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".