Vladimir Putin is trying the quill to columnist

Prime Minister of Russia, Vladimir Putin wrote his first editorial for the Russian press, reported the daily newspaper “The Independent” in the electronic edition.

In fact, Putin has previously tried his hand in journalism in western media. In 2006 he wrote an article for London’s daily The Financial Times, entitled “Europe has nothing to fear from Russia’s aspirations”.

Today edition of the “Russian Pioneer”, publish first editorial article of former Russian President, entitled “Why is it difficult to dismiss a man”. An article on divisions existing in the Kremlin when he was president of Russia (2000-2008).

Andrei Kolesnikov, editor of Russky Pioner and one of Russia’s most prominent journalists, said he wasn’t sure himself how he tempted Putin to pen the column.”I myself don’t know how I pulled this off, it was my idea as the editor-in-chief of this magazine, I believe that any editor-in-chief dreams of publishing such a columnist on his pages at least once in a lifetime” Kolesnikov said.

Those who know Russian can to read the original editorial here.

“Continui sa cred ca putem construi o Romanie in care europenismul sa nu fie doar o «forma fara fond»” – afirmă Crin Antonescu, presedinte PNL

- Domnule Crin Antonescu, aveti deja o experienta de 19 ani pe scena politica din Romania. Si pentru ca vorbim de saptamanalul “Top Business”, voi incepe acest interviu adresandu-va o intrebare pragmatica, specifica oamenilor de afaceri. Care sunt avantajele si dezavantajele persoanelor care au statutul de politician de/in Romania ?

Crin Antonescu: – Inteleg ca intrebarea se refera in general la oamenii politici si la realitatile din Romania, nu la mine … Voi incerca sa fiu la fel de pragmatic si concis.
Avantaje: unu – politicienii “deschid usi” intr-o masura incomparabil mai mare decat ceilalti cetateni; doi – un politician are sansa unor salturi spectaculoase, justificate sau nu, in cariera, sansa de asemenea incomparabila cu a majoritatii cetatenilor, indiferent de profesie sau domeniu de cariera; trei – politicienii au avut sansa unui acces direct si imediat la resursele financiare, deci sansa de a se imbogati a fost net superioara majoritatii populatiei. Astea au fost percepute ca avantaje si urmarite in buna masura de cei care au optat pentru cariera politica. Iar, din pacate, generatia tanara nu a venit spre domeniul politic ca urmare a unor idealuri si credinte, ci strict pentru a obtine aceste avantaje.
Dezavantaje: unu – lipsa de credibilitate, pentru ca, desi nicaieri in lume politicienii nu sunt prea iubiti, in Romania ei nu sunt deloc respectati, ceea ce constituie un handicap important pentru un om politic; doi – sunt, intr-un fel si din vina lor, victime ale perceptiei publice despre ei insisi; ca sa simplificam, isi inchipuie fara temei ca sunt sau au devenit cineva, numai pentru ca, fara a-i respecta in fapt, lumea se comporta  reverentios cu ei; trei – au o sansa mai mica in ce priveste acel aspect pretios pentru fiecare om, adica viata privata, viata de familie.

- Extinzand putin spatiul de discutie, cum credeti ca e perceput pe plan extern statutul de om politic roman ?

CA: – Daca ne referim la perceptia externa, trebuie sa admitem ca politicienii romani au o conditie destul de fragila. Dar am vazut, ce-i drept de la distanta, ca si in acest context functioneaza vechea zicala “Omul sfinteste locul” si ca depinde de fiecare in parte cum este perceput, respectat, pretuit. Evident, in acest context nu putem face abstractie si de anumite conditionari care nu tin direct de capacitatile oamenilor politici. Ca presedinte al Romaniei, prim ministru sau ministru de externe (ma refer la aceste trei functii deoarece ele au cea mai mare vizibilitate in plan extern) poti fi un om cu adevarat exceptional, dar tot vor exista limitari care tin de pozitia tarii pe care o reprezinti, de importanta ei, de esicherul politic, de perceptia prin mass-media si de realitatea ei de perceptie. [more]

interview conducted by G. Ionita

Publicat în Top Business, no. 767 ( 28 mai – 3 iunie 2009)

V. Putin:”Russia will not send troops in Afghanistan”

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will visit within two days (11-12 may) Japan. Ahead of his visit to Tokyo, Putin gave an interview to Japan’s Kyodo Tsushin News Agency, the Japan Broadcasting Corporation NHK, and the newspaper Nihon Keizai Shimbun (The Nikkei).

Although it focused mainly on the agenda on visit to Japan, japanese journalists didn’t lose the opportunity of questioning the Russian Prime Minister also about other top issues in politics and global economy.

Referring to Russia’s involvement in resolving the conflict in Afghanistan (first problem  to concerns the North Atlantic Alliance) Russian Prime Minister reiterated that “Russia remain participants of those efforts to fight against extremism. We are willing to assist everyone who is working towards restoring normal life in Afghanistan. regrettably, the international forces have worked to small effect until now. Drug trafficking from Afghanistan has increased tenfold several, as well as heroin output. As you know, Russia has agreed on civilian cargo transits with several European countries, the United States and NATO. This is our practical contribution to the cause of normalising the situation in Afghanistan. Our secret services are providing relevant information to the coalition”.  But Russia will not  sending troops to support in Afghanistan. “The Russian public strongly objects even to putting the matter under consideration, and I agree with that position” has stated Vladimir Putin.

Also, Russian Prime Minister has not hesitated to show irritation on much discussed «reset» of Russian-American relations. “We do not talk about «resetting» our relations. It is that the U.S. Administration has proposed to ‹reset›  them. We agree with that and, of course, we would like to give a new positive impetus to Russian-US relations” he said, recalling that the récents NATO military exercises in Georgia, means a signal in a different direction. Instead, Putin avoids to pronounce about a solution to territorial dispute with Japan, considering that it is necessary that experts and foreign ministries to be given time to work on this issue.

Whole interview you can read here.

Week Monitor (4 – 10 mai 2009)

PRAGA: Summit about European energy dependence from Russian gas

Czech Presidency of the European Union will host to 7-8 May 2009 in Praga a Summit of European countries and from Central Asia, in an attempt to prepare the way for possible gas imports from this region, designed to reduce dependence Massive Europe Russia.

Discussions on European energy security are old and no concrete results have been too. But the EU has become increasingly concerned about energy security problem after a new episode of conflicting Kiev and Moscow, earlier this year. Note that because of this conflict, many European countries were left without gas for two weeks in full winter.Even though signing a long term agreement between Moscow and Kiev wanted to be a signal that Russia is a viable partner, European leaders understand that it is better still to find and alternative. The more so as between Russia and Ukraine there are many divergent views that imply tensions that can generate a potential conflict.

Summit in Prague devoted to “southern corridor” is intended to convince the leaders of Central Asia countries such as Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan to the EU is a serious customer for their gas. “In terms of these countries, EU discuss 15 years and has not given proof of seriousness,” said an official from the Czech presidency of the EU. “We try to convince people to come from the EU and with money, not just with words” said he, qouted by Reuters.

MOSCOW –Russia – NATO – the end of the honeymoon

Russia will expel two Canadian diplomats in retaliation for NATO’s recent expulsion of two Russian envoys from the alliance’s headquarters in Brussels, the Canadian Embassy in Moscow said Wednesday.
The director of the NATO Information Office in Moscow, Isabelle Francois, and a colleague are to be expelled, said Nicholas Brousseau, a spokesman at the embassy, where both diplomats are attaches. If the reaction of Moscow is only a strictly classical rules of diplomacy, or there will be other track, we’ll see.
Noticed: In a week ago, NATO has ordered the expulsion of two Russian diplomats, in response to a spying scandal in which an official Estonian senior was imprisoned because he revealed secrets concerning Moscow security North Atlantic Alliance. In response, Russian Foreign Ministry Sergey Lavrov said NATO’s decision to expel two Russian diplomats, is based on “financial pretexts” and a “crass challenge. Lavrov are right? Probably yes, partly. Since the NATO sources said the Financial Times that two Russian diplomats were never directly involved in the spying scandal. Moreover, the spokesperson of the NATO, James Appathurai, blunder and says that “no comment on intelligence matters.” That is exactly those words that should not be uttered by any spokesperson of a first class institution. Otherwise … nothing quarrel, and with transparency and consistency of communication – waiting ….

P.S. It is appropriate to mention that the resurgence of tensions beetwen Russia and NATO also occurs against the backdrop of military exercises that begin today in Georgia. Georgia expects 15 countries to take part in the exercises after official notification from Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Moldova and Serbia that they would not take part.  Also was reports of the withdrawal of Armenia — which is dependent on Russia for its economic survival.