[CTRL] Fwd: Russia China --nuclear rivals of U.S.-- worried by talk of Iran attack
-Caveat Lector- Begin forwarded message: From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: September 18, 2007 5:50:24 PM PDT To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Russia China --nuclear rivals of U.S.-- worried by talk of Iran attack http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKL1877362220070918? pageNumber=1 Russia and China worried by Iran attack talk Tue Sep 18, 2007 7:14pm BST By Chris Baldwin MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia and China expressed alarm on Tuesday over comments by France's foreign minister raising the spectre of war with Iran, and Washington said diplomacy was key to ending a standoff with Tehran over its nuclear programme. Minister Bernard Kouchner, his comments clearly testing the resilience of a coalition of major powers seeking to curb Iran's ambitions, sought to play down his weekend remarks, saying they had been meant as a warning against war. I do not want it to be said that I am a warmonger! he told Le Monde newspaper, days before the five U.N. Security Council permanent members, including Russia and China, and Germany were due to meet to discuss possible new sanctions against Tehran. My message was a message of peace, of seriousness and of determination, the paper quoted Kouchner as saying on his plane as he headed to Moscow for talks with his Russian counterpart. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov made it clear at a joint news briefing with Kouchner that his remarks had disturbed a Kremlin, like China, less inclined to sanctions than the West. We are worried by reports that there is serious consideration being given to military action in Iran, Lavrov said. That is a threat to a region where there are already grave problems in Iraq and Afghanistan. Washington, which itself has kept open the possibility of armed force if diplomacy fails, made clear it had no interest in military embroilment at this stage. At the same time, it seemed at pains to dismiss suggestions of disunity among the powers. We believe that there is a diplomatic solution, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino said. We are working with the French and the rest of the EU (European Union) community in order to pressure Iran to comply with their obligations under the U.N. Security Council regulations. Western powers led by the United States accuse Iran of using a purported nuclear power programme as a screen for development of nuclear arms -- something they fear could add enormously to instability in the already volatile Middle East. They point to Iran's past secrecy over nuclear research as cause for concern. IRAN UNMOVED Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, an outspoken critic of the West, said Kouchner's comments were meant only for the media. We do not consider these threats to be serious. Iran says it seeks nuclear energy only for electricity and condemns U.N. sanctions promoted by the five permanent members -- China, Russia, the United States, France and Britain -- and Germany over its uranium enrichment programme. Lavrov, signalling Russian policy at a powers' meeting scheduled for Friday to consider new steps, said Iran should be left to work with the International Atomic Energy Agency before the world considers further sanctions or military action. The United States and the European Union are taking tougher anti- Iranian sanctions ... if we agree to work collectively... then what purpose is served by unilateral actions? China also condemned Kouchner's weekend remarks. We believe the best option is to peacefully resolve the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic negotiations, which is in the common interests of the international community, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said at a briefing. We do not approve of easily resorting to threatening use of force in international affairs, Jiang said. Kouchner said France had asked French firms not to bid for work in Iran. We must prepare for the worst, he said in the weekend interview with RTL radio and LCI television. The worst, sir, is war. He said, however, that war was not an imminent prospect. © Reuters 2006. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by caching, framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world. Reuters journalists are subject to the Reuters Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. See what's new at AOL.com and Make AOL Your Homepage. www.ctrl.org DECLARATION DISCLAIMER == CTRL is a discussion informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substanceânot soap-boxingâplease! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'âwith its
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia Arrests Assassins Hired by Berezovsky, Moles in Security Services
-Caveat Lector- Begin forwarded message: From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: August 28, 2007 8:29:19 PM PDT To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Russia Arrests Assassins Hired by Berezovsky, Moles in Security Services Russia suggests Berezovsky behind journalist's killing by Shaun Walker in Moscow The Independent (UK), 28 August 2007 http://news.independent.co.uk/europe/article2901005.ece Russian prosecutors have announced a breakthrough in the hunt for the killers of Anna Politkovskaya, the crusading journalist and prominent critic of Vladimir Putin, who was murdered last year. Conveniently for the Kremlin, the finger of suspicion points directly at President Vladimir Putin's main enemy, the exiled Russian tycoon Boris Berezovsky. The announcement came three days before what would have been Politkovskaya's 49th birthday, and almost a year after she was shot dead in a hail of bullets in the lift of her Moscow apartment building early last October. The Russian prosecutor-general, Yuri Chaika, said at a press conference in Moscow yesterday that 10 arrests had been made, including the direct organisers, accomplices and the assassin himself. Figures within the Russian Interior Ministry and secret services have been arrested as accomplices to the crime, but it was hinted that the mastermind of the murder was the oligarch living outside Russia. The person who ordered the crime, said Mr Chaika, was living outside Russia and wanted to destabilise the situation in the country ... and return to the previous ruling system, when money and oligarchs decided everything. This would suggest either the London-based Boris Berezovsky, or the former head of Yukos oil and gas company, Leonid Nevzlin, who lives in Israel. The Kremlin and Russian authorities have long suggested that Mr Berezovsky is behind the murder of both Politkovskaya and Alexander Litvinenko, the former KGB agent poisoned in London last November. Experts and former colleagues of the assassinated journalist expressed satisfaction that arrests had been made, but scepticism at Mr Chaika's conclusions. It's good that there has been progress in the case, said Igor Yakovenko, secretary-general of the Russian Union of Journalists. If we believe everything that Chaika says then this is the end of the sad tradition of the murders of journalists in Russia going unsolved. But, he said, there were several doubts about the allegations. It's worrying that, even before the investigation has been officially completed, they are pointing the finger at people abroad, he said. Dmitry Muratov, the editor of Novaya Gazeta, the opposition newspaper where Politkovskaya published her hard-hitting reports on Russian politics and the conflict in Chechnya, expressed similar doubts. We have known about this for a while. We've worked together with their investigation and we trust their professionalism, said Mr Muratov. But we are absolutely amazed that they have openly stated they know who ordered the crime before the investigation has even been completed. Mr Muratov confirmed that a security services official had been arrested, and revealed that the FSB security-service operative in question was a Moscow-based lieutenant-colonel. At this stage, I don't want to reveal any more, he said. Let's wait first for the court case. Mr Chaika stated that the killing was carried out by a Chechen criminal gang operating in Moscow that specialises in professional hits. He also linked the group to the killings of Andrei Kozlov, the corruption-fighting banker who was shot dead last year, and the Forbes magazine editor Paul Klebnikov, killed in 2004. He refused to name the mastermind, but separately stated that Russia's long-standing efforts to have Boris Berezovsky brought before a Russian court could bear fruit soon, if the former oligarch is extradited from Britain to Brazil, where he is wanted on charges of financial irregularity, and from there to Russia. If all of Mr Chaika's claims are to be believed, it would mean that members of Russia's security services are under the command of Boris Berezovsky. The level of corruption in Russia can bring many unpleasant surprises, said Gennady Gudkov, a former FSB colonel and now a member of the security committee of the Duma, or parliament. Mr Gudkov said he was certain the London-based exile was behind the killing: My information leads me to believe that Berezovsky himself, or people controlled by him, are behind both this act and many acts of terrorism. Others were sceptical. We have no guarantees the names of those who really ordered the killing and the names of those who will be accused of it will be the same, said a statement from Novaya Gazeta's editorial team. We have no complaints about the investigative team. We're working together ... But
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia China Begin JOINT Military Exercises in Eurasia
-Caveat Lector- Begin forwarded message: From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: August 8, 2007 1:01:44 AM PDT To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Russia China Begin JOINT Military Exercises in Eurasia The Times August 6, 2007 http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/europe/article2204006.ece ‘Rival to Nato’ begins first military exercise Tony Halpin in Moscow Russian and Chinese troops are joining forces this week in the first military exercises by an international organisation that is regarded in some quarters as a potential rival to Nato. Thousands of soldiers and 500 combat vehicles will take part in “Peace Mission 2007”, organised by the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) in the Chelyabinsk region of Russia. Russian officials have also proposed an alliance between the SCO and a body representing most of the former Soviet republics. Scores of Russian and Chinese aircraft begin joint exercises tomorrow before a week of military manoeuvres from Thursday that will include Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan. At least 6,500 troops are involved in what is described as an antiterror exercise. Colonel-General Vladimir Moltenskoi, the deputy commander of Russian ground forces, said: “The exercise will involve practically all SCO members for the first time in its history.” Staff officers from Uzbekistan, the sixth SCO member, will also attend in what is being regarded as a major extension of the organisation’s capabilities. The SCO was founded as a nonmilitary alliance in 2001 to combat drugs and weapons smuggling as well as terrorism and separatism in the region. It has since developed a role in regional trade and is increasingly regarded by Moscow and Beijing as a counterweight to US global influence. The secretary-general of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) called last week for joint military exercises with the SCO. Nikolai Bordyuzha said that the body representing Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan should work with the SCO to guarantee security across the region. Mr Bordyuzha has already announced a CSTO plan to create a large military force capable of assisting a member state in the event of an attack. A rapid-reaction force is already based in Central Asia and there are plans for a common air defence system covering most of the former Soviet Union. Leaders of SCO member states will meet in Bishkek, the Kyrgyz capital, next week for their annual summit. Turkmenistan will also attend for the first time, while Mongolia, Iran, India and Pakistan have observer status. Igor Ivanov, the head of Russian security, played down concerns in May that the SCO was evolving into a military alliance to counter the expansion of Nato into Asia as part of the War on Terror. But MPs on the Foreign Affairs Select Committee expressed fears last year that the West could be on a collision course in the struggle for energy resources with “an authoritarian bloc opposed to democracy” that was based on an alliance between China and Russia. A newly assertive Russia, flush with oil and gas revenues, is moving rapidly to increase its military capability amid tensions with the West over missile defence and Nato expansion. Almost £100 billion has been set aside for rearmament over the next eight years. At the ready $24.9bn Russian defence budget 2006 395,000 on active service in army 142,000 in active service in navy 160,000 on active service in air force $35.3bn Chinese defence budget $35.3bn Chinese defence budget 1.6m Army 255,000 Navy 400,000 Air force $535bn US defence budget 595,946 Army 376,750 Navy 347,400 Air force Source: International Institute for Strategic Studies Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL.com. www.ctrl.org DECLARATION DISCLAIMER == CTRL is a discussion informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. Archives Available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/ A HREF=http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/;ctrl/A To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia, Free Again
-Caveat Lector- Begin forwarded message: From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: July 15, 2007 5:52:46 PM PDT To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Russia, Free Again Gorbachev: Russia's Suspension of Arms Treaty Justified Voice of America, 15 July 2007 http://www.voanews.com/english/2007-07-15-voa25.cfm Mikhail Gorbachev (file photo) Former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev says Russia's decision to suspend participation in a major European arms treaty is an absolutely logical move. Mr. Gorbachev signed the original Conventional Forces in Europe treaty - a key Cold War-era agreement with the United States and NATO - in 1990. The treaty was revised in 1999, after the Warsaw Pact communist alliance was dissolved, but neither the United States nor NATO's members have ratified those changes. Mr. Gorbachev tells Russia's Interfax news agency it would be incomprehensible for Moscow to abide by the treaty under those circumstances. U.S. plans to deploy a missile shield in central Europe are widely seen as the major factor behind Russia's treaty suspension. Mr. Gorbachev, however, says Russia wants to save the treaty, by reopening talks on the accord. The United States, NATO and the European Union all have said they are disappointed by Mr. Putin's suspension of the treaty. Mr. Putin hinted at such action earlier this year and linked the treaty issue to the U.S. missile plan. Official announcement of the Kremlin decree on Saturday in Moscow did not mention the missile proposal, but a Russian Foreign Ministry statement said the decision was based NATO's failure to ratify the 1999 revision. The conventional-forces treaty put specific limits on the number of tanks, heavy artillery and fighter jets that could be deployed in Europe or western Russia -- from the Atlantic Coast to the Ural Mountains -- and the original version is credited for major reductions in military hardware in the region after 1992. The United States and its NATO allies refused to ratify the revised treaty in 1999 after Russia refused to withdraw troops it has stationed in the former Soviet republics, including Georgia and Moldova. --- No defence against missiles The Guardian (UK), July 16, 2007 http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/story/0,,2127232,00.html The current fad of tearing up vital arms-control agreements was started by America when it abrogated the anti-ballistic missile treaty in order to build its missile shield. Russia followed suit on Saturday by announcing that it would suspend its obligations under the conventional forces in Europe (CFE) treaty. If the trend continues, the intermediate-range nuclear forces treaty could be next. And then Europe, freshly liberated from the Cold-War threat of instant extinction, will be bristling with missiles. The US will have its missile interceptor base in Poland and a long- range radar in the Czech Republic that can direct a missile on to a target anywhere in Russia. To counter that, Russia will deploy long- range Iskander missiles in its enclave in Kaliningrad, behind the line of the Baltic states and right on the Polish border. Heavy tanks will once again roam the forests of Germany and central Russia, just like the good old days. Does this sound insane on a continent which has said goodbye to war? It may, but it could come to pass. For all the touchy-feely togetherness that Vladimir Putin and George Bush indulged in at their recent lobster summit in Maine, both leaders continue to send each other messages of a more traditional kind. Mr Bush is intent on pushing ahead with missile defence plans come what may, and is finalising an agreement with the Polish president Lech Kaczynski today. Mr Putin has made it crystal clear that if there is no compromise on missile defence, Russia is prepared to carry out its threat to point its missiles at Europe again. Get a sneak peak of the all-new AOL.com. www.ctrl.org DECLARATION DISCLAIMER == CTRL is a discussion informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substanceânot soap-boxingâplease! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'âwith its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright fraudsâis used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. Archives Available at: http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/ A HREF=http://www.mail-archive.com/ctrl@listserv.aol.com/;ctrl/A
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia - Oil
Stratfor.com's Global Intelligence Update - 29 August 2000 _ It's not news, it's intelligence. *Coming Soon* Oil, Power and Politics. Crude oil prices are higher than anytime in the last 10 years, tripling in just the last two years. And yet, the world's largest consumer of oil - the United States - rolls along, largely unaffected. The global economy is changing. Over the long term, power relationships between the world's oil producers and oil consumers will shift, as will economic relationships between competing oil consumers. _ Russia: Putin's Coming Concession to the Oligarchs Summary On Sept. 19, the Russian government will put up for auction majority control of the ONAKO oil company, one of the country's most profitable energy companies. Because foreigners are barred from holding more than a fraction of any Russian oil company, the government will likely be forced to hand over control to the powerful businessmen once known as oligarchs, the men that Putin has publicly campaigned against. Analysis After months of trying to rein in Russia's oligarchs, Russian President Vladimir Putin will soon have to hand over to them a piece of the country's most profitable industry: oil production. The government plans to privatize the ONAKO oil company, the 11th largest oil company in the country, selling off 85 percent of its shares. The only true contenders for buying up control of the company - to be auctioned off Sept. 19 with bids starting at $425 million - are members of the wealthy, but allegedly corrupt, oligarchy. The president has staked much of his presidency on diminishing the power of these men, holdovers from the Yeltsin era. The Putin government will soon be forced to pick one group of oligarchs over another, to control ONAKO. The ONAKO auction may also set a precedent: It is the first of four energy companies to be privatized. Would you like to see full text? http://www.stratfor.com/SERVICES/giu2000/082900.ASP ___ Russian law limits the amount of equity that foreign investors can control in the country's oil companies, capping ownership at no more than 15 percent, according to a June edition of the St. Petersburg Times. The shares in ONAKO will be auctioned off to the highest bidder. More than 20 groups have submitted an offer, but only two are true contenders: LUKoil, the largest oil producer in Russia, and an alliance of three smaller companies, Yukos, Sibneft and Surgutneftgaz. Two oligarchs direct LUKoil, Rem Vyakhirev and Vagit Alekperov, although these two men are largely under Kremlin control. In contrast, the three oligarchs behind the alliance behind the other companies - Yukos, Sibneft and Surgutneftgaz - are Mikhail Khodorkovsky, Boris Berezovsky and Roman Abramovich. Putin has publicly sought their power since taking office. They largely bought their way into power under former President Boris Yeltsin, amassing fortunes and increasing their political influence. Abramovich, widely considered Berezovsky's protege, is a Duma member, as Berezovsky himself was until recently. _ For more on Russia, see: http://www.stratfor.com/CIS/countries/Russia/default.htm _ Though not Russia's largest companies, ONAKO is one of the most profitable. The average Russian oil company makes less than 30 percent of its profits from exports; ONAKO exports 40 percent of its product, enabling it to reap the benefits of the higher oil prices outside Russia. Last year ONAKO earned as much money as some other companies by pumping less oil, according to Russica Information on Aug. 16. Allowing Berezovsky or Khodorkovsky to control the company would be a dangerous risk for the Kremlin, considering the pasts of the two. Both oligarchs were linked to the 1998 IMF money laundering scandal; both have been targets of tax police raids or investigations in the past three months according to articles in The Moscow Times in late August. Berezovsky was notably absent from the late-July summit between Putin and the oligarchs, while Khodorkovsky has links to businessmen recently expelled from Bulgaria on corruption and money laundering allegations. For ONAKO to remain profitable so that the government can take its share of revenues and taxes, the government needs LUKoil to win the bid for ONAKO. Putin has already won a battle with Gazprom's Rem Vyakirev. Second, the government owns 15 percent of LUKoil's stock and plays a controlling role behind the scenes of the company. But the fact is that former oligarchs remain the only ones financially stable enough to contend in the bidding. Unless Putin can get laws passed that favor foreign investment in strategically important industries, he
Re: [CTRL] Fwd: Russia - Oil
Sorry Kris - I just sent this one out too as I thought a good one, and had not read all my email .. So still a good one because China and Russia I think have as much oil as arabic oil?Not sure, but they do off shore drill in China. A. Saba Dare To Call It Conspiracy A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"www.ctrl.org/A DECLARATION DISCLAIMER == CTRL is a discussion informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substancenot soap-boxingplease! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright fraudsis used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html"Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]/A http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/"ctrl/A To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
Re: [CTRL] Fwd: Russia: No hope left for sub crew
From: "Aleisha Saba" [EMAIL PROTECTED] Get that garbage out of our White House. GIGO June A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"www.ctrl.org/A DECLARATION DISCLAIMER == CTRL is a discussion informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are unwelcomed. Substancenot soap-boxingplease! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'with its many half-truths, mis- directions and outright fraudsis used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. Archives Available at: http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html"Archives of [EMAIL PROTECTED]/A http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/"ctrl/A To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia: No hope left for sub crew
So Putin was on vacation..and while all those Russian sailors were 350 feet beneath the water, why the delay in the rescue attempts? But then remember, we have in Putin all that is KGB for he still is KGB.remember the little 14 year old boy who had his legs amputated because Putins new policy was to really show them publicly what will happen to anyone who opposes his regimeend result a broken hearted mother sitting with her child in a wheelchair.Russians refuse him medical treatment, until gangrene set in so they then accommodated the mother and child, by cutting off his legs. These are friends of USA..our Director of FBI met with Putin and was oh so impressed - and little Madeline Albright went to Putin and asked him if we could beef up our defenses, in the USA...bet she did a little golly gee, Mr. Putin Was there something about that submarine that was oh so secret - why refusal to ask for USA aidwhat happened to that submarine - was it like another USS Liberty deal, someone trying to start a war and then blame it on someone else? Explosion inside? The experts said Titanic looked like had been hit with explosion, not iceberg. All those men at the bottom of the sea, dying while Nero fiddled - Putin on vacation, too busy to care or give order to send out marines.been nice of these men had gotten the same attention as the FBI gave in covering Flight 800 - said to have been blown of sky by missile - they spent $32 million dollars investigating that one - remember the daily news conferences the FBI called and how sickening they all were. Only thing I know, the Russians gave that sub as much attenion as the USA gave the USS Liberty, where Israelies napalmed that ship and bombed it and 34 died and 170 injured and they bombed and napalmed it IN INTERNATIONAL WATERS for 45 minutes trying to sink same,,like where there is a testimony there must be by necessity death of testators - for Egypt would be blamed for that one if they had gotten away with it.. Well I do not think this submarine will be forgotten and if I were Putin I would feel pretty shaky by nowthat guy obvivously is not too bright and then their Navy SOLD the names of the sailors?A Dead Pool? Did you see the picture of some of those just near kids on that sub? Will Putin cry with Henry Kissinger, old KGB Agent Code Name Bore How I hate these bastards..but then the Russian Mafia killed more Christians than Hitler killed jews - but then who realizes that 55 million people died in WWII? So Remember the USS Liberty always - sign of times? Get that garbage out of our White House. Russia: No hope left for sub crew Official says critical time has passed to rescue 118 men Two women prepare to receive news of their relatives on board the crippled nuclear submarine. Russian navy officials said Saturday there is almost no hope of rescuing any survivors. MSNBC STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS MOSCOW, Aug. 19 The critical time has passed to rescue the 118-man crew of the stricken nuclear submarine Kursk and the men are likely dead, a Russian official announced Saturday morning. He said the crew likely died by drowning in the first moments of the accident nearly a week ago or by unbearable air pressure. . Chronology of Russian nuclear submarine accidents March 20, 1993 A Russian Delta-3 class nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine operating in the Barents Sea was struck by the U.S. nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Grayling. Both vessels returned to base.September 27, 1991 A missile misfired aboard a Soviet Typhoon class nuclear-powered submarine in the northern White Sea during a training exercise. The submarine, armed with nuclear missiles and torpedoes, returned to base safely. April 7, 1989 A Soviet Mike class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank off northern Norway with the loss of 42 lives after a fire on board. The Komsomolets submarine was armed with two nuclear torpedoes.October 6, 1986 A Soviet Yankee class nuclear-powered submarine armed with 16 SS-N-6 missiles, each carrying two warheads, and an estimated two nuclear torpedoes sank some 600 miles northeast of Bermuda. August 10, 1985 An explosion devastated the Shkotovo-22 ship repair facility which services Soviet navy nuclear-powered vessels. Ten people were killed and many died later from radiation exposure.September 8, 1977 A Soviet Delta-1 class nuclear-powered submarine accidentally jettisoned a nuclear warhead off Russia's Far-Eastern Kamchatka peninsula. The warhead was later recovered. April 12, 1970 A Soviet November class nuclear-powered attack submarine sank in the Atlantic Ocean off Spain. The K-8 submarine was powered by two nuclear reactors and carried two nuclear torpedoes.March 8-10, 1968 A Soviet Golf-2 class diesel-powered submarine armed with three nuclear SS-N-5 missiles sank in the Pacific. In 1974 the CIA used a commissioned vessel, the 63,000 ton Hughes Glomar Explorer, to recover the
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia develops stealth bomber
http://www.worldnetdaily.com/bluesky_smith_news/2503_xnsof_russia_dev.shtml Russia develops stealth bomber Expert: New weapons systems 'state-of-the-art,' some 'superior' to America's By Charles Smith © 2000 WorldNetDaily.com WorldNetDaily has learned that Russia is pursuing an aggressive program of weapons development that now includes the production of a new stealth bomber. Described as smaller than the U.S. Air Force Northup B-2 Spirit stealth bomber, the Russian T-60S stealth bomber is being developed by Russian aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi, maker of the famed SU-27 Flanker fighter. The T-60S program reportedly uses a variable "swing" geometry wing and includes extensive stealth design features. The move toward a stealth bomber is seen as an indication that President Validmir Putin intends to upgrade both the tactical and strategic weapons employed by Russia. The new stealth aircraft will allow the Russian air force to fight an advanced conventional war beyond the borders of Federation and compete directly with the U.S. Air Force. The Russian air force decayed rapidly after the fall of the Soviet Union to approximately one half its original size. But the widespread impression of an under-funded and poorly manned air force in today's Russia has been disputed by Russian generals who released video of advanced warplanes making precision strikes during the war against Chechen rebels. "The Russians continue to invest heavily in advanced military technology," agreed Rep. Curt Weldon, a senior member of the House National Security Committee. Weldon estimated that "over a billion dollars" of U.S. funding has been diverted by the Russian military into new weapons programs. According to Weldon, Russia is now fielding "state-of-the-art" weapons and some Russian technology is "superior" to U.S. systems. "The Russian military continues to lead the world with the best weapons," noted Weldon. "The Russian government continues to invest heavily in advanced military technology. The Russian military investment also includes money from the United States, profits from sales to our military like the Sunburn and Ma-31 missiles, and from other funds such as Nunn Lungar and military to military contacts." The Russian stealth program may have been assisted by the recovery and sale of a shot-down U.S. Air Force F-117A stealth fighter during the 1999 war against Serbia. Serbs reportedly sold the remains of the American stealth aircraft directly to the Russians. However, the Russian stealth program has been ongoing for several years. In 1995, then commander of the Russian air force, Col. Gen. Peter Deinekin, stated that a new "multi-role strategic bomber" would replace the aging Tupolev TU-22 Blinder medium-range bomber and the Sukhoi SU-24 Fencer swing-wing fighter bomber. Russian fighter maker Sukhoi is using the S-37 Berkut or "Golden Eagle" test-bed aircraft to prototype technologies for the next generation of Russian aircraft, including the new stealth bomber. The Sukhoi S-37 features forward-swept wings that provide improved aerodynamics at subsonic speeds and at high angles of attack. The S-37 forward-swept wings are also unstable in flight, requiring high-speed computer controls. Stealth aircraft are notably difficult to control because the radar evading aircraft are also unstable in flight. Recent
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia
STRATFOR.COM's Global Intelligence Update - January 17, 2000 By The Internet's Most Intelligent Source of International News Analysis http://www.stratfor.com/ _ WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR WORLD? U.S. aid intended to fight the Colombian drug trade and foster the peace talks will instead encourage more fighting. http://www.stratfor.com/world/specialreports/special8.htm France's military exercises with the UAE are part of its new security strategy in the Persian Gulf. http://www.stratfor.com/MEAF/commentary/m0001142255.htm Algerian extremists not willing to accept President Bouteflika's amnesty-for-peace plan will be forced to seek safe haven elsewhere. http://www.stratfor.com/MEAF/commentary/m0001142234.htm __ STRATFOR.COM Global Intelligence Update January 17, 1999 The Putin Doctrine: Nuclear Threats and Russia's Place in the World Summary Russia's acting president, Vladimir Putin, last week reversed his country's vow never to use nuclear weapons first. The announcement sent shock waves around the world. And it should have. Russian nuclear warheads are not about to rain down on the United States but Putin is doing more than rattling sabers. A new Russian national security doctrine has emerged over the last few months and Putin's announcement is intended to round out that doctrine, affecting the war in Chechnya, and re-ordering relations both with Russia's neighbors and the United States. Analysis Until a few months ago, Russia had no clear-cut national security policy. Since the end of the Cold War, Russian security doctrine had devolved into Russian economic policy. Russian economic policy consisted of intensifying relations with the advanced industrial, capitalist world in order to create the financial structures and relationships needed to jump-start the economy. Russian national security doctrine consisted primarily of doing nothing to disrupt those economic relationships while, within the framework of the first imperative, maintaining the territorial and institutional integrity of the Russian Federation. Thus, the most important aspect of the new Russian national security doctrine is that it exists at all. Putin's announcement on first strike has as its primary purpose the elevation of national security issues to the same level as national economic issues. In other words, Putin's announcement on nuclear weapons represents the death of the preceding national strategy, which relegated national security issues to a distant second place behind national economic concerns. It was intended to stun a number of audiences into realizing that the post-Cold War world is gone. The choice of the nuclear issue served a number of purposes and spoke to a number of audiences. The first audience was the United States and its allies. As our readers know, it has been our view that the West's decision to bomb Iraq in December of 1998 - followed by the war in Kosovo, both in direct opposition to Russian wishes - generated a revolution in Russian policy. Those two actions convinced the Russians that the United States intended to reduce Russia to the status of a tertiary power. Washington's systematic indifference to Russian wishes convinced the Russian national security community that without leverage against the United States, Russia would have no traction whatsoever. Economic relations with the West had effectively collapsed in the financial crisis of August 1998, so the Russians felt they had little to lose. Putin's announcement is perfectly designed to drive home the price and risks of U.S. economic and strategic policy. It systematically accomplishes what Yeltsin tried spasmodically when he reminded Washington that Russia had nuclear weapons and was prepared to use them. First, the Putin doctrine reminds the United States that Russia is the only nation in the world with sufficient nuclear weapons of sufficient range to conduct an annihilating attack on the United States. To put it bluntly, Russia could choose to kill a large percentage of the American public if it is prepared to endure the same. Second, Moscow's new stance poses a practical problem for the United States, which must now at least consider Russian responses. No matter how unlikely a Russian first strike is, there is a huge difference between a negligible threat and a non-existent one, particularly at the orders of magnitude involved. During the Cold War, the threat of a Soviet nuclear response was in the back of every policy maker's mind when dealing with issues from Nicaragua to Angola to India. That threat disappeared with Glasnost. Putin intends to resurrect it. Third, this is a meaningful threat because of the relative weakness of Russia's conventional forces. Consider Western nuclear strategy, particularly during the Cold War. The United States and NATO never renounced a possible first strike; indeed, it was explicitly understood that a massive
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia/China
STRATFOR.COM's Global Intelligence Update - December 7, 1999 By The Internet's Most Intelligent Source of International News Analysis http://www.stratfor.com/ _ WHAT'S GOING ON IN YOUR WORLD? China: the Wild Card in Taiwan's Election http://www.stratfor.com/asia/commentary/m9912062245.htm Gadhafi's African Influence Attracts Europe http://www.stratfor.com/MEAF/commentary/m9912062205.htm FIND OUT AT http://www.stratfor.com/ __ STRATFOR.COM Global Intelligence Update December 7, 1999 Yeltsin Recovers - Long Enough to Ask for China's Support Summary On Dec. 6, the government of Russian President Boris Yeltsin announced that he had recovered enough from a bout of pneumonia to hold a long-awaited informal summit with Chinese President Jiang Zemin in Beijing. The president's sudden recovery and the summit coincide with the intensification of Russian military operations in Chechnya, particularly a new ultimatum to the people of Grozny. Russia is making a final bid to gain international political support in anticipation of a renewed offensive against Grozny. Analysis Russian President Boris Yeltsin was released from the hospital Dec. 6 following a week-long stay for a respiratory infection. Following his release, the Kremlin announced that Yeltsin will attend an informal summit with Chinese President Jiang Zemin in Beijing December 8-10. The meeting between the two leaders has largely been ignored by the West but widely anticipated both in Russia and China. And throughout the autumn it has been repeatedly and inexplicably postponed. The sudden visit by Yeltsin to Beijing is not likely to be a mere coincidence. Indeed, it appears to be an attempt by Russia to guarantee political backing from China for what it is about to do: make a concerted and unpopular push in the conflict in Chechnya. The announcement of the summit came as the Russian military issued an ultimatum to civilians and rebels alike in Grozny, the Chechen capital, warning that if they fail to leave by Dec. 11 they will be "annihilated with air and artillery bombardments." Yeltsin's visit to China suggests urgency. It has been postponed several times this year. He has canceled or postponed other international trips, such as the one to Japan, which implies the importance Moscow places on China's support. The Russian Duma elections are just two weeks away, and stories of Russian casualties have leaked out of Chechnya. Russia is likely concerned that its apparent intention to flatten Grozny will trigger a backlash from Islamic fundamentalists, particularly terrorist organizations. Opposition to the war is growing among Islamic nations, unconvinced by Moscow's diplomatic campaign to emphasize that the rebels are terrorists and that religion has nothing to do with the conflict. Fundamentalist clerics in Egypt are calling for a boycott of Russia. The Organization of the Islamic Conference has sent a delegation to Moscow and called for a peaceful solution to the war in Chechnya. If Russia and China share a worry, it is the prospect of increased terrorism and separatism in Central Asia. Moscow is also likely to try to enlist China's support during what will surely be an even more trying economic period. Because of the war in Chechnya, the West has threatened to withhold the next disbursement of International Monetary Fund (IMF) loans. Without the $640 million, Russia cannot pay off previous loans ( http://www.stratfor.com/cis/commentary/c9912020015.htm ). More important, if Russia defaults, it stands to lose the future confidence of foreign investors. The Russian government may be warning Beijing that it will forego the money to wage the war in Chechnya and is telling the Chinese government to brace itself for economic turmoil. Or Moscow may be trying to signal the Chinese leadership that economic ties will continue - regardless of what the West and the IMF do. On Dec. 1, Russian oil giant Yukos signed a deal with China that will double the amount of exported Russian oil. ITAR-Tass reported that Yeltsin and Jiang will discuss a proposed gas pipeline, which would bring Russia $2 billion to $3 billion annually. Like Moscow, Beijing does not want to see the West continue to intervene in internal separatist struggles. Russia appears to be engaged in a broad effort to shore up international political and economic ties in advance of a renewed assault on Grozny. Until recently, Yeltsin has been too ill to talk to visiting dignitaries. But Yeltsin rose from his sickbed to meet with Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma - and offered to restructure Ukraine's $1.8 billion debt for Russian gas. Yeltsin is also scheduled to sign the treaty for Russia-Belarus unification before heading to China. As well, Moscow has recently reinforced ties with India. This meeting between Yeltsin and Jiang is only a precursor to re- defining the broader relationship between Russia
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia to report to IMF on economy, plans on Friday
In a message dated 10/26/99 4:37:37 AM Central Daylight Time, AOL News writes: Subj:Russia to report to IMF on economy, plans on Friday Date: 10/26/99 4:37:37 AM Central Daylight Time From: AOL News BCC: Ahab42 Russia to report to IMF on economy, plans on Friday MOSCOW, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Russia will inform the International Monetary Fund this week on the current state of the economy and on how it intends to comply with conditions to secure further credits, government officials said on Tuesday. First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko told reporters the government would provide the necessary information on Friday in two letters For the full text of this story, A HREF="aol://4344:30.L100BXLQ.383346.625397553"click here/A. (c) 1999 Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved. No republication, redistribution or framing is permitted absent Reuter's prior consent. Reuters is not liable for errors or delays in content or actions taken based on this content. Active hyperlinks inserted by AOL. Announcement: America Online has added Reuters newswires to News Profiles. To add Reuters articles to your daily news delivery, go to KW: A HREF="aol://5862:146"News Profiles/A and click on "Modify Your News Profiles." Then click "Edit" and add Reuters from the list on the left. To edit your profile, go to keyword A HREF="aol://1722:NewsProfiles"NewsPro files/A. For all of today's news, go to keyword A HREF="aol://1722:News"News/A. Russia to report to IMF on economy, plans on Friday MOSCOW, Oct 26 (Reuters) - Russia will inform the International Monetary Fund this week on the current state of the economy and on how it intends to comply with conditions to secure further credits, government officials said on Tuesday. First Deputy Prime Minister Viktor Khristenko told reporters the government would provide the necessary information on Friday in two letters For the full text of this story, A HREF="aol://4344:30.L100BXLQ.383346.625397553"click here/A. (c) 1999 Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved. No republication, redistribution or framing is permitted absent Reuter's prior consent. Reuters is not liable for errors or delays in content or actions taken based on this content. Active hyperlinks inserted by AOL. Announcement: America Online has added Reuters newswires to News Profiles. To add Reuters articles to your daily news delivery, go to KW: A HREF="aol://5862:146"News Profiles/A and click on "Modify Your News Profiles." Then click "Edit" and add Reuters from the list on the left. To edit your profile, go to keyword A HREF="aol://1722:NewsProfiles"NewsProfiles/A. For all of today's news, go to keyword A HREF="aol://1722:News"News/A.
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia
___ What's going on in your world? Find Out. Visit Stratfor's Global Intelligence Center http://www.stratfor.com/world/default.htm ___ OTHER FEATURES ON STRATFOR.COM PKK Withdrawal Portends Split and Change of Tactics http://www.stratfor.com/MEAF/commentary/m9909092104.htm The IMF and the World Bank Bow Toward Malaysia http://www.stratfor.com/asia/specialreports/special71.htm Renewed Fighting in Dagestan Begs Chechen Response http://www.stratfor.com/CIS/commentary/c9909100015.htm __ STRATFOR.COM Global Intelligence Update September 10, 1999 Checkmate Nears for Yeltsin Summary: Russian President Boris Yeltsin has now been directly implicated in one of several corruption scandals currently engulfing the Kremlin. Despite rumors, Yeltsin is unlikely to resign from office over the scandals, retaining presidential immunity. This immunity will soon evaporate, however, with presidential elections scheduled for next May, leaving him three choices - flee the country, choose a sympathetic successor, or declare a state of emergency, canceling the elections. The latter would provide the ultimate justification - in Russia and abroad - for his removal and the purge of his allies. Analysis: Amid a storm of scandals engulfing his administration, Russian President Boris Yeltsin has long been suspected of being personally involved in illegal activity. His presumably biased Russian political foes have accused Yeltsin of wrongdoing, leaving rumors to float freely in international circles. But now, according to the September 8 edition of the Washington Post, Swiss investigators have directly linked Yeltsin to one of the burgeoning number of Russian corruption scandals - to the tune of $1 million. The Post cited law enforcement authorities investigating the Mabetex scandal as alleging the Swiss construction firm provided credit cards for Yeltsin and his two daughters, backed up by $1 million deposited in a Hungarian bank account. Yeltsin himself reportedly denied the allegations during a September 8 telephone conversation with U.S. President Bill Clinton. For the time being, the alleged bribe is less important than the fact that Yeltsin has been unambiguously linked to the scandal. Already most of the group of close Yeltsin advisors, senior administration members and supporters collectively known as the "Family" are under investigation for alleged involvement in one or more of the major scandals now facing the Kremlin [ http://www.stratfor.com/SERVICES/GIU/090299.ASP ]. These include allegedly laundering billions of dollars - some possibly from IMF loans - through New York banks, using IMF funds for international currency market speculations, skimming profits from the state airline Aeroflot, and accepting bribes from Mabetex. The Russian officials, their family members and friends under investigation now number nearly 800. Moreover, investigators are reportedly uncovering links between the scandals, effectively painting the whole Yeltsin administration as one boundless kleptocracy. With Yeltsin himself under investigation, the question immediately rises, will he remain in office for the duration of his term and if so, what then? Yeltsin has a few options - none of them good. He is unlikely to step down before the end of his term. Under the Russian constitution Yeltsin is immune from prosecution as long as he remains in office. In addition, retaining the presidency keeps levers at his disposal with which he can interfere in the investigations. He has already apparently used those levers, attempting to dismiss Prosecutor General Yuri Skuratov and "reassigning" investigator Georgy Chuglazov just before he was to travel to Switzerland to review evidence in the Mabetex case. The Duma could attempt to impeach Yeltsin, but the Duma's previous failed attempt took 10 months from initial discussion to final vote. With Duma elections slated for December and presidential elections scheduled for next May, there is little time for formal proceedings. Assuming Yeltsin has no desire or intention to submit himself for prosecution, he has three options before next year's presidential election. He can flee the country - a risk with no guarantees, considering the Russian security services. The security apparatus is apparently fueling these scandals and would no doubt be watching for such a move. Alternately, he could attempt to affect the election of a sympathetic successor who might theoretically protect him once his immunity ends. Yeltsin's ability to pick his successor, however, has been eroded by Russia's dismal economic situation and the snowballing scandals. Public support from Yeltsin is generally considered to be a political kiss of death. Moreover, he will be tempted to try to cast the blame on others in order to shake off the scandals and regain the ability to influence the vote in his favor. He will
Re: [CTRL] Fwd: Russia Gets First of IMF Payments
-Caveat Lector- This makes me wonder if the russkies are still going to coin the silver and gold money like they said they were. They thought to provide their populace with currency of value in prreparation for y2k, believing that theirs would be the only currency worth ANYTHING in the world a year from now. Is this a world bank payoff to keep them from doing that because the world bank knows it would shatter the currency of the rest of the World? Carl Amedio wrote: In a message dated 8/1/99 1:09:55 PM Central Daylight Time, AOL News writes: Subj:Russia Gets First of IMF Payments Date: 8/1/99 1:09:55 PM Central Daylight Time From: AOL News BCC: Ahab42 Russia Gets First of IMF Payments .c The Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) - The first of seven installments of the International Monetary Fund's new loan to Russia is being transferred on Sunday to Russia's IMF account, the Interfax news agency reported. The fund agreed last week to provide the $4.5 billion, 17-month stand-by credit to Russia. The $640 million is to be used to pay off part of Russia's debt to the IMF. Russia was due to pay $808.4 million to the fund in July and $520.4 million in August, Interfax said. Altogether, Russia owes the IMF about $18 billion. It has struggled to stay current on its debts to the fund since the economic crash last August. AP-NY-08-01-99 1409EDT Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press. Announcement: America Online has added Reuters newswires to News Profiles. To add Reuters articles to your daily news delivery, go to KW: A HREF="aol://5862:146"News Profiles/A and click on "Modify Your News Profiles." Then click "Edit" and add Reuters from the list on the left. To edit your profile, go to keyword A HREF="aol://1722:NewsProfiles"NewsProfiles/A. For all of today's news, go to keyword A HREF="aol://1722:News"News/A. Subject: Russia Gets First of IMF Payments Date: Sun, 1 Aug 1999 14:09:55 EDT From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: undisclosed-recipients:; Russia Gets First of IMF Payments .c The Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) - The first of seven installments of the International Monetary Fund's new loan to Russia is being transferred on Sunday to Russia's IMF account, the Interfax news agency reported. The fund agreed last week to provide the $4.5 billion, 17-month stand-by credit to Russia. The $640 million is to be used to pay off part of Russia's debt to the IMF. Russia was due to pay $808.4 million to the fund in July and $520.4 million in August, Interfax said. Altogether, Russia owes the IMF about $18 billion. It has struggled to stay current on its debts to the fund since the economic crash last August. AP-NY-08-01-99 1409EDT Copyright 1999 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without prior written authority of The Associated Press. Announcement: America Online has added Reuters newswires to News Profiles. To add Reuters articles to your daily news delivery, go to KW: A HREF="aol://5862:146"News Profiles/A and click on "Modify Your News Profiles." Then click "Edit" and add Reuters from the list on the left. To edit your profile, go to keyword A HREF="aol://1722:NewsProfiles"NewsProfiles/A. For all of today's news, go to keyword A HREF="aol://1722:News"News/A. DECLARATION DISCLAIMER == CTRL is a discussion and informational exchange list. Proselyzting propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substancenot soapboxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory', with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credeence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia
___ What's going on in your world? Find Out. Visit Stratfor's Global Intelligence Center http://www.stratfor.com/world/default.htm ___ OTHER FEATURES ON STRATFOR.COM Washington Begins the Post-Kosovo Purge http://www.stratfor.com/world/Commentaries/w9907300240.htm Uzbekistan's Decision not to Attend CIS Summit Signals Further Alienation of Pro-Western Faction inside CIS http://www.stratfor.com/CIS/commentary/c9907300041.htm Democratic Republic of Congo: Situation Report http://www.stratfor.com/MEAF/specialreports/special3.htm Short Term Political Gain May Win Nazarbayev Long Term Blame http://www.stratfor.com/CIS/commentary/c9907292230.htm China Backs Down on Embassy Issue, But at What Price? http://www.stratfor.com/asia/specialreports/special39.htm __ STRATFOR.COM Global Intelligence Update July 30, 1999 Touting Barter, Russia Continues its Economic Regression Summary: Moscow has begun floating barter schemes for international trade and for the repayment of debts to Russia. This comes on top of a report that Russia's industrial output has risen, though serving only domestic consumers who cannot afford imports. The only major export growth being experienced by Russia is in arms sales. Finally, Moscow has made it clear that it is simply unable to service its international debt. Russia's economy is introverting, reverting to a model reminiscent of the old Soviet Union. Closed off by inefficiency and lack of foreign capital, it is focusing its domestic economy on meeting domestic needs, limiting its interaction with the global economy for the most part to barter in machinery and raw materials, and earning its foreign currency with arms. The seal on this introversion may arrive in the form of default on international loans. Analysis: Russian First Deputy Premier Viktor Khristenko proposed at a meeting of the Confederation of Indian Industry in New Delhi on July 29 that India repay its debt to his country by establishing joint ventures in India that would produce civilian aircraft. The proposed ventures also include Russian upgrading of coal and power plants, and leasing of aircraft to India. Khristenko also signed an agreement with Indian Finance Minister Yashwant Sinha about partial repayment of the Indian debt by establishing a new nuclear power plant in India. Similarly, Russia is currently negotiating an agreement with Ukraine on repayment of a portion of Kiev's gas debt to Moscow in the form of 10 strategic bombers. Ukraine has offered to supply Tu-160 and Tu-95 bombers to Moscow. On July 28 Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov proposed a barter agreement between Russia and the Association of Southeast Asian States (ASEAN). "In view of the foreign exchange constraints in Russian and the ASEAN countries, the use of a mutually linked trade mechanism could be a promising area of trade relations for instance, food supplies to the Far East regions in exchange for Russian machinery and equipment," Ivanov said. Russia's return to barter reflects both the noncompetitiveness of Russian products and the strains imposed on Russian foreign currency reserves by the country's massive foreign debt. Reminiscent of the Soviet economy, during which the nonconvertible ruble forced exchanges like Pepsi syrup for Stolichnaya vodka, it is just one aspect of Russia's economic regression. Another feature of Russia's economic regression is its increase of industrial production to serve impoverished domestic demand while exports are on the decline. On July 15, the Russian Statistics Agency announced that Russia's industrial output was up 3.1 percent in the first six months of 1999 as compared to the same period the previous year. Officials said the fall of the ruble made Russian goods cheaper to manufacture and more competitive in the domestic market, where imports have become too expensive for most Russians. At the same time, Russia's GDP fell 2.9 percent year-on-year in the first six months of 1999. The only place Russian exports are surging are in the arms industry. Russia may be focused on barter because it can neither compete abroad nor afford imports, but this does nothing to help Russia's debt crunch. And giving its own debtors relief in the form of barter arrangements further limits Russia's ability to service its own debt burden. As it awaits additional loans to apply to its existing loans, Russia is heavily tapping its existing currency reserves. Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency has reported that, due to government debts, Russia's gold and currency reserves plummeted by $300 million during the week of July 9, to $11.8 billion. Barter may free up more of Russia's reserves for debt service, but without income form exports or payments from Russia's debtors, this is simply not sustainable. Moscow is aware of this, and has already begun arguing to international lenders that
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia/NATO/Azerbaijan
__ Stratfor's FREE Kosovo Crisis Center - http://www.stratfor.com/kosovo/crisis/ The most comprehensive coverage of the Kosovo Crisis anywhere on the Internet __ STRATFOR's Global Intelligence Update April 15, 1999 NATO Presses Russia on Another Front Summary: NATO's campaign in Yugoslavia, waged against the fervent objections of Moscow, has once again driven Russia and NATO into opposing camps. NATO has also been pursuing relationships in the Caucasus and Central Asia, and surprisingly is continuing to actively do so even as it is attempting to stabilize relations with Russia over Kosovo. Analysis: Russia's Interfax news agency has cited Azerbaijani presidential administration sources as saying that Azerbaijani President Haidar Aliyev received personal messages on April 14 from U.S. President Bill Clinton and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. According to Interfax, the message from Clinton "contains a proposal on settling the Karabakh conflict," while Albright invited Aliyev to attend NATO's anniversary celebration later in April. Azerbaijan has been eagerly pursuing a relationship with -- if not membership in -- NATO, a campaign matched by the growing strategic alliance between Russia and Armenia. But while this strategic positioning is well underway, it is surprising that Clinton and Albright would personally fuel this standoff just now. Relations between NATO and Russia have been shattered by the Kosovo crisis, and efforts to mend those relations and find a solution to the crisis can only be hurt by increasing tension in the Caucasus. We have thoroughly reported and analyzed the collapse of Russia's relations with NATO over the conflict in Kosovo on our Kosovo in Crisis web site (http://www.stratfor.com/kosovo/crisis/). Russia was not only infuriated when NATO ignored its objections prior to launching air strikes on Yugoslavia, but has come to view NATO's actions as a direct challenge to Russian national interests and security. The Russian journal Segodnya on April 10 described NATO as destroying the last outpost of Russian influence in Europe. But NATO's campaign against Russia does not stop in Yugoslavia, Segodnya argued, "Georgia and Azerbaijan do not want a Russian military presence anymore and are the most "advanced" countries in this respect, as far as the United States is concerned." Azerbaijani officials had already announced on April 7 Aliyev's intention to attend NATO's 50th anniversary ceremonies. The officials told the newspaper Bilik Dunyasi that Aliyev was also expected while in the United States to hold talks with U.S. leaders on expanding bilateral cooperation. Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze has also announced his intention to attend NATO's anniversary ceremonies. Azerbaijan and Georgia, along with Uzbekistan, opted out of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) Collective Security Treaty earlier this month. Additionally, both Azerbaijan and Georgia refused to sign a CIS statement condemning NATO air strikes in Yugoslavia. In fact, Azerbaijani political parties, both in the opposition and the ruling coalition, have come out publicly in favor of NATO air strikes. Azerbaijan has even announced its intention to send 50 soldiers as part of a Turkish unit to participate in NATO peacekeeping operations in Bosnia, or perhaps in Kosovo once a settlement is reached. Whether proactive or reactive, Azerbaijan has appealed for closer relations with NATO to counterbalance Russian relations with Armenia. Azerbaijan and Armenia are currently in shaky truce over the predominantly Armenian enclave of Nagorno Karabakh in Azerbaijan. While Russia has denied it is supplying arms directly to Armenia -- since arming combatants in an intra-CIS feud is forbidden -- it has deployed advanced S-300 surface to air missiles and MiG-29 fighters to Russian units in Armenia. Speaking in Armenia on April 13, Russian air force commander Colonel General Anatoly Kornukov announced that Armenia's air defense system and Russia's air force are "ready to embark on joint combat duty." For its part, Georgia has requested the departure of Russian army units guaranteeing a truce between Georgia and the breakaway region of Abkhazia. Georgia accuses Russia of siding with the Abkhaz separatists. On March 19, Azerbaijan detained a Russian cargo plane carrying MiG fighters Baku claimed were bound for Yugoslavia. The Russian newspaper Nezavisimaya Gazeta interpreted this as little more than a show of loyalty to NATO. On March 20, Aliyev questioned Russian President Boris Yeltsin about Russian missile and jet shipments to Armenia. On March 23, a U.S. delegation led by Air Force Major General Charles Wax reportedly visited Azerbaijan, where they held talks with Azerbaijani Defense and Foreign Ministry officials and toured the Nasosnaya Air Base, which Azerbaijan has offered to the U.S., Turkey, and NATO.
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia Sends Warship to Balkans
Russia Warship To Monitor NATO By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV .c The Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) -- Adding a show of force to its protest against NATO raids on Yugoslavia, Russia said Wednesday it is sending a warship to the Mediterranean and putting others on standby. The announcement came the same day Prime Minister Yevgeny Primakov returned to Moscow after failing to persuade Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic to revive talks on ending the Kosovo dispute. Defense Minister Igor Sergeyev said one warship of the Black Sea Fleet would leave Friday and another six were also ready to go ``to ensure Russia's security when the defense ministry considers it necessary.'' ``The defense ministry is also considering more decisive actions that will be recommended to the leadership if the situation changes,'' Sergeyev said, refusing to elaborate. President Boris Yeltsin and other top officials have said repeatedly that Russia will not get involved militarily in the conflict around the Yugoslav province of Kosovo. But the appearance of a Russian naval squadron in the Mediterranean would irk NATO commanders and add to already tense situation in the region, where U.S. and allied warships are deployed for operations against Yugoslavia. In Washington, State Department spokesman James P. Rubin said the move was not a ``particularly helpful gesture.'' ``We are obviously concerned by the signal such a large deployment might send to Belgrade and other countries in the region,'' he said. Sergeyev did not say what kind of ship Russia was sending first. In Turkey, the foreign ministry said it had approved a Russian request for passage through the Bosporus, beginning Saturday, of one cruiser, two destroyers, two patrol ships and three support ships. While any Russian deployment of warships would likely be symbolic, it's a step up in the Russian response, which so far has remained largely limited to vociferous verbal protests. Moscow has also recalled its representative at NATO and suspended all contacts with the alliance. Some Russian politicians have demanded that Russia break the international arms embargo on Yugoslavia and supply Belgrade with air defense missiles and other weapons. Regional governor Alexander Lebed, a presidential hopeful and former general, called Wednesday for sending air defense missiles to Yugoslavia in some of his strongest statements yet on the NATO bombing. ``We must declare that we will render military and technical aid to Yugoslavia with the aim of supporting the civilian population,'' said Lebed, adding that Russia should declare Yugoslavia a ``zone of strategic interest.'' Later Wednesday, Lebed argued on NTV television that the military help to Yugoslavia would help save Europe from what he described as U.S. domination. ``Their idea of peacemaking is hitting a mosquito on your forehead with an ax,'' he said. But the Russian military is in shambles and the nation badly needs foreign loans to crawl out of one of the worst recessions ever experienced by an industrial country. That effectively deprives Russia of an opportunity to give military help to its Yugoslav ally and confines its response to symbolic steps. According to Russian news reports, the Black Sea Fleet is suffering an especially acute fuel shortage and has had little training lately. Returning to the Russian capital following his meeting with Milosevic in Belgrade, Primakov said the Yugoslav leader gave a ``signal'' that he was ready to revive peace talks. ``Russia will continue efforts to end this not clever and tragically wrong decision to continue the military action against Yugoslavia,'' Primakov said.
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia/Iraq/Yugoslavia
__ Stratfor's FREE Kosovo Crisis Center - http://www.stratfor.com/kosovo/crisis/ The most comprehensive coverage of the Kosovo Crisis anywhere on the Internet __ STRATFOR's Global Intelligence Update March 31, 1999 Russia Helping Iraq Upgrade Air Defenses Summary: Intelligence officials now admit that Serb and Iraqi defense officials have met and collaborated in recent months on anti- aircraft operations. Russia is now supplying sophisticated radar systems to Iraq. The possibility of a second front is increasing. Analysis: One of the critical issues in the Kosovo war is the intention and capabilities of Iraq. It must be remembered that many of the same nations that are currently engaged in the Kosovo air campaign are also, simultaneously, engaged in an air war in Iraq. As NATO intensifies the air war over Kosovo, the possibility of an intensification of the air war over Iraq poses an important strategic challenge by diverting aircraft and logistical support. Recent reports emerging in the press tend to confirm Stratfor's long-standing view that Yugoslavia and Iraq collaborated in the run-up to the current conflict. According to the Associated Press, for example, U.S. intelligence now has evidence that Yugoslav technicians met with Iraqi specialists in Baghdad in February to help prepare Yugoslavia for an air war. Since both sides have similar equipment and are facing similar aircraft, the Yugoslav military quite rationally wanted to learn whatever lessons the Iraqis had to teach them. It is obviously in the interest of both countries to cooperate strategically as well as technically. Anything that forces the United States to divide its scarce air campaign resources benefits both. Thus, a report from the IBC from Baghdad, claiming that Iraq is distributing advanced radar guidance systems for the SAM-6 surface-to-air missile system, is particularly significant. According to the report, Iraq is intensely engaged in upgrading its anti-air missile grid. Abed Hameed Hmoud, special secretary to Saddam and a member of the Presidential Council, is said to be personally supervising the installations of the systems at the Presidential Palaces, air bases and other critical installations. The article further states that both the Northern and Southern Corps of the Republican Guards are receiving new computing equipment and small, advanced Russian-made radar units as well as technicians. If these reports are true, and we think that to be likely, the Russians are now engaged in a dramatic re-supply of equipment to the Iraqis. There have been numerous reports from sources in Russia about such a re-supply, and the IBC report is merely confirming the arrival and deployment of this equipment. The upgrading of the Iraqi air defense grid has the potential of posing serious problems for allied pilots on missions in Iraq, particularly if new systems have been distributed inside the no- fly zones where routine air patrols are carried out. We note, however, that we can find no evidence of any U.S. or allied air strikes in Iraq at this time. This indicates that both sides are lying low for the moment. The new systems increase the ability of the Iraqis to engage U.S. and allied pilots on missions in this area. The standard U.S. response to such an engagement is first to target the radar and missile sites. By substantially increasing the number of such sites, Iraq is able to dictate a quickened tempo of allied air operations. Even if they lose some of their equipment, if the Russians have provided equipment in sufficient numbers to provide redundancy, Iraq will be able to dictate the level of allied operations. At a time when U.S. logistical capabilities required to support air operations will be heavily tilted toward Serbia, increased air operations over Iraq might pose a serious burden. If, on one hand, the U.S. declines to increase its air operations, it opens a window of opportunity for Saddam. If, on the other hand, the U.S. does increase air operations in Iraq, it could, over the long haul, degrade its logistical capabilities. Two front wars are the traditional fear of any power. There is no question but that the U.S. can handle one intense and one low- grade air war. There is some question whether the U.S. has the supplies and transport systems needed to sustain two simultaneous high-intensity air campaigns. There is no doubt but that Saddam and Milosevic understand that they may have an opportunity to pose serious problems for the United States. Milosevic, of course, has done his part. Now the question is whether Saddam will up the ante. It is not certain that there is any clear comprehensive warfighting agreement between Yugoslavia and Iraq, nor that if there were, the Iraqis would honor it. But there is a real window of opportunity available to Iraq and some indication that it is preparing to exploit it, with
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia Friends
From http://defence-data.com/current/page4009.htm Russia starts building India's three Krivak class destroyers March 22nd, 1999 by Gordon Feller, Defence Systems Daily's correspondent in Moscow After being delayed several months while furiously looking for financing, on Wednesday St. Petersburg's Baltiisky Zavod shipyard finally laid the keel on the first of a $1 billion trio of state-of-the-art warships ordered by the Indian navy. Vladimir Yukhnin, the chief naval architect at the Severnoye PKB, which designed the frigates, calls them the "warships of the next century" and said that no foreign navy has anything comparable. The 4,000-ton frigates are equipped with advanced-guidance missiles to neutralise surface, subsurface and aerial targets. Reports have said that the ships are also equipped with "stealth" technology that enables them to avoid detection by enemy radar, and Yukhnin said the ships also have a bombing complex called RBU-6000 and facilities to harbour helicopters - all of which makes them extremely competitive on the international market. India ordered the three Krivak class warships from Russia's state arms dealer, Rosvooruzheniye, in 1997 to "partially arrest its declining force levels and to improve combat capabilities," according to Indian news reports at the time. On Wednesday shipyard director Oleg Shulyakovsky said Baltiisky Zavod will deliver two of the frigates by 2002 and the third by 2003. The first frigate has to be completed in April of 2002 - two years later than originally planned - with the second coming six months later and the third six months after that. "The keel for the second warship will be laid by the end of the year," Shulyakovsky said. The project and the shipyard's controversial director have received considerable attention in the Russian media. Last month, when Shulyakovsky appealed to the Kremlin for funds for the project, the media accused him of embezzling India's down payment, which, according to Shulyakovsky himself, was more than $100 million - but he denied the charges. Construction, which was supposed to begin last year, was put on hold after the shipyard - one of the largest in Russia - saw its credit line disappear with the crisis. The original investor, Uneximbank - which owns 50.5 percent of the shipyard - sold its stake just before the August crash. But even before the sell-off and the crisis the shipyard was having trouble getting financing. The framework agreement with India calls for Baltiisky Zavod to borrow private money to complete the projects because the cost of the first frigate is estimated at $270 million, and India agreed only to pay a small portion of that before 2001. Shulyakovsky tried several different tracks to attract a new lender -including last month's request to First Deputy Prime Minister Yury Maslyukov to print $300 million worth of roubles. Another option, which Shulyakovsky proposed in January, was a state guarantee for the loans the shipyard planned to attract from abroad. It is unclear where the money is coming from, however. At Wednesday's keel-laying celebration Shulyakovsky would only said that the "financial problem had been solved" and he declined to elaborate. There is nothing unusual in borrowing money for contracts that are paid off steadily over several years, experts said Thursday. But this deal was particularly difficult to finance because commercial conditions are worse here than in other European shipyards. And Baltiisky Zavod has been troubled by the recent economic situation, which has forced it to change its prospective partners several times. Shulyakovsky did say, however, that the shipyard is not using any state money and has attracted a $140 million credit line with a "satisfactory" interest rate, but he declined to name the bank or specify the conditions of the loan. There are several possible sources of financing for Baltiisky Zavod. The shipyard has significant support from Inter-regional Investment Bank, known by its Russian acronym MIB, which is one of the shipyard's shareholders and has tight connections with Rosvooruzheniye through affiliated companies. Another possible source of financing, according to the respected daily newspaper Kommersant, is Vneshtorgbank. And another bank, Vnesheconombank, is already close to the deal by performing the role as agent to handle payments from India to Rosvooruzheniye. Whichever bank is involved, however, the project is finally up and running with financing based on the future payments from India. "The credit line the shipyard received recently is guaranteed by the prospective payments of the Indian government," Shulyakovsky said cautiously. Baltiisky Zavod desperately needed this contract to move ahead. Losing the Indian navy as a client would probably have forced the shipyard to layoff staff and made getting future contracts more difficult. But now, thanks in part to finally finding a lender, business is looking up for the shipyard.
[CTRL] Fwd: Russia Outlaws Fringe Christians
Russia Court Bans Religous Group By NICK WADHAMS .c The Associated Press MOSCOW (AP) -- A Russian court has used a controversial religion law to ban the Pentecostalist Church from a town in eastern Siberia, a news report said today. Under Russian law, courts have the right to outlaw religious groups that are found to be inciting hatred or intolerant behavior. The law has been used against several groups recently. A judge in the Siberian town of Aldan ruled Tuesday that the Pentecostalists had violated the law because they refused medical aid for ailing members of the group. The court also said the Pentecostalists had preached intolerance by teaching their children at home, the ITAR-Tass news agency said. The religion law, passed in 1997, recognizes the Russian Orthodox Church as the nation's leading faith and pledges to respect Islam, Judaism and Buddhism. But other denominations face a host of restrictions and have to prove they've had a presence in Russia for at least 15 years before they're permitted full legal status. The court's ruling came at a time when the city and the Pentecostalists were involved in another confrontation in Aldan, about 3,000 miles east of Moscow. A group of 60 Pentecostalists took over the city's administration building Sunday and demanded that the city pay them for work they performed when severe flooding hit the region last spring, ITAR-Tass said. City leaders say they repaid the church members with food, clothing and fuel. Authorities removed the Pentecostalists from the building today, taking the women and children to a hospital, while the men were placed in a detention center, the Interfax news agency said. Human rights groups have protested Russia's religion law as a violation of the Russian constitution, which permits freedom of religion. However, authorities have acted against several religious groups recently. Last month, 400 Pentecostalists in the eastern coastal city of Magadan applied for asylum in the United States after alleging they were harassed by local officials. In other high-profile cases, prosecutors in Moscow are seeking to ban the Jehovah's Witnesses from the Russian capital in a trial that currently underway. And tax police last week raided the Moscow offices of the Church of Scientology, confiscating documents and questioning leaders.
