VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
ARCHIVE OF THE OFFICIAL SITE
OF THE 2008-2012 PRIME MINISTER
OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION
VLADIMIR PUTIN
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin and his Ukrainian counterpart Yulia Tymoshenko yesterday affixed their signatures to an agreement that paves the way for Russian gas to Europe and introduces European rules of payment for our gas for Ukraine. The long-term contracts for 2009-2019, the result of many hours of one-on-one talks between Putin and Tymoshenko and an expression of their mutual political will, make “gas relations absolutely transparent and predictable”, the Russian Prime Minister said. Even so, Izvestia believes, from the start the new accords suggested several questions, as to which no answers are yet in sight, in spite of the much-vaunted “transparency”.
Naftogaz and Gazprom sign gas contracts. The road for Russian gas to Europe is open: Gazprom and Naftogaz signed two ten-year contracts yesterday. The two parties are now counting the gains and losses of the gas war.
To build the future you have to understand the past, otherwise our future will be made by somebody else. If we understand correctly what happened last year, it will be easy to make predictions or express wishes for the new year and the following years.
The commission created to enhance the sustainability of the Russian economy, referred to by its members as KURS (the Russian acronym for Commission for Sustained Development of the Country) and popularly known as the Government's anti-crisis headquarters, is under pressure to prove that it has made amends in response to the President's criticism that some of its members are working too slowly. In other words, First Vice Prime Minister Igor Shuvalov, who heads up KURS, has his job cut out for him...
Communists and veterans stage protest actions in Kirov on the day of Nikita Belykh's inauguration. What is the difference between a protest and an inauguration? Police never disperse an inauguration, but they can disperse a protest at the drop of a hat.
Budanov’s parole brings wartime horrors back to Chechens
Prime Minister Vladimir Putin acted tough during the Russian-Ukrainian gas conflict, while an outraged Europe threatened sanctions against Kiev and Moscow.
Whoever is to blame for the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it will make the CIS countries look more to the West.
Before launching marathon talks in Moscow on the gas problem Vladimir Putin visited Germany, where he attended a glittering society event, the famous Zemper Opera Ball at Dresden's Opera. At the ball the Russian Premier was presented with the Order of Saxon Gratitude in the "Politics" category. The order is traditionally conferred on outstanding personalities for services to Germany. The order has the picture of St George on horseback. In line with protocol, Putin arrived wearing a dinner jacket and a bowtie.
The Government's law-making plan for 2009, which was last discussed in mid-November, has been approved. The number of bills expected to be drafted this year has been doubled, a tall order in a time of the crisis. However, some of the controversial documents, including the Law On Trade, will not be adopted in 2009.
