This is totally unexpected for me, but Belarussian authoritarian leader Lukashenko has moments ago just canceled his agreement with Russia on oil transit to Europe. I am expecting an English language article to confirm this. But I am letting you know in advance to get the discussion going.

This is my English translation of what he said:

"Delegation which is participating in the talks, have received from me a direct order: those companies that will offer such prices on transit of oil to Europe, will be slapped with additional customs fees, to compensate our own losses from higher than world market prices.

"We know the weak spots of those who are trying to attack us. We will place tariffs on tractors, fridges, washing machines, television sets and similar goods". LOL ... Haha ...


Russian link:

28.01.2007 19:40 Íîâîñòü

"Ëóêàøåíêî àííóëèðîâàë äîãîâîðåííîñòè ïî òðàíçèòó íåôòè"

http://www.vesti.ru/news.html?id=107150

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

Now I have some Englishs-language article to show for:

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/3...0421252&ref=rss


http://www.sptimesrussia.com/index....&story_id=20196




Here's a very detailed report on the whole issue:

http://www.russiaprofile.org/intern...7/1/23/5076.wbp

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

Good, I hope they tax everything down to Putin's arm hair.

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by Cyrus King i listen to trance becuase it is beautifully composed like a classical piece of music.... but with beats in it...

quote:

Originally posted by Magnetonium I hardly if ever acknowledge sarcasm from a person I dont know because I ran into serious problems on an undisclosed buying website before.

quote:

Originally posted by Dopey Good, I hope they tax everything down to Putin's arm hair.

You're missing the point. It wasnt long ago when you guys were criticising Russia for cutting off oil pumps too Europe because Belarus was stealing oil from the pipeline. But now that Belarus is doing it, I guess you're OK with that ;-). And there's hardly any media frenzy going on, strangely enough.

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

quote:

Originally posted by Magnetonium You're missing the point. It wasnt long ago when you guys were criticising Russia for cutting off oil pumps too Europe because Belarus was stealing oil from the pipeline. But now that Belarus is doing it, I guess you're OK with that ;-). And there's hardly any media frenzy going on, strangely enough.

Because everyone hates the new Russian monarchy. There was so much hope for that country in the early 90s.

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by Cyrus King i listen to trance becuase it is beautifully composed like a classical piece of music.... but with beats in it...

quote:

Originally posted by Magnetonium I hardly if ever acknowledge sarcasm from a person I dont know because I ran into serious problems on an undisclosed buying website before.

quote:

Originally posted by Dopey Because everyone hates the new Russian monarchy. There was so much hope for that country in the early 90s.

Pffft. First of all, Russian monarchy ended in 1917, Einstein. Secondly, human rights violations and totalitarianism is worse in Belarus, according to EU and United Nations.

Also, you had "faith" in Russia? Well, the West was happy that Russia became democratic in 1991, and promised to help us financially, economically to rebuild, and become like an average western european country. It was all lies. You guys fucking ditched us. I lived in Russia in early 1990s, it was miserable. Market economy evapourated millions of Russians' life savings, millions became homeless, and western companies like Shell, McDonalds and others have made profits while poverty, crime, disease, terrible conditions - things got worse. We got no help. Yeltsin played around, gave unlimited freedoms to everyone - corporate assholes, oligarchs and politicans abused their freedoms, stealing, raping the land, having sex orgies, mafia gatherings, drug smuggling ... thats democracy for ya, and the goovernment couldn't crack down because that would be attack on democracy. Well, people eventually decided that enough's enough. Today's Russia looks much better than according to you "the bright days of Russia in 1990s", which were actually the worst disaster in Russian history since 1917. LOL

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

quote:

Originally posted by Magnetonium [COLOR=FF7F50] Pffft. First of all, Russian monarchy ended in 1917, Einstein.

The Putin monarchy, Randall.

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by Cyrus King i listen to trance becuase it is beautifully composed like a classical piece of music.... but with beats in it...

quote:

Originally posted by Magnetonium I hardly if ever acknowledge sarcasm from a person I dont know because I ran into serious problems on an undisclosed buying website before.

quote:

Originally posted by Magnetonium corporate assholes, oligarchs and politicans abused their freedoms, stealing, raping the land, having sex orgies, mafia gatherings, drug smuggling ... thats democracy for ya

Oh yea! I see Bush, Blair and Harper having mad orgies in da hOval Office yo!

The early 90s had hope I said, did I say it was paradise? Obviously King Putin is far superior to any democracy.

___________________

quote:

Originally posted by Cyrus King i listen to trance becuase it is beautifully composed like a classical piece of music.... but with beats in it...

quote:

Originally posted by Magnetonium I hardly if ever acknowledge sarcasm from a person I dont know because I ran into serious problems on an undisclosed buying website before.

quote:

Originally posted by Dopey The Putin monarchy, Randall.

Here's a good lesson for you:

Putin = autocrat:

An autocracy is a form of government in which the political power is held by a single person.

The term autocrat is derived from the Greek word autokratôr (lit. "self-ruler", "ruler of one's self"). Compare with oligarchy (rule by a minority, by a small group) and democracy (rule by the majority, by the people).

Today it is usually seen as synonymous with despot, tyrant and/or dictator, though each of these terms originally had a separate and distinct meaning (see their respective articles).

Autocracy is not synonymous with totalitarianism, as this concept was precisely forged to distinguish modern regimes that appeared in the 1930s from traditional dictatorships. It also isn't synonymous with military dictatorship, as these often take the form of "collective presidencies" (see the South-American juntas). However, an autocracy may be totalitarian or be a military dictatorship. But, it may also be a liberal autocracy governed by an "enlightened despot" who allows a significant amount of individual rights, such as freedom of speech and private property.

The term monarchy differs in that it emphasizes the hereditary characteristic, though some Slavic monarchs (see tsar) traditionally included the title "autocrat" of part of their official styles. The actual power of the monarch may be limited.

The autocrat needs some kind of power structure to rule. Only a boss of a street gang or a barbarian chieftain can truly rule with only his personal charisma and his fighting skills. Most historical autocrats depended on their nobles, the military, the priesthood or others, who could turn against the ruler and depose or murder him. The true nature of a historical autocracy can be difficult to judge.

---According to Wikipedia, also read the fine print: monarchy differs in that it emphasizes the hereditary characteristic. A distinguishing characteristic of most monarchies is that the Monarch usually reigns as Head of State for life; in a republic, the Head of State (often called the president) is normally elected for a certain amount of time. The term monarchy is also used to refer to the people (especially the dynasty, also known as 'royalty') and institutions that make up the royal or imperial establishment, or to the realm over which the monarch reigns.

.

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

quote:

Originally posted by Dopey Oh yea! I see Bush, Blair and Harper having mad orgies in da hOval Office yo! The early 90s had hope I said, did I say it was paradise? Obviously King Putin is far superior to any democracy.

Unlike in early 1990s, when no politician would protect your constitutional rights and mafia ruled the country, today in Putin's Russia government officials are on a leash to make sure they abide the constitution and provide all necessary freedoms and rights according to the law. And thats the truth. Though not all officials are following the Russian Constitution. Go read it for yourself!

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

Here, Dopey Popey, I felt like giving you another lesson cause you know so little of Russia, and guess what - in Russia Constitution is the law of the land. Judges and law enforcement officials abide by it, to provide citizens their rights and protections. Here are some quotes coourtesy of Wikipedia:

Main sections (whoa, eh????)

Fundamentals of the Constitutional System
Rights and Liberties of Man and Citizen
Russian Federation
President of the Russian Federation
Federal Assembly
Government of the Russian Federation
Judiciary
Local Self-Government
Constitutional Amendments and Revisions

"We, the multinational people of the Russian Federation, united by a common fate on our land, establishing human rights and freedoms, civic peace and accord, preserving the historically established state unity, proceeding from the universally recognized principles of equality and self-determination of peoples, revering the memory of ancestors who have conveyed to us the love for the Fatherland, belief in the good and justice, reviving the sovereign statehood of Russia and asserting the firmness of its democratic basic, striving to ensure the well-being and prosperity of Russia, proceeding from the responsibility for our Fatherland before the present and future generations, recognizing ourselves as part of the world community, adopt the Constitution of the Russian Federation."

Since its adoption in a 1993 referendum the Russian Constitution is considered to be the supreme law of the land. Article 15 of the Constitution reads that it “shall have supreme legal force and have direct effect, and shall be applicable throughout the entire territory of the Russian federation.” Courts are guided by the Constitution and it trumps federal and local laws.

The President has power to issue normative and non-normative decrees, provided they don’t contravene the constitution. Parliament has since placed restrictions on this power, so presidential decrees also may not contravene the Civil Code. Government may also issue directives having “normative” character and that contain rules of the civil law.


And assholes from the West like you Dopey PREVENT Putin from cracking down to enforce the Constitutional laws because Yeltsin's era of bullshit created many problems and many corrupt politicians to the country that Putin's still trying to fix.

Look in 6 years Putin rebuilt Russian economy, industry, financial standings. And you think he is bad. He improved Russia on almost every single standing in Russia. He strengthed Russia. But there's still a lot of work to be done.

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

Here, idiot, read the Russian Constitution.

http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/articles/ConstMain.shtml

Now figure out whats stopping Putin from making sure government officials and law enforcement agencies are following it. Its one of the best dam Constitutions in the world. But you dont know dick.

Putin granted self-governance. Putin refused to change constitution to give himself the third term (under constitution he's only allowed maximum of 2). Fuck, man, if he was a dictator he'd easily stay for a lifetime.

___________________
Whenever you go and buy something, you are affecting someone somewhere, be it environment, a person, or a community - you're making a statement with what you buy. So make it a smart choice ... Its a big picture

Last edited by Magnetonium on Jan-31-2007 at 03:56