Geopolitical mosaic: Saudis and Qatarii frequent in Israel, and Edward Snowden visited Sheremetyevo
"Friends" will help Syria. Natalya Kovalenko ("Voice of Russia").
"Friends of Syria" decided to help the Syrian "opposition". In Doha, a meeting of foreign ministers of eleven member countries of the community was held. According to them, to restore the balance of power in Syria, the rebels need to provide "everything necessary."
Representatives of Great Britain, Germany, Egypt, Jordan, Italy, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, the USA, Turkey and France took part in the meeting in Doha. 9 of them supported the decision to provide military assistance to the Syrian opposition. Who abstained does not say.
The ministers of the “friends of Syria” countries agreed to ship “necessary materials and equipment” to the country so that the opposition could “resist the brutal attacks of the Bashar al-Assad regime and protect civilians”. Moreover, each state has the right to independently determine how to support the rebels. Moral support alone is not enough, the Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassim Al-Thani, said in Doha.
“The use of force is necessary to restore justice. Deliveries weapons and its use may be the only way to achieve peace, especially in the case of Syria. "
Brought to Israel. The newspaper "Al-Manar" reported that Israel, at the request of the United States, delivered to the armed terrorist groups in Syria two lots of new weapons. Sources told the newspaper, writes SANAthat the weapons were produced in Israel and delivered to the territory of Turkey by Israeli military aircraft. It was placed in warehouses created on the Turkish-Syrian border. American intelligence agencies are cooperating in the supply business with the Turkish intelligence services.
Weapon consignments include anti-tank missiles, medium-range projectiles, machine guns and sniper rifles. The United States, in cooperation with some Arab countries, now intends to arm terrorists with armored vehicles that are planned to be shipped to Syria across the Turkish border.
Al-Manar, referring to sources in the monarchic states of the Gulf, confirmed that a meeting of representatives of special services of various countries was held in the north of the occupied Palestinian territories, who discussed ways of supporting terrorist groups. This was the fifth meeting held by Israel concerning the situation in Syria, reminds SANA.
The newspaper reported that Saudi and Qatari decision makers are increasingly visiting Israel. The purpose of such visits is to coordinate actions against Syria. The newspaper stressed that two Saudi people - a politician and a military man - visited Israel on June 9. Prior to this, one high-ranking official from Qatar, accompanied by a security officer, also visited Israel and held meetings with its political and military leaders. According to the newspaper, at a meeting between representatives of Saudi Arabia and Israel, the events in Syria and the degree of Israel’s participation in the war against the SAR were discussed. The Saudis, SANA notes, conveyed a message from the King of Saudi Arabia to the Israeli Prime Minister, in which he called on Israel to launch air strikes against Syria and increase the supply of weapons.
"Hands off Syria." In front of the Canadian Parliament in Toronto, representatives of the Syrian community organized a rally under the slogan "Hands off Syria", writes SANA. It was attended by Canadian public figures, human rights activists, citizens.
The protesters expressed gratitude to the Syrian army and honored the memory of the fallen defenders of the motherland.
A rally in support of ATS took place in Switzerland. In Basel, representatives of the Syrian, Lebanese and Iraqi communities organized a rally in support of the leadership, the people and the army of Syria in their opposition to the conspiracy of NATO and the monarchies of the Gulf.
The speakers, according to SANA, condemned the anti-Syrian plot and the role of Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the government of Turkey in it.
Six missiles and return air attack. On the night of June 24, six rockets were fired from the Gaza Strip across Israel. The Israeli Air Force responded by flying into the sector. Reports about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to The Jerusalem Post.
Two missiles were intercepted by air defense systems, and hitting the others did not lead to destruction or casualties. Israeli Air Force aircraft destroyed two depots with weapons and a launch pad. No casualties were reported in the Gaza Strip.
The Jerusalem Post emphasizes that the rocket attack on the territory of Israel was the first in the last two months.
Jihad declared army of Lebanon. From Lebanon, there are reports of clashes in the city of Sayda. The military is engaged in a shootout with supporters of the radical Sunni preacher Sheikh Ahmed al-Asir. In the southern capital, located in 40 kilometers from Beirut, redeployed new army reinforcements.
How to transmit "Vesti" with reference to ITAR-TASS, the battles take place in the suburb of Abra, where the troops managed to block the main stronghold of the Islamists in the area of the Bilal bin Rabah mosque. It is known about eight dead soldiers. About 40 people were injured.
Sheikh al-Asir is considered one of the militant leaders of the Lebanese Salafis who support the Syrian opposition. Last week, he threatened to start a war against Hezbollah. Yesterday, he demanded that the Sunnis immediately leave the ranks of the Lebanese armed forces and join the "jihad" against the army - a servant of Shiite Iran, according to the preacher. In response, the commander of the Lebanese army, Jean Kahvadzhi ordered the detention of al-Athir. Sheikh is supposedly in a mosque and is not going to give up. Militants from Jund ash-Sham and Fatah al-Islam stand on his side.
Jordan wants US missiles, fighters and soldiers. At the end of the military exercises in Jordan will remain installation «Patriot» and fighter F-16. Moreover, this Middle Eastern country asked Washington for 700 soldiers, the channel said "RT".
Obama is not against: he notified the Congress of the agreement to leave the military in Jordan. His letter says that Amman and Washington are concerned about the civil war in Syria, with which Jordan borders. Therefore, American soldiers will go home when the situation ceases to require their presence.
Among those who remain, 300 marines, soldiers, officers, technicians.
The military maneuvers in which the 19 states took part ended on June 20.
Germany and Turkey taught each other life. Angela Merkel stated that “what is happening in Turkey now does not correspond to the notions of freedom of demonstration and freedom of speech”. In response, Turkish officials advised her not to repeat the mistakes of Sarkozy. A diplomatic scandal erupted that could well freeze talks on Turkey’s accession to the EU, reports "RT" with reference to Kommersant.
Earlier, Angela Merkel gave an interview to the German television channel "RTL". “What is happening now in Turkey does not correspond to our ideas about the freedom to hold demonstrations and freedom of speech,” the chancellor commented on the dispersal of the protesters in Gezi Park and on Taksim Square.
Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag responded by saying that he had been more frightened by the neo-Nazi murders of Turkish immigrants who had not been investigated in Germany for years. Turkish Minister for EU Relations, Egemen Bagis, added that “to earn points on the eve of elections in Germany at the expense of Turkey is a frankly bad idea.” Bagysh also believes that Merkel "runs the risk of repeating the mistakes of the ex-President of France, Nicolas Sarkozy." It is known that the politician opposed Turkey’s accession to the EU, and also initiated the recognition of the Armenian genocide by France. The minister advised the German chancellor to "remember how badly those who go against Turkey usually end up" and added that "3,5 million Turkish citizens living in Germany adhere to the same opinion, the overwhelming majority of whom have the right to vote in this country."
Guido Westerwelle, head of the German Foreign Office, was shocked by these statements. In his opinion, the government of any country should rejoice in the development of civil society, "especially if it wants to go to Europe."
The Turkish ambassador in Berlin was summoned to the German Foreign Ministry, and a few hours later the same happened to the German ambassador to Turkey.
Egyptian situation. Mohammed Mursi held an emergency meeting yesterday with the Minister of Defense and Military Industry, Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. According to correspondent ITAR-TASS Dmitry Tarasov with reference to Al-Vatan, it took place after the speech of the defense minister, who warned the Islamists and the opposition in the sense that the army "would not allow internal conflict and would defend the will of the Egyptians."
The head of state and the defense ministry discussed possible ways out of the political crisis that swept the country in front of mass opposition protests scheduled for 30 June. Al-Sisi told Mursi that responsibility for resolving difficult situations lies with the leadership of the Arab Republic of Egypt and various political forces. Now the president is holding a meeting with assistants, discussing the possible consequences of the speech of the Minister of Defense.
The hard life of the Papuans. About it told Yuri Nosovsky (Pravda.ru).
News from New Guinea - not positive. In this state, located on a tropical island between the Pacific and Indian oceans, cases of cannibalism and "witch hunts" have become frequent.
The majority of the population of New Guinea are Christians. There is also some part that adheres to local beliefs.
In May, the 2013 of the country abolished the “law on witchcraft”, which provided for soft sanctions against the killer izuvera. However, in early June, the village teacher Helen Rambali was accused of witchcraft. The "Culprit" was caught, tortured with knives. Then the unfortunate woman was cut off her head, and her house was burned down. Her husband and son are government officials.
Opinions are being advanced that accusations of witchcraft serve on the island as a method of settling accounts - because of envy, enmity, hope of profit from the property or land of the deceased.
The upcoming Korean meeting. South Korea does not rule out the possibility of holding a bilateral meeting with representatives of the DPRK on the margins of the ASEAN Regional Forum in Brunei in early July, reports correspondent RIA "Novosti" Ekaterina Plyasunkova with reference to the agency "Renhap".
"Our main position is that there are no reasons why the meeting between South and North Korea could not take place," a representative in the South Korean Foreign Ministry told the agency.
Official decision, as well as the position of the DPRK on this issue has not yet been made public.
Bomb at the mosque. British police announced the bomb, neutralized by law enforcement officers in Walsall.
On Friday night, a suspicious object was found near the local mosque. Fearing a terrorist attack, authorities evacuated residents of 40 homes. Sappers arrived at the scene. They investigated the subject and concluded that it was a small homemade bomb. The device was disarmed using a controlled blast.
The investigation considers the incident as a crime on the basis of religious hatred, transmit "Vesti" with reference to ITAR-TASS. The fact is that in Central England, where the named city is located, there lives a community of immigrants from Pakistan.
"For our wives and lovers." The command of the British Royal Navy has banned some traditional toasts that sailors utter daily at dinner, reports RIA News" with reference to the "Daily Mail".
The maritime tradition of pronouncing a certain toast every night has been around in the UK for over 200 years. The decision of the Royal Navy is due to the fact that over the past 20 years in navy the number of women soldiers has increased. New toasts are also called to “reflect cultural change.”
For example, the Tuesday toast “For our wives and lovers” (after which the phrase “and may they never meet” usually sounded) was banned and replaced with “For our families”. Saturday toast "For our men" has changed to "For our sailors."
Today Berlusconi will hear the verdict. As reported from Rome correspondent RIA "Novosti" Natalia Shmakova, the court of Milan will sentence Silvio Berlusconi in the "Ruby case".
The investigation believes that the politician had an intimate relationship with the Moroccan Karim el-Marug, nicknamed Ruby, when she was not 18 years old. Minor parties were held in the villa of the ex-premier in Arcore. The Milan Prosecutor’s Office believes that a “streamlined system of prostitution” operated in Arcore.
The accused and the Moroccan himself have repeatedly stated that there was no intimate connection between them. However, prosecutor Ilda Bokkassini demanded punishment in the form of six years in prison for the ex-prime minister. Berlusconi also faces a life ban to hold public office.
Bulgarians against plutocracy. Representatives of the Bulgarian intelligentsia signed a declaration yesterday against the “power of the rich”. This happened against the background of anti-government actions, which lasted ten days in the country, RIA News" with reference to France Press.
Protests in the country started ten days ago - after the appointment of media mogul Delyan Peevski as head of the State National Security Service. Peevski said he agreed to resign, but the protests continued.
More than sixty representatives of the intelligentsia signed the Charter for the Elimination of the Plutocratic Model of the Bulgarian State. The document calls for an end to the power of the rich and the restoration of democracy and the rule of law in the country. Quote from the text of the Charter:
“The protests of tens of thousands of people throughout the country were caused by extremely concern about the state of the state system in Bulgaria. No doubt, our social contract is facing a deep crisis, and our state institutions are completely discredited. ”
The appointment of Mr. Peevsky is considered by the authors of the text only as one example of the “clutch of oligarchy and power” over the past few years.
The authors of the declaration, reports RIA Novosti, propose to create an expert group to change the country's electoral code and revise the existing legislation. The oligarchy should be deprived of access to budget funds.
Moldavian Orthodox Church against politicians. As Valentin Mindreshesku writes ("Voice of Russia"), The Synod of the Orthodox Church of Moldova decided to deprive representatives of the ruling coalition of the right to confession and communion in Orthodox churches.
The cause of the conflict is the “law on equality of chances”, adopted by the Moldovan parliament under pressure from the European Union. The church, the opposition and the conservative part of Moldovan citizens believe that this law gives too great rights and opportunities to members of sexual minorities and that its adoption is a step towards the destruction of traditional Moldovan society. Representatives of pro-European parties justify the adoption of the law by the requirements of European diplomats and the need to adapt to "European norms": after all, European negotiators publicly threatened the Moldovan authorities to freeze the process of signing the Association Agreement between the EU and Moldova, unless the law passes.
A month ago, the Synod of the MOC put forward an ultimatum: if the government and parliament do not take steps to change the law, then politicians who support the adoption of the law will be excommunicated. Now the Moldavian Metropolis has taken decisive action. The official report of the Synod lists the sanctions that will be applied to politicians:
“We play the role of opponents and openly separate ourselves from those who explicitly persecute the Church of Christ. So, we are forced to resort to strict corrective measures - to the canonical tradition of excommunication from the Church until they repent. At first, the rulers will be denied admission to the sacrament of the sacrament, and then, depending on their repentance, they will be accepted into church fellowship or permanently barred from any participation in worship. ”
Members of the Synod also promised to move on to the organization of new mass protests.
Ideas Saakashvili. Georgian Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili promised to leave politics in October. He stated this in an interview with the Estonian edition of Postimees, reports "Lenta.ru".
“As soon as Saakashvili leaves and the new presidential elections take place, I will stay no more than for a few days,” the premier said. According to Ivanishvili, for the political situation in the country is bad when the rate is all the time for one person. He also expressed confidence that the most important posts - the president, the prime minister and the speaker of the parliament - after the elections will be taken by “pure people, democrats”. Ivanishvili did not specify who can become his successor, but said that he “has an idea” on this subject.
About Georgian caches. 23 June Mikhail Saakashvili said that caches of weapons, ammunition and explosives in Samegrelo were made by his personal order, so that in the event of “renewed aggression” Georgia was not as vulnerable as in 2008 year.
But the video with torture, in his words, “was not”, is transmitted "Vesti" with reference to Interfax.
According to the method of Danila Bagrov. The participant in the assassination attempt on Armenian presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan, Khachik Poghosyan, is an admirer of the film “Brother”. About this, as transmits "Lenta.ru" With reference to the REGNUM news agency, he himself declared at the trial.
As a silencer for the pistol, he used a plastic bottle, like the hero of a famous film.
“Two days before the attempt, we (Pogosyan and his accomplice Samvel Harutyunyan) went to our home, took a gun, a bottle, attached one tape to another, tried it - the sound was low,” he describes the preparation for a crime. “I remembered how the main character in my favorite movie“ Brother ”did something like this - he wound a plastic bottle on a pistol and started shooting at a Chechen ... No one heard the shots.”
The defendant confirmed that he received an order from another presidential candidate, Vardan Sedrakyan. At the same time, he argues that it was only a matter of “frightening” the victim. According to Poghosyan, he allegedly tried to shoot past Hayrikyan, but one of the bullets accidentally hit the politician.
The injured presidential candidate identified the gunman. He rejected the version of “intimidation”. According to Hayrikyan, they were going to kill him.
The attempt on the former dissident presidential candidate Paruyr Hayrikyan was made on the night of February 1, 2013, shortly before the elections, recalls Lenta.
The Americans are addicted to pills. Nearly 70% of Americans take at least one prescription drug. More than half of Americans take more than two drugs. About 20% of the population of the country takes five or more prescription drugs. This is evidenced by the results of studies conducted by experts at several US medical centers, writes Mixednews.ru with reference to "Eurek Alert".
“Most often, when people talk about their health, they mean chronic diseases like heart disease or diabetes,” says study leader Dr. Jennifer Sauve. - However, antidepressants are the second most popular prescription drugs. This means that the problem of mental health is now particularly acute. The third most popular are sleeping pills, which is also alarming, given that these drugs are addictive. ”
According to the study, seventeen percent of Americans take antibiotics, 13% - antidepressants, another 13% - hypnotics. At the fourth place are drugs that lower the level of lipids, such as cholesterol (11%), for example.
Ron Paul: The dollar will collapse, and gold will rise in value. Ex-Congressman Ron Paul warned: the dollar could collapse, and gold could become invaluable. This tells Mixednews.ru with reference to "RINF".
“If we are not careful, the price of gold will rise incredibly because the dollar will collapse,” Paul said in a telephone interview with CNBC. “As long as the state continues to live on credit, while these impersonal electronic money are multiplying, gold will grow in value,” he cautioned.
"Six thousand years stories proved that gold always retains its value, unlike paper money that destroys itself, ”comrade Paul concluded.
Named the main villain in the world of espionage. Yesterday, the Xinhua news agency called the United States the main "villains." The accusations against Washington were made after the regular revelations of Edward Snowden, who spoke about the surveillance of American intelligence services for Chinese citizens, writes "Lenta.ru".
“The United States, which for a long time played out the innocent victim of cybercrime, in fact turned out to be the main villains of our time,” said Xinhua. The agency called on the US authorities to tell China and other countries about the scale and objectives of their hacker attacks.
From Hong Kong to Sheremetyevo. Meanwhile, the United States called the "extremely regrettable" actions of the Hong Kong authorities, which allowed Snowden to freely leave the region. Reports about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to Agence France-Presse.
Officials from the US Department of Justice stressed that Washington had completed all the procedures provided for in the bilateral agreements necessary to detain Snowden in Hong Kong and then consider the request for his extradition. Official comments from the Hong Kong authorities have not yet followed. Earlier, the government of the region stated that it did not have any legal grounds for preventing Snowden from leaving it.
As the RIA News" with reference to Reuters, on Sunday it became known that Snowden arrived from Hong Kong to Moscow and sought asylum in Ecuador. Also, the media called the possible purpose of his trip to Venezuela, and the transit point - Cuba.
Some details about the arrival of Comrade Snowden in Sheremetyevo leads Interfax.
According to the airport's scoreboard, the SU213 flight landed at terminal F Sheremetyevo on 17: 05. According to a source in the administration of the airport in Hong Kong, Snowden was aboard the Aeroflot plane, which left for Moscow. “Passenger Edward Snowden was not only checked in, but also absolutely on board. It was marked during landing, ”said the source.
A source familiar with the situation told Interfax that Snowden could have been the first to be taken out of the plane to a special airport lounge.
“The passengers of the Hong Kong voyage were not launched via a teletrap, that is, the so-called sleeve, but by a common ladder. Usually with long-haul large capacity flights do differently, connecting the teletrap. Here the usual ladder was fitted, most likely, not without purpose. Because when you connect the teetrap, you can’t get anyone out unnoticed, and Snowden could be brought out first, ”the source explained.
He added that for the conspiracy Snowden could have been taken to another airport terminal, to one of the special halls, or even taken out of the territory of the airline complex.
Later it became known that Snowden is indeed located at Sheremetyevo. Interfax was told by a source in the airport services: “The passenger Snowden is a transit passenger, the next flight is to Cuba, he is in the airport complex, where he is supposed to be waiting for the next flight.”
The source said that Snowden had rented a room in a capsule hotel in terminal E. “He arrived. He cannot get out of the term, since he does not have a Russian visa, ”the Interfax interlocutor explained, adding that Sarah Harrison, the WikiLeaks representative accompanying the American, has a visa.
It is also reported that a car from the Ecuadorian embassy arrived at terminal F, whose employee spent some time at the airport and drove away.
As Interfax reminds, yesterday in a statement published by WikiLeaks, it was reported that Snowden was taken by safe route to a country where he would be granted asylum.
“He is going on a safe route to a democratic state in order to obtain asylum. He is accompanied by diplomats and legal advisors at WikiLeaks, the statement said.
A spokeswoman for the US Department of Justice Nanda Chitri said that Washington would seek legal cooperation with those countries where Snowden could go.
Hourly details about the arrival of Snowden to Moscow, those interested can learn from the online report of Elizaveta Kuznetsova, Grigory Milenin and Olga Denisova ("Voice of Russia").
American accusations Putin. Senator Charles Schumer suggested that Vladimir Putin was aware of Edward Snowden’s plans to lay a route through Moscow. This tells "Lenta.ru" with reference to Reuters.
Mr Schumer told CNN: "Putin never misses an opportunity to poke the United States with his finger in the eye - be it Syria, Iran or the current situation with Snowden."
The senator complained that such a position is not the best influence on Russian-American relations.
Schumer suggested that China was involved in the organization of Snowden's escape from the United States, and expressed the opinion that "the allies should treat each other in a proper way."
Brother Bout gives advice. Russia should arrest Snowden and try to exchange him for Viktor Bout. This was announced by the brother of the Russian businessman Sergei Bout in an interview with the Interfax news agency, the channel said "RT".
"I am with two hands for arresting Snowden," said the brother of a businessman. According to Sergei Bout, if he and his relatives could do something in this situation, they would undertake efforts to exchange the former employee of the American special services for Victor. “If it depended on me, I would have done it a long time ago,” he said.
Google vs Roskomnadzor. Vladimir Zykov ("News") writes that Google has refused to comply with the requirements of Roskomnadzor.
User’s registration with Google’s online services signifies their acceptance of the terms of use and privacy policy consistent with US law. So, Google is not obliged to notify Roskomnadzor about the processing of personal data of Russians. So the company responded to the request of the Russian office on the confidentiality of user data. This was reported to the correspondent of Izvestia by the head of the department for the protection of the rights of subjects of personal data of Roskomnadzor, Yuriy Kontemirov.
Earlier, Roskomnadzor sent a request to “Google” to respect the confidentiality of the personal data of Russians in the Gmail mail service. This service analyzes the content of the letters, thereby determining which advertising is best shown to a specific person. If a user has recently discussed a certain topic with his correspondence partners, then an advertisement on the relevant topic may be of interest to him. The contents of the letters are not analyzed by people, but by a computer, representatives of “Google” explained to the publication. Therefore, in their opinion, the violation of the secrecy of correspondence is not in question.
“Roskomnadzor” in Russia is the authorized body for the protection of the rights of personal data subjects. By law, companies that are going to process personal data must notify him. True, this requirement has exceptions. One of them is the case when the data is processed by agreement with the relevant person and is not provided to the party without his consent.
At Google, we are sure that the user’s passage of registration is the conclusion of a contract, so the company can process the personal data of Russians without notifying Roskomnadzor.
According to the head of the legal department of the Coordination Center of the national domain of the Network, Sergey Kopylov, if Google has no servers in Russia with personal data of users, then the company should not register with Roskomnadzor as an operator of personal data.
And in the "Google" newspaper "Izvestia" said that they do not have servers in Russia.
“Where is your industry?” Another portal review "Inopressa" dedicated to the topic of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
When, for the first time, the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum became the site of Russia's main presentation for investors in 2006, the mood was raised there, The Financial Times reporters recall. The Russian economy grew by 7% per year, the country was pleased with its membership in BRIC.
However, seven years later, a different mood prevails in the second city of Russia. Economic growth from January to May this year has slowed to 1,8% compared to 4,5% in the first half of last year, Economic Development Minister Andrei Belousov told a thousand delegates. The session at which he spoke turned into a discussion about the reasons for the slowdown in Russian economic growth.
“The slowdown partly reflects the weakening demand for energy and commodities, which remain Russia's main economic drivers,” the authors note. But, perhaps, the Russian economy has exhausted the possibilities of growth? Investment growth in the first five months of this year fell to zero — from 13% in the first half of 2012, Belousov said.
Some business people believe that the slowdown in investment reflects fears of an authoritarian turn in politics - along with the struggle of the clans. Many delegates are stunned by the flight to France of liberal economist Sergey Guriev, who has come under pressure due to criticism of the Khodorkovsky case, the article says.
“People are afraid of the return of 1930's,” said one of the bankers, who did not want to give his name. “Guriev… is a harmless person, completely untainted.” This shows that anyone can be involved. ”
What does Guriev himself think?
The Financial Times publishes his article. Theoretically, in Russia now everything should be rosy, Mr. Guriev writes. Commodity prices are high, national debt is low, the budget is balanced, sovereign wealth funds maintain healthy proportions, there is no political instability. There are obvious investment opportunities. But why did Russia's economic growth start to run out of steam?
He replies: “Further economic growth requires investment in new and existing firms. This requires a good business climate, especially the protection of property rights and the rule of law. ” Meanwhile, “in all ratings reflecting business regulation, risks for investment and the level of corruption, Russia lags behind most emerging markets.”
The economic program of V. Putin includes many measures that will improve the prospects for investors. But the trouble is that investors are no longer persuaded by words that are not supported by deed. Investors are “voting with their feet” against governments that do not want or cannot fulfill their promises, ”summarizes Guriev.
“It was impossible not to notice the dramatically increased over the past decade, often ostentatious Russian wealth based on energy, the screaming luxury of Moscow, 76-meter yachts, penthouse apartments for hundreds of millions of dollars,” the New York Times correspondents write. "However, it seems that these exciting days are coming to an end," the authors say.
The flow of oil and gas wealth, which has raised living standards in Russia, is now drying up. Foreign investors, concerned about corruption and the increasing role of the state in the economy, are turning back. “The way government is organized in the country predetermines its weak economic activity. The role of the state is too great, it is involved in its various spheres too much, and by its very nature it pushes private investment away, ”says the publication’s opinion of the former head of Merrill Lynch in Russia, Bernard Sacher.
“Where is your industry? You can produce great fighter jets, but what else? ”Asked the Chinese economist Yu Yongding at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
More than a decade of efforts to diversify the economy failed, the publication said. Raw material is 80% of export.
“Russia is forced to admit that its economy is not growing as fast as expected. The consolation is the recently concluded giant oil deal with China, ”writes Focus.
Vladimir Putin, on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg Economic Forum, announced an agreement for the supply of 100 million tons of Russian oil to China (the transaction amount is 60 billion dollars).
And the first deputy chairman of the Central Bank, Alexei Ulyukayev, also writes, “against the custom, he frankly criticized the government’s plans to devalue the national currency.” In government circles, it has been repeatedly stated that a weakened ruble brings with it advantages when trading oil and gas for dollars, the Focus notes.
Shock of the Paris Air Show. In the article "Russian air power shook the Paris Air Show" ("The Wall Street Journal"; source of translation - "InoSMI") Daniel Michaels writes that at Le Bourget one of the main sensations was not just an airliner from Airbus or Boeing, but the Russian fighter. The new Su-35, the author writes, for the first time carried out demonstration flights outside Russia, demonstrating maneuvers that only a few of the western aircraft can repeat.
Two decades after the collapse of the USSR, the journalist notes, the Russian defense industry is once again becoming stronger in world markets. United Aircraft Corporation and similar companies are reaping the benefits of many years of restructuring under President Putin. Russian defense exports have risen roughly fourfold since the beginning of 1990, according to the Stockholm Peace Research Institute. Most of this growth is in recent years.
The author of the material clarifies that most of the Russian products presented at the air show are modernized versions of Soviet technology.
“Let's say Su-35 is one of the many descendants of Su-27 who first took to the air in 1977 year. The Ka-52 helicopter, which attracted the attention of an unusual pair of screws located one above the other and rotating in opposite directions, is a new version of the model that made its first flight in the 1982 year. ”
Airplanes and helicopters from Russia, the author writes, are deprived of state-of-the-art electronics present in competing Western models, and usually require more maintenance. However, they are reliable, well tested and relatively inexpensive. “This is a very attractive looking machine with very good features, which is much cheaper than the Western one,” says editor of the British Defense Analysis newsletter Francis Tews.
Russia sells aircraft not only to the military. Russian helicopter sales are growing by more than 15% per year. They are particularly successful in India and China, says Igor Pshenichny, deputy general director of Russian Helicopters.
Sukhoi has created a new passenger aircraft, the Superjet 100. It is sold in Russia and in other countries - for example, in Mexico.
But most analysts believe that Russian prospects on the world market are still connected with the sector of cheap military equipment. Western aerospace companies recognize: Russian products are cheaper. Of course, they immediately say that it is better to buy more expensive Western equipment.
So, we’ll add: Russian equipment is better, more reliable, cheaper, but you don’t need to buy it. Case for the arguments, eh?
Observed and commented on Oleg Chuvakin
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