One more aspect of russian thinking about foreign investors
I happen to know someone who is involved since years in the reconstruction of the sewage/water system of a big russian city. They are hungarian engineers working together with polish constructors and bulgarian quality controllers. It is a rather odd selection of medium and small sized eastern european companies.
After years of cooperation and a couple of vodkas they asked why they were chosen over western companies with much bigger capacities and experience. The answer was: We want to avoid being colonized economically the way your countries were. If you let a western company with capital in, it will find a way to privatize everything it can lay his hands on. And that was years ago!
A real piece of work ....
that Russian at NATO.
From the NY Times:
Quote:
Russia Adopts Blustery Tone Set by Envoy
By CLIFFORD J. LEVY
Published: August 27, 2008
MOSCOW — Here is one measure of the aggressive shift in Russian foreign policy in recent weeks: Dmitri O. Rogozin, Russia’s representative to NATO, a finger-wagging nationalist who hung a poster of Stalin in his new ambassadorial office, is not sounding so extreme any more.
“There are two dates that have changed the world in recent years: Sept. 11, 2001, and Aug. 8, 2008,” Mr. Rogozin said in an interview, explaining that the West has not fully grasped how the Georgia conflict has heightened Russians’ fears about being surrounded by NATO. “They are basically identical in terms of significance.”
“Sept. 11 motivated the United States to behave really differently in the world,” he said. “That is to say, Americans realized that even in their homes, they could not feel safe. They had to protect their interests, outside the boundaries of the U.S. For Russia, it is the same thing.”
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/28/wo...pagewanted=all
That comparison should raise some bristles and hackles among the readers of this post.
Reuters backgrounder on Gospodin Rogozin:
Quote:
Putin appoints firebrand as Russia's NATO envoy
Thu Jan 10, 2008 11:27am EST
By Guy Faulconbridge
MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin has appointed a firebrand nationalist as Russia's permanent representative to NATO as the Kremlin takes a more assertive stance towards its Cold War foe. Putin signed a decree appointing Dmitry Rogozin, the former head of a nationalist party in parliament, to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, a Kremlin spokeswoman said on Thursday.....
http://www.reuters.com/article/world...ldNews&sp=true
1 Attachment(s)
Finnish attitudes shift slowly
First some words from the President.
Quote:
HELSINGIN SANOMAT
INTERNATIONAL EDITION - FOREIGN
27.8.2008
President Halonen told in advance of Russian decision to recognise breakaway areas
Vanhanen: No impact on Finland's "direction"
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev informed Finnish President Tarja Halonen in advance of Russia's decision to grant recognition to the Georgian breakaway provinces of South Ossetia and Abkhazia. Helsingin Sanomat has learned that Medvedev informed Halonen by letter in good time before the information was made public. Russia is believed to have sent similar letters to other countries - at least to France, the holder of the EU Presidency. ....
....
According to the President, a war in Europe, in which Finland’s neighbour Russia is taking part, is an unsettling phenomenon, and a cause for serious consideration.
“The war in South Ossetia clearly showed that so-called frozen conflicts are very volatile. Their causes are historically complicated, and resolving them is very important, but difficult.
Halonen praised Finnish activities as the holder of the chairmanship of the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and said that Finland has been successful in its mission.
With respect to Finnish foreign policy, Halonen emphasised the importance of perseverance and the maintenance of a credible national defence.
“We are one of the few European countries with a capability of defending ourselves. We will not give this up, and we will develop our defence further.”
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Pre.../1135238989222
Brave words from cousin Tarja. Hopefully, she knows more about defense than milking a cow.
----------------------------------------
And from the ministers:
Quote:
HELSINGIN SANOMAT
INTERNATIONAL EDITION - FOREIGN
26.8.2008
Vanhanen and Stubb criticise Russian military action in Georgia
PM “disappointed” at use of military force, FM sees impact on ties with NATO
Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (Centre) says that the European Union must remain calm and united when dealing with the crisis in Georgia. ....
.....
Vanhanen also said that there is no need for Finland to worry, or to reconsider the country's foreign and security policy line, with its regional defence system and conscription.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party) discussed the conflict between Georgia and Russia at a meeting of Finnish Ambassadors in Helsinki. In his speech, he said that the date with three eights (August eighth, 2008, or 080808, when the fighting began) has become a dark turning point in world politics.
Stubb says that the crisis affects the agenda of Finnish foreign and security policy, as well as relations between Finland and NATO.
“Now there is reason to consider membership. The time for a decision is not yet at hand. However, flexibility and frequency in the assessment of security policy should be increased. It cannot be like a slow-motion black-and-white film.”
http://www.hs.fi/english/article/Van.../1135238960449
Tarja & opponent Sauli Niinistö in last election - "country folk"