Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Hamburg for talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder. Posted on 12/20/2004 1:40:38 PM PST by Tailgunner Joe
Russian President Vladimir Putin is in Hamburg for talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder.
The visit was originally planned for September, but was cancelled due to the Beslan school siege in North Ossetia.
The talks have focused attention in Germany on Mr Schroeder's close links with Mr Putin - a relationship that has come under growing criticism.
The German chancellor has made good relations with Russia a key plank of his foreign policy.
Mr Schroeder was at the airport to greet Mr Putin personally - for some, another sign of a friendship that has got too close for comfort.
Not only did he and Mr Putin stand together in opposing the Iraq war, but Mr Schroeder has refused to criticise the Russian leader's policy in Chechnya and has described him as a flawless democrat.
For many even within his own party this goes too far. The crisis over the Ukrainian elections, where Mr Putin clashed with the West, has added to those concerns.
But Germany gets a third of its oil and gas from Russia, while bilateral trade was worth $25bn (18.6bn euros or £12.8bn) last year and is growing steadily.
The personal relationship between the two men also seems good.
Mr Putin is one of the few world leaders who can chat with Mr Schroeder in fluent German.
But for critics this is another reason to distrust him. He picked up his German as a KGB spy based in Leipzig.
For God's sake, Schroeder, don't eat the soup!
I don’t want to get on a rage here, but…….
The Socialists, former PDS leaning, heel clicking “Leaders of Europe” are now Goose stepping arm in arm together to enslave the new European democracies into their diminishing economic quagmire. The revolutionaries Schroeder/Fischer, together with “King” Chirac and the opportunistic Putin are trying to reset the old Pinball game that the U.S. has forced into Tilt mode for the last 58 years. They believe that their anti-American rhetoric will show the world that it is better to be dominated by the old aristocratic class conscious ruling elite, which will let them eat cake, than being able to determine their own destiny by setting their own agendas, laws and purpose. Their goal is so transparent that it would have to anticipate a great amount of stupidity on the part of the former Eastern block countries not to notice their true intent. Gone would be self-determination, freedom of speech and liberties associated with the normal democratic concept. The only purpose would be to milk these new countries for their Tax Euros and to be indoctrinated into the socialist melting pot that is called the EU ?
The “old Europeans “have shown time and time again, that their goal is to create different classes within their societies. The Master race concept was a failure and reinstituting it won’t work again this time around. The “Krautiots” for instance want to have someone else work for them while they can collect the ample Government subsidy, just like it should be awarded to these Super humans. They determined to abandon Atomic Energy, only to encourage other countries to build new reactors from which they can purchase cheap energy. They will do anything to show the world that they are ecologically pure and socially just.
Well, History does have a way of repeating itself, it won’t work this time either. The idea of taking over Europe without firing a shot to create Lebensraum has hurdles that neither Chirac or his new Komrades: Schroeder, Fischer and Putin will be able to overcome. To bank on the stupidity of others for your own gain has always been futile.
Of course this is only my opinion and I could be wrong.
lol
I should send them both a copy of The Tristan Betrayal by Robert Ludlum. There's nothing like ginning up a little distrust between the paranoid.
What Lebensraum for the shrinking populations, for Lord sake? Russia in its present model has maybe 40 years to run, before its oil and gas get seriously depleted. Then (if not earlier) its extractive (and destructive) economy will run in the ground, and will take its society with it.
You are correct on Russias shrinking population. I was adding Schroeder and ch-iraq. It was intended as being somewhat cynical with those 3 now proposing the new Axis to counter the US.
That my friend has been established. Schroeder and ch-Iraq want to dominate the US and are seeking Putins help in doing so.
Schroeder and Chiraq face the same population problem, exacerbated by "indigestible" immigration. So, physical Lebensraum is not applicable, and as for Putin's help in anything - so far he has demonstrated that the only thing he could help with is to botch everything he touches. Reverse Midas touch, with agricultural [fertilizer] overtones.
Russian studies used to be compulsory in East German schools, but with the end of communism, interest in Russia quickly evaporated there and eastern Germans focussed on the West. Putin, once a Soviet intelligence officer in East Germany, speaks fluent German.
Another agreement up for signing next week provides for a German astronaut to join an upcoming Russian space mission.
Russian Railways is to sign a contract with Deutsche Bahn, the German rail operator, and engineering group Siemens.
Volkswagen will issue a declaration of intent to build a car assembly plant near Moscow for VW-brand cars and European aerospace group EADS will sign up for closer cooperation with Irkut, the Russian manufacturer of fighter jets.
Amazing isn't it Putin has left no spot on earth unattended.
How nice former nazis and current KGBs..
Thank you for the ping.
I had not read this.
Looks like the path of continuing the turning of Europe from the US to Russia is working and even better than ever. Boy, won't these fools be really surprised then they realize that they are not equals to Putin, but just the mer scum crusted under the heals of his boots. Such is the nature of the useful idiot. This country better wake up for its own sake. I know more and more people are questioning things but they need to wake up faster than this. New weapon systems are just flowing in and out of Russia at this point with only one single oriented goal in mind. Crush the West.
21 December 2004
SCHLESWIG - Marking the build-up to 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Russian President Vladimir Putin invited German leader Gerhard Schroeder on Tuesday to take part in ceremonies in Moscow next year celebrating the Soviets' 1945 victory over Nazi Germany.
At a joint news conference in Schleswig, northern Germany, Putin also confirmed that Sunday's auction sale of Yuganskneftegaz, the main extraction unit of the Yukos oil and gas group, had come up in his two days of talks with Schroeder.
The Russian leader however remained tight-lipped about who was behind the little-known Baikal Finance Group, the eventual buyer.
He could neither rule out Chinese involvement - "It is perfectly possible" - nor the hand of Russian state-owned companies in the transaction: "Like other participants, they have a right to it," Putin said.
Putin added that Baikal was owned by "physical" individuals, not corporations. "As far as I know, they are endeavouring to establish connections with the other energy corporations," he added.
Two senior managers of the Russian oil and gas company Surgutneftegaz were identified by Moscow media on Tuesday as having made the mysterious winning bid.
Russia is planning major 60th anniversary celebrations next May of its victory in the "Great Patriotic War". Moscow has preferred in the past not to invite the former enemy to such emotion-laden events.
Last year, France, Britain and the United States invited Germany for the first time to attend D-Day anniversary ceremonies.
Schroeder told the news conference at Gottorf Castle, the venue for the 7th round of regular Russian-German talks, he would be honoured to attend an occasion devoted to "remembrance, but not coming to a halt by remembering".
There is something about Putin and Germany. It must be quite a sentimental journey for the man - ah, yes, those were the days: Being "Mr. Stasi," Robotron, sending assets legended as "technicians" and "engineers" westward, duping hippie technogeeks who fear the nanomachines into "partnerships" with current and ex communists, getting a handle on wireless technology and network routers - "those were the DAAAAAAAaaaaays" [in the most nasal Edith Bunker singing voice ..... ].
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