Posted on 12/01/2006 1:12:51 PM PST by Swiftsure
PUTIN FAILS TO ATTEND CHIRAC BIRTHDAY BASH-
The daily "Moskovsky komsomolets" on November 30 noted an unsuccessful attempt by French President Jacques Chirac to invite Russian President Putin to celebrate Chirac's 74th birthday in Riga on November 28 after the summit. "The Washington Post" and some other Western media on November 30 described the move as a ham-fisted effort by Chirac to "upstage" NATO, U.S. President George W. Bush, and the Latvian authorities. After Latvian President Vaira Vike-Freiberga reportedly let it be known that Putin was welcome provided his visit included a bilateral meeting with her, Putin informed Chirac that he had no time to go to Riga, the U.S. daily noted. German Chancellor Angela Merkel also declined Chirac's invitation to join the party, saying she had to attend a cabinet meeting in Berlin (see "RFE/RL Newsline," September 21, 2006). In the end, Chirac celebrated with a cake from Vike-Freiberga. PM
(Excerpt) Read more at rferl.org ...
and may be going to prison for your retirement
I didn't realize they did birthdays in France. I like that: "Euro-Weenie"
You know, I think that there is some type of backdoor deal alreadt planned for this weasel.
It might explain a lot...
Vaira, the Iron Lady of Latvia (isn't that what Bush called her?), is starting to remind me more and more of Margaret Thatcher! It seems that she has more testosterone than all the Euroweenies put together.
I can't take credit for that Froufrou, I believe that it was P.J. O'Rourke who first coined the phrase "Euro-Weenie" in the mid-80's in his -- both insightful as well as illuminating -- article entitled "Amongst the Euro-Weenies".
Yes, I was impressed by those photos of her with Bush. A woman of character, by the looks of her.
No Russian leader has set foot in any of the Baltic states since they became independent from the Soviet Union in 1991. A senior Nato source said the Latvian president, who was twice denied a visa to visit Russia, had hesitated over granting a visa to the Russian leader. Latvian Foreign Ministry spokesman Atis Lots told Reuters: “I can’t comment on that because there is no confirmation that this visit was ever to take place. So I have no specific information on the visa issue.” But he added: “Why should we deny a visa for the Russian president? I don’t think that’s the case.” Dining with Putin in Riga would have been a final snub to Nato by a departing Chirac, widely expected to stand down next year after 12 years in office, the Nato source said. The former communist central European countries that are now in the European Union and Nato view with deep suspicion French and German efforts to cut deals with Moscow over their heads. - LINK
Okay, who really cares about Chiracs birthday? I don't, and if you do there is something wrong with you. He is nothing but a second rate French fool. Put your stakes on a winner instead. Does Chirac really know how irrelevant he actually is?
Russia swallowed up part of Finland in the Winter War and never disgorged it. They also swallowed up part of Poland, moving Poland eastward and giving them part of Germany.
There has always been a real danger that the Baltic states would simply be incorporated into Russia and vanish forever.
Stalin treated Latvia much as Communist China has treated Tibet: exiling large number of the population to Siberia and moving Russians in to take their place. It's no wonder that diplomatic relations are cool. There are still substantial numbers of Russians living in the Baltic states, and it's unclear where their loyalties lie. Or rather it's too clear in many cases.
Von Ribbentrop Pact II??
The novel "Poland" by Mitchener reminds us of just how tough the Baltic and Polish women have always been as their men have been forced by imperial forces to go and fight their wars leaving the women behind to raise and inculturate the children.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.