Posted on 09/20/2005 3:52:14 AM PDT by .cnI redruM
Russia's major oil producers agreed Monday to freeze their gasoline prices in the country until the end of the year, the Interfax news agency said, citing the Industry and Energy Ministry.
The oil companies made the decision at a meeting with Industry and Energy Minister Viktor Khristenko, Interfax quoted ministry spokesman Stas Naumov as saying. The ministry could not immediately be contacted Monday.
"The result of the meeting was a voluntary decision by the management of Russia's largest companies; prices won't rise any further on the domestic market until the end of the year," the official said, according to Interfax.
Surging oil prices worldwide have boosted the cost of gasoline in Russia, the world's second-largest oil exporter after Saudi Arabia, provoking criticism from Kremlin-loyal politicians. Gas prices rose by a ruble in the space of a week as of Tuesday, to 18 rubles ($0.63) per liter (0.26 gallon).
The biggest Russian crude oil producer, Lukoil, announced a unilateral cap on gasoline prices Monday with immediate effect. Another major oil company, TNK-BP, which is a 50-percent joint venture with British oil giant BP, declined to confirm the price freeze, but said it would make an announcement Tuesday.
"We support the government's efforts to ease up tensions on the fuel market," TNK-BP spokeswoman Marina Dracheva told The Associated Press.
In a statement, Lukoil blamed high mineral-resource taxes that are pegged to world prices, as well as under-investment in domestic refineries.
On small scale, especially in the border areas. Still Russia provides oil/gasoline at significantly lower prices to Ukraine, Georgia and other "democratized" states. But when the price is raised a little Russia is being condemned.
This genocide is only in your mind. Soviet Union it was one gigantic genocide for its citizens ( What is obvious, most of responsibility for that is on the Russian side. ). Georgians protected Ossetians from the Mongol invaders. Now South Ossetia is controlled by Russian gang loyal to Kremlin and only official language is Russian (No Ossetian!) These territories are for the Georgians like Kosovo for the Serbs!
Similar situation with Abkhazia, the Georgians protected them from Ottoman invaders. Despite that they have two official languages they are using only Russian. Another Russian gang control these lands. You basically are on the same side with Chechen terrorist Shamil Basaev who fought in Abkhazia. But that fact doesn't bother you I suppose.
They want to change it. Now the only preferences will goes to Kremlin communist buddy Lukashenko. But it is nothing for free, in exchange these countries must agree to be controlled by pro-Russian oligarchic mafia.
Are you saying that Russia has duty to provide oil below market price to the countries which want to be allied with Russia's competitors? Why do you apply higher moral standards to Russia than to the others countries? You must have very elevated view of Russia without realizing it.
Of course NO, I hope that will stop to do it and get back their mafia to their homeland. My point is that communist Belarus will be the only with special treatment. That fact says everything about the intentions of Kremlin.
“Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.”
If Russia sees Belarus as a loyal ally, what is strange or malicious in providing support and favored deals?
Nothing! “Show me your friends and I will tell you who you are.”
Ok. Pakistan, Turkmenistan :)
Chechens?
Good point with Turkmenistan. Turkmenbasha maybe is not a friend all Russians but he has still strong relationship with Kremlin. Based on gas of course, so strong that Putin sold out own compatriots in Turkmenistan. (and he dare to complain that Baltic states mistreating Russian minority, what a hypocrisy…)
You want yto tell me that the Chechens are your friends? From which fraction may I know, cause they are strongly divided?
jb6 didn't like it too much when the Serbs were blamed for "genocide" and "ethnic cleansing" but he won't hesitate to employ the very same smear against the Orthodox Christian Georgians.
OH, the Mongol invasions, why that was like last decade, right? Or do you mean things changed over a period of 700 years? Oh you couldn't mean that.
As for the genocide and ethnic cleansing only someone in total denial would voice your call....the proof is everywhere, do a google search. The S.Ossessians want to reunify with the N.Ossessians...now imagine that. To compare this with the Serbs only works in your case if you are defending the Albanians, which I believe on one thread you were.
Nixon should have been impeached for that, not for Watergate.
Ehh?? Which Georgians would that be since there were 3 Georgian kingdoms at that time and all were conquered by the Turks. The Abkhazians weren't rid of the Turks until the Russians arrived. Gads, you're one huge revisionist. Another trait to add to your infamey. Keep it up and I'll embarress you just like I did Koz. and the other revisionists.
Keep your lies back! Source: Abkhazia
In the 16th century the area was conquered by the Ottoman Empire, during which the Abkhazians partially converted to Islam. The Ottomans were pushed out by the Georgians, who established an autonomous Principality of Abkhazia (Abkhazetis Samtavro in Georgian) ruled by the Sharvashidze dynasty.
As for the genocide and ethnic cleansing only someone in total denial would voice your call....the proof is everywhere, do a google search. The S.Ossessians want to reunify with the N.Ossessians...now imagine that.
I remember very well that around 300K of Georgians were expelled from Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
To compare this with the Serbs only works in your case if you are defending the Albanians, which I believe on one thread you were.
No, international standards must be the same. This is historically Georgian land still with significant Georgian minority. That is exactly the same thing like in Serbia. Both Abkhazia and South Ossetia have still significant Muslim minority, mostly because they ethnically close to the Iranians and the Turks.
The S.Ossessians want to reunify with the N.Ossessians...now imagine that.
So they must ask Russia wherever they agree North Ossetia to join Georgia. Simple isn’t it?
Wouldn't have anything to do with the fact that 1. they russianized 150 years ago 2. 90% are Russian citizens and 3. Georgians tried to cleanse them from their lands to mysteriously they don't want to speak Georgian. Hell, you might as well tell the Ukrainians that they should be speaking Polish.
And yet the Russians were supporting the Republicans in Moldova over the EU backed communists who cheated their way to reelections.
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