Posted on 05/25/2006 2:25:39 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia wants good relations with the United States but he objected vigorously to Vice President Dick Cheney's recent criticism of democratic backtracking by the Kremlin.
"We see how the United States defends its interests, we see what methods and means they use for this," Putin said at a news conference following a summit meeting of Russia and the European Union in his most direct criticism of Cheney's remarks.
In a speech earlier this month in Lithuania, Cheney accused the Kremlin of rolling back democracy and strong-arming its ex-Soviet neighbors.
"When we fight for our interests, we also look for the most acceptable methods to accomplish our national tasks, and I find it strange that this seems inexplicable to someone," Putin said, replying to a reporter's request for his reaction to the vice president's remarks.
Even before Cheney's speech, Russian-U.S. relations had been on a steady downward slide. Last month, Putin claimed the United States had put up artificial obstacles to slow Russia's entry into the World Trade Organization, and the Pentagon accused Moscow of giving intelligence on U.S. troop movements in Iraq to Saddam Hussein in 2003.
The crisis around Iran's nuclear program has seen the two countries, which proclaimed themselves "strategic partners" just a few years ago, firmly in opposing camps.
Putin said that despite the friction, the United States remains "one of our major partners."
But he suggested no nation had the right to interfere in Russia's relations with third countries.
"As far as the view of our relations with other countries, we will discuss our relations with them directly," Putin said icily.
The growing rift with Washington threatens to mar the summit of the Group of Eight leading industrialized nations in St. Petersburg in July.
Speaking of U.S. criticism of a hard-fought Russian-Ukrainian gas deal, which many Ukrainian politicians and the U.S. government have objected to as putting the two sides on unequal terms, Putin asked: "How can leaders of other states say it is bad for the Ukrainians?"
"I don't understand if this criticism is addressed to us or the Ukrainian leadership. But you should ask those who make these comments."
Putin and European Union leaders agreed their countries had common interests in easing their dispute over energy supplies and markets, but acknowledged differences.
"We are aware of our common interests," European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso said at the final press conference. "What we want is a relationship based on ... the principle of interdependence."
The energy disputes have hung over the relationship since January, when a brief disruption in Russian gas supplies to Western Europe amid a price dispute with Ukraine tarnished Russia's reputation as a reliable supplier and encouraged the EU to intensify a search for alternative supply routes.
"We are as interested as Russia to avoid further misunderstandings," said Austrian Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, whose country currently holds the EU presidency.
But Barroso said there were still "sensitivities" that needed to be addressed.
"This is not at all, I want to underline this on our side, a problem of lack of trust in Russia as a credible supplier, as Russia has always been," he said. "But there are some sensitivities, it is true."
He said the sensitivities included the way public opinion in the EU reacted to the problems between Russia and Ukraine earlier this year.
Putin tried to assure his EU partners that China was no substitute for Europe as a market for Russia's oil and gas although Russia was developing markets for its energy resources.
"China is not an alternative to Europe for energy supplies," Putin told a news conference following the Russia-EU summit.
The New Year's shutdown, which was followed by gas shortages amid a harsh winter, came as Russia declared energy security to be a top priority of its leadership this year of the G-8.
European fears of excessive energy reliance on Russia, which supplies a quarter of Europe's gas and is its second-biggest supplier of oil, increased further amid talk that Russia's state-controlled natural gas giant, Gazprom, was considering acquiring Britain's largest gas distributor and negotiating similar deals in other EU nations.
Posted by Romanov to spanalot
On News/Activism 05/26/2006 6:22:46 PM EDT · 11 of 11
PPC duplicity alert:
""" Posted by spanalot to Romanov
On News/Activism 05/08/2006 2:38:00 PM EDT · 316 of 520
...
I was born in the US and have never left."
Tonight's claim:
"And I was interrogated in the USSR when we left our tour group to visit my relatives outside the city limits. My parents escaped the clutches of the Russians in 1938."
Which is it? FRAUD.
Once a lying communist always a lying communist.
And since you're oh so slow on the uptake and even though you've been told several times about the interviews. Read about it for yourself:
http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/sovietunion/vietnam_working.htm
Pay particular attention to the last paragraph and the numbers and locations of interviews.
"(yawn)"
Yep - typical for you.
Here's the math for you =
The Claim:
Spanalot claims to be a fierce anti-communist and those who disagree with him are "traitors."
The Reality:
1. Spanalot besmirches American vets who served during the Cold War to defeat Communism. One of them, GarySpFc, is a man who FOUGHT the communists face-to-face.
2. Spanalot's "battle" with Communism? Goes on a tourist trip to the Soviet Union in the midst of the Cold War thus supporting an enterprise (tourism) that provided Soviets with much needed foreign hard currency to keep their corrupt regime going.
I'm still trying to cipher through how someone (Comrade Spinalot -Komsomolets)claims his parents "escaped" or were placed in the GULag but yet saw fit to allow him to pay homage to the Soviet Union by going on a tour during the years when they were threatening our very existence.
You are a FRAUD. Commie.
"European fears of excessive energy reliance on Russia, which supplies a quarter of Europe's gas and is its second-biggest supplier of oil, increased further amid talk that Russia's state-controlled natural gas giant, Gazprom, was considering acquiring Britain's largest gas distributor and negotiating similar deals in other EU nations."
If Britain is smart they should block this effort. I'm all for free-trading, however, if Gazprom is not available to be bid for by foreign entities they should not be allowed to bid for foreign companies. Free-but-Fair trade (And not the "Fair trade" the eco-weenies are yammering about).
"After a row of negotiations during 2005, Niyazov said in November that Turkmenistan would sell its gas to all buyers at $60 per 1,000 cubic meters starting from 1 January.
A highpoint in the Turkmen-Ukraine relationship came when Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko said in late December that -- under the deal reached with Ashgabat -- Turkmenistan would supply Ukraine with 40 billion cubic meters of gas at $50 per 1,000 cubic meters. He said deliveries would start in January."
Bahahahaahaha - for someone to "eat crow" you would have to find some to serve. You have failed in that endeavor. Read what RusIvan said - you actually prove his point: When Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko "said" - that's hardly a "contract" or proof thereof.
Of course communists like you are quick to lie and dissemble.
LOL!!
that's so funny!
"After a row of negotiations during 2005, Niyazov said in November that Turkmenistan would sell its gas to all buyers at $60 per 1,000 cubic meters starting from 1 January.==
"Niyazov said"?:) Is it you prove? I ask you show the papers or just answer me WHY on earth the ukranian goverment is just bla-bla-ing but do not show no paper contract which supports thier blaberings?
Maybe besides of some Niazov sayings on publics they has nothing:). You know his sayings is not contract with which you can go to court:). SO I congradulate you limbless.
Why not we bombed Christians on behalf of Mulim Kosovars.
High point.
As in you'd have to be high to deal with a nation for whom 'bumming some cash and never paying it back' is public policy.
Folks lending to Yushchenko should insist he bring the vasoiline or at least buy them dinner first.
Where were you on Jan 1?
You obviously had no acess to the news that Putie shut off the gas to Ukraine (that Ukraine bought from Turkmenistan).
""I was born in the US and have never left." "
"Tonight's claim:
"And I was interrogated in the USSR when we left our tour group to visit my relatives outside the city limits. My parents escaped the clutches of the Russians in 1938."
Which is it? FRAUD. "
--
I'll type real slow so you can understand it.
Contrary to your rants, I am an American , born in America and never left it.
Does that mean I have never travelled ? Does putting teats on a bull make it a cow?
No!
I have been to all the countries I would care to see and there is no place like the USA.
You on the other hand have spent years living in Russia and by the tenor of your posts, it seems you miss it.
Go Back - do us a favor - and take your wives, too.
"Goes on a tourist trip to the Soviet Union in the midst of the Cold War thus supporting an enterprise (tourism) that provided Soviets with much needed foreign hard currency to keep their corrupt regime going."
Your tactics are laughable. Reminds me of a six year old.
We went to Russia so we could see aunts and uncles and cousins who were not as fortunate to escape the Iron Curtain as did my parents. It was my first time seeing them and it was the first for my parents in over 3 decades.
I'll NEVER go back.
"As in you'd have to be high to deal with a nation for whom 'bumming some cash and never paying it back' is public policy. "
Oh - do you mean the Russian pratice of periodically sucking all the grain out of Ukraine and starving millions?
http://www.lietuvos.net/istorija/communism/
"Your tactics are laughable. Reminds me of a six year old.
We went to Russia so we could see aunts and uncles and cousins who were not as fortunate to escape the Iron Curtain as did my parents. It was my first time seeing them and it was the first for my parents in over 3 decades.
I'll NEVER go back. "
My tactics are sound. YOU ARE A HYPOCRITE. By traveling to the Soviet Union under Communism YOU supported the COMMUNIST regime. FULL STOP. You did more to ensure your so-called "relatives" (or handlers???) had their enslavement extended. Foreign tourism, such as you engaged in, was a huge source of the much needed hard currency for this criminal regime. The money you spent in the Soviet Union went straight into the Communist Party coffers. Only an idiot wouldn't realize this. Furthermore, you are a fraud because if you're parents "had escaped" the clutches as you claim they would know quite well that tourism is a form of regime support.
What's next for your vacation plans? Cuba? North Korea.
Commie.
"I'll type real slow so you can understand it.
Contrary to your rants, I am an American , born in America and never left it.
Does that mean I have never travelled ? Does putting teats on a bull make it a cow?
No!
I have been to all the countries I would care to see and there is no place like the USA.
You on the other hand have spent years living in Russia and by the tenor of your posts, it seems you miss it.
Go Back - do us a favor - and take your wives, too."
You LEFT the US. "Never Left" means you didn't break the plane of the national borders. Try again.
Furthermore Comrade Spinalot. I was on US MILITARY ORDERS to go to the former Soviet Union. To refuse those orders was out of the question as that would be a crime. I was recruited and trained to be a Russian specialist and, as such, was sent there to further US goals in the region. Something you wouldn't understand because you've refused to do anything for your country. In fact, you showed more support to the COMMUNISTS by providing them with hard currency tourism dollars during the 70s?!?! Criminal.
And as far as "going back" - perhaps you should go back. You're heart is squarely in the Ukrainian nationalist camp - that RED-BROWN coalition. IT fits perfect with your stated history of supporting communist regimes by "sight-seeing."
Commie Fraud.
"We went to Russia so we could see aunts and uncles and cousins who were not as fortunate to escape the Iron Curtain as did my parents. It was my first time seeing them and it was the first for my parents in over 3 decades"
My oh My oh My! This is the closest to a "confession" as I've ever read from you. You probably don't even realize why it's a "confession."
Here's the glaring inconsistency with your (ever changing) claims. You claim your parents fled the Iron Curtain. And now you're stating they accompanied you on a trip to the Soviet Union. Here's the problem, Comrade Spinalot. The Soviets REFUSED to issue visas to people who escaped their criminal regime. That's right REFUSED to issue visas with ONE EXCEPTION, here's the kicker, now read carefully: Visas were refused to those who escaped or defected because they were considered "enemies of the people." However, if the so-called "escapees" or "defectors" were later deemed "Soviet Friendly" they were allowed to return for a visit. So, let's see. Your parents "escaped" but were later allowed to go for a visit. ALL DURING the SOVIET UNION's existence. Hmmm.. I think you might be leaving something crucial out of your little tale - COMRADE.
Let's take for example several of my teachers who have the same sort of background you "claim" your parents have. One teacher's mother was dying. He applied for a visa to return to see her one last time. Decision - REFUSED. He was an enemy of the state for fleeing the Iron Curtain.
Another teacher wanted to visit Kazakhstan to see his son get married. Decision- REFUSED: He was an enemy of the state for fleeing the Iron Curtain.
The Flip Side: Lefties who left the Soviet Union - allowed to travel frequently. STalin's daughter - VISA issued. Fellow Travelers of Russian/Ukrainian/Jewish etc origin - VISAS Issued.
You got some 'splaining to do.
What's your REAL mission in the States? Comrade.
"..that RED-BROWN coalition. IT fits perfect with your stated history of supporting communist regimes by "sight-seeing."
Commie Fraud."
Make up your mind - are you accusing me of being a fascist or a communist (tho there really is little difference between any of these and the "new" Russia)
But I have gleaned something else from these recent posts. It appears a new tactic is to flame authenitic posters so that the admin is called in - at which point the antiPutie post is relegated to the smokey back room.
Nice Try.
"Make up your mind - are you accusing me of being a fascist or a communist (tho there really is little difference between any of these and the "new" Russia) "
RED-BROWN coalition - do the math.
I could care less where a thread ends up. So, that point, as far as I'm concerned is not valid.
You never did answer how you and your parents were allowed to travel to the Soviet Union but yet you claim "they fled" the Russians. It doesn't work that way, and you know it.
The hard currency you brought into the Soviet Union during your trip there helped prop up the corrupt regime. Fellow traveler.
You're attacking a poster's parents? Judging them when you know nothing about them? At a time when history clearly suggests that the chances are they suffered an awful lot?
Pathetic. And very, very low.
"You're attacking a poster's parents? Judging them when you know nothing about them? At a time when history clearly suggests that the chances are they suffered an awful lot?"
I suggest you go back and review the origins of this discussion - and take note of spanalot's disparaging remarks about my wife, other poster's wives, children, etc., based on their ethnicity. Said poster also brought is parents into it by making several claims later refuted and disproven.
"Here's the glaring inconsistency with your (ever changing) claims"
Nice Try but there is no tangled web.
My parents are Ukrainian.
When they were born it was Austro Hungary.
When they escaped the invasion of the Russians, it was still Poland (but not for long).
See, its easy to be consistent when one never lies.
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