In diplomatic-speak the translation is 'Putin is a brutal KGB tyrant, supplying advanced weaponry to jihadist and communist régimes, Putin uses as proxies in the Kremlin's ongoing war to dominate the Western world.'
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Posted on 10/13/2007 10:32:06 AM PDT by Momaw Nadon
MOSCOW (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Russian human rights activists on Saturday she wanted to help them build institutions to protect people from the 'arbitrary power of the state'.
"I think that there is too much concentration of power in the Kremlin," she later told reporters.
Her remarks and the meeting with eight human rights leaders could irk the Kremlin, which is sensitive to Western accusations it is rolling back democratic freedoms and suspects foreign governments of trying to influence next year's presidential election.
Rice told the rights activists she wanted to hear about their efforts to protect freedoms in Russia.
"I am quite confident that your goal is to build institutions that are indigenous to Russia -- that are Russian institutions -- but that are also respectful of what we all know to be universal values," said Rice.
She said these were: "The rights of individuals to liberty and freedom, the right to worship as you please, and the right to assembly, the right to not have to deal with the arbitrary power of the state."
"How is it going and what can we do to help Russia to build strong institutions that have these universal values?"
The United States and other Western governments are concerned about democracy, human rights and civil society in Russia under President Vladimir Putin.
He has centralized power and mounted a huge security operation in Chechnya. Television, main source of news for most Russians, has been brought under tight Kremlin control with Putin's opponents rarely given access to the airwaves.
Opinion polls though show most Russians back Putin's tough style of rule.
ABU-GHRAIB JAIL
Tatyana Lokshina, head of the Demos civil rights group, said she and her colleagues had discussed with Rice rights abuses in Chechnya, and fears the Russian political system discriminates against the opposition.
But Lokshina said the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay and allegations of abuse at the U.S.-run Abu-Ghraib prison in Iraq had dented Washington's authority on human rights.
"When the United States criticizes, the Russian authorities say: 'Look what is happening on your patch'," she said.
Lyudmila Alexeyeva, chair of the Moscow Helsinki Group, said she told Rice the West should be more vocal. "An authoritarian regime is intentionally being built (in Russia)," she said.
"I told Rice that human rights activists would like Western leaders visiting Russia ... to raise human rights issues not only in private conversations but also publicly."
Rice and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Friday met Putin and their Russian counterparts for so-called "2+2" talks that focused on a U.S. plan for a missile defense shield in Europe, which Moscow opposes.
Rice said she had not raised human rights in her talks with Putin or in the "2+2" discussions, saying these had concentrated on missile defense and other strategic issues.
However, she told reporters on Saturday she had discussed human rights and Russia's political evolution with the Russian foreign minister, prime minister and other senior officials at subsequent meetings.
Rice said there was too much concentration of power in the Kremlin and spoke of the need for independent institutions to counter-balance the Russian presidency.
"There are questions about the independence of the judiciary. There are clearly questions about the independence of electronic media and there are, I think, questions about the strength of the Duma (lower house of parliament)."
IMHO, it looks like the Cold War is officially back.
Condi fiddles while the twin towers still burn in our minds.
U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice told Russian human rights activists on Saturday she wanted to help them build institutions to protect people from the ‘arbitrary power of the state’.
I wonder if Putin would give me 15 million dollars to set up an foundations to protect the American people from the Arbitrary Power of our State?
Beam in eye alert.
W
“a foundation” Sorry
Oh and better up it to 25 million..lol
W
Kinda like Bush arbitrarily refusing to secure our borders and control immigration? And arbitrarily agreeing to forge a "North American Union" with Mexico and Canada?
Who elected Rice as Russia's conscience? How would we react if Russia's foreign minister went to meet with the Jena six crowd? (not that the Russians would care but just to spite us?)
Interestingly, we’re back to praying for Russia’s conversion as of this morning at St. Benedict Abbey. Hmmm.
Might some of these be Islamic activists?
In diplomatic-speak the translation is 'Putin is a brutal KGB tyrant, supplying advanced weaponry to jihadist and communist régimes, Putin uses as proxies in the Kremlin's ongoing war to dominate the Western world.'
Putin made her and Gates wait for 40 minutes, then scolded them; she’s just sticking it back in their face- as well she should.
Really? I guess Putin is not scared of us anymore or something.
Ping.
I see Turkey is shelling onto N Iraq.
Gorbachev built up his foundation in the USA over the past decade. Research his speaking engagements, distribution of funds, and alliances and you’ll see that his global socialist agenda has never ceased. The most disgusting fact is that he is even being paid to speak to our university students across the nation.
Me, personally, I think the Cold War was interesting enough, I think we could wait to finish our ME project before inciting Cold War II?
Peristrokia is one of the biggest unknown scams perpetraited upon America...with the Savings and Loan debacle a close second.
Agreed. Russia can thank US tax payers for building up their country.
SOP.
Even incursions seem to be low key.
If a bunch of Mexicans came attacking over our borders...well...point made.
It’s all tied together. Pooty’s tightening the screws because we made him look stupid to cash paying customers on 9/6.
He escalated by threatening to step out of our nuclear limitation agreements.
Rice countered with words of support for Pooty’s enemies.
Follow this to its conclusion and you will see that Russia may intervene militarily if we seek to resolve the Iranian/Syrian problem in the ME.
Just as soon as Russia can fight their way through Chechnya, we may have a problem on our hands.
That means we probably need to address the Iranian issue before 2099.
2199 at the latest.
There are other forces to include Christianity in play within the Russian Bear..
Every nation is different in their personality..
The Russians absolutely want a strong central government based upon a personality Putin is the guy...
Yes Gorbachev traded “Communist Red for Environmental Green”
Dragging down the US is just the name of the game for everyone..
Seems to be working right now..
Sadly, without real leaders nothing will change for the better and I see none in sight. Neither Civilian nor Military.
W
ping
‘Suicide bombers plot to kill Vladimir Putin’
Now that tops the Kremlin's recent publicity stunts.
Benefactor for the Axis of Evil:
Putin assassinating thousands of political enemies - and blowing up his own apt buildings is not a fair comparison to our President.
yes but. These guys are all about Soros and pro-chechen radicals in some cases.
One of their donors is the Open Society Institute in Budapest for instance.
State dept is making one mistake after another. Who is calling the shots? Scary
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