JRL Table of Contents :: Johnson’s Russia List 2012-#162 – 7 September 2012

Map of Russia

Johnson’s Russia List
2012-#162
7 September 2012
davidjohnson@starpower.net
A World Security Institute Project
www.worldsecurityinstitute.org
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In this issue

POLITICS

1. Vedomosti: WESTERN WAYS ARE NOT MANDATORY. Vladimir Putin’s interview to the ‘Russia Today’ TV Channel is to show his confidence in the face of the West.
2. ITAR-TASS: RUSSIAN PRESS REVIEW. Vladimir Putin gave his first interview after the presidential inauguration.
3. Interfax: Russian Opposition Figures Comment On Putin’s TV Interview.
4. Moscow Times: Leadership 101: Learning to Talk Like Putin.
5. Interfax: Putin Admits Piloting of Fighter Jet Easier Than Hang-gliding.
6. RIA Novosti: Spokesman Peskov Bewildered By Online Reaction To Putin’s Hang Glider Flight.
7. RIA Novosti: U.S. Praises Putin’s Participation in Crane Saving Project.
8. Business New Europe: Evgeny Gavrilenkov, Russia electorate’s priorities are changing.
9. Moscow Times/BBC Monitoring: What the Papers Say, Sept. 7, 2012.
10. Svobodnaya Pressa: Russian Expert Sees Signs of Impending ‘Major Conflict’ in Caucasus. (Aleksandr Khramchikhin)
11. RIA Novosti: Playing with Religion in Russia Dangerous – Putin Spokesman.
12. ITAR-TASS: Scandals continue bedeviling Russian Orthodox Church.
13. RFE/RL: Who Is Chopping Down Russia’s Crosses?
14. Interfax: Preliminary Probe in Politkovskaya Case Over – Spokesman.
15. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Lev Lyubimov, How to improve Russia’s secondary education.
16. Moscow Times: John Freedman, New Beginnings Bode Well for Theater Season.
17. BBC Monitoring: Film maker says spoof documentaries mock Russia’s TV ‘zombies’
18. Valdai Discussion Club: Geoffrey Hosking, Russia and the Napoleonic War

ECONOMY

19. Reuters: Russia’s Putin warns on global economy, looks east.
20. Izvestia: The Ministry of Finance is going to deprive the deputies of the state Duma of the right to interfere in the budget.
21. Interfax: Shuvalov: Russia must join OECD as soon as possible.
22. Reuters: Exxon CEO says Russia deal a model for the rest.
23. Wall Street Journal: Russia Wants to Steer Clear of ‘Gas War’
24. Bloomberg: Putin Looks East for Growth as Indebted Europe Loses Sheen.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

25. Vedomosti editorial: VALVE IN THE EAST. The APEC Summit will be an impetus for the development of the Russian Far East.
26. The Economist: Russia’s Far East. A bridge to Asia? The country’s far-flung eastern territories need more than big projects to thrive.
27. www.russiatoday.com: Key change in ballad of East versus West.
28. Nezavisimaya Gazeta: MOSCOW HAS NAMED THE TERMS OF SETTLEMENT IN SYRIA. The U.S. and allies are at risk of repeating the mistakes made in Afghanistan.
29. Christian Science Monitor: Russian nuclear support for Iran limited by distrust. Russia has trained hundreds of Iranian nuclear scientists and blocked international action against Tehran. But beneath the surface, there is profound distrust.
30. RIA Novosti: Russian Officials See Little Flexibility for Obama in Second Term.
31. Interfax: Peskov: No confrontation will hopefully show in Russia-U.S. relations whoever wins U.S. elections.
32. Interfax: Kremlin Aide Previews Meeting Between Russian President, US Secretary Of State.
33. Interfax: Washington faces missile defense dilemma – Russian diplomat.
34. Interfax: Russia Will Not Make Unilateral Nuclear Arms Cuts – Ryabkov.
35. Interfax: NATO shirks suppression of Afghan drugs on purpose – Putin.
36. Reuters: Romney backs Russia trade bill only with human rights added.
37. Interfax: Moscow hopeful of eventual visa-free travel to U.S.
38. Moscow Times: Under New Visas, Mind the Fine Print.
39. Russia Beyond the Headlines: Russian digital diplomacy: clicking through. In recent years it often looks like diplomacy has moved from the “smoke filled rooms” of international gatherings to the touchpad screens ­ so much has been said about the new dimension of public diplomacy labelled e-diplomacy, twiplomacy, etc.
40. www.atlantic-community.org: John Taylor, Redefining the West’s Relations with Russia.
41. Kommersant: USA’s Increased Activity in Asia-Pacific Region ‘Aimed Against China’
42. Interfax: Georgia Has NATO as a Friend – Rasmussen.

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