinion, are destructive to cultural and national identity. And in certain cases, in some countries they subvert national interests and renounce sovereignty in exchange for the favour of the suzerain.
This begs the question: who is actually the fringe? The expanding class of the supranational oligarchy and bureaucracy, which is in fact often not elected and not controlled by society, or the majority of citizens, who want simple and plain things – stability, free development of their countries, prospects for their lives and the lives of their children, preserving their cultural identity, and, finally, basic security for themselves and their loved ones.
People are clearly scared to see how terrorism is evolving from a distant threat to an everyday one, how a terrorist attack could occur right near them, on the next street, if not on their own street, while any makeshift item – from a home-made explosive to an ordinary truck – can be used to carry out a mass killing.
Moreover, the terrorist attacks that have taken place in the past few years in Boston and other US cities, Paris, Brussels, Nice and German cities, as well as, sadly, in our own country, show that terrorists do not need units or organised structures – they can act independently, on their own, they just need the ideological motivation against their enemies, that is, against you and us.
The terrorist threat is a clear example of how people fail to adequately evaluate the nature and causes of the growing threats. We see this in the way events in Syria are developing. No one has succeeded in stopping the bloodshed and launching a political settlement process. One would think that we would have begun to put together a common front against terrorism now, after such lengthy negotiations, enormous effort and difficult compromises.
But this has not happened and this common front has not emerged. My personal agreements with the President of the United States have not produced results either. There were people in Washington ready to do everything possible to prevent these agreements from being implemented in practice. This all demonstrates an unexplainable and I would say irrational desire on the part of the Western countries to keep making the same mistakes or, as we say here in Russia, keep stepping on the same rake.
We all see what is happening in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and a number of other countries. I have to ask, where are the results of the fight against terrorism and extremism? Overall, looking at the world as a whole, there are some results in particular regions and locations, but there is no global result and the terrorist threat continues to grow.
We all remember the euphoria in some capitals over the Arab Spring. Where are these fanfares today? Russia’s calls for a joint fight against terrorism go ignored. What’s more, they continue to arm, supply and train terrorist groups in the hope of using them to achieve their own political aims. This is a very dangerous game and I address the players once again: The extremists in this case are more cunning, clever and stronger than you, and if you play these games with them, you will always lose.
Colleagues, it is clear that the international community should concentrate on the real problems facing humanity today, the resolution of which will make our world a safer and more stable place and make the system of international relations fairer and more equal. As I said, it is essential to transform globalisation from something for a select few into something for all. It is my firm belief that we can overcome these threats and challenges only by working together on the solid foundation of international law and the United Nations Charter.
Today it is the United Nations that continues to remain an agency that is unparalleled in representativeness and universality, a unique venue for equitable dialogue. Its universal rules are necessary for including as many countries as possible in economic and humanitarian integration, guaranteeing their political responsibility and working to coordinate their actions while also preserving their sovereignty and development models.
We have no doubt that sovereignty is the central notion of the entire system of international relations. Respect for it and its consolidation will help underwrite peace and stability both at the national and international levels. There are many countries that can rely on a history stretching back a thousand years, like Russia, and we have come to appreciate our identity, freedom and independence. But we do not seek global domination, expansion or confrontation with anyone.
In our mind, real leadership lies in seeing real problems rather than attempting to invent mythical threats and use them to steamroll others. This is exactly how Russia understands its role in global affairs today.
There are priorities without which a prosperous future for our shared planet is unthinkable and they are absolutely obvious. I won’t be saying anything new here. First of all, there is equal and indivisible security for all states. Only after ending armed conflicts and ensuring the peaceful development of all countries will we be able to talk about economic progress and the resolution of social, humanitarian and other key problems. It is important to fight terrorism and extremism in actuality. It has been said more than once that this evil can only be overcome by a concerted effort of all states of the world. Russia continues to offer this to all interested partners.
To be continued.
The president of Russia is God sent.a unique personality in his own way.
”Today it is the United Nations that continues to remain an agency that is unparalleled in representativeness and universality, a unique venue for equitable dialogue. Its universal rules are necessary for including as many countries as possible in economic and humanitarian integration, guaranteeing their political responsibility and working to coordinate their actions while also preserving their sovereignty and development models.”
How can he say this seriously??. UN,being based in the heart of the Empire of Chaos is a haven for the whole NGO brood and the western sanction system. The UN is what is making Russia, Iran, Cuba, DPRK, Venezuela and China suffer. He is locked into the mentality of supporting Western constructs, the very things which keep Asian,Latin and African countries down.
Last few weeks there has been a lot of defeatism in the Russian media now that it is certain Clinton will win. Sputnik and RT have been running a lot of articles about irrelevant things to do with cats doing tricks, beauty contests and electric cars. Not much about the Eurasianism and anti westernism of 2014-15
There is a feeling that it really is a World War now and for many in United Russia the thought of actually fighting the Empire is a task too much. There is a movement among them which will try for a face saving agreement of some kind with Hilary, maybe keeping Crimea and cutting all support to Donbass and Transdneistr, giving back Kurils and letting Assad be removed after a year. This element must be stopped immediately. Any kind of ‘deal’ made with them will be broken and Russia will be humiliated. Whenever I see a pro western Russian it makes me feel nauseous even though I am not Russian. Anyone who betrays their own people is a disgusting creature.
no, as ever, he’s attempting to make use of the constructs that exist – e.g. in this case, for one, to try to underscore the absolute necessity that Russia maintain her veto power on the Security Council.
Indeed. As long as Russia can veto Western agression, Putin can defend the UN system. America is the one who is Isolated now. Asia and Africa rise up. and America Europe fall down into debt, immorality, disease and despair.
As always a measured speech. Putting forth the facts.And asking for the West to see the truth.But as great as this speech is (and it is a great speech).I fear it will (as all the others he gives),not be fairly (if at all) reported on in the West.The West shows constantly to have closed their ears to the truth.And only are open to Russophobic propaganda.
But just who constitutes “the West” Uncle Bob 1? You and I both reside within the Outlaw US Empire; are not we part of that “West”? I submit that a majority of people within the “West” would agree with and loudly applaud Putin’s proposals and long-term vision–we do. I believe Putin pointed at the entities that don’t want those populating the “West” to hear his or anyone else’s proposals since they only want their own way to prosper: “They chose the road of globalisation and security for their own beloved selves, for the select few, and not for all,” was how he framed it–the God-given, unvarnished truth of the matter. And that’s why Putin is deemed dangerous–he tells the truth and demands honest and open discussion as at the Valdai Club forum.
We in the “West” who know of his proposals have a responsibility to help them get broadcast and thus destroy the Propaganda System’s Big Lies.
We’ll know that’s true when I open my windows and see crowds by the millions gathered in the streets calling for the ousting of the regimes in power in the West. Until, and unless, I see that. I’ll have to conclude that the MSM is still subverting the minds of the majority of the population. And that we are only a small minority in the West. A growing minority certainly,but still without the power to be a threat to the those regimes.
Basically here is a view of what we need to see to know we have succeeded:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_-gHVGOoE48
@ Outlaw Historian
“But just who constitutes “the West” Uncle Bob 1? You and I both reside within the Outlaw US Empire; are not we part of that “West”? ”
I know, yours is a rhetorical question. No, you are not part of that “West”. You may be in the West geographically, but “being in the west” is a deeper concept of being not conditioned by longitude. You may even live the same existence of the most redneck Westerner and yet not be part of that West. Your worldview and your being has transcended the limitation of the cultural milieu round you. This West is a cultural and mental cull-de-sac.
When I was a kid (10 years) I moved from a city to the countryside (Europe, 1961) and the school teacher asked the class to write a story of their own choice and randomly selected some pupils to read their stories followed by commentaries and questions. My story was about a new sheriff sent to a town to clear it of nasty gunmen and I was picked to read it. There was a deathly silence when I finished reading my story. It was totally alien for the other kids. I had been “Westernized”, read Readers’ Digest and cowboys comic strips and US was the promised land of success and adventure thanks to TV and Hollywood. Took a long while to remove that image so early imprinted in my mind.
I have to disagree.
You are seeing things from a tiny time limited perspective I think UB1.
You see, in order to turn a people around, to effect social change, to get a message through an entire population, you only have to hit the 10% mark. That is, the idea has to be strongly accepted by 10% of the population. After that, it “goes exponential”.
The problem is that, exponential growth takes a long time to reach that “Critical Mass Tipping Point” if you start from very tiny numbers. I suggest you take a look at some graphs – of anything mapped to the exponential.
You will see it can take years and years sometimes [especially when it comes to ones savings using compound interest]. But once it hits that point? Ah , just see the “hockey stick” swoop upwards.
Are we at 10% yet? Maybe. Maybe we are, but there are many out there who are keeping quiet, thinking they are the only one. It’s this belief “its only me” that’s keeps most people quiet. Then one day, something happens, and they realise, it’s half their street, a huge chunk of their town, and then, but only then, do they take to the streets.
I follow the horrible gutter rag gthe UK’s Daily Mail. At least it still allows comments mostly, unlike the others. Go see the total revulsion against the war mongering articles, See the huge number of green “upticks” as against red “downs” And when you read the comments, you see them making reference to things they never, ever, learned from the MS BS M of the AngloEuroEmpire.
Our word is spreading, slowly. And soon, it will be spreading fast.
YOu ever hear that expression “we went bankrupt slowly overnight”? Same principle.
That is the age old argument. Between those that preach “wait,wait”.And those that preach “now,now”.Social change doesn’t come with 10% of a population understanding its needed.Long before 1789 and 1917 more than 10% of people in France and Russia knew change was needed.And before ,between,and after those dates more than 10% in different countries knew change was needed.It is events that crystallize into revolutions.And in our particular cause. I don’t see we have “countless” years available to wait.We see what is happening daily in our World.And as those like us are waiting. The forces of oppression aren’t just sitting silent,they are acting.They are acting to firm up their control in the World.
Great ! Putin sees the reality, sees the problems we face, the whole humanity faces. He’s not just seeing them but tells them publicly for years now. Is there any other world leader who has the courage and tells the truth ? Out of him and in such clarity, no one. In this sense, Putin is alone, which real partners will have the eggs to join him on the world stage ? We knew a man, Hugo Chavez, he did that indeed, he had the courage to speak out at the UN General Assembly, you remember. I don’t want to be pessimistic, but the reality that even Putin himself has painted here is not rosy. Thanks for posting this article.
The remainder of Putin’s suggestions are here, http://en.kremlin.ru/events/president/news/53151 although there may be further additions to the text.
Clearly, Putin’s proposals are light-years ahead of anything proposed by the “West.” I found these 3 paragraphs the most important, not that other content isn’t;
“An important task of ours is to develop human potential. Only a world with ample opportunities for all, with highly skilled workers, access to knowledge and a great variety of ways to realise their potential can be considered truly free. Only a world where people from different countries do not struggle to survive but lead full lives can be stable.
“A decent future is impossible without environment protection and addressing climate problems. That is why the conservation of the natural world and its diversity and reducing the human impact on the environment will be a priority for the coming decades.
“Another priority is global healthcare. Of course, there are many problems, such as large-scale epidemics, decreasing the mortality rate in some regions and the like. So there is enormous room for advancement. All people in the world, not only the elite, should have the right to healthy, long and full lives. This is a noble goal. In short, we should build the foundation for the future world today by investing in all priority areas of human development. And of course, it is necessary to continue a broad-based discussion of our common future so that all sensible and promising initiatives are heard.”
No wonder Putin’s vilified; his ideas would elevate the masses while reducing elite’s status. Of course, the Propaganda System will never aide dissemination of such ideas since they’re anathema to its controllers.
I loved what Putin said but as he disclosed, he is not as free to express himself in a forum like Valdai as he would be in private. There is a weakness in his general view which he may or may not be aware of, one which may cause Russia much harm in the long run or even prove fatal.
He used the term globalization several times with recommendation for its implementation. In context he means a good kind of globalization not what Washington is imposing. He also keeps using the word partners, again probably for rhetorical effect. He also has a predilection for economic growth which is not qualified.
All of these policies and others are entangled with usury or the taking of interest on loans. This drives growth into the cancer category and feeds the disease of greed. Its result is exploitation of the earth’s resources and the reducing of persons into slaves.
The Love Army speaks of this as one of the ten great evils of our times. No matter what else we do that is good, this one evil will put Russia into an early grave and drag the rest of us in with her. Like the religious dogma of an almighty God, usurious money is a universal doctrine that has become so habitual that is in invisible and so sacred that it cannot be questioned by anyone who hopes to be anything in the patriarchal system. It also plays right into the hands of the money Zionists.
I talk about this at the cafe but even there I get no feedback that anyone is even listening. No matter, if it’s true it’s true, come hell or high water.
@ DL
“He used the term globalization several times with recommendation for its implementation. In context he means a good kind of globalization not what Washington is imposing.”
Glad you noticed that. Don’t know what make of it though. Does he write his speeches? Quite certain he doesn’t; nevertheless he should have edited those offending words unless the Russian meaning of ‘globalization’ differs from what we understand. I presume that somebody in the Kremlin would tweak to the fact that that world has a definite corrosive connotation and should have been removed. Unless, and here is the danger, they knew and they meant it. Is Mr. P still trying to cling to the coattails of Uncle Sam? Doesn’t appear so from the general thrust of the speech.
@DL,
I am listening…and what you wrote, I believe it to be true too. Keep up the good work!
Surely TPP TISA TIPP equate to changing weights and measures..?
Somewhere in Revelations….
Mr.putin is wrong again in saying that UN has legitimacy .it has lost that long time ago under these two successive secreative generals.
Russia should try to dismantle the evil UNO rather than propping up that evil entity.
The UN was the creation of the US for a very good reason, like all other international institutions set up at the end of WWII. The USSR was alone against the Us-led block of France, UK and China (Taiwan) in the Security Council and the right to have veto power was the carrot for the USSR to join.
The first big war after WWII as in Korea and, many people may not know about that, was a UN operation! I have forgotten the exact details, but I remember the USSR ambassador was not present for the crucial vote to send troops to Korea.
I have not done a thorough research but from memory I don’t know of any valuable contribution by the UN for world peace. On the contrary, as the more recent tragedy in Libya revealed, it can and is an instrument of US foreign policy to give legal validity for US interventions all over the world and that power has been liberally used since its inception.
The UN has never been a creation of good – it was merely a rebranding of the League of Nations. Both set up fronting as organizations for maintaining peace – while both doing neither. Name one – just one – altruistic endeavor carried out by the UN, where ‘peace/human rights’ was the objective. The UN has always been a nefarious entity whose actions have always been done to serve the interests of the few globalists – protecting their monetary interests by invading, destabilizing, and gaining majority control of the ILLEGALLY invaded country’s natural resources. The UN has the largest army in the world, is controlled by people who you or I did not elect … and yet you blindly defend it based on what ..exactly?
An astonishing vision.
Along with the many people in the world whom Putin cites, I used to feel a sense of having no future. Russia’s defiance of the Hegemon changed all that. And as I realized that actually the Zionist greed could not prevail, and could actually be defeated some day, the opening of a future occurred for me. It might not happen to me, but with Russia in the world, it seemed that at least the gray suffocation of satanic, corporate conformity and exploitation would not cover the world. I feel that I owe this sense of future to Russia and to Putin.
I’ve never heard Putin say so much so clearly on such a massive and global scale. This is a Christian vision of good for all.
And he’s correct about the UN. It continues to be a framework of cooperation that nations can use to good effect. Russia has proved this time and again.
Exactly, Putin’s Russia was the first who made a (credible) stand on behalf of Russia (and the whole world) against the totalitarian monster.
The monster is losing now, soon, inevitable, with snowball effect, and can not be stopped (same goes for TrumpTheEstablishment). No wonder Putin’s Russia shows itself as always cooperative, easy-going, and non-aggressive, but at the same time cool and determined ready to defend itself and its interests.
Putin could be a (exceptional) poster here on the thesaker.is! Brilliant!
All hail to a heart felt man most dear
whose actions and words put a rest to fear
Without leadership a people, a planet is lost
into maelstrom of time and fate its future tossed
But this one, ah this one, holds the future light clear
All hail to this man, a heart guide most dear.
Very appreciated, thank you !
Do poems now infiltrate the places of the great, how now, bethink you, do we await the censoring of our most Modest Mods on earth, herewith will I first sneak in another, to join yours in fearful symmetry.
Poem for Putin
From forests of the deep
Before his winter sleep
Padding softly o’er the mossy floor
Now hear bears last echoing roar
His thick-furred body lumbers near
Hear the wild owls screech of fear –
Oh mister Putin sir – beware THE BEAR!
Danger drives him forth from out the lair
The winter bears brown fur
Protects warmly the earth
But the bear’s now awake
So please for pity’s sake
Feed him words of sweetest honey
Wisdoms words Ideals not money
And surely must be your dharma
To make poor bears karma calmer
Here the wild bear ‘s a captive beast
Forced far from forests of the East
Dancing to tunes in chains from the West
Dear Vladimir please do your very best
We long for ideas of flaming fire
Save the earth from funeral pyre
Tell the world, you, non other
Of Slavic peoples crying Mother
Russia rests within your hands
From far and wide the great lands
Descend upon your heart’s shore
As a Heavens blazing door
For stars that guide to truth
Devine Mother of brotherhood
Devine Mother of purity
It must be your destiny
President of Russia Vladimir Putin: How did you end up here?
You may think it’s a coincidence but I firmly believe that someone has been compiling my posts in this blog and insert in Mr. Putin’s speech all my thoughts about cotemporary world affairs. It is almost impossible to be a coincidence but, if it is, our minds (Mr. Putin’s and mine) are ad idem 100%, yet I am in the backwoods of beyond not the ruler of a big country, or even a little one like Tuvalu or San Marino. He agrees with me that this world is unfair too.
thanks for posting
apparently Lavrov had a session of discussion too-wonder if we can find it to post on saker…………………………
Such clarity of mind and diction from a world leader. This man is feared in the West because he says things that they are afraid to say to their own people. Putin was and is the scourge of the oligarchs who looted Russia during and after the Yeltsin years and he has no time or tolerance for those he sees in the world as being of similar stripe. He sees very clearly the nihilism of such an approach.
I happen to live in the Yew Kay, and please do not assume (as some posters here do) that we all read the Daily Mail and agree with what it says. The Daily Mail can be put up there with the WaPo and NYT as a willing shill of the current Establishment, who incidentally had a huge shock on June 23rd last when the previously ignored and derided ordinary decent Brits decided that they had had enough of the status quo and upended the political order. No one at local level in Yew Kay is looking for any sort of war with Russia or anyone else because we know full well that our sons and daughters will do the dying and we ourselves are unlikely to survive. That the ruling politcal class here see fit to ally themselves with a deeply divided and demented US political clique is worrying to say the least. Don’t make the mistake of thinking that the majority of people in the Yew Kay see Russia or Putin especially as a bad thing. He speaks a lot more clear common sense than our own so-called leaders who are now finding that their own methods of manipulation and control are not working very well.
We are expending a lot of effort on Brexit at the moment and once the Italian referendum takes place the picture could change greatly. Europe is in a state of uproar about its Soros-induced destabilisation and the U.S should not rely on them (or eventhe Yew Kay) to willingly follow them into a pointless confrontation with Russia, which incidentally is the only nation doing anything concrete about wiping out the terrorist threats.
As for the British MSM and its ridiculous demonisation of Russia, I’ll let you into a little secret. The great British public are closet RT fans, both of the TV channel and website because it tells them things the BBC does not. The public then indulges in its great hobby of reading between the lines using the output of both sources. The Brexit vote was a huge surprise to the London-centric media hounds but no surprise to anyone who listened to conversations in shops, on buses or in workplaces in the run up that event.
Our biggest problem right now is getting to 2017 without the US going into political meltdown on November 9th and deciding to End It All. One hopes that there are sufficient cooler heads at the higher levels to euthanise the crazies anywhere near the launch codes but I am not relying on it…..
Are you asking for clemency from President Putin because you and a few others are not anti-Russian and should be spared from cremation when the missiles rain on the UK?
How about doing something to deserve clemency? Like not voting for the warmongers in your government – you just had an election and voted again for Cameron knowing that the Tory cabal is driving the UK to its doom as the poodle of the Yank wardogs.
Sorry mate, too little too late.
Read what I said again. I see no plea for clemency and Cameron was history on and from June 23rd and all of his cabinet too. Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are all pushing to stay in the EU even though Wales as a whole voted firmly out. You are correct in asserting that the English are anti-Russian, but you will find that the Celtic nations are not. That is a historical anomaly. There are two key dates upcoming, Italian Referendum on December 4th which could split the EU and new WTO arrangements from January 1st 2017, which could lead to de-dollarisation. If the wrong people take control in Washington we may all be toast around about then…..
Scotland, Ireland and Wales will be Russian allies in a reformed Pro Russian EU. Built on the legacy of De Gaulle and Schröder. As for England they are finished. Russia wanted them out of EU because they are the most incurably anti-Russia nation in the EU, since the time of 1800s. Soon there will be an EU army which will replace the NATO on european territory.
To make sure they left EU, Russia funded the Vote Leave campaign via Arron Banks and his Russian FSB wife – they didnt even try and hide it really. The Russian Jewish owner of the Daily Express also worked for them. For England there will be nothing but poverty and isolation serving as a first line of defence for the Clinton’s Empire of Chaos.
Russian Armed Forces upgrade prioritized in 2017-2019 budget
Business & Economy October 28, 16:34 UTC+3
According to the Russian finance minister, it is “a geopolitical task”, one of the priority goals
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Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu
Russian Finance Minister Anton Siluanov and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu© Alexander Astafyev/Russian Government Press Office/TASS
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Russia stakes on intelligent weapons — deputy PM
MOSCOW, October 28. /TASS/. Modernization of the Russian Armed Forces is a priority task and the funds on this upgrade are set aside in the 2017-2019 budget, Finance Minister Anton Siluanov said on Friday.
“Next year, despite all the complexities, is the year that will see further modernization of our Armed Forces. This is a geopolitical task, one of our priority goals. The president has set the task to ensure 70% of modern armament in our army by 2020. The funds required for this have been set aside,” the finance minister said.
The Russian government submitted a draft budget for 2017 and for the planned period of 2018 and 2019 to the State Duma on Friday.
According to the document, the federal budget deficit will total 2.75 trillion rubles ($43.8 billion) in 2017 and will gradually decrease to 2.011 trillion rubles ($31.9 billion) in 2018 and 1.142 trillion rubles ($18 billion) in 2019.
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Russia to spend $15 bln on national defense in 2017 — draft budget
Russia to spend $2.8 bln on space program in 2017 — draft
Press review: Moscow sharing Syria intel with Turkey and Russia’s defense spending
Putin: Russia is not going to attack anyone
Federal budget revenues will total 13.487 trillion rubles ($214 billion) in 2017, 14.028 trillion rubles ($223 billion) in 2018 and 14.844 billion rubles ($236 billion) in 2019.
Federal budget expenses will amount to 16.240 trillion rubles ($258 billion) in 2017, 16.039 trillion rubles ($255 billion) in 2018 and 15.986 trillion rubles ($254 billion) in 2019.
According to Siluanov, the finance ministry will draft a proposal on further consolidation of the budget if revenues decline.
“If [budgeting conditions – TASS] are worse, we will prepare a proposal for further consolidation. This applies both to revenues and expenditures. Measures are taken in Russia and in other countries that face such situation,” Siluanov said.
Privatization plans
According to the minister, plans for privatization in 2018-2019 are yet to be discussed.
“The budgets for 2018 and 2019 imply revenues from privatization at 14 billion rubles ($222 mln) each. But we shall discuss it during the next budget cycle,” Siluanov said.
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Russia might sell another 10% of shares of Rosneft in 2017 — source
The official reminded that the budget for 2017 includes revenues from privatization at 138 bln rubles ($2.2 mln).
The minister has denied that the government had discussed privatization of another 10% in Rosneft.
“When we ‘were selling’ 19.5% [in Rosneft – TASS] the idea was that we have a controlling stake. If we continue selling, the package will no longer be controlling. So we [the government – TASS] have not discussed such plans [to sell another 10% of Rosneft – TASS],” Siluanov said.
A source in the financial and economic bloc of the government earlier told TASS that the government might order Rosneftegas to sell another 10% of Rosneft shares in 2017.
Meanwhile the official noted that all Rosneftegaz proceeds from Gazprom and Rosneft wouldbe allocated to the federal budget.
“All the revenues that Rosneftegas receives from Gazprom and Rosneft, according to the law, will be allocated to the budget. We have submitted such proposal to the budget and we are confident that it will be implemented,” Siluanov said
As for privatization of other state assets, Siluanov pointed out that Alrosa privatization was not included in the 2017 budget, while it was planned to sell Sovcomflot and 11% of VTB.
“No, we have reached the limit on Alrosa,” the minister said replying to a question.
“Next year we plan two large transactions – the sale of 11% of VTB package and sale of Sovcomflot,” Siluanov said.
Eurobonds
The finance minister also said that domestic rather than foreign loans would be the main source of deficit coverage in 2017-2019.
Speaking about borrowings, Siluanov pointed out that the ministry would exchange Russian Eurobonds next year to improve the debt structure.
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PM: Russia cannot afford “living on credit time and again”
The Finance Ministry will announce a series of Russian Eurobonds issues that will be used for exchange in 2017 by the end of this year.
“We will have understanding of issues [of Eurobonds for exchange – TASS] already this year. This will be done in order to optimize the structure and streamline the repayment schedule. We will also extend our debt commitments for a longer period. We will probably announce issues by the end of this year,” the minister said.
Yuan-denominated bonds
The finance ministry does not plan to float federal loan (OFZ) bonds denominated in yuan by the end of this year.
“We can take all borrowing amounts by the end of this year on the domestic market, without reaching the Chinese market and attracting investors from China. Such a structure is under development and such opportunities were explored with the Central Bank and counterparts from China but there is no such need so far,” Siluanov said.
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http://tass.com/economy/909427
BTW-Sophie and co interviewed President of Serbia today-quite good , friend of Russia etc etc
Not everything coming from Serbia is good. Same goes for Russia (Echo of Moscow,Kommersant,…). That man, president of Serbia, is second only to PM Vucic in that regard. Incompetent, corrupt and spineless to the core. Although well versed in verbal deception. Do not fall for it. Look we are friends with Russia. And behind our backs they betray the interest of the people and disrupt our ties with Russia. But that talk is what keep them in power in order to perpetuate colonial state we have here in Serbia. Their masters are in the West.
Serbs feel something strange toward Russians and it runs deep. A bond so strong that somehow manages to elude logical explanation. I discussed that with many of my friends and we did not come to any satisfactory explanation of that phenomenon. That bond puzzles us but nevertheless binds us. That is the case with majority of the population. That bond is being exploited by our current leaders.
If you don’t know them by their deeds you will be fooled by the interview. Those two are masters of theater and treason. They missed their calling in only one thing-theater.
JJ, please do not take this comment as anything other but clarification of a murky situation from someone who lives in Serbia. You might know this already but others might not.
During the early turbulent 90’s i was in high school, during the late 90’s i was old enough to wear a uniform and participate in a war against NATO, which i did. During those times situation here was something i imagine is like in Syria now. Difficult, to say the least. Hopeless also, for in that time no country was standing up to the Empire. We had people of good will all around the world that supported us and i would like to say to them- thank you and God bless you and your family! But no countries. We have Russia now, thank God!
But in that time as a teenager who read everything that came to my hands one of my (and some of my friends also) principal pastime was watching parliamentary sessions. These two clowns were there. We laughed at them to no end. They were not the best, but they were good. We were teenagers then but we understood that their work belong on the comedy and farce stage. Now i know how the game is played and understand that they were, and still are, populists for sale.
Some time ago someone from France, here commented about Le Penn (the daughter) and her role of loyal opposition. Those two played that role for a long time. And now that they are in a position of power we have a situation where two actors, best suited for comedy and farce, paid and bought by the enemies of humanity, are leading a country in a time of great need. God help us!
Russian and US military jets had near miss over Syria last week in the dark
By AFP
PUBLISHED: 15:21, 28 October 2016 | UPDATED: 15:42, 28 October 2016
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A Russian fighter flew dangerously close to a US warplane over eastern Syria, US defense officials said Friday, highlighting the risks of a serious mishap in the increasingly crowded airspace.
The near miss occurred late on October 17, when a Russian jet that was escorting a larger spy plane maneuvered in the vicinity of an American warplane, Air Force Lieutenant General Jeff Harrigan said.
The Russian jet came to ‘inside of half a mile’, he added.
A Russian fighter flew dangerously close to a US warplane over eastern Syria on October 17. Here Russian Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft take off from the Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, Syria on March 16
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A Russian fighter flew dangerously close to a US warplane over eastern Syria on October 17. Here Russian Sukhoi Su-25 ground attack aircraft take off from the Hmeimim military base in Latakia province, Syria on March 16
Another US military official, speaking on condition of anonymity , said the American pilot could feel the turbulence produced by the Russian jet’s engines.
‘It was close enough you could feel the jet wash of the plane passing by,’ the official said.
It appeared the Russian pilot had simply not seen the US jet, as it was dark and the planes were flying without lights.
‘I would attribute it to not having the necessary situational awareness given all those platforms operating together,’ Harrigan said.
He also said it happened in the ‘middle of the night, probably somewhere around midnight.’
The incident raises serious questions about the extent to which pilots are able to track the complex airspace they operate in.
The US-led coalition has set up a hotline with Russian counterparts so the different militaries can discuss the approximate locations and missions of planes, and avoid operating in the same space at the same time.
In this case, the American pilot tried unsuccessfully to reach the Russian jet via an emergency radio channel.
The next day, US officers used the hotline to ask Russia what had happened and they said ‘the pilot didn’t see’ the American plane, the official said.
Harrigan said there had been an increase in close calls over the past six weeks, with intentional near misses — when a Russian jet deliberately follows a coalition plane too closely — ‘happening one every 10 days-ish’.
Russia is flying constant air patrols over Syria, the vast majority of them over the devastated city of Aleppo, and routinely transits parts of the country the US-coalition operates in, officials said.
Russia says it has not bombed Aleppo since October 18.
The Pentagon periodically chides Russia for ‘unsafe and unprofessional behavior’ in air operations.
This incident was deemed unsafe, but not necessarily unprofessional, officials said.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3882684/Russian-US-jets-near-miss-Syria-US-officials.html#ixzz4OONxqm3J
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Putin is gearing up for a ‘hot war’ he doesn’t want but WILL attack the West if he is provoked over Syria, warns former British Ambassador
Sir Anthony Brenton was UK ambassador to Moscow from 2004 to 2008
Claims relations between Kremlin and West ‘most dangerous’ he has seen
While Russia ‘means business’, Vladimir Putin does not want war, he said
By JULIAN ROBINSON FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 08:18, 28 October 2016 | UPDATED: 13:21, 28 October 2016
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Vladimir Putin is gearing up for a ‘hot war’ he doesn’t want – but will not back down if he provoked over Syria, Britain’s former ambassador to Moscow has warned.
Sir Anthony Brenton insists relations between the Kremlin and the West are ‘the most dangerous’ he has ever seen amid heightened tensions over the country’s bombing campaign in Syria.
While Russia ‘means business’ having sent warships past British shores and displayed its military might, Moscow is ‘weak’ and does not want a war, Sir Brenton said.
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Vladimir Putin (pictured) is gearing up for a ‘hot war’ he doesn’t really want – will not back down in a face-off with the West because the humiliation will topple him, Britain’s former ambassador to Moscow has warned
Britain’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson condemned airstrikes on a Syrian school (pictured) that left at least 22 children and six teachers dead
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Britain’s Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson condemned airstrikes on a Syrian school (pictured) that left at least 22 children and six teachers dead
While Russia ‘means business’ having sent warships past British shores and displayed its military might, Moscow is ‘weak’ and does not want a war, Sir Anthony Brenton said. Russian troops are pictured in the Novosibirsk region of Russia earlier this month
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While Russia ‘means business’ having sent warships past British shores and displayed its military might, Moscow is ‘weak’ and does not want a war, Sir Anthony Brenton said. Russian troops are pictured in the Novosibirsk region of Russia earlier this month
In an exclusive opinion piece for the Daily Mirror, he said it is ‘close to impossible’ for Russia to back down because the ‘loss of face would almost certainly be the end of Putin’.
There has been weeks of posturing between Russia and the West with both sides trading accusations over the brutal civil war in Syria.
And Sir Brenton added: ‘If we act on Syria in any way that could escalate to a Russian attack, they are signalling as clearly as they can that they would retaliate.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3881346/Putin-gearing-hot-war-doesn-t-want-attack-West-provoked-Syria-warns-former-British-Ambassador.html#ixzz4OOOC9DOs
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apart from his assumptions Russia is qeak, does not spend as much on military as West does..etc
oday, the publication of De Volkskrant reported that the Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte failed to get support for the ratification of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine. Thus, it is expected that in the near future the government in parliament will be a proposal for the Repeal of ratification.
Recall that in September 2016 the Dutch parliament instructed the term head of the government until November 1 to identify an agreement on the background of results of the referendum held in April, during which the majority of the population opposes the association.
to agreement was ratified, Mark Rutte was to enlist the support of the opposition parties, but in the last few weeks to do that he did not work.
The publication notes that the ratification of a chance there is little, so both before 1 November a few days left. At the same time, the sources believe that the decision concerning the rejection of ratification, will be known on October 28 immediately after the cabinet meeting.
De Volkskrant points out that the consequences of the decision of the Netherlands is very difficult to predict. Thus, the fate of the agreement is unknown.
Recall, April 6, 2016 in the Netherlands held a consultative referendum on the ratification of the Association Agreement between the EU and Ukraine. Against the ratification of 61% of voters in favor. The government did not take immediate decisions and to refuse ratification of the Agreement.”
http://www.anna-news.info/node/66970
google translate
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n an interview with Sputnik, French presidential candidate Jean-Frederic Poisson praised Russian counterterrorism efforts in Syria and said that West should make an alliance with Moscow to protect Syria from extremists.
© AFP 2016/ LOUAI BESHARA Moscow: States Demanding Assad’s Removal Keep Military Option for Syria in Mind Poisson serves as the chairman of the French Christian Democratic Party. Last year, he made two visits to Syria and held talks with Syrian President Bashar Assad. The second visit took place after the Russian military campaign in Syria began. “I can say that Russia’s efforts in Syria forced Daesh to massively retreat from their controlled territory. I was happy to see that because the West didn’t want to get involved in the situation, but then Russia engaged,” Poisson told Sputnik France. The politician also underscored that despite everything Bashar Assad is in the only one who can prevent an extremist regime in Syria. “Neither the Middle East nor Europe and Russia would like Islamist radicals coming to power in Syria. Since there is no real political alternative to Assad we should continue to cooperate with him,” he said.
Read more: https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610281046846948-french-politician-russia-assad/
Washington seems to be at a dead-set trying to find new ways to exert pressure on Russia. The US is considering several possible scenarios for the introduction of new sanctions against Russia, but there is almost no one left to impose them on, Bloomberg wrote.
In an interview with RIA Novosti, Director of the Institute for US and Canada Studies Valery Garbuzov confirmed this opinion saying that, “in principle, all possible sanctions have already been introduced.” “The US has already reached its limit regarding the sanctions. The only thing it can do is to further expand the list of sanctioned companies and persons against whom the sanctions are imposed,” the expert stated. Garbuzov noted that the sanctions have had negative effect on the Russian, European and even US economies. © REUTERS/ JONATHAN ERNST Trump May Partially Revoke Anti-Russia Sanctions If Elected US President “The impact of sanctions is very limited and sooner or later the United States will understand it, as it happened in case of Cuba,” the expert said.
Read more: https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610281046839152-washington-limits-sanctions/
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A US Air Force jet attacked a school near the Iraqi city of Mosul, the Russian General Staff said.
“There are new cases of [US-led] coalition’s airstrikes on civilian targets. On October 24, US Air Force’s tactical aircraft launched missile and bomb strikes on a school building in the village of Tall Kayf located 14 kilometers north of Mosul at 3:35. As a result of the strike, there are dead and wounded,” Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy, chief of the Russian General Staff Main Operational Directorate, said. “The activity of the coalition’s strikes in this [residential] area has been further intensified, including using B-52 strategic bombers,” Rudskoy added. © REUTERS/ RUAIRIDH VILLAR/SAVE THE CHILDREN Washington Trying to Kill Two Birds With One Stone With Mosul Operation “The number of civilian casualties will only increase,” Rudskoy noted. Oo October 25, the Russian General Staff said that more than 60 civilians had been killed and 200 wounded in coalition airstrikes on Mosul residential districts during the last three days. On October 17, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider Abadi announced the start of a military operation to recapture Mosul from Daesh with the help of airstrikes by the US-led coalition.
Read more: https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610281046846087-mosul-school-us/
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Europe has recently been plunged into panic over the Russian naval group heading for the Mediterranean, journalist Vladimir Bychkov wrote for Sputnik.
© SPUTNIK/ GRIGORIY SISOEV NATO ‘Playing Mean Tricks’ Amid Inability to Pressure Russia Over Syria Recently, Spain and then Malta said they will not allow the Russian flotilla to enter their ports. In particular, Maltese Foreign Minister said that his country will not grant permission to the Russian warship to be refueled in Malta. However, neither Spain nor Malta bothered to confirm whether the Russian Defense Ministry had sent a request on entry to their ports for the naval group. Meanwhile, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said that the Russian aircraft carrier group led by the Admiral Kuznetsov is provided with sufficient amount of resources for its mission in the Mediterranean Sea. It can operate autonomously for at least 45 days. Konashenkov also said that the Russian Defense Ministry had not sent requests to Spain and Malta over entry to their ports for refueling. “Nevertheless, European media is continuing to fuel the panic with headlines about ‘Russian nuclear threat’ and a ‘countdown to world war III.’ In addition, the NATO military has been on alert,” Bychkov wrote for Sputnik.
Read more: https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610281046843755-russia-naval-group-mediterranean/
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Ekaterina Blinova
260750 Wikileaks’ Podesta Files shed light on US billionaire George Soros’ deep concerns about the lack of “freedom” and “constitutional democracy” in Malaysia under Najib Razak. Soros’ concerns may serve as a prelude for a series of “color revolutions” in Southeast Asia, Mathew Maavak of Universiti Teknologi Malaysia assumed in an interview with Sputnik. The latest set of documents released by Wikileaks indicates that George Soros and his Open Society Foundation are very concerned about the situation in Malaysia, one of the US’ longstanding allies in Southeast Asia. A memo, sent by Michael Vachon, US billionaire George Soros’ “right hand,” on March 6, 2016, to Chairman of Clinton’s presidential campaign John Podesta shed light on the Malaysian “corruption crisis” and blamed the country’s Prime Minister Najib Razak for “damaging the US’ credibility in the region.”
Read more: https://sputniknews.com/politics/201610281046843489-soros-wikileaks-malaysia-leak/
note Kyrgystan government resignation approved this week…………………………..any considerations ?
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The US-led coalition is attempting to divert attention from its war crimes by fabricating evidence of Russian airstrikes in Syria, the Russian General Staff said Friday.
The Chief of the Russian General Staff Main Operational Directorate said that a US Air Force jet attacked a school near the Iraqi city of Mosul, leaving dead and injured, on October 24. This was not the first statement made by Russian defense ministry’s officials on civilian casualties as a result of US-led coalition’s strikes in Iraq and Syria. The Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday that the US-led coalition launched strikes on a funeral procession in the Iraqi town of Daquq near the city of Kirkuk, killing dozens of civilians. Lt. Gen. Sergei Rudskoy said the accusations of inaccurate strikes continue despite no Russian warplanes’ flights over Aleppo for the 10th day running. “All this is done with one purpose: to distract the international community from war crimes committed by the US-led coalition,” Rudskoy said. © REUTERS/ AMMAR ABDULLAH Russia Registered US Attack Drone in Area Where Idlib School Was Attacked – MoD The Russian general said that the “disseminated tragedy involving a school in Idlib” yet again proves that.
Read more: https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/201610281046847929-coalition-war-crimes-syria/
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Ukraine just officially declared itself an illegitimate state up for grabs
October 27, 2016 –
By Eduard Popov for Fort Russ – translated by J. Arnoldski –
Last week, an event occurred capable of revolutionizing not only Ukraine, but all of Eastern and part of Central Europe. On October 20th, the Ukrainian parliament adopted the Declaration of Memory and Solidarity of the Sejm of the Republic of Poland and Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine. This document condemned the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact and modern Russian policy and remarked that “the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact concluded by the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany led to the Second World War.”
http://www.fort-russ.com/2016/10/ukraine-just-officially-declared-itself.html
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Russia’s permanent representative to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, is sure that the bloodshed in South-East Ukraine could be avoided if the country’s authorities apologized to the population of the DPR and LPR like Verkhovna Rada deputy Nadezhda Savchenko proposed.
The Russian diplomat said this in commenting on the statement of the Verhkovna Rada’s vice speaker, Irina Gerashchenko, made at a meeting of the UN Security council in which the Kiev representative once again accused Russia of aggression against Ukraine. In addition, the Ukrainian politician called Savchenko “the most famous prisoner of the Kremlin freed in exchange for military personnel from the Russian Army.”
“In her speech, Ukraine’s representative mentioned Nadezhda Savchenko. After being pardoned, she returned to her homeland where she stated that Kiev should apologize to the residents of Donetsk and Lugansk. It is a pity that Ukrainian authorities don’t have enough humanity or political courage to do so,” Churkin said.
According to Churkin, the inter-Ukrainian crisis would have been resolved long ago if Kiev didn’t attempt time and time again to change the Minsk Agreements. He stressed: “There would have been no conflict in Donbass if Kiev had not opted for armed suppression of the dissent that arose after a coup backed by foreign forces was carried out in the country.”
Russia’s UN representative added that for two years already “Ukrainian security forces have shelled residential areas of Donetsk and Lugansk, as a result of which civilians, including women and children, have been killed.” He referred to the UN High Commissioner for Human Right’s report on abductions and torture to which Ukrainian forces have subjected women.
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note-even more ukr activity on front line today
DPR territory’s shellings intensity increases ten-fold
Friday, October 28, 2016 – 09:59
Last night the Ukrainian military launched 590 artillery projectiles, tank and mortar shells onto the DPR territory, reported today a source in the DPR security agencies.
“From 6 p.m. till 2.30 a.m. the Ukrainian side was carrying massive artillery, tank and mortar attacks on the territory of the DPR in several directions at a time. Makeyevka (agglomeration of Donetsk) and the locality of Elenovka underwent the most intensive artillery fire (that is southwards from Donetsk). The enemy launched 100 artillery projectiles of 152mm calibre onto Elenovka. In total on the near-front areas of the Republic there were launched 590 artillery projectiles, tank and mortar shells,” said the official.
Under the AFU fire there came the localities of Trudovskiye, Aleksandrovka and Staromikhailovka in the west of Donetsk, the villages of Spartak northwards from the capital, Leninskoye and Bezymennoye in the Novoazovsky district, and the industrial zone territory near Yasinovataya.
Along with heavy weaponry the Ukrainian fighters used also IFV arms, grenade launchers and small arms.
Last night the Ukrainian military subjected one of the residential areas of Makeyevka to massive shellings. According to all available data from the DPR command, two civilians perished as a result of the bombardment, seven more got wounded, including two children.
The day before the AFU launched 60 projectiles and shells onto the DPR. Thus only per day fire intensity in the conflict zone increased nearly by 10 times.
DONi News Agency
The AFU shelled the territory of the Donetsk People’s Republic over 2500 times over the past week. It has been reported by Eduard Basurin, the DPR Operative Command Vice-Commander at the briefing today.
‘The Ukrainian military violated the ceasefire regime 2578 times altogether, from that number using artillery, tanks and mortars on the Republic’s territory – 1673 times,’ pointed out the Vice-Commander.
He specified that twenty-six localities had been under the AFU fire. The enemy intensively shelled Makeyevka, the localities of Zaitsevo in the north of Gorlovka and Yelenovka near Donetsk.
‘We are calling on the SMM OSCE to investigate each fact in details and to give an objective assessment of the Ukrainian military’ criminal actions,’ highlighted Eduard Basurin.
DONi News Agency
Friday, October 28, 2016 – 17:39
Seven people perished more twenty-seven ones got injured in the Donetsk People’s Republic during the shellings of the territory of the Republic on the part of the Ukrainian army.
It has been reported by Eduard Basurin, the DPR Operative Command Vice-Commander at the briefing today.
‘Three civilians died and eighteen ones were differently wounded as a result of shelling the localities by the Ukrainian terrorists,’ pointed out Eduard Basurin.
Four Republican defenders perished and nine ones got wounded over the past week as a result of the Ukrainian fire effect.
It should be noted that the Ukrainian military violated the ceasefire regime 2 578 times over the past week.
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Friday, October 28, 2016 – 13:42
Russia and Ukraine were first separated and then set against each other, but the two countries will find a way out of the crisis on their own, Russian President Vladimir Putin said while answering questions at the final meeting of the international discussion club Valdai on Thursday.
“First we were separated and then set against each other. We are partially to blame for that ourselves. Now we are to find a way out of this situation on our own,” Putin said. “I am certain that common sense will prevail and we will find a way out.”
Putin said he had always believed that Russians and Ukrainians were one people.
“There are individuals of extreme, nationalist views in both Russia and Ukraine, but in general a majority constitute one people, a people sharing a common history and culture, who are very close ethnically.
Putin said Russia is not opposed to other countries, including the US, joining the Normandy format, reports TASS.
“Yes, the discussions haven’t been very effective lately, I agree with that. But there is no alternative,” he said. “Do we need to involve more countries [in the Normandy quartet]? Russia’s position is that anybody can be included, our US partners, in particular.”
The president added that at present all the four parties had agreed to work with the US as well. “We take Washington’s position into account,” he noted.
DONi News Agency
Friday, October 28, 2016 – 10:45
Refugees from Ukraine constitute one-third of the foreign nationals who had obtained Russian citizenship in 2015, said Deputy Head of the General Directorate for Migration of Russia’s Interior Ministry Valentina Kazakova.
“In 2015, 200,000 persons obtained (Russian) citizenship, including 65,000 former Ukrainian nationals. So any allegations on their unwillingness to stay in Russia are groundless – the numbers speak for themselves,” she noted.
According to Kazakova, more than one million people from south-eastern Ukraine have moved to Russian and obtained various statuses, reports TASS.
“Over 440,000 people have applied for asylum. Taking into consideration the fact that they have partly integrated locally and obtained Russian citizenship, there are more than 270,000 registered refugees at the moment,” elaborated Kazakova.
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Russia Is The Only Country That Is Truly Fighting Terrorism, Especially U.S. Backed Terrorists In Syria ~ President Nikolic Of Serbia
on: October 28, 2016
Only Russia’s military operation truly opposes terrorism in Syria. This opinion was expressed by the President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolic during the interview to RT on Friday.
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http://novorossia.today/ukraine-economy-total-collapse-ukraines-requiem-export/
UKRAINE ECONOMY IN TOTAL COLLAPSE ! UKRAINE’S REQUIEM FOR EXPORT ~
With new reports and statistics coming out of Ukraine, things are looking very bleak . Ukraine’s Requiem For Export as the title of this analysis goes, that exports from Ukraine for the fourth consecutive year have fallen dramatically and continues to decline. As records show in 2013 a 8% drop, then in 2014 – 14% and once again another huge drop in 2015 – 30% !. How much of a loss in Dollars ? A record $ 68 billion of exports was made in 2012, whereas a 50% export loss in 2015 , a total $ 38 billion. Looking more bleak for Ukraine as the current year has been a year of “export of the bottom of the barrel ” and the volume of foreign trade still continues to decline. Currently available statistics for the first five months of 2016 shows that comparing with the first half of 2015, exports fell by another 12%. And if these rates continue, the year-end total revenue of Ukrainian exporters will hardly exceed $30 bln . It will be even lower compared to 2004 during the first Maidan where the Dollar was more valued and the volume of exports exceeded imports by $4 billion, unlike the current year in which the foreign trade deficit may reach $2 billion.
The main problem of Ukrainian exports, especially during the past year is with Russia. As we all know in the beginning of 2016 Russia withdrew from the agreement on free trade zone with Ukraine. And in the first five months of 2016, Ukrainian exports to Russia fell by a whopping 34%. It also continues to decrease in foreign trade turnover with Belarus which is at 8% and a huge loss with Kazakhstan at 46%. To add to the misery there is a problem largely created by a Russian ban on Ukrainian transit in this country.
However, with that said, and surely with some politics involved on that political plane, we see a drop in exports to China by 25% and Turkey 31% which has nothing to do with politics at all. And here lies the second critical problem of Ukrainian exports. If you look at the commodity structure of exports to these countries, it is seen that in the case of China, the lion’s share of goods it make’s up in the ore business, and more than half of exports to Turkey accounted for ferrous (steel and iron) metals. As you know, at the moment the market of metals and raw materials, respectively, the market for the steel industry are experiencing not the best of times. For example, iron ore prices have reached a ten-year minimum, and the metals market is saturated and simply overloaded. Simply put, even without politics involved It turns out Ukrainian exports to these countries continue to decline with enormous speed, comparable to the rate of decline in Russia, with which Ukraine is almost on the verge of full-scale war. Well at least that’s what the politicians of Ukraine assert and want you to believe.
It is worth noting that exports of ferrous metals as well as ore continues to be almost exclusively the prerogative of large companies, in other words, the prerogative of the oligarchs. And perhaps here lies one of the reasons that foreign trade can not even be stabilized. After all, statistics show that precisely those areas in which Ukraine relies on foreign trade on a large business scale , show the highest rate of decline today. On the other hand, exports to the EU countries, which are more focused on small and medium-sized businesses, today give cause for optimism. Thus, exports to France increased by 34%, Hungary 27%, Spain 20%, in Poland by 7% and in many respects it is a merit of small companies. But, of course, the launch of a free trade zone played the positive role in this process.
However, despite the fact that Ukraine has clearly made a bet on the European market, the approach to the organization on export in many ways, it still remains far from European. First and foremost, concerning the distribution of trade shares among large, medium and small businesses and thus, in the EU the share of small companies have an average of 30% of exports, and in Ukraine only 14.5%, which is the penultimate indicator in Europe. And it is likely that if the government is betting on these companies, that would be greatly achieved in export decline compensation. That is if it doesn’t return to it’s normal state for markets of the heavy industries of the Ukrainian industry.
But, as practice shows, small and medium business in Ukraine today is facing the greatest obstacles in the organizing of export operations. What are these obstacles? According to the Ukrainian business ombudsman Algirdas Šemeta, in most cases, business representatives say the problem lies with the return and the administration of VAT. And if we talk about the customs procedures ,according to a survey conducted in the framework of the project “Trade Policy and Practice in Ukraine”, the entrepreneurs say first of all the complexity and significant cost of processing all the necessary documents,so, for an export transaction in Ukraine, it require’s 11 documents and more than 5 days in their design, but also nearly 700 dollars in costs.
And given that ,for one, the exporter in the small and medium business accounts for an average of about 15 cases per year, it is not difficult to calculate that only for documents without regard to the time of their preparation, in the course of the year you want to spend about 2.5 months and not more than 10 thousand dollars..and if ,for the medium business these expenses are not so critical, and the loss of time can be compensated by the creation of new jobs, but for the small business, such rules make participating in export operations simply impossible.
No less of an obstacle to potential exporters is the lack of information about the possibilities of export of organization. At least this problem is called by business representatives as one of the main points in the poll mentioned above. Indeed, if closed today, Russian markets or the markets of the CIS countries available for the study of domestic exporters, the language and cultural barriers makes the EU market much more difficult to study. If for the large companies it is not a problem to have a staff of experts, it is quite obvious that the small companies are deprived of such opportunities. As for the state, in the field of information the support to domestic companies is practically unavailable. A simple example, on the website dedicated to the state support of exports, which is configured by Ministry of Economic Development specialists, many sections have not been updated since 2013, such as the legal nuances of the various countries and on the international announcements in various countries, it seems, that they are intended to create a kind of intense activity. It is therefore not surprising that the information vacuum is a serious obstacle for the development of export opportunities for domestic businesses.
However, the current situation in which Ukraine is now it is quite specific, not every country is in such a hard confrontation with it, in which of those are it’s main market. It is a paradox, but in the near surroundings of Ukraine only DPR and LPR are somewhat in a similar position. Thus, Ukraine has lost the most important market – and at the same the Russian and the DPR and LPR largely lost the Ukrainian and European markets. And let it not sound sacrilegious, but apparently the Ukraine government the Ukrainian authorities even mentioned that we have to learn from the “terrorists” and “militants .
It is well known that a major oligarchic business in the “Republic” continues to work under Ukrainian registration, and therefore they are not listed as local exporters. Therefore, the entire export operation is carried out as a local economy, primarily small and medium-sized businesses.
As for the Ukrainian industry, the number one export leader here is the food industry: 38% of export falls on food products. Second in the industry is the black metal products – 23%, third is the mineral raw materials at 5%. And it is because of the fact of how organized in export the DPR and LPR must be on the basis of small and medium-sized businesses, they seemed to have gone significantly forward in comparison with Ukraine. The general impression is that the rules of export transactions in the “republics” established on the basis of the submission of the business problems that are now reflected in the polls of Ukrainian businessmen.
So think again.and as mentioned above, the main problem in the organization of Ukrainian export company called VAT, is its administration and return system. For DPR and LPR VAT is void and canceled, and thus has reduced the tax burden of the enterprise and simplified workflow. In addition, it indirectly reduced the level of corruption in the system, as one of the darkest schemes fixed in Ukrainian tax system – a VAT refund. The next problem, that is pointed out by the representatives of business in the above survey of «Trade Policy and Practice in Ukraine” – is the complexity and high cost of preparation of the export procedure.
As mentioned before instead of 11 documents, and in addition to consignment notes, you have to have only two in the DPR: a pass for exported goods and accredited by the tax authority. In addition, in contrast to Ukraine, whereas mentioned above, export clearance procedures will cost up to $ 700, but in the Republics, for registration of export operations do not charge any fees. And because of the smaller number of documents, the period of the operation, time span, it is likely to be considerably less than in Ukraine. We have to stress how separate the markets are. It is known that the FTA along with the EU has a number of restrictions, such as quotas, saving a number of duties, etc. The Russian market is much more open to the Republics than Europe for Ukraine. Businesses registered in the DPR and LPR are given the opportunity to export to the Russian Federation, its products at the rates and the rules provided for the member countries of the Customs Union. For example, transit restrictions that are destroying Ukrainian exports to Kazakhstan today and other Central Asian republics. Facts are that many export innovations by the , “militants”,the Republic’s today could be quite useful for Ukrainian small and medium business and to try to stabilize the falling foreign trade of Ukraine and European markets and to learn faster and smarter .”
DNR Pushilin enacted extraordinary contact procedures video conference Minsk contact group re recent deaths and injuries by ukrops escalationsin Donbass,sounds like something is up…..
Concerning Twitter feeds on the subject of Aleppo and Syria, I’m not getting as many tweets as I once did. When I enter these subjects on Twitters search tool these days, I don’t get the dozens (or hundreds) of battle updates that I used to get routinely.
Is everyone having this problem? I’m frustrated…I want to follow battle developments on an up-to-the-minute basis.
https://twitter.com/EjmAlrai
https://twitter.com/leithfadel
https://twitter.com/MIG29_
https://twitter.com/Souria4Syrians
https://twitter.com/miladvisor
https://twitter.com/moscow_ghost
Thanks. I’m already getting most of those Twitter feeds. Even the updates these accounts offer is sparse compared to what was flowing on Twitter just months ago.
Ivan Sidorenko, for example, isn’t giving as much up-to-the-minute info as before. Maybe Twitterers on both sides of the battle are under pressure not to disclose news.
There is danger in disclosing news, and in the last 24 hours there has been an internet/cellphone blackout imposed on Aleppo for this reason.
Checked Syrian perspective links? anna-news often has recent videos.
Amazing how we in the “glorious” West must be preached to on the basics of democracy, dignity and a life well lived, again and again, by none other than the would-be Devil himself. Of course none of this lucid thought and sanity was reported by the Satanist press.
Not sure why VP is giving one more chance to separate terrorists when their is increased activity by rebels causing more death and injury in Aleppo….against advice of his military……..very sad to see more victims on RT…against grad being fired by rebels for example……final final chance….or what…there are other options available or being planned??????? Gonna finally prove usa is guilty of war crimes?
Apparently his spokesperson Peskov has reaffirmedVP is personally in charge of the Syrian situation ,the operational command is directly under his control, and in an emergency situation Russia has reserved the right to do whatever is necessary…..note only?airstrikes are on hold at the moment.Does this sound like VP is expecting a worsening situation by usa coalition, or this is the final final opportunity for the usa election to reverse their approach ie the “trump potential” to change the situation, or for eg, China and Kadyrov troops are on their way in a surprise move, especially as UNHR seems to recognise the human rights more of “moderate rebels,” more than western Aleppo civilians…….is there a serious concern that Syrian civilians might lose”faith”in Assad and VP due to continuing suffering?
Putin ”We should fight terrorists till the end, we should learn from Israel?? they fight till the end?? so now Israel is fighting terrorists?
How can Putin even say this? Israel has been treating wounded ISIS terrorists in Tel Aviv and then setting them free to terrorize, rape and chop bodies up some more. Has Putin forgotten last months attack from the Russian warship, stationed in Syria’s coastal waters, that targeted and took out the military operations room in Aleppo near Sam’an mountain, killing 30 Israeli, and foreign intelligence officers that was HQ’s for assisting/supporting ISIS? Do I even mention the Israeli General who was captured by the Iraqis and confessed that Mossad and Israel coordinate/assist attacks carried out by ISIS terrorists?
Ugh! I hesitated a few days to read this, because every time I read a Putin speech like this, I get depressed. Well, I just read it, and am depressed.
Why can’t both U.S. government and European government be filled with people like Putin? Heck, I’d settle for just the U.S. with someone half as astute and I think the world would be better off for it.
Putin clearly identifies core symptoms and knows some of the key causes of the rot; he articulates them concisely. He clearly identifies the massive gulf between the ‘common’ masses and their elite masters. Of course I also think these things are quite plainly seen by anyone with a smidgen of common sense, yet I am consistently surprised by the number of people that both can’t see it, and somehow still think people like Bush, Obama, Clinton, etc. are good for the nation and the world. The evidence to date shows the exact opposite is true.
But then, Putin is also correct that despite the trappings of a so-called democracy, we are mostly powerless, sense it, and I have to believe that the people still clinging to the sham are suffering denial as a coping mechanism due to what we know to be true — we can’t stop the madness, so try to rationalize it away.
So, I will just sigh, nod my head in agreement with Putin’s assessments as I read them, thinking, “Yep, right again sir,” and feel the sadness there are but a few leaders like Putin right now, and none of them have positions of power in the countries that really need someone similar, namely U.S. and some key European nations.