Geopolitical mosaic: Estonian police will switch from “Makarovs” to “Walters”, and Putin will not leave Netanyahu in trouble
Bomb at the school. - Aleppo bombing. - It came a long time. - Exile from paradise. - Al-Qaida apologizes. - The protest in the CAR. - Rally in Istanbul. - Corruption in Turkish. - Attempt to attack in Israel. - Putin will not leave Netanyahu in trouble. - Finland is not torn to NATO. - Estonia: “Walters” instead of “Makarovs”. - "Let's go to Rome." - Elves have rebelled. - The question of the last border of the EU. - Khodorkovsky in Berlin. - Greetings from the Secretary of State. - Grateful Snowden. - American failure. - Santa, give the kids some food.
Bomb at the school. The bombing near the primary school in the Syrian village of Umm al-Amad 22 December killed seven people: five students and two employees of the school, writes "Lenta.ru" with reference to SANA. An explosive device installed in the car, powered by a remote control.
The Associated Press, citing an official Syrian source, reports ten dead, five of whom are schoolchildren.
The population of Umm al-Amad is predominantly Shiite.
Bombing of Aleppo. The victims of the bombing of Aleppo, under the control of the opposition, were at least 44 people. Reports about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to France-Presse.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least six children are among the dead.
During the attack, barrel bombs were used: containers with explosives dropped from hovering helicopters. Barrels filled with explosives and striking elements cause great damage.
Reached a long time. The list of participants of the conference on Syria “Geneva-2” has not yet been determined. Iran’s chances of participating in it are 50 by 50%, said in an interview "Voice of Russia" Sergey Seryogichev, expert of the Middle East Institute.
According to the expert, there are attempts to counteract the participation of Iran in the "Geneva-2" by Israel and Saudi Arabia.
And recently, several American publications have brought expert opinions that it will be better for the United States if Assad remains in power. Seryogichev does not consider this surprising, but notes that something else is surprising: that “publicly, the Obama administration does not oppose such statements.”
Exile from paradise. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Great Britain withdraws citizenship from the Islamists who went to war in Syria. According to correspondent ITAR-TASS Roman PodervyanskyReferring to The Independent, such steps will minimize the security threats in the country.
The legislation of the kingdom allows you to take away citizenship in the event that "a person is a threat to society." Such measures may primarily concern alleged dual citizens.
From January to November 2013, the citizenship was withdrawn from the 20 people.
“Citizenship is a privilege, not a right, and the Minister of the Interior will deprive citizenship of those for whom she feels that this is in the public interest,” the UK Interior Ministry said.
Last week, the correspondent reminds, the Sky News TV channel released a report, according to which a whole “brigade of British jihadists” operates on the side of the anti-government forces in Syria. As stated, "hundreds of young people" from the United Kingdom are fighting in the republic.
Al Qaeda apologizes. Al-Qaeda apologized for the terrorist attack on the military hospital in Sana'a on December 5. Reports about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to France-Presse.
The leader of the Yemeni al-Qaeda wing, Qassam al-Rimi, said that an attack on a hospital inside the complex of buildings of the Ministry of Defense was not part of the organization’s plans and that the target was the military. Al-Rimi stressed that the soldiers were instructed to be attentive and not to enter the hospital and prayer rooms.
The al-Qaida leader clarified: “Eight of our brothers were attentive, but one was not. Allah is free to forgive him. ”
Rimi further stated that the group offered “apologies and condolences” to the dead and injured in the hospital and said that al-Qaida was ready to bear “full responsibility”, including paying compensation to the families of the dead and paying medical expenses to injured civilians.
Protest in the CAR. A protest against the presence of the French contingent in the Central African Republic was held yesterday in Bangui, reports RIA News" with reference to France Press.
The demonstrations were attended by several thousand supporters of the disbanded Islamist group “Séléka”, which brought Michel Jotodiu to power. The reason for the protests was the murder of three militants of Séléka by French soldiers.
Rally in Istanbul. A demonstration in Istanbul on the protection of forests turned into a rally for the resignation of the government. The police used classical tools against disgruntled people: water cannons and tear gas. Suffered five. He writes about it correspondent RIA "Novosti" Alyona Palazhchenko with reference to "Hurriyet".
Yesterday, public organizations - “City Movement”, “Protection of Northern Forests”, “Working Group on Combating Urban Transformation”, and others - held an authorized rally to protect the environment and forests. Protesters with posters calling for the resignation of the government also joined the rally.
Stones flew into the guards. The police responded with jets of water and tear gas. Five injured with minor injuries taken to hospital.
Corruption in Turkish. 21 December, a Turkish court filed charges in a corruption case against the sons of two members of the government. According to Reuters, a total of 16 people were arrested. He writes about it "Lenta.ru".
As part of the investigation, police detained more than 80 people. The sons of Interior Minister Muammer Guler, Minister of Economy Zafer Chaglayan, Minister of Ecology and Urban Planning Erdogan Bayraktar were implicated in the corruption scandal in the highest echelons of the Turkish authorities. After a long interrogation, the latter escaped arrest.
According to France-Presse, Suleyman Aslan, the head of the state bank Halkbank, and the leaders of large construction companies were also in custody.
Officials are suspected of mass embezzlement, embezzlement, fraud with government tenders, gold smuggling and other crimes.
It is curious that Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the corruption case an attempt to discredit his government. Erdogan did not confine himself to words. He initiated mass layoffs in the Turkish police: only last Friday, 17 high-ranking police officers who participated in the investigation of the case and apprehended the suspects were dismissed.
Well, democracy in its pure form, we add from myself. By the way, events developed rapidly ...
Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Güler is waiting for the decision of the leadership regarding the need for his resignation. As the minister told the Anatolian Agency yesterday, on December 17 he informed R. T. Erdogan of his readiness to resign. He writes about it correspondent ITAR-TASS Kirill Zharov.
The prospect of resignation is considered by the Minister just because of the anti-corruption operation, called the “Big Bribe”. After all, Guler’s son was also under arrest.
“Realizing the harm that would be inflicted on our party and the government, I also announced my desire for 17 numbers. I declared that I was ready for dismissal, resignation, for everything and everything. Now I’m waiting for the Prime Minister’s decision, ”Güler said.
Minister of Economy Zafer Chaglayan and Minister for Urban Development and the Environment Erdogan Bayraktar also declared their readiness to leave their posts, as their sons were among the defendants. However, none of these people has yet filed an official request for resignation ...
Attempt to attack in Israel. An explosive device went off yesterday in a passenger bus in Bat Yam. No harm done. He writes about it correspondent ITAR-TASS Andrey Shirokov.
As reported by ITAR-TASS in the press service of the police of the Jewish state, the explosion occurred during the operation to disarm the device. There were no passengers on the bus.
Putin will not leave Netanyahu in trouble. The newspaper "Maariv" published material on the outcome of the negotiations of Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin, reports MIGnews.com.
During the meetings in Moscow, Netanyahu managed to get “far-reaching security guarantees” from Putin.
The breadth of the view, as suggested by the Jewish edition, is as follows.
The Kremlin recently found out about the secret talks between Washington and Tehran. Putin twice asked for a meeting with Rouhani, but Putin refused. And then Rouhani landed in New York. And now Putin needs Israel as a counterweight to a possible alliance between the US and Iran.
And on the other hand: Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman held talks with Putin’s advisor Yury Ushakov. Agreements were signed on the possibility of participation of Russian companies in the development of Israeli gas fields.
These events show that the Israeli prime minister does not believe the American leadership and is creating new alliances.
Finland is not torn to NATO. The question of joining NATO is currently not relevant for Finland. This was announced by the country's president Sauli Niinistö in an interview with the Finnish newspaper “Hyufvuddstadbladet” and the Swedish “Svenska dagbladet” correspondent ITAR-TASS Nina Burmistrova.
The President explained: “Finland has three main areas of military cooperation: the organization of the defense cooperation of the Nordic countries“ Nordefko ”, the military dimension of the EU and the partnership with NATO. But NATO membership is not relevant to us. ”
Estonia: "Walters" instead of "Makarovs". The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board signed an agreement to buy German Walter pistols (“Walther P99Q”) to replace Russian-made Makarov pistols. This was written by the portal "Delfi", transmits correspondent RIA "Novosti" Nikolay Adashkevich.
Firearm replacement weapons the police tried to implement even in 2004 year, trying to replace the PM pistols «Sig-Sauer». However, the Estonians did not have enough money for this.
"Let's go to Rome." In Italy, the week continued "protests with pitchforks in their hands." Coordinator of the movement “Committee 9 December 2013 of the year. Italy will not stop. ”Roberto Reginaldi gave an interview to Marina Tantushyan ("Voice of Russia").
Roberto Reginaldi told the purpose for which the movement was born.
Regarding the so-called "March on Rome", which was written in the media, Reginaldi said: "There was no" March on Rome ", but a call was announced:" Let's go to Rome. " Coordinator explained:
On the long question, “You are opposed to the austerity policies pursued by the current government. Nevertheless, leading economists argue that raising taxes is almost the only way out for Italy from the “tunnel” in which it found itself in recent years. And what “recipe” of saving the country do you propose? ”Comrade Reginaldi gave the following answer:
Russians are familiar with the state of affairs, let us add. However, it is familiar to residents of various countries. Wherever there is a state apparatus, there are also “friends”.
Can someone stop Comrade Reginaldi? No, nothing can:
Elves rebelled. Defenders of elves in Iceland blocked the project for the construction of the presidential highway. He writes about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to The Guardian.
The environmental organization Friends of Lava filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Iceland in a case concerning the construction of a highway, which is supposed to connect the Aulftanes peninsula, where the President’s residence is located, to a suburb of Reykjavik. Claimants claim: laying a route will damage the culture of elves living in the construction site. “Lava Friends” also indicate that the construction of the highway will break the unique lava field located on the peninsula and destroy the bird nesting sites.
A survey conducted by the University of Iceland in 2007 showed that 62% of respondents believe in the existence of elves.
The question of the last border of the EU. The French newspaper Libération asked Elizabeth Guigou, head of the international affairs committee of the French National Assembly, to comment on the EU’s position on the political crisis in Ukraine and relations with Russia. Writes about this journalist Mark Semo (the source abbr. Translation - "Inopressa").
Gigu believes that the reason for the not very coordinated position of Europe regarding Ukraine lies in the fact that the EU has practically no common policy towards Russia. Brussels should connect Moscow to the dialogue on the future of Ukraine:
The head of the committee recalled that the Association Agreement is not a promise of EU membership. She then said:
It turned out that Poland and Sweden see what is happening in a different light, and this can be understood:
Gigou sees the solution of the issue in a compromise between the EU and Russia:
Khodorkovsky in Berlin. Mikhail Khodorkovsky called on the President of Ukraine to release Yulia Tymoshenko from custody. As the correspondent reported from Berlin "Tapes.ru", at yesterday’s press conference, the former head of Yukos expressed the hope that the Ukrainian leader “would take an example in this matter” from his Russian counterpart.
At the press conference, Khodorkovsky predominantly spoke on topics that he touched on in an interview after the release of 20 December from the colony, and at the Sunday conference.
The former head of Yukos confirmed that he was not going to return to the business. He also will not fight for the return of the assets of his former company. Nor will he try to come to power in Russia. He confirmed that he would not return to Russia in the near future. Khodorkovsky called family affairs a priority.
In addition, M. Khodorkovsky answered the question about the advisability of a boycott of the Olympic Games in Sochi. A former prisoner said that the Olympics is a “sports festival” for millions of people, which should not be spoiled for political reasons. Khodorkovsky added that in this case the Olympics should not turn into Putin’s “personal holiday”.
Supplements the article on "Interfax".
During a press conference at the Checkpoint-Charlie Museum in Berlin, Khodorkovsky described civic activism as one of his top priorities for the near future: “I would like to devote the time left for active business life to pay debts to those people which is worse than me (that is, those who are still in prison), and Russian society, for whom it is very important to change a little so that we can live better in Russia, ”said the former head of Yukos.
Khodorkovsky said that he did not intend to return to the business: “I believe that in the course of my business career, I achieved everything I wanted to achieve.”
The current financial situation of the former head of Yukos allows him not to think about money.
You can find irony in the following words of Khodorkovsky: “Mr. Putin has been thinking about the possibility of my release over the course of 10 years. I hope that the decision made after so long deliberation will not be regarded as a mistake by him ”.
Then Khodorkovsky explained why after leaving the colony he immediately left Russia. He had no choice at the release stage: “When they woke me up at two o'clock, I was told that I was going home. Then in the process of traveling I learned that it would end in Berlin. ” According to M. Khodorkovsky, the convoy left him only after the door of the plane that had flown to Germany closed.
The release of Khodorkovsky is devoted to a new review of Western newspapers from "Foreign Press".
Leaving the hall after the end of the 4-hour press conference, Vladimir Putin told several correspondents that he was going to pardon Khodorkovsky, reports Libération. “He recently wrote such a paper and appealed to me with a request for pardon,” Putin explained. “A decree on his pardon will be signed soon.” This news took even the lawyers of the opposition oligarch by surprise ...
“Putin, with his bestial political flair, understood: now or never,” Zoya Svetova, a journalist, analyzes Putin’s decision. According to her, “the president greatly values his Olympics, and the refusal of a number of heads of state to attend the event touches him very much.”
If vulnerability instils paranoia in a person, then the feeling of one’s own strength can, on the contrary, weaken it, Time Correspondent Simon Schuster remarks, commenting on Putin’s promise to release “his oldest enemy Mikhail Khodorkovsky.”
This year, Putin won a diplomatic duel with the West because of Syria, dissuaded Ukraine from an agreement with the EU, the article says. On the eve of the Sochi Olympics, Putin is trying to prevent Western boycotts from spoiling the atmosphere of the Games. That is why the decision on amnesty was made.
All prisoners, including Pussy Riot, were brought to justice during the period when Putin felt under siege. And Khodorkovsky was also put in the time of Putin's weakness. But today, Putin does not see threats to his power and can afford to show mercy, the author believes.
“It was a classic Putin maneuver,” writes The Financial Times correspondent Neil Buckley. 4 hours and 5 minutes to answer journalists' questions at a press conference, including the question about Khodorkovsky, and suddenly "throw in" the main news in the form of an unofficial comment to a group of journalists: the most famous political prisoner of Russia will be pardoned.
“This pardon may be connected with Russia's attempt to improve its image amid fears that boycotts may overshadow the planned extravaganza of the Olympic Games in Sochi in February,” the author writes.
“But it’s possible that Khodorkovsky’s release also reflects the Kremlin’s growing confidence that it no longer poses the same threat — or that new, more serious threats have appeared, such as opposition leader Alexei Navalny,” the journalist said.
The pardon of Mikhail Khodorkovsky eight months before the end of his term of imprisonment is a gesture by the king, who, realizing the full power of his power, changed his wrath to mercy, Clemens Vergin writes in Die Welt.
Releasing Khodorkovsky, as well as amnesty for Pussy Riot and thirty Greenpeace activists, Putin wants to "polish" Russia's image in the eyes of abroad: the presidents of the United States, Germany and France refused to come to Sochi, and Putin was afraid of the expansion of the Olympic boycott.
At the same time, “Putin’s commendable gesture also testifies to the continued arbitrariness of the Russian authorities”: “Political prisoners are released only because the king wants it, and not because justice corrects its mistakes.”
Hello from the Secretary of State. The US government welcomed the pardon and release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky. This is stated in a statement by John Kerry, published on the website of the US Foreign Ministry, reports "Lenta.ru".
“Washington has always been disturbed by procedural violations and selectivity of the judicial system of Russia, including in relation to Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev,” the statement says.
At the same time, the state secretary greeted the broad amnesty, timed to coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
Grateful Snowden. Edward Snowden "is grateful for the opportunity to live free and participate in important global debates" that he has "thanks to the year of political asylum guaranteed by Russia," reports "Voice of Russia" with reference to ITAR-TASS.
Snowden said this in an interview he gave to the TV show “Fantastico”, which was released on the Brazilian television channel “Globu”.
According to him, he “had mastered the Russian language enough to say“ Merry Christmas! ”To everyone.
Snowden stressed that he did not regret that he had disclosed the secret information about the work of the American special services.
American failure. December 19 happened a significant event: in Russia, the seventh facility was put into trial operation where chemical warheads are being destroyed. But in the US, the elimination of chemical weapons has stalled. This tells Sergey Ptichkin ("Russian newspaper").
All Russian facilities for the safe storage and destruction of CW are under international control. Each warhead is on the strictest record. The process of eliminating combat agents is accelerating and should be completed in 2015.
And what about the USA? And there the elimination of chemical weapons stalled for reasons not entirely clear. The Pentagon said it could destroy stocks of chemical weapons after 2020, maybe by 2025. And there is no such free access for international inspectors to arsenals with chemical weapons, as in Russia, in the USA.
But America, the author writes, "completely failed her national program for the destruction of chemical weapons" - against the background of how Russia "quietly, without advertising noise and ostentatious pathos is doing the hardest work ..." Russia will destroy the last drop of chemical warfare agents, as promised just in time - ten years earlier than the USA. ”
Santa, give the kids some food. In the article "Sad letters to Santa Claus" ("Los Angeles Times"; the source of translation - "InoSMI") Diana Wagman talks about how, while standing in line at the post office, she saw a poster with the inscription: “Stay Santa on 2013 Christmas on the Year.” As reported in the ad, “the tradition of responding to letters on behalf of Santa Claus has more than 100 years.” Those who wish to work with Santa can choose a letter addressed to him at the post office, write an answer and send the desired gift to the sender.
And further:
And more:
Diana Wagman made the following decision:
Never think, add on my own that you live badly. There is always someone who lives worse or worse, or very bad.
Bomb at the school. The bombing near the primary school in the Syrian village of Umm al-Amad 22 December killed seven people: five students and two employees of the school, writes "Lenta.ru" with reference to SANA. An explosive device installed in the car, powered by a remote control.
The Associated Press, citing an official Syrian source, reports ten dead, five of whom are schoolchildren.
The population of Umm al-Amad is predominantly Shiite.
Bombing of Aleppo. The victims of the bombing of Aleppo, under the control of the opposition, were at least 44 people. Reports about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to France-Presse.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least six children are among the dead.
During the attack, barrel bombs were used: containers with explosives dropped from hovering helicopters. Barrels filled with explosives and striking elements cause great damage.
Reached a long time. The list of participants of the conference on Syria “Geneva-2” has not yet been determined. Iran’s chances of participating in it are 50 by 50%, said in an interview "Voice of Russia" Sergey Seryogichev, expert of the Middle East Institute.
According to the expert, there are attempts to counteract the participation of Iran in the "Geneva-2" by Israel and Saudi Arabia.
And recently, several American publications have brought expert opinions that it will be better for the United States if Assad remains in power. Seryogichev does not consider this surprising, but notes that something else is surprising: that “publicly, the Obama administration does not oppose such statements.”
“In fact, I think they understood that it is better to have Syria as the head of Assad owing to them to preserve his power than an uncontrollable Islamist politician who obtained his power against the wishes of the Americans. They understand that sooner or later, Assad will have to leave. He can win himself a year, two, three, four, a maximum of five years in power. Then he will leave anyway and lead his entire family from government posts.
In addition, the United States is well aware that the Islamist segment of the armed opposition is very strong in Syria. This is extremely dangerous. If Assad is now removed, then Syria will really fall apart into several quasi-states, the Kurdish problem, the problem of minorities, will sharply escalate. There will be even more blood flowing than now in Libya.
Accordingly, this will dramatically worsen the situation in neighboring Lebanon, in neighboring Iraq, a threat will be created to the stability of the Jordanian Kingdom, which will also attract some refugees from Syria. In a very difficult position will be Israel, as well as the monarchy of the Persian Gulf. We can lose the whole Middle East altogether. ”
In addition, the United States is well aware that the Islamist segment of the armed opposition is very strong in Syria. This is extremely dangerous. If Assad is now removed, then Syria will really fall apart into several quasi-states, the Kurdish problem, the problem of minorities, will sharply escalate. There will be even more blood flowing than now in Libya.
Accordingly, this will dramatically worsen the situation in neighboring Lebanon, in neighboring Iraq, a threat will be created to the stability of the Jordanian Kingdom, which will also attract some refugees from Syria. In a very difficult position will be Israel, as well as the monarchy of the Persian Gulf. We can lose the whole Middle East altogether. ”
Exile from paradise. The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Great Britain withdraws citizenship from the Islamists who went to war in Syria. According to correspondent ITAR-TASS Roman PodervyanskyReferring to The Independent, such steps will minimize the security threats in the country.
The legislation of the kingdom allows you to take away citizenship in the event that "a person is a threat to society." Such measures may primarily concern alleged dual citizens.
From January to November 2013, the citizenship was withdrawn from the 20 people.
“Citizenship is a privilege, not a right, and the Minister of the Interior will deprive citizenship of those for whom she feels that this is in the public interest,” the UK Interior Ministry said.
Last week, the correspondent reminds, the Sky News TV channel released a report, according to which a whole “brigade of British jihadists” operates on the side of the anti-government forces in Syria. As stated, "hundreds of young people" from the United Kingdom are fighting in the republic.
Al Qaeda apologizes. Al-Qaeda apologized for the terrorist attack on the military hospital in Sana'a on December 5. Reports about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to France-Presse.
The leader of the Yemeni al-Qaeda wing, Qassam al-Rimi, said that an attack on a hospital inside the complex of buildings of the Ministry of Defense was not part of the organization’s plans and that the target was the military. Al-Rimi stressed that the soldiers were instructed to be attentive and not to enter the hospital and prayer rooms.
The al-Qaida leader clarified: “Eight of our brothers were attentive, but one was not. Allah is free to forgive him. ”
Rimi further stated that the group offered “apologies and condolences” to the dead and injured in the hospital and said that al-Qaida was ready to bear “full responsibility”, including paying compensation to the families of the dead and paying medical expenses to injured civilians.
Protest in the CAR. A protest against the presence of the French contingent in the Central African Republic was held yesterday in Bangui, reports RIA News" with reference to France Press.
The demonstrations were attended by several thousand supporters of the disbanded Islamist group “Séléka”, which brought Michel Jotodiu to power. The reason for the protests was the murder of three militants of Séléka by French soldiers.
Rally in Istanbul. A demonstration in Istanbul on the protection of forests turned into a rally for the resignation of the government. The police used classical tools against disgruntled people: water cannons and tear gas. Suffered five. He writes about it correspondent RIA "Novosti" Alyona Palazhchenko with reference to "Hurriyet".
Yesterday, public organizations - “City Movement”, “Protection of Northern Forests”, “Working Group on Combating Urban Transformation”, and others - held an authorized rally to protect the environment and forests. Protesters with posters calling for the resignation of the government also joined the rally.
Stones flew into the guards. The police responded with jets of water and tear gas. Five injured with minor injuries taken to hospital.
Corruption in Turkish. 21 December, a Turkish court filed charges in a corruption case against the sons of two members of the government. According to Reuters, a total of 16 people were arrested. He writes about it "Lenta.ru".
As part of the investigation, police detained more than 80 people. The sons of Interior Minister Muammer Guler, Minister of Economy Zafer Chaglayan, Minister of Ecology and Urban Planning Erdogan Bayraktar were implicated in the corruption scandal in the highest echelons of the Turkish authorities. After a long interrogation, the latter escaped arrest.
According to France-Presse, Suleyman Aslan, the head of the state bank Halkbank, and the leaders of large construction companies were also in custody.
Officials are suspected of mass embezzlement, embezzlement, fraud with government tenders, gold smuggling and other crimes.
It is curious that Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the corruption case an attempt to discredit his government. Erdogan did not confine himself to words. He initiated mass layoffs in the Turkish police: only last Friday, 17 high-ranking police officers who participated in the investigation of the case and apprehended the suspects were dismissed.
Well, democracy in its pure form, we add from myself. By the way, events developed rapidly ...
Turkish Interior Minister Muammer Güler is waiting for the decision of the leadership regarding the need for his resignation. As the minister told the Anatolian Agency yesterday, on December 17 he informed R. T. Erdogan of his readiness to resign. He writes about it correspondent ITAR-TASS Kirill Zharov.
The prospect of resignation is considered by the Minister just because of the anti-corruption operation, called the “Big Bribe”. After all, Guler’s son was also under arrest.
“Realizing the harm that would be inflicted on our party and the government, I also announced my desire for 17 numbers. I declared that I was ready for dismissal, resignation, for everything and everything. Now I’m waiting for the Prime Minister’s decision, ”Güler said.
Minister of Economy Zafer Chaglayan and Minister for Urban Development and the Environment Erdogan Bayraktar also declared their readiness to leave their posts, as their sons were among the defendants. However, none of these people has yet filed an official request for resignation ...
Attempt to attack in Israel. An explosive device went off yesterday in a passenger bus in Bat Yam. No harm done. He writes about it correspondent ITAR-TASS Andrey Shirokov.
As reported by ITAR-TASS in the press service of the police of the Jewish state, the explosion occurred during the operation to disarm the device. There were no passengers on the bus.
Putin will not leave Netanyahu in trouble. The newspaper "Maariv" published material on the outcome of the negotiations of Benjamin Netanyahu and Vladimir Putin, reports MIGnews.com.
During the meetings in Moscow, Netanyahu managed to get “far-reaching security guarantees” from Putin.
“During a private conversation that lasted two and a half hours, Netanyahu managed to convince Putin that he shouldn’t be“ pressed ”to hold an international conference on the demilitarization of the Middle East. The idea of the conference was put forward by Obama in 2010, and it was supposed to be held at the end of last year. Under pressure from Israel, however, the Americans postponed the conference. Russia was the only great power that demanded its implementation.
Israel fears that its strategic arsenal will be the focus of the conference. Israel is ready to begin negotiations on international inspections of its strategic facilities, but only after achieving peace with the Arab countries, Netanyahu said.
Putin pleasantly surprised Netanyahu, saying: "Russia will block the conference." Moreover, Putin promised Netanyahu help if Israel were in trouble. To understand the essence of the change in the position of Russia, four months ago demanding "nuclear disarmament" of Israel, one should look at the problem more broadly ... "
Israel fears that its strategic arsenal will be the focus of the conference. Israel is ready to begin negotiations on international inspections of its strategic facilities, but only after achieving peace with the Arab countries, Netanyahu said.
Putin pleasantly surprised Netanyahu, saying: "Russia will block the conference." Moreover, Putin promised Netanyahu help if Israel were in trouble. To understand the essence of the change in the position of Russia, four months ago demanding "nuclear disarmament" of Israel, one should look at the problem more broadly ... "
The breadth of the view, as suggested by the Jewish edition, is as follows.
The Kremlin recently found out about the secret talks between Washington and Tehran. Putin twice asked for a meeting with Rouhani, but Putin refused. And then Rouhani landed in New York. And now Putin needs Israel as a counterweight to a possible alliance between the US and Iran.
And on the other hand: Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman held talks with Putin’s advisor Yury Ushakov. Agreements were signed on the possibility of participation of Russian companies in the development of Israeli gas fields.
These events show that the Israeli prime minister does not believe the American leadership and is creating new alliances.
Finland is not torn to NATO. The question of joining NATO is currently not relevant for Finland. This was announced by the country's president Sauli Niinistö in an interview with the Finnish newspaper “Hyufvuddstadbladet” and the Swedish “Svenska dagbladet” correspondent ITAR-TASS Nina Burmistrova.
The President explained: “Finland has three main areas of military cooperation: the organization of the defense cooperation of the Nordic countries“ Nordefko ”, the military dimension of the EU and the partnership with NATO. But NATO membership is not relevant to us. ”
Estonia: "Walters" instead of "Makarovs". The Estonian Police and Border Guard Board signed an agreement to buy German Walter pistols (“Walther P99Q”) to replace Russian-made Makarov pistols. This was written by the portal "Delfi", transmits correspondent RIA "Novosti" Nikolay Adashkevich.
Firearm replacement weapons the police tried to implement even in 2004 year, trying to replace the PM pistols «Sig-Sauer». However, the Estonians did not have enough money for this.
"Let's go to Rome." In Italy, the week continued "protests with pitchforks in their hands." Coordinator of the movement “Committee 9 December 2013 of the year. Italy will not stop. ”Roberto Reginaldi gave an interview to Marina Tantushyan ("Voice of Russia").
Roberto Reginaldi told the purpose for which the movement was born.
“Our movement was born only a few months ago. But we began to complain about the work of state institutions in 2007 year. At that time we were part of the committee of farmers. At that time, the situation in the agricultural sector was very difficult. Since then, our very real battle has begun against the power structures that have remained deaf to our demands. ”
Regarding the so-called "March on Rome", which was written in the media, Reginaldi said: "There was no" March on Rome ", but a call was announced:" Let's go to Rome. " Coordinator explained:
“We do not intend to rebel the past, and in no case do we position ourselves as a political movement. We are Italian citizens who are on the edge of the abyss and who suffer from poverty and destitution. After all, there is no longer the Italy that our foreign friends knew, including those from Russia. Since then, Italy has become very impoverished. For this very reason, the overwhelming majority of Italians decided to rebel. We did not make any "march to Rome." We just want to prove that the current government is illegal. If someone commits a coup, this is the current leadership of Italy. ”
On the long question, “You are opposed to the austerity policies pursued by the current government. Nevertheless, leading economists argue that raising taxes is almost the only way out for Italy from the “tunnel” in which it found itself in recent years. And what “recipe” of saving the country do you propose? ”Comrade Reginaldi gave the following answer:
“Is it possible to call the austerity regime what pushes people to poverty? This is called "genocide." We can't live like this anymore. Just imagine one simple thing: the Italian government is now in the daily and desperate search for several million euros to patch one hole or another, raising taxes for ordinary people for this purpose. This is simply inhuman and shameful, it is a real blow to the dignity of our nation.
Instead, it would not hurt them to use money to cover the country's economic problems, which are harboring powerful business structures that are connected with our state leadership. Take, for example, 36 billion euros lost from the state budget thanks to a group that controls the gaming business. This money could help our economy rise "from its knees." Not to mention the hidden 98 billions of euros discovered by the financial guard.
Why doesn't Premier Letta take a firm and serious position on this issue? Because we are talking about his friends ... "
Instead, it would not hurt them to use money to cover the country's economic problems, which are harboring powerful business structures that are connected with our state leadership. Take, for example, 36 billion euros lost from the state budget thanks to a group that controls the gaming business. This money could help our economy rise "from its knees." Not to mention the hidden 98 billions of euros discovered by the financial guard.
Why doesn't Premier Letta take a firm and serious position on this issue? Because we are talking about his friends ... "
Russians are familiar with the state of affairs, let us add. However, it is familiar to residents of various countries. Wherever there is a state apparatus, there are also “friends”.
Can someone stop Comrade Reginaldi? No, nothing can:
“No one and nothing will stop us. Because about 8 of millions of Italian families will not be able to adequately spend the upcoming holidays. And we do not plan to interrupt our struggle for Christmas. Our committees throughout Italy will continue their work. In January, there will be other demonstrations. ”
Elves rebelled. Defenders of elves in Iceland blocked the project for the construction of the presidential highway. He writes about it "Lenta.ru" with reference to The Guardian.
The environmental organization Friends of Lava filed a lawsuit in the Supreme Court of Iceland in a case concerning the construction of a highway, which is supposed to connect the Aulftanes peninsula, where the President’s residence is located, to a suburb of Reykjavik. Claimants claim: laying a route will damage the culture of elves living in the construction site. “Lava Friends” also indicate that the construction of the highway will break the unique lava field located on the peninsula and destroy the bird nesting sites.
A survey conducted by the University of Iceland in 2007 showed that 62% of respondents believe in the existence of elves.
The question of the last border of the EU. The French newspaper Libération asked Elizabeth Guigou, head of the international affairs committee of the French National Assembly, to comment on the EU’s position on the political crisis in Ukraine and relations with Russia. Writes about this journalist Mark Semo (the source abbr. Translation - "Inopressa").
Gigu believes that the reason for the not very coordinated position of Europe regarding Ukraine lies in the fact that the EU has practically no common policy towards Russia. Brussels should connect Moscow to the dialogue on the future of Ukraine:
“We should not forget that the cradle of Russia is Kiev and that Russians relate to this country with particular sensitivity.”
The head of the committee recalled that the Association Agreement is not a promise of EU membership. She then said:
“European policy cannot be based on expansion alone, if our goal is a more cohesive union. The need for expansion was obvious and necessary when it came to the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. They were not part of the USSR, with the exception of the Baltic countries, but this is a special case: Moscow from the very beginning reconciled with their movement towards the EU. In the case of Ukraine, everything is different. ”
It turned out that Poland and Sweden see what is happening in a different light, and this can be understood:
“They cannot get away from their geographical location: the Poles do not want to be the last border of the EU. So we need to agree among themselves and develop a common position. ”
Gigou sees the solution of the issue in a compromise between the EU and Russia:
“Reaching out to Russia does not mean bending over it. There can be no talk of concealing the possible unacceptable features of this regime, and we must clearly state our support for the demands of the protesters in Kiev. But I think that we should not unnecessarily turn against Russia. If she feels in danger, her positions will become even more adamant. ”
Khodorkovsky in Berlin. Mikhail Khodorkovsky called on the President of Ukraine to release Yulia Tymoshenko from custody. As the correspondent reported from Berlin "Tapes.ru", at yesterday’s press conference, the former head of Yukos expressed the hope that the Ukrainian leader “would take an example in this matter” from his Russian counterpart.
At the press conference, Khodorkovsky predominantly spoke on topics that he touched on in an interview after the release of 20 December from the colony, and at the Sunday conference.
The former head of Yukos confirmed that he was not going to return to the business. He also will not fight for the return of the assets of his former company. Nor will he try to come to power in Russia. He confirmed that he would not return to Russia in the near future. Khodorkovsky called family affairs a priority.
In addition, M. Khodorkovsky answered the question about the advisability of a boycott of the Olympic Games in Sochi. A former prisoner said that the Olympics is a “sports festival” for millions of people, which should not be spoiled for political reasons. Khodorkovsky added that in this case the Olympics should not turn into Putin’s “personal holiday”.
Supplements the article on "Interfax".
During a press conference at the Checkpoint-Charlie Museum in Berlin, Khodorkovsky described civic activism as one of his top priorities for the near future: “I would like to devote the time left for active business life to pay debts to those people which is worse than me (that is, those who are still in prison), and Russian society, for whom it is very important to change a little so that we can live better in Russia, ”said the former head of Yukos.
Khodorkovsky said that he did not intend to return to the business: “I believe that in the course of my business career, I achieved everything I wanted to achieve.”
The current financial situation of the former head of Yukos allows him not to think about money.
You can find irony in the following words of Khodorkovsky: “Mr. Putin has been thinking about the possibility of my release over the course of 10 years. I hope that the decision made after so long deliberation will not be regarded as a mistake by him ”.
Then Khodorkovsky explained why after leaving the colony he immediately left Russia. He had no choice at the release stage: “When they woke me up at two o'clock, I was told that I was going home. Then in the process of traveling I learned that it would end in Berlin. ” According to M. Khodorkovsky, the convoy left him only after the door of the plane that had flown to Germany closed.
The release of Khodorkovsky is devoted to a new review of Western newspapers from "Foreign Press".
Leaving the hall after the end of the 4-hour press conference, Vladimir Putin told several correspondents that he was going to pardon Khodorkovsky, reports Libération. “He recently wrote such a paper and appealed to me with a request for pardon,” Putin explained. “A decree on his pardon will be signed soon.” This news took even the lawyers of the opposition oligarch by surprise ...
“Putin, with his bestial political flair, understood: now or never,” Zoya Svetova, a journalist, analyzes Putin’s decision. According to her, “the president greatly values his Olympics, and the refusal of a number of heads of state to attend the event touches him very much.”
If vulnerability instils paranoia in a person, then the feeling of one’s own strength can, on the contrary, weaken it, Time Correspondent Simon Schuster remarks, commenting on Putin’s promise to release “his oldest enemy Mikhail Khodorkovsky.”
This year, Putin won a diplomatic duel with the West because of Syria, dissuaded Ukraine from an agreement with the EU, the article says. On the eve of the Sochi Olympics, Putin is trying to prevent Western boycotts from spoiling the atmosphere of the Games. That is why the decision on amnesty was made.
All prisoners, including Pussy Riot, were brought to justice during the period when Putin felt under siege. And Khodorkovsky was also put in the time of Putin's weakness. But today, Putin does not see threats to his power and can afford to show mercy, the author believes.
“It was a classic Putin maneuver,” writes The Financial Times correspondent Neil Buckley. 4 hours and 5 minutes to answer journalists' questions at a press conference, including the question about Khodorkovsky, and suddenly "throw in" the main news in the form of an unofficial comment to a group of journalists: the most famous political prisoner of Russia will be pardoned.
“This pardon may be connected with Russia's attempt to improve its image amid fears that boycotts may overshadow the planned extravaganza of the Olympic Games in Sochi in February,” the author writes.
“But it’s possible that Khodorkovsky’s release also reflects the Kremlin’s growing confidence that it no longer poses the same threat — or that new, more serious threats have appeared, such as opposition leader Alexei Navalny,” the journalist said.
The pardon of Mikhail Khodorkovsky eight months before the end of his term of imprisonment is a gesture by the king, who, realizing the full power of his power, changed his wrath to mercy, Clemens Vergin writes in Die Welt.
Releasing Khodorkovsky, as well as amnesty for Pussy Riot and thirty Greenpeace activists, Putin wants to "polish" Russia's image in the eyes of abroad: the presidents of the United States, Germany and France refused to come to Sochi, and Putin was afraid of the expansion of the Olympic boycott.
At the same time, “Putin’s commendable gesture also testifies to the continued arbitrariness of the Russian authorities”: “Political prisoners are released only because the king wants it, and not because justice corrects its mistakes.”
Hello from the Secretary of State. The US government welcomed the pardon and release of Mikhail Khodorkovsky. This is stated in a statement by John Kerry, published on the website of the US Foreign Ministry, reports "Lenta.ru".
“Washington has always been disturbed by procedural violations and selectivity of the judicial system of Russia, including in relation to Khodorkovsky and his business partner Platon Lebedev,” the statement says.
At the same time, the state secretary greeted the broad amnesty, timed to coincide with the twentieth anniversary of the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
Grateful Snowden. Edward Snowden "is grateful for the opportunity to live free and participate in important global debates" that he has "thanks to the year of political asylum guaranteed by Russia," reports "Voice of Russia" with reference to ITAR-TASS.
Snowden said this in an interview he gave to the TV show “Fantastico”, which was released on the Brazilian television channel “Globu”.
According to him, he “had mastered the Russian language enough to say“ Merry Christmas! ”To everyone.
Snowden stressed that he did not regret that he had disclosed the secret information about the work of the American special services.
American failure. December 19 happened a significant event: in Russia, the seventh facility was put into trial operation where chemical warheads are being destroyed. But in the US, the elimination of chemical weapons has stalled. This tells Sergey Ptichkin ("Russian newspaper").
All Russian facilities for the safe storage and destruction of CW are under international control. Each warhead is on the strictest record. The process of eliminating combat agents is accelerating and should be completed in 2015.
And what about the USA? And there the elimination of chemical weapons stalled for reasons not entirely clear. The Pentagon said it could destroy stocks of chemical weapons after 2020, maybe by 2025. And there is no such free access for international inspectors to arsenals with chemical weapons, as in Russia, in the USA.
“When the hype around the Syrian chemical weapons began in the foreign press and when Damascus joined the Convention on the destruction of such weapons, Russia immediately checked all mobile complexes for the destruction of all types of chemical weapons under field conditions. Our complexes are considered to be among the best in the world for the quality of detoxification of military agents and the safety of this process. Total mobile complexes 98, all of them are on the bases of storage, one might say, in constant combat readiness. It was possible to deliver some of them to Syria for on-site efficient destruction of chemical weapons in a matter of hours and without any problems. But at the international level, a decision was taken by the OPCW and the UN: the Americans will destroy the Syrian chemical weapons. True, not at their own expense, but at the expense of the UN budget. And Russia has already allocated two million dollars to the UN for these purposes. ”
But America, the author writes, "completely failed her national program for the destruction of chemical weapons" - against the background of how Russia "quietly, without advertising noise and ostentatious pathos is doing the hardest work ..." Russia will destroy the last drop of chemical warfare agents, as promised just in time - ten years earlier than the USA. ”
Santa, give the kids some food. In the article "Sad letters to Santa Claus" ("Los Angeles Times"; the source of translation - "InoSMI") Diana Wagman talks about how, while standing in line at the post office, she saw a poster with the inscription: “Stay Santa on 2013 Christmas on the Year.” As reported in the ad, “the tradition of responding to letters on behalf of Santa Claus has more than 100 years.” Those who wish to work with Santa can choose a letter addressed to him at the post office, write an answer and send the desired gift to the sender.
“On an early sunny morning on December 3, when the traditional correspondence with Santa began, I drove up to the Los Angeles General Post Office on Gage Avenue to select a letter for myself. <…> I thought that children who wrote these letters with continuous spelling errors, clumsily and without observing grammar, would ask Santa for gifts like Lego, Barbie and characters from the animated series "My Little Pony". I knew that there would be those who would ask for a phone, tablet, Xbox game console or something like that that I would not be able to afford. But I was hoping that there was at least one little boy who still dreams of a fire truck.
But instead, the requests and pleas of my parents fell upon me. The unemployed mother wrote that she still had money for food in the family, but she did not have to dream about gifts. The father of the family complained that his children needed school supplies. Parents, who have two, three, and maybe more children, asked to send them what they cannot give to their children. One man, who had just been released from prison, wrote that he hadn’t seen his children for a long time and wants to give them something special for Christmas. And one disabled grandmother asked me to send a dress for her granddaughter in which she could go to church. ”
But instead, the requests and pleas of my parents fell upon me. The unemployed mother wrote that she still had money for food in the family, but she did not have to dream about gifts. The father of the family complained that his children needed school supplies. Parents, who have two, three, and maybe more children, asked to send them what they cannot give to their children. One man, who had just been released from prison, wrote that he hadn’t seen his children for a long time and wants to give them something special for Christmas. And one disabled grandmother asked me to send a dress for her granddaughter in which she could go to church. ”
And further:
“I was deeply shocked. Many letters - even those written by children - were asked to give them food and shoes, clothes and shampoo. Some child wrote: "Please send some food to my mother, she behaved well this year."
And more:
“I read a lot of letters, and each time despair began to overfill me with a new force. I could not decide which of the letters to choose. Maybe answer to that single father, who asked to send diapers? Or that 17-year-old girl who asks to give her little sister a backpack? .. "
Diana Wagman made the following decision:
“I chose two letters for myself - from a family with four children, and from a family where there are three children. One of the girls asked to give her little brother a truck, because "he plays with our shoes and boots, imagining that they are cars and trucks." I decided that I would send some toys, but basically I would put in my parcels clothes, necessities and gift cards that could be bought at grocery stores. ”
Never think, add on my own that you live badly. There is always someone who lives worse or worse, or very bad.
Observed and commented on Oleg Chuvakin
- especially for topwar.ru
- especially for topwar.ru
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