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
After several days of persuasion, Ukraine agreed to give international monitors access to its gas pipelines. Now experts from Russia, Ukraine, Europe and independent companies will be able to know how much gas Gazprom moved to Ukraine and how much gas reached the European buyers. This is our first victory in the "gas war", and is in fact the first time in history that Ukraine has made such a concession. At stake are billions of dollars, because Kiev not only stole gas but probably sold the gas it bought from Russia at a discount price, charging market prices that are twice as high. However, things were not that straightforward; even the framework Rules of the Monitoring of the Transit of Natural Gas through Ukraine signed by Russia differ markedly from the document signed by Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko. Izvestia has tried to pinpoint the differences.
Government launches targeted support of companies, regions.
Resuming gas transit through Ukraine postponed again as Russia admits interest in transit pipeline
On January 1, 2009, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who had been personally in charge of Russia's actions in the Russian-Ukrainian gas dispute from late December, approved the first "conciliation" document, i.e., a protocol establishing a multilateral commission to monitor gas flow at facilities in Russia, Ukraine and the European Union. If a Ukrainian representative signs this protocol today, Gazprom could resume gas supplies to EU countries as early as tomorrow. Supplies were disrupted on January 7, 2009. The gas conflict could now return to its previous format: an information war.
On December 24, 2008, Gazprom, in the course of its negotiations with a Naftogaz of Ukraine delegation arriving in Moscow, demanded that Ukraine pay the $2.118 billion it owed for gas supplies in 2008 before signing a contract for 2009.
A wave of protests against car import duty hikes rocked Russian regions on January 8 and 10. Protesters also called for the Putin government's resignation and for a check to rising housing and utilities prices. Political parties and other movements joined in the car owners' protests, which predictably led to occasional arrests of the most fervent activists. Opposition sources warn that protests will scale up in January, with political slogans added to economic slogans.
Russia has started 2009 with another gas war. The results of the campaign are as follows: Ukraine is left without gas, Russia without gas transit, and both countries are quickly ruining their reputation in the face of freezing Europe.
Participants in the Russian-Ukrainian gas conflict admitted its policy-induced nature. Members of the Ukrainian President's team believe that Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko has sided with Moscow, and the conflict is playing into her hands.
"The world will face a global financial crisis when the 44th president comes to office (George W. Bush is the 43rd), and the crisis will reach its peak in 2012, first in the US, and then in Europe." These forecasts by astrologer Pavel Globa were made several years ago (see Komsomolskaya Pravda, September 14, 2001, December 20, 2007, at www.kp.ru). But no one listened to his discouraging stories. The idea of America's collapse and the prediction that it would be ranked 20th not first, seemed seditious. But it turned out that the stars were right. So what do they say about today's world?
"The world will face a global financial crisis when the 44th president comes to office (George W. Bush is the 43rd), and the crisis will reach its peak in 2012, first in the US, and then in Europe." These forecasts by astrologer Pavel Globa were made several years ago (see Komsomolskaya Pravda, September 14, 2001, December 20, 2007, at www.kp.ru). But no one listened to his discouraging stories. The idea of America's collapse and the prediction that it would be ranked 20th not first, seemed seditious. But it turned out that the stars were right. So what do they say about today's world?
1. The Name of Russia, TV project. It was not only the most intellectual talk show of the year, but also a successful, highly-rated attempt to draw the audience's attention to its own history. The Rossiya channel has proved that television can be serous, interesting and socially useful at the same time.
The Government summed up the results of 2008. Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Alexei Kudrin said the other day that, owing to the crisis, the situation was extremely difficult and that 2009 would become the most difficult post-war year. Nevertheless, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin remarked optimistically that the Russian economy was in the black.
Dmitry Medvedev and Vladimir Putin summarise the year.
The structure of supreme power in modern Russia can be described as a "tandem," a term the Kremlin likes more than "diarchy." So far, both leaders have been satisfied with their interaction.
Dmitry Medvedev has accomplished a lot in the six months since his election. But his highest profile move was a "technical" correction of the Constitution.
In 2008, two major construction projects began in Primorye: a bridge across the strait of Bosfor Vostochny to the Island of Russky, the 2012 APEC summit venue, and a bridge across the bay of Zolotoi Rog, built in the framework of the federal programme for regional development.
For the first time in Russian history a head of state not only stayed in the Government after completing his term, but also became a Prime Minister, the number two person in the Government hierarchy. Mr Putin's transition is hardly proving seamless. The financial crisis has dashed any possible hopes for a calm tenure. In addition, not all the measures taken by the Prime Minister seem to be working.
On May 31, Russia won the right to host the Summer Universiade for the first time in 30 years. Students between 17 and 28 years of age from 141 countries will take part in this sporting event, considered to be second in importance only to the Olympic Games. The Summer Universiade consists of 12 compulsory sports and up to three optional sports chosen by the host country. The Summer Universiade 2013 will be held in Kazan, the capital of Russia's Republic of Tatarstan.
Members of United Russia are meeting the New Year with concern and hope. They are primarily pinning their hopes on their leader Vladimir Putin. They have been trying to entice him to join United Russia throughout its history. In 2007, Putin described his special relationship with the party, though he officially aligned himself with United Russia only upon expiration of his presidential powers. The Prime Minister's leadership proved to be the water of life for the party, which has enabled it to keep its ratings at 60%.
Boston Globe: "During the autumn campaign, Joe Biden ruminated aloud about a foreign policy challenge that a President Obama would have to confront early on." This challenge came even earlier than he had thought. To check Barack Obama's intentions, and probably even his boldness, Russia has declared its intention to complete the sale of modern air defence systems to Iran. This deal was launched and suspended several times
