Russian News: November 30th, 2007!

RBC, 30.11.2007, Kiev 16:53:11.Ukraine can only sign a gas contract with Russia for 2008, although the countries had previously planned to agree on the terms of supplies for the mid-term, as well, the Ukrainian President's Deputy Chief of Staff Alexander Shlapak told journalists today. He added that the decision to stay within the current time frame had been prompted by uncertainties surrounding the price of Turkmenistan's natural gas for 2009.Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko himself announced earlier today that Kiev was planning to sign accords for the supply of imported natural gas to the country after the Russian parliamentary election on December 2. He stressed that the gas agreement had been thrashed over thoroughly and approved by the key players, which would facilitate gas supplies to Ukraine for the following five to seven years. Gazprom and Ukraine are currently in talks over gas prices for 2008 and the mid term.

RBC, 30.11.2007, Moscow 17:58:48.Russian Railways is planning to raise a syndicated loan worth $1bn, which it will use to develop its infrastructure and upgrade rolling stock, a source in the company said. Russian Railways has invited banks to take part in a tender. According to earlier reports, the government approved Russian Railways' three-year investment program of RUR1.331bn (approx. USD54.66m) on November 15.

RBC, 30.11.2007, Moscow 15:34:03.The low on dollar deals is currently hovering at 24.3650 RUR/USD at the special session for tomorrow deals, which is virtually RUR0.06 below the official dollar rate for December 1-3, while the spread on deals has widened to RUR0.065. The ruble has gained ground against the dollar due to a stronger euro abroad, where the latter is now buying some USD1.4765, up 0.25 percent from USD1.4730 as of 11:30 a.m. As a result, the trading volume topped USD2.2bn on MICEX.

RBC, 30.11.2007, Moscow 13:07:21.The Russian government has authorized the Federal Treasury to carry out all forms of currency operations coming under the federal low on exchange regulation and control without limitations. A decree to this effect has been signed by Russia's Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov.

RBC, 30.11.2007, Moscow 09:44:02.President Vladimir Putin of Russia has signed the federal law suspending the Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, the President's press office has reported. Russia's participation in the treaty signed in Paris on November 19, 1990, can be renewed by the President of Russia alone. This law passed by the State Duma on November 7, 2007 and approved by the Federation Council on November 16, 2007, is to take effect upon its official publication.

RBC, 29.11.2007, Moscow 18:30:28.Nearly two thirds of Russians (63.5 percent) would vote for Russia's incumbent President Vladimir Putin, should elections be held this weekend, a poll held by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center on November 9-10 showed. Throughout 2007, Putin's voter base ranged between 60 and 66 percent. Other would-be candidates trail far behind, with leader of the Liberal Democratic Party Vladimir Zhirinovsky wining 3.3 percent, Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov 2.8 percent, Prime Minister Viktor Zubkov 1.8 percent and Deputy Prime Ministers Sergei Ivanov and Dmitry Medvedev 2 and 2.5 percent respectively. Federation Council Chairman Sergei Mironov would have received only 1.4 percent of votes, while other possible candidates were supported by less than 1 percent of poll participants. In addition, 5.4 percent of people questioned said they would abstain from voting, down from 7-10 percent in October 2007. However, the number of those who are still undecided rose from 5-10 percent to 12.2 percent. The poll was held among 1,600 people in 154 locations of 46 regions and republics in Russia, and the margin of error does not exceed 3.4 percent.

Kyle

Russian Art: Setting World Records For Price!

Hello,

Try this for an expensive Fabergé egg. A rare pink and gold Fabergé egg, adorned with a diamond-studded cockerel and embedded clock, has broken auction records by selling for about £9m at Christie's Auction House.

The translucent egg, which had never before been seen in public, set a record for the creations of the Tsarist jeweler and became the most expensive Russian art object and timepiece ever sold at auction.

The rest of the fabulous Russian Art items at Christie's Auction House went for up to 10 times their appraised value also.

So all in all, The largest Russian Art Auction Ever!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Moscow City!

Hello,

I was just drinking coffee & thinking about an article that I had read on Moscow City. My Wife and I have driven by the construction site many times. It is very impressive. We decided to look into what was being built. Here is what we found.....

============================================

(Link)Moscow International Business Center “Moscow City” is the future of business in Russia; the future has arrived. GDO City Properties is the market expert on this exciting new development.

In the past, Moscow has been plagued by an aged infrastructure and a lack of efficient organization for conducting business. In 1992, a decision was made to change this. Today Moscow City, one of the largest investment projects in Europe, is now rapidly nearing completion along the Krasnopresnenskaya embankment. Covering a territory of a square kilometer and incorporating all the elements for work and lifestyle, the “New Central Business District” will truly be a city within a city.

Any business serious about success in Russia will be represented in Moscow City. The new City Hall, rising over 300 meters, will be centralizing virtually all functions of Moscow city government and Duma, providing unparalleled access for businesses located there. Given the concentration of businesses occupying the 5 million square meters of grade A office space, symmetries will exist for conducting business like nowhere else in the world. Travel time to meetings that once took hours will now take minutes. A trip from home to the office can now occur on a single, high-speed lift.

===========================================

This is a fantastic project that is actually going to bear fruit. This is Ultra Modern City!

(try these links for lots of information on Moscow City)
Another link to Fosters + Partners! Fabulous web site! It is on the Moscow Tower. The tallest structure in Europe when done.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moscow-City

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: This is a Russian Squirrel!

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & my wife reminded me about the pictures that she took yesterday! So my Wife the world famous photographer. Has found a new victim for her camera.

A Russian Squirrel!


http://kylekeeton.com/2007/08/ukraine-this-is-ukraine-squirrel.html

This link goes to a Ukraine Squirrel that I wrote about months ago. The Russian Squirrel looks allot like the Ukraine Squirrel. Regardless they are cute!

This squirrel was running around near the Moscow university! She took some pictures of the University. Impressive isn't it!

So now you know a little more about Russia!

Kyle & Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: Snow Covers the Old Soviet Playground!

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking about the Old Soviet Playground!

We took pictures of it in the snow. Now of course I couldn't keep my Wife from playing in it!

I did an article a long time back on this Playground, just click on the link above.

The one thing that amazes me is that it is still standing and open for anyone to play with. In America, society has gotten so twisted in on it self that this playground would be a snake bed of lawsuits. Society has gotten so bad in America, that they look anywhere but themselves for fault.

I am glad that I have had a chance to enjoy this playground. It is very peaceful and quiet. I still can hear the kids playing all over it. I can see kids driving the imaginary cars, for most kids in the Soviet Union this is as close to driving as they would ever get.

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russian News: November 27, 2007!

Hello,

RBC, 27.11.2007, Moscow 11:40:13.The Russian stock market opened with no defined trend today. On MICEX, RAO UES was the only company trading in positive territory, while the rest of blue chips edged down 0.5 percent on average. The RTS index also slid at the opening. The Russian stock market has been influenced by the US stock exchanges, analysts told RBC TV. However, market participants are optimistic, and experts do not project the Russian market to lower significantly.

RBC, 27.11.2007, Moscow 11:07:19.The net profit of Dixy Group, one of Russia's top food retail chains, under IFRS soared 173 percent to USD5.4m in the first nine months of 2007 compared to the same period a year earlier, the company reported today. The company's net revenue amounted to RUR25.638bn (approx. USD1.05bn), which is 34 percent greater than in January-September 2006. Gross profit climbed 57 percent to RUR6.002bn (approx. USD247m) and gross profit margin went up from 20.1 percent to 23.4 percent. The company attributed this increase in net profit to the group's measures to develop the product range, as well as to higher sales. EBITDA grew 51 percent to RUR1.162bn (approx. USD48m) and EBITDA margin edged up 0.5 percentage points to 4.5 percent in January-September 2007.

RBC, 27.11.2007, Moscow 10:55:47.Russian companies Gazprom and SIBUR Holding and American Dow Chemical have signed a memorandum of intent for hydrocarbon refining, the press office of the Russian energy giant reported today. According to the document, the companies are looking into the possibility of forming a joint venture on the basis of Dow Chemical's new petrochemical facilities in Germany. The companies are also likely to consider natural gas refining in Russia and cooperation in other projects.

RBC, 27.11.2007, Annapolis, USA 09:34:02.The recent suggestions made by the US on the anti-missile defense systems have lowered Moscow and Washington's chances of reaching a compromise on the matter, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told journalists in Annapolis today following his meeting with US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice. He pointed out that this was a step backwards from the agreements that had been reached between the two countries in October 2007. Lavrov added that Russia was reviewing the new proposals, the Vesti TV channel reported today.

RBC, 26.11.2007, St. Petersburg 14:18:12.The OSCE's decision to cancel the monitoring of the upcoming parliamentary elections is Russia was made in accordance with the US State Department's recommendation, Russian President Vladimir Putin told a meeting in St. Petersburg today. He pointed out that Moscow would take this fact into account in the future relations with the US. Putin believes that some European leaders did not know about the decision of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) until their announcement. He added that the organization needed serious reforms, the Mayak radio station reported today, citing the Russian leader.

Kyle

Russia: Day of Presidential Elections Approved!

Russia picks presidential vote date: The Federation Council, the upper chamber of the Russian parliament, has set the date for the next presidential election: March 2, 2008. The resolution was passed in accordance with Articles 81 and 102 of the Russian Constitution and Article 5 of the Federal Law “On presidential elections in the Russian Federation.”

The President of the Russian Federation is to be elected for a period of four years by Russian citizens in an equal and direct election by secret ballot, the Federation Council’s Committee for Constitutional Legislation said in its reference regarding the presidential vote. (rbc)

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Svet Sundays: Strong people of Russia - Valentin Dikul!

Hello!

Yes, you are right! I like to find and tell about strong people. Sometimes these people have strong spirit and sometimes they are strong both physically and in a spirit way.
Such person is Valentin Dikul. And today I want to tell about him:

Look at the pictures of this legendary strong circus man! Valentin Dikul has a title of Strongest Man in the World.

He set these records:
450kg squat,260kg bench, 460kg deadlift. (1 kg equals about 2.5 lbs)

On this video you can see this:



And he was the only man who have carried the 1000 kg barbels on his shoulders for 10 meters.

Yes he is very strong man!

But now I want to tell you another story of him a story of strong spirit within the same man:

Valentin Dikul was born 03.04.1948 in Latvia, soon after the Second World War. His father was killed action, his mother died in giving to him. Little Valia (short name from Valenrin) was brought up in the birth orphanage, difficult and hungry, spent in with his life fights for leadership for a bread. The traveling piece of circus was his only real joy in life. Valia would run away to spend the entire day there. He very early that decided he must become a circus performer. He was talented and fantastically devoted. He quickly mastered the juggling and acrobatics, but finally decided to become a trapeze artist. He was fifteen years old when he performed his first number.

In 1962, when Valentin Dikul was performing a circus routine in Kaunas, Lithuania, a cable on his trapeze snapped, sending him plummeting 15 meters to the floor and breaking his back. Doctors told him that he would never regain the use of his legs. He was 16 years old.

Dikul had always dreamed of becoming a circus performer, and he was determined to get back on his feet and return to his passion. Immediately after his release from the hospital, he began a rigorous self-imposed rehabilitation program, often passing out from exhaustion on the floor of the gym.

After six grueling years, what seemed impossible was becoming a reality: Dikul was able to rise unaided from his wheelchair and walk across a room in a series of shuffling baby steps.

Today, more than four decades after the accident, Dikul is back in the big top, this time as a dumbbell-juggling, iron-bending strongman with several Guinness records to his credit. But his recovery has enabled him to do more than simply return to the circus. Now, as one of Russia's leading authorities on treating spinal injuries, he serves as the director of a Moscow clinic group that specializes in the methods he used in his own rehabilitation. Read more about Valentin Dikul here.

I've seen this big strong kind man on the Health Festival two years ago. He told about his system, answered questions... He even told that Moscovites get help in his clinic for free. There will be this festival again 2-16 of December 2007. Dikul will seminar the 15th of December. We will try to go. So if you have questions to Valentin Dikul send to us and we'll try to ask them of Valentin Dikul.

Maybe this article can help or inspirit someone!

Be Happy and Healthy!

Svet

PS When I worked on this article I looked through these links:

Dr DIKUL in Moscou, Russia - CareCure Forums
RUSNET :: CIS Today :: 2004/03/03 :: Strongman Sells Determination in Spinal Clinic
RUSNET :: Strongman Sells Determination in Spinal Clinic
Компания ЕАМ Спорт Сервис и журнал IRONMAN. Валентин Иванович Дикуль - один из известнейших силачей в Мире.
Валентин Иванович Дикуль
| Валентин Дикуль | Знаменитые люди Загорянки | Полуофициальный сайт городского поселения Загорянский - Загорянка и её обитатели
Zarplata.ru: работа, вакансии, резюме. Публикации: ВАЛЕНТИН ДИКУЛЬ: «СУДЬБА ЧЕЛОВЕКА В ЕГО ХАРАКТЕРЕ И ВОЛЕ»
http://nauka.relis.ru/08/9901/08901076.htm
Новые Известия / Запас силы Валентина Дикуля . День из жизни мастера
Dikul's rehabilitation method worked for me. - CareCure Forums

Some are in Russian and some are in English.

Comments always welcome.

Russian Visa Rules are Changing Everyday!

Good article on the Visa problems:
==================================

November 2, 2007 Tougher Visa Rules - What They Mean Moscow News

Moscow News November 1, 2007 Tougher Visa Rules - What They Mean By Anna Arutunyan Demonstrating that it is resolute in introducing immigration laws similar to those in Western countries, the Russian government recently unveiled new, tougher business visa regulations. Foreigners - particularly those living and working in Russia on business visas - are worried about how this will affect them. Some seeking to renew their business visas in a third country were finding that what used to be a breezy, one-day procedure could turn into a 10-day wait. Meanwhile, new regulations seemed to target the entire practice of getting visas in third countries. One of the more considerable changes came in a decree on visas passed by the new Prime Minister, Viktor Zubkov, on October 4. Now, foreigners traveling on business visas can remain in the country for no more than 90 days at a time, even if they have multiple-entry visas. And it's soon going to become much harder to obtain them in third countries. Business visas are popular among expatriates who live in Russia over long periods of time, extending their visas regularly by travelling to neighboring countries. But the new decree toughens rules regulating this type of visas, an apparent attempt to force expatriates who live and work here to obtain work visas instead. Point 9.1 in the decree reads: "A foreign citizen who is present in a state that he is not a citizen of may only get a visa if he has a permit for a consecutive stay of at least 90 days in that country." What this means for some citizens of Western Europe is that a trip across the border from Russia is no longer enough to renew their business visa. In a statement to The Moscow News, the FMS confirmed the new restriction but pointed to several exceptions - these could be based on "a decision by a diplomatic representative" in cases where a foreigner needed to attend various "international and domestic official, economic, socio-political, scientific, cultural, sports or religious events." Another exception was a close relative who was ill. A clause lower down in the decree clarifies that an exception is made "based on the international principle of mutuality." Alexei Filippenkov of the Visa Delight agency explained what this means. If a European country allows Russians to obtain visas from a third country, then citizens from that European country will have the same privilege when it comes down to getting a Russian visa. "Our migration legislation is being brought in line with analogous international legislation," he told The Moscow News. The same concerns another important change. Now, foreigners who obtain a multiple entry business visa that is active for a year will be able to stay for no more than 90 consecutive days, and no more than a total of 180 days out of a year. "It's impossible to work in England or the United States if you have a business visa," Filippenkov said. Foreigners are hard pressed to obtain a work visa. According to an FMS statement, "issuing visas of all categories and types is... in the competence of diplomatic missions and consular offices of the Russian Federation. We recommend that foreign citizens address the Foreign Ministry of Russia regarding practical questions." It was unclear whether the minimum wait for a visa had indeed risen to 10 days. The Russian consulate in Riga, the Latvian capital where expatriates frequently go to renew business visas, when asked if this was the case, told a Moscow News reporter to read the official Rossiiskaya Gazeta, where the changes were published. But there was no mention about any new wait for visas. Asked how long it would take to issue a visa to a British citizen, an unnamed official said that the consulate was "not issuing visas to British citizens who had no permanent residence permit in Latvia." Asked the same question about U.S. citizens, the official said that the process will take from 10 to 14 days. The FMS said that, as under the previous law, visas must be issued within 20 days after the appropriate documents had been filed. There were reports that foreigners that usually got their visa renewed in one day now had to wait 10 days, but a Moscow News correspondent who is a British citizen obtained her business visa in one day in Kiev this week. "Right now it's a little chaotic over there because they haven't come to a unified reading of the decree," Filippenkov said. "For now, people will still be able to go over there for visas, but that's going to end soon." According to Filippenkov, considering that Russians have to wait weeks - sometimes months - to get their European visas, the 10-day wait isn't that long.

============================================
Kyle

Russia: The Dollar is Hurting Overseas!

(Picture courtesy of columbia.edu)

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of wonderful coffee and thinking how the dollar is affecting Expats?

With the dollar now worth about 20 percent less in many cases against world currencies. The weak dollar and recent tax laws are hurting many of the millions or so Americans who live out of the USA, especially those paid in dollars! It is being felt by students, professionals and pensioners all over the world. The dollar is at a 26-year low against sterling and expected to stay above $2 to the pound for the next six months at least.

For those who work and live in Europe are often self-employed. The dollar's plunge to all-time lows against the Euro has already caused changes in incomes and lifestyles. Example $15,000 transfers to around 10,200 Euro's. So the dollar does not go as far anymore. When you earn money primarily in the States and then transfer it to Europe. The pain of the weak dollar is presented full force!

Adding to American Expat woes are laws passed last year which raised the amount some pay in U.S. taxes. Expatriate groups argue that the combination of the weak dollar and new tax laws will make Europe a less attractive destination for Americans wanting to work overseas. In fact it is making destinations all over the world less attractive.

This all makes for unhappy Americans who play around the world cheaply! Now they have to eat at McDonald's, like I do. :))

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Missiles and The New Year!

Hello,

I have been writing about the missile issue since the beginning. This issue is a lot bigger problem than the world knows. Russia does not want missiles put near Her boarders with out Her having some say so and control.

http://kylekeeton.com/2007/11/
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/06/
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/09/
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/09/
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/09/
http://www.russianspy.org/2007/

Funny thing: USA really had an issue at one time about Missiles in Cuba!

Should Russia Trust The USA? Can you trust a country that answers world problems with, War? (Threaten to attack Iran?)
==============================================
New U.S. Missile Defense Proposal

Reuters

The United States has formally made new proposals to Russia aimed at easing tension over its missile-defense plans in Europe, the Foreign Ministry said Thursday.

Russia has denounced U.S. plans to deploy a radar station in the Czech Republic and interceptors in Poland as a threat to its security. It suggested building up a joint missile-defense system instead, but this idea has aroused little interest in Washington.

Washington promised to set out its latest proposals to Moscow in writing following talks between foreign and defense ministers last month.

"The American side has finally, and late at night, passed to Russia written proposals regarding anti-missile defense systems. We are studying them," Foreign Ministry spokesman Andrei Krivtsov said.

He gave no details of the substance of the proposals.

==============================================

So here we are again, The countries play their games while us little people just try to live! If we would all (countries) mind our own business the world would be a safer place.

Just some thoughts for a Friday!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: News That Is Hot!

News:

Nobel Prize medal

November 22, 2007, 16:35

Putin nominated for Nobel Peace Prize

Russian President Vladimir Putin has been nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. The Centre for Alternative Energy in Zurich has chosen Putin for his alternative fuel initiatives in Russia.

The Swiss organisation's main goal is to prevent future wars over oil.

The centre proposed Putin for his ideas on developing energies based on nanotechnology.

It also praised the President for his efforts to reduce Russia's reliance on fossil fuels.

http://www.russiatoday.ru/news/news/17393

This is really cool!

Kyle

Russia: Sochi Olympics 2014!

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking about the Sochi Olympics. So I put together a post about Sochi Olympics..

Here is what is going on.....
1. A video of the theme song for the Sochi Olympics.


2. Wallpapers for your computer desktop..

======================================
3. A statement from the Official Sochi Olympic website...

http://sochi2014.com/ (link to the official site)

Welcome to Sochi 2014 – Our Gateway to the Future.

Set in a spectacular location, on the coast of the Black Sea and at the foot of the Caucasus Mountains in southern Russia, Sochi is vying for the opportunity to invite the world to a once-in-a-lifetime celebration of winter sport at the 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

The Sochi 2014 Winter Games will serve as a gateway to the future for Russia, opening unprecedented opportunities for the development of winter sport, reinvigorating the entire Sochi region and bringing to life the spirit of Olympian for millions of Russian citizens.

The historic legacy of the Sochi 2014 Games cannot be overstated. Coupled with the Russian Government’s program for the redevelopment of the region that is already under way, the Games will create a world-class resort destination where millions of winter sport enthusiasts from around the world will have the opportunity to enjoy brand-new, affordable facilities built for the sport of the 21st Century.

For the first time ever, Russian elite athletes will be able to hone their skills at a world-class alpine training and competition complex, taking winter sport in Russia to new heights.

Never before have the long-term plans for the development of a region aligned so perfectly with the long-term needs of the Olympic Movement.

Behind our vision for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games is the overwhelming support of the Russian nation and the Russian Government, which has given absolute guarantees to the IOC to deliver on every promise of Sochi 2014.

Sochi 2014 and the entire nation are committed to bringing the visionary and realistic plan for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games to life and delivering a once-in-a-lifetime Games to the Olympic Movement.

======================================

I am very excited about the Olympics in 2014. I have a chance to go and see it. When I was in the USA, I was only a few miles from Atlanta Georgia in 1996 Olympics. I could not go because my job (Director of Food Services at Rock Eagle 4-H) was to house and feed several thousand, Olympic Athletes and trainers that stayed at the complex.

I was too busy!!

I am not too busy this time. :)

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Just Walking The Dog!

Hello,

I was walking the dog for the second time today. As the dog and I were walking we stopped and watched the grounds keepers. They were trying to fill the ice skating rink with water, by a fire hose!

Yes I said trying!!!!

Like everything in life, things always go wrong. The dog and I stood there watching the water get deeper and deeper, on the inside of the rink. Just as I was thinking to myself that they should let the water freeze first before they try to fill the whole rink. The doors on the rink blew open from the water pressure. (one side of the rink is at least 8 inches higher that the other)

Now Boza and I were on the end that the water came out of. We ran like crazy and got out of the way. The Ice Rink is now on the outside!

I took pictures from our flats balcony, To show you the new ice skating rink we have. The water on the outside is about a foot deep. It is frozen!!

The grounds keepers all said a few choice statements in Russian, waved their arms at each other, took their fire hose, said a few more pleasant things & stomped away! (They did not come back)

I am glad to see that life is the same everywhere. Something about Murphy's Law........

Murphy's law: is an adage in Western culture that broadly states that things will go wrong in any given situation, if you give them a chance.

Kyle

Comments always welcome.

Russia: The Days Are Getting Shorter!

Hello,

I was drinking my second cup of coffee & thinking about how short the days are this time of the year.

Sunrise at 8:14 am
Sunset at 4:15 pm

They will get much shorter.( it is just half way through November)

Called the Winter Solstice (meaning) Sun set still in winter! (around the 22nd of December)

In Moscow we will see only about 6 hours of daylight at the Winter Solstice. Farther North the world will be dark 24 hours.

As I sit here at the computer & type this, the sun has gone and it is almost dark. The temperature is -2 degrees C. and wind chill of -6 degrees C. I can tell it is going to be a cold winter!

Bear is happy! :)

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Sochi Olympics!

Russia has 30 months to prepare for Olympics Russia does not have that much time left to build Olympic facilities in Sochi. The games are more than four years away, but Russia has only 30 months to complete construction.

Jean-Claude Killy, President of the IOC Coordination Commission for the 2014 Winter Games, said slightly over 4 years remained before the beginning of testing procedures, which are a mandatory part of preparations for the Olympic Games. Excluding winter months, when construction in mountains is impossible, only 30 months remain, Killy said.

Addressing officials responsible for the preparations for the 2014 Olympic Games, he said this was not much time to build all Olympic facilities Russia was going to build in Sochi. At the same time, he noted that much had already been done, including passing of an Olympic bill and finding highly qualified personnel. Killy said Russia had laid the grounds for the project, and expressed hope that work would continue at the same pace until 2014. He said Russia had all the resources to ensure holding the Olympic Games in Sochi at the top level. Average levels of organization would be impermissible, Killy said, adding the 2014 event should be the greatest Olympic Games ever held.

Presenting Sochi’s bid in Guatemala, Russian President Vladimir Putin gave guarantees that the necessary tourist and sporting infrastructure would be in place by 2014, Killy said, adding that the International Olympic Committee did not doubt Russia’s ability to fulfill its obligations.

He expressed hope that Russian organizers would be able to pay attention to every detail, offering “ideal services.” In his opinion, Russian authorities offered the International Olympic Committee such elements as a strong political will and effective public/private partnership.

Over 2,500 sportsmen from all over the world will come to Sochi to take part in the games, as well as 200,000 volunteers, 34,000 security officers and 10,000 reporters. Some 1 million tickets are expected to be sold for the event, and over 3 billion people will watch the games on TV.

===================================================

I can not wait, I am going to the Olympics! {I hope} :)

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russian News: November 20th, 2007

Hello,

RBC, 20.11.2007, Moscow 12:10:14.An hour and a half into today's special dollar trading session for tomorrow deals, the weighted average exchange rate stood at 24.43 RUR/USD. The official rate for November 21 can therefore be revised RUR0.07 lower. Combined with yesterday's RUR0.02 drop, the dollar has lost RUR0.09, or almost 0.4 percent against the ruble in two days. The US currency's noticeable decline on MICEX can be attributed to the euro's steep increase against the dollar on international exchanges, where it is now trading at nearly USD1.4755, up at least 0.8 percent from around USD1.4630 at midday on Monday. As a result, trading activity was high at the UTS, with the trade volume at USD778m as of 11:30 a.m., and the average deal size at a considerable USD2.4m.

RBC, 20.11.2007, Moscow 11:49:04.The Russian stock market opened with a rise in most traded securities. On MICEX, almost all stocks edged up 0.5 percent on average, while Norilsk Nickel, Rostelecom, and MTS climbed 1 percent. On the RTS, MTS shares traded 1.8 percent above the level of Monday's close against the backdrop of the upcoming release of the company's Q3 financial statement under US GAAP. Analysts believe that the Russian market is likely to increase in morning trade against the background of higher US stock indices. Meanwhile, the RTS index is expected to reach a new resistance level of 2,175 points. Some experts note that the Russian market may slide in the next couple of days. However, it a rally is anticipated on the market before the year-end. Russian stocks have been in high demand by Russian and foreign investors, which resulted in higher liquidity.

RBC, 20.11.2007, Moscow 10:21:55.Foreign investment in Russia amounted to $87.9bn in January-September 2007, which is 2.5 times greater than in the same period a year earlier, the Russian Federal State Statistics Service (Rosstat) reported today. Direct investments in Russia's economy stood at $19.644bn, having increased by 91.3 percent from the previous showing for the first nine months of 2006. Other investments surged by a factor of 2.7 to $66.745bn. Foreign capital accrued in Russia climbed 52.2 percent to $197.8bn. The Netherlands, the UK, Cyprus, Luxembourg, Switzerland, Ireland, France, Germany, and the US are Russia's main investors, accounting for 85.5 percent of total foreign investments in the country.

RBC, 19.11.2007, Moscow 17:20:35.The Russian Central Election Commission (CEC) has once again invited OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) to observe the upcoming parliamentary elections in the country, Igor Borisov, a member of the CEC, told journalists today. He noted that Russia was willing to show ODIHR's observers all polling stations in the country, regardless of the time and place they named. Borisov added that he had met with consultants from the Embassies of the EU countries and discussed the situation.

RBC, 20.11.2007, Moscow 13:08:02.Gazprom will step up direct natural gas supplies to end consumers on the European market, the Russian gas giant's Deputy CEO Alexander Medvedev told the Russian Gas 2007 conference in Moscow today. He explained that such supplies made it possible to make a profit from sales of natural gas along the entire supply chain, from production to consumption. Medvedev reiterated that, as part of the European Union's market liberalization requirements, major European companies were obligated to hand over part of their existing export contracts to other companies. As a result, when renewing a contract with Gaz de France in 2006, the French company reserved 1.5bn cubic meters of gas for Gazprom, which the Russian company later sold through its own network of sales agencies to European end consumers. A similar contract was also signed with Italy's ENI, providing for a gradual increase in Gazprom's direct sales to 3bn cubic meters by 2010. Similar contracts signed in 2006 and 2007, the Russian gas giant's subsidiaries have also started direct gas deliveries to Austrian, Czech, and Bulgarian consumers.

That is the news for today, Real exciting isn't it?

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Secret Cities!

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and thinking about an article that I read. I am going to share this article with you. The article is about the secret cities of Russia.

There are still cities in Russia that, (I) being an American can not get into. (Unless given permission.) So when we travel we just try to go to open areas.

This is no different than when I lived in America. I spent my life near, "The Lake City Arsenal". Located near Kansas City, Mo. You could drive near the place but better not try to get in. This complex was just like a city all its own. They had everything within the comforts of its walls.

We (when kids) use to talk about: That if there was ever an Atomic War, we would be the first to go. (We lived near the largest armory in America)
==================================
Article:

"During the Great Patriotic War the Soviet military-industrial complex created a number of new other towns and cities for weapons development and manufacturing. The creation of such "town-forming enterprises" accelerated during the War, as such much of the Soviet military industrial infrastructure was relocated beyond the reach of Hitler's advancing armies.

In response to the immense challenge of the unfolding East-West arms race, Stalin decided to create dozens of centers of research and development excellence in the USSR. Some of these so-called "Naukograds" [Science Towns] were "Akademgorodok" [Academic Cities} devoted to basic research. Others were secret cities which were to provide the technical foundation for Soviet military technology - sputniks, long-range missiles, thermonuclear warheads of extreme yield. Among the work performed in such places were chemical, biological and nuclear weapons research and manufacturing, enrichment of plutonium, space research, and military intelligence work.

Collectively, these secret cities are known as zakrytye administrativno-territorial’nye obrazovaniia (ZATO), many of which were built by slave labor from the Soviet GULAG. During the cold war many of Russia's towns and cities, including some of its largest, were 'closed cities'. Anyone with a foreign passport was forbidden to enter, and many were even out of bounds to Russian citizens. These closed cities provided the technical foundation for Soviet military technology including chemical, biological and nuclear weapons research and manufacturing, enrichment of plutonium, space research, and military intelligence work. This meant that large numbers of highly qualified scientists and researchers were concentrated in these geographical areas, developing new technologies but isolated from the global research community. With Glasnost and the fall of the Soviet Union, all of the major cities were opened for collaboration in civil research and the slow process of breaking down the barriers of secrecy began.

Such "secret cities" were known only by a postal code, identified with a name and a number. Originally, the number following the city was the distance in kilometers the facility was located from the city. In practice, the numbers were in some instances arbitrarily assigned, and changed from time to time, to obscure the actual location of the installation. Thus, the All-Russian Scientific and Research Institute of Experimental Physics (VNIIEF) was initially known as Arzamas-60, a postal code designation to show that it was 60 km from the city of Arzamas. But the "60" was considered too sensitive, and the number was changed to "16." In 1947 the entire city of Sarov (Arzamas-16) disappeared from all official Russian maps and statistical documents. The facility has also been known Moscow-300, the town of Kremlev, and Arzamas-75. Zlatoust-20 is probably the same as Zlatoust-36, and Kurchatov-21, Moscow-21, Moscow-400 and Semipalatinsk-121 are almost certainly the same as Semipalatinsk-16.

The naukograds reflect the character of the Soviet system of organising the society to a high degree of purity. More generally, the secret cities were a natural expression of the Soviet emphasis on secrecy, and strict controls on the internal movement of the population. But they were not entirely unique to the Soviet system. For instance, in 1915, Britain built a massive new war factory on the Solway River. HM Factory Gretna employed 30,000 women and men manufacturing cordite for ammunition. The two new Townships of Eastriggs and Gretna were created to house many of the workers who built and worked in the factory. But the new communities did not officially exist because of the secrecy surrounding the operation. Gretna and Eastriggs were referred to by their codename "Moorside" in Government circles. Conan Doyle describes those townships as Miracle Towns, because the houses were not just thrown up without thought. They were designed by prominent architects of the day to modern Garden City principles. Cinemas, Dance Halls, Schools, Churches, State Controlled Public Houses and Leisure Facilities were provided for the needs of the munitions workers. The United States employed a similar philosophy with the Manhattan Project that built the first atomic bomb during World War II, building secret cities at Hanford, Washington, Los Alamos, New Mexico, and Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

Many Soviet era defense plant are, in some ways, a throw-back to a US factory-town. The defense plant is a mini-city in itself, with its own apartments, doctors, clinics, restaurants, and power plants. Outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg, defense plant employees usually live in company apartments, shop in company stores, and eat in company cafeterias. Up to 80 percent of a defense plant's budget goes to maintaining these social services. The plant manager is often as concerned with making deals to bring in potatoes and bread to feed his people as with joint venture agreements, and these and other transactions are often conducted on a barter-basis.

The "secret cities" share these characteristics, but they were separated from other urban areas, self-contained, and protected by fences and guard forces. The secret cities require a special permit for entrance, and are usually surrounded by a concrete wall. Personnel working in the Soviet nuclear complex were under heavy surveillance by the KGB, and underwent an intensive screening process, and their activities were closely monitored. Soviet-era control systems relied heavily on keeping personnel and materiel in secret cities and facilities, closely monitoring nuclear industry personnel, and severely punishing control violations.

The facilities could grow to considerable size, with tens of thousands of employees and dependents. With schools, stores, and recreational facilities, these secret cities contained everything a normal city might have. The selection of goods was often much better than a normal Soviet city, a reward for the difficult lifestyle and secrecy required by the job. Many of these cities are now "open," but remain engaged in military-industrial work. In present Russia, 3 million people live in such naukograds. The problem is what to do with these cities after the end of the militarized East-West contest.

Sources and Resources

• Secret and Closed Cities in the Russian Federation by the Center for Post Soviet Studies.This list of known secret or closed cities was originally compiled by Dr. Murray Feshbach and his research staff: Doug Goudie, Janel Lardizabel, Cathy Schaidler and Niki Gallozzi. The data was taken from a wide variety of Russian-language sources, including newspapers, journals and books. It appears as Appendix A in Dr. Murray Feshbach's Ecological Disaster: Cleaning up the Hidden Legacy of the Soviet Regime (New York: Twentieth Century Fund, 1995, pp. 110-111).
• POST-SOVIET TRANSITION AND RUSSIA’S "SECRET CITIES" By Trey Whittenton
• Russian Administrative Districts The Ethnic Territories of Russia GIS Project, Dr. Robert J. Kaiser also includes an interesting discussion of Rayon-Level Population Data Limitations and Considerations
• Don't Play With Nuclear Fire. The Open `Wounds' of the Closed Cities, Anatoliy Pokrovskiy, PRAVDA, 12/2/1995 -- Discussion of Russia's closed cities in the post-Cold War era.
• From Nuclear War to the War of the Markets, Pilar Bonet, EL PAIS, 11/7/1995 -- Report on the transition of Russia's secret defense research laboratories to the post-Cold War environment."

============================================

This article explains to me what I talked about in a more previous article.
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/11/russia-forbidden-city.html

I have come to discover that there are Secret Cities all over the world!!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Leaner and Meaner Army!

Russia's Army to Be "Leaner but Meaner" - Chief of Staff

http://mnweekly.rian.ru/national/20071115/55289883.html

15/11/2007

MOSCOW (RIA Novosti, Russia Today) - Yuri Baluyevsky, the chief of Russia's general staff said a moratorium on Russia's Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty obligations will take effect on December 12.

"There will be no changes to Russia's position: The law will come into force as it should, on December 12," Baluyevsky said Wednesday in Brussels, following a meeting with NATO chiefs of staff.

Baluyevsky said last Thursday that Russia would no longer be bound by current weapons and equipment limitations after its moratorium on the CFE Treaty comes into force.

The State Duma, Russia's lower house of parliament, voted on November 7 in favor of President Putin's bill to impose a moratorium on the CFE Treaty.

The moratorium is set to come into effect on December 12, after final approval by the upper house of parliament, expected to vote on the issue on November 16, and President Vladimir Putin.

In an interview with the Russia Today TV channel on Tuesday the chief of general staff said that the CFE Treaty put Russia at a disadvantage.

"It was an onerous treaty for Russia. It was a treaty that Russia alone honored," he said.

Asked why Russia had signed the document in the first place, Baluyevsky said that at the time, in 1990, the goal was to avert a war, and the treaty effectively served its purpose.

He also said Russia's Armed Forces, like all militaries in the world, would be putting an emphasis on quality, not quantity.

"It will be a leaner but meaner, well trained and equipped, and professional force," the general said.

Earlier in the interview he said that the Russian Armed Forces were under no obligation to protect the world from the United States.

Answering a question as to whether or not the world could count on Russia to defend it from "insidious American plans," Baluyevsky replied, "Today, there is no need to be afraid of the Russian Armed Forces. However, I do not believe that the Russian military is obliged to defend the world from the evil Americans".

"We need to pool our efforts together with our American counterparts to fight existing common threats. I'd say that we are doing a pretty good job here.

"As for the modern Russian Army, it is not the Army that we have inherited from the collapsed Soviet Union in the early 90's," Baluyevsky added. "Today it's a totally new Army. As for the number of men, in the Soviet times the Army had more than 4 million servicemen and now it is a bit over 1 million. As you may notice, it has shrunk by 3 million."

====================================

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Svet Sunday: All In Your Hands!

Hello!

Today I want to tell you a parable. A teacher in our school liked to tell it on the first lesson.

There was a village. And a very wise man lived in the village. All people knew he was wise, they like him and came often to ask an advice. And there lived very smart man in this village near the wise man. And this smart man envied the wise man a lot. He did not understand why people wanted to get advices from his neighbor and not from him.

So one day he decided to prove that this man who was wise in everybody's else opinion is not really too wise.

He caught a butterfly and came to the home of this wise man. The wise man was sitting on the porch and talked to people, like always there were a lot of people who wanted to get advise or just listen to opinion of the wise man.

Smart man put the butterfly in his hand and asked the wise man:"Is the butterfly in my hand alive or dead?". He was very smart this smart man. He thought if my neighbor tell that the butterfly is dead I'll show everybody that it's alive. But if he tell that butterfly is alive I'll squeeze it a little bit (nobody would notice) and then I open my hand and everybody would see that the butterfly was dead.
The wise man looked at him and told: "All is in your hands".

I really like this thought that "All is in our hands". I already had an article about it:
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/10/svet-sunday

But the second thought is about differences between been smart and been wise. There is a lot of parables, stories and jokes about it. May be you can share with us some of them?

Svet

comments always welcome.

Russia: Poem Translation by Reader!

Hello,

We want to post the translation of a very good poem. (from Russian to English) A reader of ours translated the poem for us. We think that she did a good job!

Thank you very much Ludmila.

Kyle & Svet

Here is the comment that she left....
=========================

Ludmila said...

Hi, Sevtlana snd Kyle!
I'll post my translation of the poem. But I'm not sure it's so good as it sounds in Russian. But maybe you can correct it if you don't like it. You know English is not my mother tongue and it's not so perfect and there is no rhyme. I'm wondering if I could translate it into Bulgarian with rhyme and with the same sense.

Думают иные

Other people think – those, who hear sounds
Those, who see the sun, the moon and stars
How can she, the blind, describe the beauty?
How can she, the deaf, hear sounds and the spring!?

I will feel the odour and the fresh of dew
Slight murmur of the leaves I‘ll catch with my fingers,
Swimming in the darkness I will walk in the garden
Being ready to dream and say “I love you”.

And I will not see his shining eyes,
I will not hear his caressing and cheery voice,
But words without sound - tremour of the feelings
I‘ll catch and hear with my flying hand

And I am ready to love for his mind and heart
As people love odour of the tender flowers
people love their friends’ precious words
As the gripped hand likes the its thrilling

I will see with my mind and feeling
And with the chainless dream I will fly all over the world
Does the sighted can describe the beauty
And will he smile at a bright sunbeam?

I am deaf and blind,
But I have more than that - I have a freedom of brisk feelings
I weave the life’s gorgeous figures
With versatile, obedient and ardent inspiration

If you are fascinated by the beauty and the sounds
Don’t boast of this happiness to me
And better offer your hand with your best feelings
So that I can be with you and not alone

Ольга Скороходова (Olga Skorohodova)

========================
Original.....

Думают иные

Думают иные - те, кто звуки слышат,
Те, кто видят солнце, звёзды и луну: -
Как она без зренья красоту опишет?
Как поймёт без слуха звуки и весну!?

Я услышу запах и росы прохладу,
Лёгкий шелест листьев пальцами ловлю.
Утопая в сумрак, я пройду по саду,
И мечтать готова, и сказать люблю...

Пусть я не увижу глаз его сиянье,
Не услышу голос, ласковый,живой,
Но слова без звука - чувства трепетанье -
Я ловлю и слышу быстрою рукой.

И за ум, за сердце я любить готова,
Так, как любят запах нежного цветка.
Так, как любят в дружбе дорогое слово,
Так, как любит трепит сжатая рука.

Я умом увижу, чувствами услышу,
А мечтой привольной мир я облечу...
Каждый ли из зрячих красоту опишет,
Улыбнётся ль ясно яркому лучу?

Не имею слуха, не имею зренья,
Но имею больше - чувств живых простор:
Гибким и послушным, жгучим вдохновеньем
Я соткала жизни красочный узор.

Если вас чарует красота и звуки, -
Не гордитесь этим счастьем предо мной!
Лучше протяните с добрым чувством руку,
Что б была я с вами, а не за стеной.

Ольга Скороходова (Olga Skorohodova)


original article:
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/11/svet

Once again thank you Ludmila, she spent a lot of time and effort. The results are fantastic.

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russian Rubles: Dollar is Unstable!

Friday, 16th of November:

Things have gotten worse for the US dollar on the Moscow Interbank Currency Exchange (MICEX). The Dollar currently stands at 24.48 RUR/USD, RUR 0.04 below the official exchange rate set by the Central Bank for November 17-19. (weekend numbers)

The ruble’s appreciation against the dollar is due to the Euro’s renewed rise against the American currency on international markets. The euro is currently trading at about $1.4650, up from $1.4595 as of 15:00 Moscow time. This means that the euro has strengthened by 0.4 percent against the dollar during this short period. (means the Euro is kicking the Dollars butt!)

This week has been uneven for the US dollar. Having risen by RUR 0.08 against the ruble on Monday and Tuesday, the dollar dropped RUR 0.04 to 24.49 RUR/USD on Wednesday, in line with developments on international markets, where the dollar fell 0.5 percent against the European currency. On Thursday, it dropped by a further RUR 0.03 against the ruble, but recouped the loss on Friday, rising by RUR 0.06 to 24.52 RUR/USD. Having recovered against the euro on Thursday, the dollar was expected to end the week in a positive mode.

But... The Dollar decided to go the other way. (Down)

The Dollar is starting to become unstable. The World markets will not be able to support it forever.

I say it will stay above water until Christmas is over! Then sink like a rock.

Sad but true!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Iran calls for US nuclear apology!

Hello,

Remember that Russia and China are in support of Iran. That is why this article is in this Blog!
From what I am reading Russia and China both are getting more than a little bit fed up with the USA treatment of Iran.
==========================

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has said the US and its allies should apologise for their treatment of Iran over its nuclear programme.

Mr Ahmadinejad said the latest report by the UN's International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) showed Iran had been truthful about its nuclear activities.

The IAEA found Iran had clarified some of its nuclear history but questions remained over present activities.

The US has vowed to push for further UN sanctions in the light of the report.

The IAEA report praised Tehran for making progress in responding to questions about past activities but warned that the agency's knowledge about Tehran's current nuclear programme was diminishing.

It said that Iran was continuing to enrich uranium in defiance of demands by the UN Security Council.

"Selective co-operation" was "not good enough", the White House said after the report's release on Thursday.

Meanwhile, a meeting scheduled for next week to discuss further sanctions against Iran has been cancelled because China has pulled out, diplomats say.

'Political victory'

Iran has portrayed the IAEA's latest findings as a political victory.

"Since the first days, we have declared that Iran's nuclear activities are lawful and in the framework of its legal rights, but the Western countries' propagation networks and political pressures did not allow the Iranians' voice be heard in the world," Mr Ahmadinejad is quoted by state media as saying.

"Now the whole world has seen that the news was not true and Iran's activities have been clean and peaceful and all the main questions of the IAEA have received their appropriate answers."

Mr Ahmadinejad said the time had come for the US and its allies to change their behaviour. "Upon wrong and incorrect information you issued two resolutions," he said, referring to two earlier rounds of UN sanctions.

"Now that you have found out that this information was wrong, you have to be brave and come forward and tell the Iranian nation 'We made a mistake' and apologise."(RBC)

==========================

The USA just says that the report is wrong.

I keep saying: America get your own ducks in order. Stay on that side of the world. Let the Super Powers on this side of the world deal with their fellow neighbors!

Oh I forgot.... Oil, That is the Name of the Game!!!!

Kyle

comments always welcom.

Russia: Moscow Has Beautiful Buildings!

Hello,

I know that I bore you all sometimes with political STUFF!

So these pictures are to make up for subjecting you to some of my articles! :)

1. Cathedral of Christ the Saviour Church!
2. Good thing that the Lion is nice!
3. Neat Picture!
4. Puskin Fine Art Museum!
5. Really cool tower!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Belarus Close Ally!

Hello,

Just a thought today...........................

One way that Russia can explain to the USA about missile games, could be the deployment of new Russian Iscander short-range missiles in the neighbouring Belarus. Belarus, a close ally of Russia, has made the statement that it would re-equip its forces with short-range missiles.

Mikhail Puzikov, commander of Belarus’ missile and artillery troops, announced Belarus’ plans to buy Russia's Iskander-E conventional missile system by 2020. He said,"Any action must have a counter-action, including with the US anti-missile elements in the Czech Republic and Poland," (RBC)

Moscow is working on the deployment of new missiles in the Kaliningrad region and in Belarus in response to the US plans to place 10 interceptor missiles in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic as part of a shield of protection. (To protect Europe)

Russia sees this as a threat. I understand this thinking from Russia.

Now I ask the question: Why does the USA think it has to protect Europe? Is Europe that weak? Is Europe that Scared? Is Europe.........?

Let Europe put their own missile defense in! Let Europe tell Russia what they want to do!

(America, needs to stay home & fix its problems.)

Kyle

comments always welcome.

http://kylekeeton.com/2007/11/
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/06/
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/09/
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/09/
http://kylekeeton.com/2007/09/

http://www.russianspy.org/2007/

Russians: Do Not Give Us Dollars!

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking about the Worlds attitude toward the Dollar.

The Dollar has hit new all time lows. It is not just the World that says this, it is even showing in the USA. The sub prime issue, is bigger than anyone thinks. Those US Banks that gave the loans, also sold those same loans to foreign investors! (These foreign investors do not want to hear about defaulted loans)

The Dollar which is weaker than the Canadian dollar and Australian dollar right now, is being supported by countries such as China, Russia, Japan & all of Europe. At any given moment, China could destroy the USA monetarily. Just by converting their stockpiled of $ to Gold, Silver or Euros. Russia keeps a certain amount of her reserves in $. Russia could convert and do the same damage almost as China. The three countries that have the largest reserves is China, Russia & Japan! (China having the largest reserve)
==========================
Article on the Russian Reserves..........(RBC)

"Russia’s gold and foreign currency reserves stood at $455.2 billion as of November 9, up $7.3 billion or 1.6 percent from $447.9 billion a week before, the Central Bank of Russia has reported.

From October 5 to November 2, the reserves went up by $23.1 billion. In the last five weeks, from October 5 to November 9, they increased by $30.4 billion, or 7.1 percent.

The significant rise in such a short time could be due to the Central Bank’s increased acquisition of foreign currency on Russia’s forex market, bringing the reserves to their highest level ever recorded.

As a result, Russia has slightly reduced its gap from China and Japan, which have the largest gold and foreign currency reserves in the world. China’s reserves top $1.434 trillion, up $101 billion in the third quarter of this year alone and a more than 45 percent increase from January to September 2007 compared with the same period a year ago. Japan has over $945 billion.

The draft guidelines of the state monetary and credit policy for 2008, published by the Central Bank of Russia, say that the gold and foreign currency reserves will increase by $114.9 billion in 2007. In 2008 they are projected to rise by $37.9 billion to $68.4 billion, depending on Russia’s macroeconomic policy. In 2009 the reserves are expected to increase by between $8.6 billion and $46.3 billion. In 2010 they could drop by $4.5 billion or rise by $5.6 billion and $20.8 billion.

Meanwhile, from January 1 to November 2, Russia’s gold and foreign currency reserves increased by $144.2 billion, which is $29.3 billion more than the Central Bank had projected for the whole year.

Gold and foreign currency reserves are highly liquid financial assets controlled by the Central Bank and the Finance Ministry. They consist of monetary gold, special drawing rights, the reserve position in the International Monetary Fund, and foreign currency."

============================

Now as the ruble grows stronger against the dollar, more Russian companies are paying salaries in rubles instead of dollars. The salary structure has changed. Back in 2005, 45 percent of salaries were paid in rubles, and 44 percent in dollars. Currently, 80 percent of companies calculate salaries in rubles, and only 15 percent in dollars. (info RBC Report)

The good thing, "Unemployment is not a threat for Russia, with 72 percent of companies planning to hire more employees in 2008. (the problem of personnel training remains) In 2007, 70 percent of companies had difficulty finding personnel. Demand is very strong for competent office managers, secretaries, and young specialists with foreign language skills."
(Analytical department of RIA RosBusinessConsulting)

The path that the Dollar is taking is a rocky path indeed! (more like boulders)

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Snowy Russia!

Hello,

Just an update on the snow! (because I love snow)

It is now about a foot deep. Boza & I love it. We go for a walk & Boza spends his time freezing his nose. I am going to try to get a picture of Boza with his Ice Beard!

It is not so cold but the wind is blowing pretty good and that makes the snow pile up!

The last picture is our frozen car, Nelly! :(

Have a good day.

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Forbidden City?

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking of an article that I read. This article was on the Forbidden Space City!

After reading the article, I want to go there. Not sure if they will let me? I am going to ask my wife about Forbidden Cities in the CCCP era and Russia now.

==========================

Russia's Space City Frozen in Time: The Associated Press

"Sunday, October 21, 2007; 12:40 PM BAIKONUR, Kazakhstan -- In this remote and rusting town on the barren steppes of Central Asia, the space race and the Sputnik era seem much more than a memory. Rockets still pierce the heavens in a halo of smoke during launches, and engineers and military men still crack open bottles of vodka to celebrate a successful launch. What has changed are the passengers. Nowadays Baikonur embraces the world, from wealthy space tourists to the world's first Malaysian cosmonaut, Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor, who blasted off for the international space station on Oct. 10.

The city itself is a rusting relic of the golden age of Russian rocketry, yet if anything, its place in the space industry is heading toward expansion. For at least four years after the space shuttle program ends in 2010, the U.S. will completely depend on Russia and Baikonur _ to send its crews to the international space station. Facilities and equipment are workable but old.

Remnants of demolished buildings and pieces of rusty metal dot the landscape along the roads to the launchpads. Dozens of apartment blocks that were abandoned after the 1991 Soviet collapse stand in rows like tombstones, their windows bricked up. The launch pad used this month was the same one that blasted Yuri Gagarin into orbit in 1961 to become the first man in space. Sputnik, the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth, took off nearby in 1957. Even the technology hasn't changed much. The Soyuz spacecraft designed in the mid-1960s is still in service, somewhat modified. It can only be used once, but costs just $25 million. The newest Endeavor space shuttle cost $2 billion, but is reusable. Life and work in Baikonur and its cosmodrome are also pretty much what they were in the Soviet era. The town of 70,000 _ unbearably hot in summer, freezing cold in winter and dusty year round _ is isolated by hundreds of miles of scrubland.

Baikonur, once one of the Soviet Union's most secret cities, is still closed to outsiders and surrounded by barbed wire. Armed soldiers at checkpoints guard dozens of launch pads, five tracking control centers and a missile test range. The continuity is especially striking because the 1991 collapse left the cosmodrome stranded in what had become a foreign country, the former Soviet republic of Kazakhstan. "We did not know what country we belonged to, but we kept on launching rockets," said Sergei Kuzmin, a former military officer, now a city clerk.

Russia rents Baikonur from Kazakhstan for $115 million a year. The mayor is jointly appointed by the Russian and Kazakh presidents. "We live under two governments, but unfortunately get only one salary," Kuzmin noted wryly as he walked the freshly renovated corridors of city hall."

==========================

When someone says that I can not go somewhere I want to go to that place. :)

What I find interesting is the USA needs the services of this City! After 2010 America will not be able to get to the International Space Station, without Russia! (Interesting)

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: The Winter Is Here!

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking to myself!

"It Is Winter!"

-5 degrees C. in middle of the day and -10 degrees C. at night.

The dog Boza is not sure what to think. He is just out of puppy hood and this really is his first winter. He sticks his nose into the snow and freezes his snout!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russian News: November 13, 2007

Dollar rising vs. ruble for 2 days:
RBC, 13.11.2007, Moscow 11:51:35.After an hour and a half of today's special dollar trading session for tomorrow deals, the weighted average exchange rate stood at 24.53 RUR/USD. The official dollar rate for November 14 may therefore be revised RUR0.04 higher. Combined with a RUR0.04 loss on Monday, the ruble has dropped a total of RUR0.08, or 0.3 percent, against the dollar in two days. The current developments on MICEX may be attributed to the dollar's advance against the euro on international exchanges. The latter is now trading at nearly USD1.4620, down from almost USD1.4650 at the same time at the previous session. Consequently, the euro has edged down around 0.2 percent against the US currency on the global market since then.

Putin to chair State Council meeting:
RBC, 13.11.2007, Moscow 09:52:55.Russian President Vladimir Putin is scheduled to chair State Council meeting in Krasnoyarsk today. President of Russian Railways Vladimir Yakunin and Transport Minister Igor Levitin are also expected to attend the meeting.

The meeting's agenda includes discussions on the development of Russia's transport infrastructure. The State Council's working group has prepared a report, which outlines the main goals for the development of the country's infrastructure and the current situation in this field.

Two thirds of Russians likely to vote in State Duma elections:
RBC, 12.11.2007, Moscow 17:42:14.About 75 percent of Russians are planning to participate in the upcoming parliamentary elections, a poll by the Russian Public Opinion Research Center showed. Among those, 35 percent said they were definitely going, and 40 percent said they would most likely vote. As a result, the number of Russians willing to vote in the election has gone up from the previous showing of 68 percent about a month and a half ago.

The share of potential voters increases proportionally to the voter's age: 30-32 percent of respondents are under 44 years old, 35 percent are between ages 45 and 59, while 47 percent are retired people.

The poll was held among 1,600 people in 153 locations of Russia's 46 regions. The statistical error does not exceed 3.4 percent.

Russia to invest in oil and gas industry:
RBC, 12.11.2007, Moscow 12:15:32.Russia needs to invest $3 trillion in the next 10 years in the development of the country's oil and gas industry, Viktor Ivanov, Head of the Russian Chemical Union, said during a conference in Moscow today. He noted that the amount would allow Russia's oil and gas industry to reach the level of European countries. Ivanov added that the country needed to introduce new technologies that would allow companies to boost the share of refined oil products in the total amount of refined oil at least by 10 percent. He also said that it was more profitable for Russian companies to export oil rather than export refined oil products. Therefore, Ivanov reiterated Russian companies' need to invest in their own development, while the government needed to create favorable market conditions for such companies. He pointed out that cutting taxes for oil companies would be a reasonable measure.

Kyle

comments always welcome!

Bears: I Think Bears Are Great!

Hello,

Bears are my favorite wild animal. I have always considered them special. The American Indian considered them to be much power! The Russians love Bears also.......

So when I see an article on the decline of Bears (all except, Black Bears in America). I get Sad! :(

This is the article.....................
=========================

Concern grows for smallest bear

Habitat loss and commercial hunting have been blamed for a decline in the number of sun bears - the world's smallest species of bear.

An assessment by World Conservation Union (IUCN) has re-classified the animal as "vulnerable".

Experts estimate that sun bears, found in south-east Asia, have declined by at least 30% in the past 30 years.

The IUCN's bear expert groups warn that six out of the world's eight bear species are threatened with extinction.

"Although we still have a lot to learn about the biology and ecology of this species (Helarctos malayanus) , we are quite certain it is in trouble," said Rob Steinmetz, a member of the IUCN bear specialist group.

RED LIST DEFINITIONS: Extinct - Surveys suggest last known individual has died Critically Endangered - Extreme high risk of extinction - this means some Critically Endangered species are also tagged Possibly Extinct Endangered - Species at very high risk of extinction Vulnerable - Species at high risk of extinction Near Threatened - May soon move into above categories Least Concern - Species is widespread and abundant Data Deficient - not enough data to assess

"We estimate that sun bears have declined by at least 30% over the past 30 years and continue to decline at this rate."

Mr Steinmetz said deforestation had reduced the size and quality of the bears' habitat.

"Where habitat is now protected, commercial poaching remains a significant threat," he added.

"We are working with governments, protected area managers, conservation groups and local people to prevent extinctions of the many small, isolated sun bear populations."

Until this latest assessment, the bears had been classified as "data deficient" because not enough was know about the state of the species.

Uncertain times

One of the iconic species for conservationists, the giant panda, remains listed as "endangered", despite recent efforts in China to release captive-bred pandas into the wild.

"Even though some people have claimed that panda populations are on the rise, we still consider them endangered because too much uncertainty exists to justify chnaging their status," explained Dave Garshelis, co-chairman of the IUCN bear specialist group.

Although the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) remains the world's most threatened bear species, there are reasons to be optimistic about its long-term survival.

China has established nearly 60 panda reserves, a logging ban and begun a programme of reforestation.

Out of the eight species featured on the IUCN Red List, only the American black bear is considered secure throughout its range, which includes Canada, the US and Mexico.

With an estimated population of 900,000, there are more than twice the number of American black bears than all the other species put together.

STATUS OF WORLD'S BEARS: Giant panda - Endangered Sun bear - Vulnerable Asiatic black bear - Vulnerable Sloth bear - Vulnerable Andean bear - Vulnerable Polar bear - Vulnerable Brown bear - Least Concern American black bear - Least Concern (Source: IUCN)

"An enormous amount of effort and funding for conservation and management continue to be directed at bears in North America," said Bruce McLellan, Mr Garshelis' fellow co-chairman of the group.

"It is unfortunate that so little is directed at bears in Asia and South America where the need is extreme."

The assessment of the seven terrestrial bear species and polar bear (technically classified as a marine mammal) was published on Sunday following a meeting in Mexico.

The findings will be used to update the bears' entries in the 2007 edition Red List of Threatened Species, which is considered to be the most authoritative audit of more than 41,000 species.

Story from BBC NEWS: http://news.bbc.co.uk/ Published: 2007/11/12 10:44:58 GMT © BBC MMVII

=========================

Polar Bears are having a rough time surviving North of Russia. Humans keep taking their space and the ice is retreating.

Just thoughts for a Monday!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Oldies But Goodies! 1941

Hello,

The other day we posted a few videos about the Red Square and Russian Parades. This Parade in 2007 was to commemorate the one from 1941.

Well here is the video from 1941!


Here is the video from 2007!


Lots of kids in the 2007 video! Times change and so do we!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Moscow: Trying To Get Traffic Under Control!

Hello,

My wife and I were driving the streets of Moscow on Sunday and we could not believe the traffic congestion. When we go out for a nice little ride through town! (take that sarcastically) We usually see around 3 - 4 bad wrecks. I learned in America, to drive defensively & I use every trick that I learned to stay out of accidents here in Moscow.

I am glad to see that Moscow is trying to do something about the problem......

======================
22 Streets Become One-Way

The Moscow Times

Twenty-two centrally located streets became one-way streets Sunday, amid an ongoing struggle by Moscow city authorities to ease traffic congestion.

The change -- largely involving streets in a west-central area stretching between Pushkin Square, Novy Arbat and the Garden Ring Road -- came months after 49 two-lane streets in east-central Moscow were turned into one-way streets.

The latest move is expected to ease congestion in the city center by 10 percent to 15 percent, City Hall experts said.

Traffic jams are an enormous problem in Moscow, costing the economy billions of dollars in lost productivity and commerce every year. The average car travels at just over 16 kilometers per hour inside the Garden Ring. Citywide, the average speed is close to 25 kilometers per hour, according to city statistics.

Every day, around 200,000 cars clog the city's 6,000 kilometers of roads, and some traffic experts fear a collapse when the number of cars hits 300,000 by 2012.

The streets that became one way on Sunday include five ulitsas -- Bolshaya Bronnaya, Bolshaya Molchanovka, Malaya Bronnaya, Malaya Molchanovka and Spiridonovka -- and 17 pereuloks -- Bogoslovsky, Bolshoi Kozikhinsky, Bolshoi Patriarshy, Bolshoi Rzhevsky, Borisoglebsky, Bryusov, Granatny, Khlebny, Maly Patriarshy, Maly Rzhevsky, Medvezhy, Nozhovy, Skatertny, Spiridonyevsky, Stolovy, Tryokhprudny and Yermolayevsky.

=========================

The big problem with the roads is that they were built for public transport and very few cars.

I think that the statistics are wrong... Moscow has three million cars registered. It Feels Like two million of them are on the road, when we are out driving. :)

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Svet Sunday: 10th of November - Day of Russian Militsiya!

Hello,

Today I want to congratulate all people who serves in Militsiya. (Police in America) Yesterday (Saturday) was the day to pay tribute to our Militsiya!

Recently (due to our car being broke into) I spent about 1+ hours in local Militsiya station and watched how hard they worked. They really were busy, Dispatcher called patrols cars every few seconds and gave the officers new orders. To go to fights, to check a situation somewhere and to a dispute somewhere, were just some of the few orders given.

I was so much impressed, his job was so intensive - I think even air traffic controllers don't work that intensively. He just was getting more and more calls from Command Center. I heard: "Someone told that young people are too loud in the yard and he sent a patrol car to check, (then) someone complained on next door neighbors who was quarreled and fought,(then) someone call and told that he had smelled propane in his flat, yes Gas Service already had visited him and found nothing, OK - told the dispatcher - then cops will find ;)."

I've heard a cop talk to a man whom they kept in the camera room- that was nice kind talk even with some humor. So: I was impressed!

Before this day like many Russians, I did not think too good about Militsiya (never had deal with them- just it was like, Russian mentality).

Now when I've seen their real job I respect them very much! I've met just very kind and intelligent people at the Militsiya Station.

And one more thing what I would like to share with you: If you are in trouble call #02. If you see something what should not be call #02. (Russia of course)

Best wishes for all who serves in Militsiya!
They work hard in any weather any time!
They work for us!

Thank you!

Svet

PS That is the other emergency phone numbers in Russia:
01 - Fire emergency
02 - Militsiya
03 - Medical emergency
04 - Gas emergency
PPS More about Militsiya and why in Russia it's called Militsiya (not Police like in many others countries) read here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Militsiya

Russia: Just a Picture Day!

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee. I was watching the snow fall & swirl in the wind!

So I thought lets look at some pictures from the scenery in Russia.

1. Driving to the Village.
2. Frozen Village!
3. How they display cigarette's in Moscow windows.(expand the picture and you can see the prices) (25 Rubles = $1)
4. Gum Department Store on the Red Square. (with parade)
5. Last and far from least, My Sweetie standing on a stump of a big tree.

Just a lazy day in Russia.
Hope that you have a safe weekend!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Parade on Red Square 2007!

Hello,

I was looking at some videos that my Wife made. The 7th of November was a Parade day on Red Square. This Parade is in Commemoration of the Parade in 1941. If you have never seen Red Square and the area around it(Kremlin and Gum Department Store), then this will be a treat for you.
http link: Gum Department Store!
http link: Lenin Mausoleum
http link: Kremlin








I think she did a great job and caught what was going on real well. I really think that you will enjoy watching these videos!

http://kylekeeton.com/2007/11/russia-oldies-but-goodies-1941.html

Kyle

comments always welcome.

New Information on Russian Computers!

Hello,

A reader gave me very good new information on Russian Computer Program.
All prices are in Rubles and figure 25 Rubles for every Dollar. So 7800/25=$312.00 for the cheapest system. (Delivered) I reprinted the comment because he put a lot of effort into looking everything up.
Thanks Peter

Kyle
==========================
Пётр,

said...http://www.pcdom.ru/ru/176/index.html et cetera: 7800 is the price for the cheapest model with Linux and including delivery cost.

It's not a high price, but not exceptionally low too.

It's a good program per se, but one of the reasons it does not work is that computer stores are often closer than post offices. 50000 is too much for that bad advertisement. The easiest scenario a computer may be bought there, as I imagine, is that:
1. A person gets interested in computers some way (that's easy).
2. The person visits post office regularly (a pensioner getting pension there? most of my acquaintances do neither visit post offices regularly, nor like the visits when they do, including me).
3. The person pays attention to the "pcdom" (I didn't).
4. The person either buys a computer for a minor without consent or asks richer relatives and persuades them to buy it at post office (i.e. not at the favorite or nearest store).

Configurations(russian should not be a problem)/prices:
1. 7800 r. http://www.pcdom.ru/ru/176/index.html
2. 17000 r. http://www.pcdom.ru/ru/177/index.html
3. 22000 r. http://www.pcdom.ru/ru/178/index.html
4. 21400 r. (notebook with Windows XP: this should be interesting) http://www.pcdom.ru/ru/179/index.html
==========================
Peters Web Site: http://lj.rossia.org/users/ppkk/


Kyle

comments always welcome

Russian News: November 8, 2007

{1}Russians prefer market economy, poll shows:
RBC, 08.11.2007, Moscow 17:43:53.The Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) has released data on the type of government Russians want to have in their country in the future. Presently, as was also the case a decade ago, public opinion gives preference to a democratic market economy. Although the number of supporters of this approach has decreased from 48 to 42 percent, the share of promoters of a socialist government with communist ideology is almost three times smaller, at 16 percent (down from 20 percent in 1997). Somewhat more popular is the position that Russia should have a unique form of government, with 21 percent of respondents voicing their support for this viewpoint. A marginal 3-6 percent believe monarchy to be ideal for Russia.
The poll was conducted on August 18-19, among 1,600 people in 153 locations in 46 regions and republics of Russia, with the margin of error under 3.4 percent.


{2}Russia-US high level group on US missile shield to meet soon:
RBC, 08.11.2007, Moscow 13:51:19.The meeting of the high-level Russian-US group on the US National Missile Defense (NMD) system is expected to take place in November, Igor Neverov, head of the North America department at the Russian Foreign Ministry, told journalists today. He did not specify the dates of the meeting, nor the place. Neverov pointed out that it was important to receive suggestions from the US on the deployment of elements of the NMD before the meeting.


{3}Russia's gold and currency reserves surge:
RBC, 08.11.2007, Moscow 10:25:32.The Bank of Russia's gold and foreign currency reserves amounted to $447.9bn as of November 2, 2007, up $6.6bn, or 1.5 percent, from the previous showing. Combined with a $16.5bn rise on October 5-26, the reserves have climbed a total of $23.1bn, or 5.4 percent, in 20 days.
This rise in gold and currency reserves may be attributed to a sharp upsurge in the Central Bank's foreign currency acquisitions on the domestic market. As a result, the reserves have reached their all-time high and Russia has been able to somewhat narrow the huge gap separating it from China and Japan, the world's leaders in terms of gold and foreign exchange reserves.
Russia's reserves have increased by more than $144.2bn since the beginning of the year, which is $29.3bn greater than the Bank of Russia's forecast for 2007.


{4}Russia suspends arms treaty:
RBC, 07.11.2007, Moscow 13:51:53.The Russian State Duma has suspended Russia's participation in the Treaty on the Conventional Forces in Europe (CFE), although the President has the right to resume the country's participation. The bill was ratified unanimously (418) and will come into effect once it has been published.
==================================

Kyle

Russia: Troop Build-Up On Western Border?

Russia’s Defense Ministry has not ruled out the possibility of building up troops on Russia’s western borders following the suspension of the Conventional Armed Forces in Europe (CFE) Treaty. (http://www.state.gov/t/ac/rls/fs/11243.htm)
(http://www.huliq.com/27306/nato-west-regret-)

On July 14, 2007, President Putin signed a decree on Russia’s suspension of the CFE Treaty and related international agreements. Putin had stated earlier: "Russia’s missile testing programs and the suspension of the CFE Treaty were in response to unfounded actions by Russia’s partners, namely the United States, to build missile shield in Europe." (http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/06/03/europe)

The State Duma is due to consider a bill on the suspension of the CFE Treaty Wednesday. Duma Chairman Boris Gryzlov said on Tuesday that many: "European countries and the US have not ratified the treaty, and deputies considered it necessary to suspend it. European countries have had three years to express their attitude towards the treaty, but they have not done so."
(http://www.asil.org/insights/2007/07/insight)

By the way Russia voted to pull out and have given their 150 day notice to NATO.

So all in all, The Games That Countries Play Go On!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Computer to Every House Program!

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and thinking about the Russian computer program to get an affordable computer in every house hold in Russia.

The Computer to Every House Program is failing. Instead of 50,000 PCs being sold by summer of 2007, they sold no more than 1,500 PCs. So, the Ministry of IT and Communications has decided to make some changes.

When they implemented the program, they discovered that in the remote villages the people are rather unacknowledged about computers and have never heard of Microsoft. If they had heard of Microsoft, they had a fear of the Operating system due to past problems.

The Computer to Every House Program was initiated by Russia’s Ministry of IT & Communications. The original plan was to sell PCs to people with moderate revenues via more than 40,000 offices of Russia’s Mail Service. (Link to Site) All PCs were supplied with Microsoft software and Intel processors. The target was to sell about 50,000 PCs by the summer of 2007.

According the Ministry of IT and Communications. A second attempt at implementing the program will be launched in December of 2007. This time, Microsoft software will be replaced by Linux of a Russian development and the individuals will be able to get loans to purchase the PCs. The Ministry of IT and Communications is working with the biggest banks of the Russia to install loan programs.

This program is a wonderful opportunity for Russian people.

Kyle

comments always welcome.

American in Russia: Supports, Ron Paul!

Hello,

Today as I was drinking my coffee, I was thinking!

I am American and very proud of being an American! Who would I vote for president? This is my answer..

RON PAUL


My answer comes from the mess the country is in. The Republicans seem to have forgotten what being Republican means! The Democrat's have forgotten what being Democrat means!

Both parties have forgotten that they all stand for the same country!

Kyle

Russian Consulate Locator!

Hello,

I found this very useful Site to find the Russian Consulates all over the world!

http://www.russianembassy.net/

Hope this helps someone.

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Get That Residency Permit Updated!

"The Federal Migration Service confirmed on Tuesday that foreigners with old residency permits were being barred from leaving the country under newly enforced regulations.

A 2002 law requires foreigners to change their residency permits for new ones but does not set a deadline for the swap. The Federal Migration Service ordered border guards six months ago to stop foreigners with the old permits from entering or leaving the country, said Konstantin Poltoranin, a spokesman for the migration service.

Apparently, the border guards are now starting to enforce the order.

Among those caught off guard is, Carine Clement -- the French director of the Institute for Collective Action, an NGO, and wife of State Duma Deputy Oleg Shein -- who was prevented from flying out of Sheremetyevo Airport over the weekend. Clement, whose residency permit expires in May, said she was not informed about the change when she applied for a new permit in October. Moreover, she recently visited Rome without any problems.

Poltoranin said Clement should not have been allowed to travel to Rome and should have been informed about the problem with her old permit when she applied for the new one. He said a foreigner should fill out an application for a new permit at the passport and visa department in his local police station and would get a new permit within days."(Moscow Times)

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: People Want Vladimir Putin for 3rd Term?

Hello,

I was reading this article while drinking my coffee this morning, about the Russian People want Putin to stay as President. I do not know how true it is but I know that I myself want to see him stay in power! I think that the country and people need him to stay where he is at.

That is just my 2cents worth!

===================================

Regions ask the president to stay:

Russia undergoes a wave of public rallies in support of extending Vladimir Putin's powers for the third presidential term. The opposition believes the rallies were organized by the United Russia party. However, both the Kremlin and the United Russia said the initiative is coming from the people.

Residents of Chechnya and Tver rallied in support of the third term for Vladimir Putin on Wednesday. Earlier, there had been rallies in Volgograd and Kamchatka. Other regions are about to hold the rallies soon.

In Tver, the event was organized by “the ‘For Putin’ initiative group of citizens” who worded its purpose as follows: “We should by all legal means strive for the continuation of Vladimir Putin’s policy, the policy of national success and national pride”. Specially for the event, Tver city authorities lighted the torch on the Victory obelisk, which is normally done on very special occasions only. The rally gathered over 10,000 people. Nadezhda Afonina, head of Tver education department, said she was happy with how easily she managed to fill the quota of 3,000 people (teachers and students) imposed on her just one day before the rally. Attorney Pavel Astakhov, who arrived to take part in the event, could not refrain from agitation. He suggested that Tver residents should choose Putin at the December 2 election just like young women choose husbands: “Clever, energetic, reliable, with whom we all are safe and protected”. “We lawyers will definitely find a way to make all our hopes come true,” the attorney added.

In Chechnya, the rallies in support of President Putin took place in Grozny, Gudermes, and Achkhoi-Martan. The rally in Grozny consisted mostly of university students. “We have been warned that we should secure the attendance of all students,” said an employee of the University of Grozny. Files of young people dressed in T-shirts depicting Chechen President Ramzan Kadyrov and Vladimir Putin, and carrying banners with “Let’s give third term to Putin!” slogans, filled in Dinamo stadium guarded by police officers in parade uniforms.

The 20,000 people that gathered for the rally asked Putin to stay for the third presidential term. Kommersant’s reporter asked how they account for their slogans since the president had already said he would not change the Constitution and would not stay for the third term. One of the activists answered: “Constitution is the nation. What the nation decides is the law.” Similar rallies took place in Gudermes and Achkhoi-Martan. The participants urged their fellow young activists from other regions of the South Federal District to support the initiative of Chechnya’s president and parliament to prolong the powers of the current Russian president.

Volgograd mayor Roman Grebennikov gathered the city residents under the slogans “Putin, we stand with you” and “Working class for Putin”. He suggested signing an address that calls for considering the State Duma election as a “referendum of trust to Vladimir Putin”.

Several more regions are ready to join the action. Rzhev is to host the forum of Putin’s supporters on November 2; Vladikavkaz has scheduled the forum of North Ossetia’s public movements in the president’s support for November 3, and Yakutsk hosted on Wednesday the first session of the Pro President movement.

Activists of the latter already gathered over 5,000 people in Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky a few days ago, so as to ask the president to stay for another term. The Fair Russia party believes that rally was so largely-attended due to the United Russia’s administrative resource. “The mayor gave orders to schools and kindergartens to gather for the rally. All employees there were disgusted. Naturally, the United Russia is behind all that,” said Sergei Pavlov, leader of the Fair Russia’s branch in Kamchatka. “Heads of city administration departments personally telephoned the directors of schools and kindergartens,” said Mikhail Smagin, second secretary of the Communist party’s regional committee. Smagin said the rally was organized by Vladislav Skvortsov, mayor of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and member of the United Russia’s regional political council. Meanwhile, one of SPS leaders Boris Nemtsov, referring to the experience of his campaign visits to dozens of cities, called people’s initiatives “pure grovelling”. “The most ecologically clean site in Russia is Putin’s body: it’s polished by licking,” said Nemtsov.

However, local rally organizers deny the United Russia is mixed in the action. “I am the United Russia’s supporter, but I’m not its member. They didn’t help us,” said Igor Zolotar, one of the co-founders of the Pro President movement in Kamchatka. Volgograd’s mayor (who is a candidate for the United Russia’s membership) said that the rally has no relation to the election, because there were no hints at any party during the event.

Valery Ryazansky, member of the United Russia supreme council’s bureau, denied that the party is mixed in the wave of rallies as well. “It is people’s initiative. We openly declare that the upcoming election is a referendum in support of Putin. Yet, we should keep in mind that people in the regions can have their own initiative. People feel the situation and understand that Putin means social stability,” he said. Ryazansky also reminded that the calls on Putin to stay for the third term have already occurred before, and “were articulated by regional parliaments as well”.

In spring 2007,Federation Council Speaker Sergei Mironov promoted the idea of prolonging presidential powers. Mironov suggested that regional lawmakers should discuss whether it is possible to introduce amendments to the Constitution. The United Russia said it is ready to discuss the issue as well after Putin personally agreed with Mironov that the presidential term can be reconsidered. By the way, the draft constitutional amendments have already reached the State Duma thrice: from Magadan’s lawmakers in 2002, from Ivanovo’s – in 2003, and from Chechnya’s – in 2006.

Regional lawmakers are ready to join the current wave as well. Deputies of Chelyabinsk’ and Tyumen’s regional parliaments plan to adopt the address to the president asking him to stay for the third term, initiated by local United Russia members. On October 16, Putin received the same request from the people of art: in The Russian Newspaper, on behalf of 65,000 art professionals, Russian Academy of Arts president Zurab Tsereteli and Russian Foundation of Culture president Nikita Mikhalkov asked the president to stay after 2008.
The Kremlin refrained from commenting on the nation-wide movement in the president’s support. A high-ranking source in the presidential administration said the Kremlin has no relation to the numerous regional rallies. Vladimir Putin’s personal reaction to the events is unknown as well.(Kommersant)

===================================

Some days I get in a political mood. These articles are for Americans to see what is going on over here. You see, while America is deciding who the next President is, so is Russia!

I want to add something:
The same games in Politics are played in Russia as in the USA. I find it amazing the similarities in Political structure. In many ways the Russian Political System seems less corrupt than the American Political System.

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia in Need of Democracy?

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and was reading an article on the democracy issue in Russia. Here is the article to read. It is written by a Russian for Americans. (So the whole story may not be what it seems?)

===================================

When Americans start teaching democracy to Russians,

It only irritates the majority of Russian citizens. I doubt that US advice and suggestions can improve the state of democracy in Russia. Moreover, Washington’s criticism is an extra argument for the Russian authorities to accuse the U.S. of interfering in Russia’s domestic affairs and to crack down, saying “keep your hands off sovereign democracy”. Although US criticism of Russian reality often is superficial, imprecise or one-sided, it does not mean there are almost no faults with democracy in Russia. These faults are graver than the Kremlin imagines them in its on-going dispute with the West concerning where Russia is headed.

I’ve recently traveled all over Russia and met thousands of people. I can confirm: the congressmen who criticize Russia, and who don’t see it closely, have no idea of what goes on here. And here is what’s going on: as the Duma election approaches, the preparation for falsifying its results is in full swing. At the local level, officials have already received quotas stating where and how much the United Russia party should get. Somewhere it is 69 percent, while somewhere else it is complete 100 percent. Governors lean over backwards to secure the required result. They have a lot to lose and to fight for, because it is the president who appoints governors.

On that background, a movement in support of the third presidential term for Vladimir Putin is growing. Under the threat of F-grading or salary non-payment, students, teachers, and doctors are forced to attend the rallies, collectively imploring the president to stay: “Don’t leave, Father, we’ll die without you”.

Newspapers ignore it, because there has been introduced censorship. The opposition has no opportunity to speak either at federal or at regional channels. While saying that discussion is important, which Putin himself said this week, the United Russia refused to take part in debates. Consequently, the planned debate is doomed to be boring and full of meaningless accusations of parties against each other. One more circumstance: there have been created the conditions in Russia making it extremely dangerous to finance the opposition. For businessmen, the fact became evident after Khodorkovsky’s arrest. The United Russia is the only party in which it is safe to invest, and the investment will be good for business.

All that leads to the following conclusion: Russia’s election on December 2 is becoming as lawful as elections in Belarus or Turkmenistan. That is the indicator of the state of democracy and political freedom in Russia, about which the US Congress debates.

One might ask me: “Why don’t you boycott such election then?” The matter is, we have studied our Belarusian colleagues’ experience and we understood: waiver of participation in elections plays into the authorities’ hands. They will anyway create an illusion of wide choice by means of dummy parties created specially for that purpose. Russia’s democratic opposition should not give up the struggle, because there are those who stand for a law-governed state, freedom, and people power. After all, someone has to represent their interests. We, and not the U.S., need democracy in Russia.

Boris Nemtsov, political council member of the Union of Right Forces (SPS).


===================================

I liked the article and I believe that this article has much truth within it? (Does It?)

I have been saying all along.... America stay out of Russian Politics!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Svet Sunday: Tell It To My Hand!

Hello!

Today I want to tell you about one theme what it seems was interesting for me all my life.
I'll tell you a little about Zagorsk school for deaf and blind children. Life of such people was always interesting for me, how they understand this world, how world understands me. I remember my Mom told me that when she was a student in Moscow Pedagogic University Olga Skorohodova came to meet the students. Olga Skorohodova was blind and deaf from early childhood but my Mom told that she was speaking well, told interesting things and answered the questions (she had an interpretor who helped her). She wrote books and poems and later when I already was a student of Moscow State University (Faculty of Computational Mathematics and Cybernetics) I liked to sit in the library reading her books.

I already was student of fourth year when two my class-mates called me and told that they are members of a volunteer organisation and that was very interesting life and they told me that they were visiting the Zagorsk school for deaf and blind children and helped them. Next week they were going there to remove snow from roof. That was the end of March and the snow was heavy, ready to melt off and the roof could be broken by that. They offer me to join to them and I was happy! They told a lot of unbelievable things about this school, they told me about Alexander Suvor - who had been a pupil of these school and were studying in Moscow State University that time. They taught me daktil (a finger ABC what use deaf people), when you talk to deaf and blind person they put their hand on yours and you tell "to their hand". We spent in Zagorsk school couple days, we removed the snow and talked to kids and all was happy :))). I even thought that I should give up my Math faculty and study Defectology in Pedagogic University. But it did not happen.

So when Kyle offered me to write Sundays articles I decided I will write what is interesting for me to write and hope it will be interesting for our readers. I made sum research in Internet about Alexander Suvorov to know what he is now.

That is one of articles what I found,
http://www.russiajournal.com/node/689

===================================
"Alexander Suvorov, 54, is one of Russia's outstanding figures in youth work and disabled education.

A psychology professor, Suvorov is one of the brightest innovators in education and socialization for the disabled. "

"My academic titles and functions in various schools and youth organizations are spelled out in the autobiography," Suvorov says. "But my one actual function everywhere is being the children's friend."

Losing touch with the world:

Suvorov lost his sight at the age of three and his hearing at the age of nine. His only contact with the outside world since has been an occasional glimpse of blurred visual images, and an ability to hear loud noises and music, though not human speech.

Overcoming the odds :

But when Suvorov communicates with the disabled, one witnesses an amazing strength of will, energy, and passion for life that shames the able-bodied who think they struggle with difficult problems.

Among Suvorov's blessings was a family ready to devote every ounce of energy and enormous amounts of time to his well being. He was also fortunate to have superb teachers.

Suvorov's mother spared no effort in finding the best institution to help prepare her blind son for the none-too-easy life he faced. Having spent four years in a school for blind children in his home city of Frunze in the Kirgiz republic, the 13-year-old Suvorov was then placed in a blind-and-mute boarding school in the town of Zagorsk, famous as the best available.

Not only did Suvorov learn several systems of communication, including Braille and the dactylo alphabet, he also managed to preserve and develop his speech abilities, escaping the menace of speech disorder often suffered by people who lose their hearing.

The will for self-development and education carried Suvorov from Zagorsk to Moscow State University's department of psychology. He was one of four Zagorsk graduates who entered Russia's top university in 1971 for an experimental special education program for the disabled. According to their teachers, Suvorov recalls, the group not only successfully kept up with, but even outstripped their able-bodied classmates.

Following his graduation, Suvorov spent several years working at the Russian Academy of Sciences' Institute for General and Pedagogical Psychology, then decided he wanted to put his energy into something other than pure academic research.

Working with the Disabled:

Suvorov came to work with disabled children in 1981; first at his old Zagorsk school, and then at various establishments linked to the well-known Children's Charity Order, DOM.

Suvorov has supported the organization of the Children's Charity Order since 1981. Founded in 1990, the association of youth workers and children has since become the leading Russian organization dealing with children suffering disabilities. It has branches in hundreds of cities, and carries out educational, rehabilitation, and social activities all over the country. By virtue of its Russian abbreviation, the order is commonly referred to as Dom (Russian for "home").

Dozens of local DOM branches, youth camps, rehabilitation groups, training seminars, and lectures keep Suvorov permanently on the road. He usually travels alone. Interviewed at Moscow international youth festival on May 30, he explained he had just arrived from the city of Nabereznye Chelny, Tatarstan, and already had train tickets to travel to a Black Sea camp.

Asked whether he was ever frightened of traveling alone, the blind and deaf professor replied: "What should I be afraid of? I'm in my own country, and even if I can't handle something myself, any normal companion would come to help me. I've never had a situation where they haven't."

During brief breaks between journeys, Suvorov occasionally lands in his current Moscow home, where he lives with his younger brother, Vasily. The younger Suvorov devotes much time tending to his blind brother, as does their sister, Olga, who lives in a different city, but still comes frequently to help look after Sashenka, as he is affectionately known.

A Man of Many Talents:

But Suvorov has not given up scientific work. Having researched personal self-development for the blind and deaf, he received a doctor's degree in 1994, completing a dissertation titled "Humanitarianism as a Factor of Personal Self-Development." While working as a researcher and lecturer at several research and educational institutions, he also published some 90 works-scientific, educational and literary. His most recent, a handbook called "Combined Pedagogics," is soon to be released.

Suvorov has devoted much of his time to describing the importance of humanitarianism in the rehabilitation of the handicapped, and for interpersonal relations in general. It is an issue, he says, to which he keeps returning when fashioning his work and own behavior.

And a thankful society has honored its hero. Suvorov was awarded the Knight's title by the Sverdlovsk Region DOM branch, a charity order medal from the all-Russian Good Dozen contest, a Gratitude Certificate from the Naberezhnye Chelny DOM branch, and an honorary doctorate in Humanitarian Sciences from Susquehan University in Pennsylvania in the United States.

But his most prized award, Suvorov says, is the Lev Tolstoy Gold Medal presented by the International Children's Fund Association in 1997.

Suvorov is also a poet. A couple of his collections of verse have been published. The following is one of his most recent poems:

===================================
A happy one's an egoist.

He feels not Compassion for another man's distress.

He gives condolences, and says he's sorry,

And yet remains for now blind and deaf.

Until the thunder strikes in fire and fury,

And cruel chance comes banging on the door,

Until his grief starts pouring from above,

For him to learn to see, and hear, and love."
===================================

Alexander Suvorov is taking part in a lot of Pedagogic Programs, Programs what teaches Humanity, believes in the best in the people, helps kids who has problems... I think we'll study them and who knows maybe one day we will take part in some of this program, trying to help somehow... so might be I'll be back to my experience what I've got years and years ago in the Zagorsk School :).

I worked hard on this article and if this theme is interesting for you I want to share with you some links what I found
1) in English:

http://www.themoscowtimes.com/stories/2003/0
http://leninist.biz/en/1982/ONBP322/4.2-A.Think
http://communication.ucsd.edu/people/PADDEN/B

2) in Russian/some links in Russian are still interesting for anybody cause of pictures ;)/:

http://suvorov.reability.ru/(Site Of Suvorov)
http://www.solidarnost.org/article.php?issue=26&s
http://www.love-to-life.com/eva_htm/suvorov.htm
http://www.electrostal.ru/electrostal/leisure/cultur
http://www.nsad.ru/index.php?issue=38%A7ion=1
http://www.pravoslavie.ru/guest/061115202399
http://www.miloserdie.ru/index.php?ss=1&s=8&id
http://www.altruism.ru/sengine.cgi/5%C2+-=2/36

I want to finish my article with beautiful poem by Olga Skorohodova (Hope our Russian friends help us to translate it in English)

Думают иные

Думают иные - те, кто звуки слышат,
Те, кто видят солнце, звёзды и луну: -
Как она без зренья красоту опишет?
Как поймёт без слуха звуки и весну!?

Я услышу запах и росы прохладу,
Лёгкий шелест листьев пальцами ловлю.
Утопая в сумрак, я пройду по саду,
И мечтать готова, и сказать люблю...

Пусть я не увижу глаз его сиянье,
Не услышу голос, ласковый,живой,
Но слова без звука - чувства трепетанье -
Я ловлю и слышу быстрою рукой.

И за ум, за сердце я любить готова,
Так, как любят запах нежного цветка.
Так, как любят в дружбе дорогое слово,
Так, как любит трепит сжатая рука.

Я умом увижу, чувствами услышу,
А мечтой привольной мир я облечу...
Каждый ли из зрячих красоту опишет,
Улыбнётся ль ясно яркому лучу?

Не имею слуха, не имею зренья,
Но имею больше - чувств живых простор:
Гибким и послушным, жгучим вдохновеньем
Я соткала жизни красочный узор.

Если вас чарует красота и звуки, -
Не гордитесь этим счастьем предо мной!
Лучше протяните с добрым чувством руку,
Что б была я с вами, а не за стеной.

Ольга Скороходова (Olga Skorohodova)


Be Happy!

Svet

Comments always welcome.

From Russia: One of My Favorite Blogs!: Tessellar!

Picture from:Wikimedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee and thinking about what I wish that I had become in life?

You know: What do you want to be when you grow up?

I wanted to be an Architect!

It never happened, but I have found a Blog, that to me is like opening a Christmas present every time I go to it.

Mazlin Ghazali who is owner of the Blog, says this in his profile:

"I am an architect in private practice based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and I enjoy looking at housing around the world and the people who live in them. In http://www.tessellar.info you'll find more of my stuff about Tessellation planning. I hope you find it interesting and possibly useful. You are welcome to reproduce anything you like from this site, as long as it is for non-commercial purpose and you acknowledge the source."

Well I find his site interesting! Then I found that he is not just happy to have one site or even two sites......
http://tessellarmath.blogspot.com/
http://tessellarreferences.blogspot.com/
http://tessellarhoneycomb.blogspot.com/
http://hoaiductownship.blogspot.com/
http://tessellarsurveys.blogspot.com/
http://tslr-infra.blogspot.com/
http://tslr-sp.blogspot.com/
http://tsl8.blogspot.com/
http://kotapuri.blogspot.com/
http://tessellarkuching.blogspot.com/
http://pasirputehmosaic.blogspot.com/
http://tessellar.blogspot.com/
http://honeycombkuantan.blogspot.com/
http://tslr-jl.blogspot.com/
http://tessellarsociety.blogspot.com/
http://tessellarfaqs.blogspot.com/
http://fengwoshi.blogspot.com/

He has 17 Blogs! Now that is what I call energetic. He also has team members Anniz, murnirah, How & Badariah. They help him with some of his work.

Kyle

comments always welcome.

From Russia: The Silver People Chronicle!

Hello,

When I was in Collage I thought about getting a degree in History. I ended up with a minor in History & Physiology. The Bachelors of Science Degree was in Biology!

I never became interested in History again until I started to read The Silver People Chronicle!

I now look forward to every post! Roberto is the owner of the Blog.

In Roberto's profile he writes,

"Cobert Roberto A. Reid, Jr. was born in Panama City, Republic of Panama and spent his childhood and adolescent years in the Panama of the Gold and Silver Roll of the old Zone of the Panama Canal. His secondary studies were begun in the well-known National Institute, later transferring to Abel Bravo in the city of Colon. As with most young people of his day he worked at any honest job even at unpaid tasks like assistant in a dental clinic, and as an auto mechanic and car wash. He moved to Bocas del Toro Province to find his first paying job as a peon in the banana plantations. He was soon promoted to office clerk in the engineering office until destiny moved him to the United States. He completed his university education in New York City with a B.A. in education and ethnic studies. Later he obtained his Masters Degree in Studies in Aging. He has been a pioneer in Afro-American and Afro-Hispanic studies since he entered university and has been writing novels and articles since then. He repatriated to his native Panama in the early 1990’s and actually lives in Panama City."


I think that everyone who has any interest in History would love the story and the tales that Roberto relates.

I for one enjoy them!

Kyle

PS: He has another Blog that follows the same story line.
http://rapsodiaantillana.blogspot.com/
It is in Spanish.

Russia: 10 reasons I like Russia!

Hello,

I decided to give plain and simple 10 reasons why I like Russia. This is not in any order of importance.

1. The Russian food is fantastic!
2. The People! (are very friendly)
3. It is Safe!
4. Moscow!
5. The Villages and Countryside!
6. The History!
7. The Orthodox Church!
8. The Government!
9. The technology!
10. Last but not least: My Wife! (Svet)

Kyle

comments always welcome.

10 Reasons: I Do Not Like Russia!

Hello,

I am going to give plain and simple 10 reasons what I do not like about Russia! These are in no certain order.

1. The Drivers!
2. The roads and potholes!
3. The mosquitoes!
4. Customer Service! (None)
5. The queue's!
6. The pollution!
7. The Cross Walks!
8. The Road Police (half the time)
9. The Mini Buses!
10. Getting Visa's!

These are not all just what comes to mind in a few minutes.

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Death Of A Children's Rides Park!

Hello,

I was drinking my morning cup of coffee & thinking about an old Children's Park we found!

It was left to decay and grow over with weeds.

You could walk among the rides and still feel the kids running all around. Everyone wanting to ride the train. You could still feel the energy that gave it life at one time.

I turned to my wife and said."If I was a millionaire I would buy this place and fix it up."

Instead we took some pictures and walked away to let it decay!

I was sad that day!

Kyle

comments always welcome.

Russia: Svet's Walk To Work!

Hello,

My Wife takes fantastic pictures. Here are some of hers. They are from Moscow near where she works. She has a Monastery that she walks by on the way to work. These are pictures of that area.

Enjoy

Kyle

comments always welcome

Russia: Average World Salary's!

Hello,

Last night my Wife and I were checking statistics. We found that allot of people found us through the article that I did on Russian Average Salary.

So I went and did some research. Russia is ranked at 65 & the US ranked at 6.

Now you can see what the whole world makes! All in one Giant chart!!!!

COUNTRY_NAME	2004	2005	RANK
			2005
Luxembourg	56380	65630	1
Norway	51810	59590	2
Switzerland	49600	54930	3
Denmark	40750	47390	4
Iceland	37920	46320	5
United States	41440	43740	6
Sweden	35840	41060	7
Ireland	34310	40150	8
Japan	37050	38980	9
United Kingdom	33630	37600	10
Finland	32880	37460	11
Austria	32280	36980	12
High income: OECD	33547	36715	13
Netherlands	32130	36620	14
Belgium	31280	35700	15
High income	32132	35131	16
France	30370	34810	17
Germany	30690	34580	18
Canada	28310	32600	19
Australia	27070	32220	20
European Monetary Union	27921	31914	21
Italy	26280	30010	22
Hong Kong, China	27130	27670	23
Singapore	24740	27490	24
New Zealand	19550	25960	25
Spain	21530	25360	26
Greece	16730	19670	27
Israel	17360	18620	28
High income: nonOECD	16341	17656	29
Slovenia	14820	17350	30
Portugal	14220	16170	31
Korea, Rep.	14040	15830	32
Malta	12100	13590	33
Saudi Arabia	10170	11770	34
Antigua and Barbuda	10130	10920	35
Czech Republic	9170	10710	36
Trinidad and Tobago	9070	10440	37
Hungary	8370	10030	38
Estonia	7080	9100	39
Seychelles	8170	8290	40
St. Kitts and Nevis	7750	8210	41
Croatia	6820	8060	42
Slovak Republic	6480	7950	43
Palau	7120	7630	44
Mexico	6930	7310	45
Poland	6140	7110	46
Lithuania	5840	7050	47
World	6338	6987	48
Latvia	5460	6760	49
Lebanon	6040	6180	50
Chile	4930	5870	51
Upper middle income	4731	5625	52
Libya	4560	5530	53
Mauritius	4640	5260	54
Botswana	4380	5180	55
Gabon	4080	5010	56
Malaysia	4520	4960	57
South Africa	3670	4960	58
Venezuela, RB	4030	4810	59
St. Lucia	4410	4800	60
Turkey	3750	4710	61
Panama	4310	4630	62
Costa Rica	4470	4590	63
Argentina	3580	4470	64
Russian Federation	3410	4460	65
Uruguay	3890	4360	66
Europe & Central Asia	3307	4113	67
Latin America & Caribbean	3584	4008	68
Grenada	3770	3920	69
Romania	2950	3830	70
Dominica	3670	3790