Russia recalls Russian diplomat from Finland

[Happy Times]

Actually i dont think he had any bad intentions, he was just being honest.
Its just that the only way this would fly in Finland, would be the returning of ceded territories. That would show good intentions;)

Russia has recalled home to Moscow a senior diplomat who said that potential Finnish NATO membership would represent a military threat to Russia. The Russian Ambassador has informed the Finnish Foreign Ministry of the recall of Senior Counsellor Vladimir Kozin from the Embassy

The article.

http://www.yle.fi/news/left/id72589.html

Video of the interwiew(in english) that caused the recalling.

http://areena.yle.fi/toista?id=870077

[AVGWarhawk]

Does it seem to me that something is brewing with Russia? Last week, Turkey asked that their ambassadors return. Next thing you know Putin is hanging around talking about Turkey invading Iraq and going after the Kurds. Now they are recalling the ambassdors in Finland? Something is afoot.

[Happy Times]

Does it seem to me that something is brewing with Russia? Last week, Turkey asked that their ambassadors return. Next thing you know Putin is hanging around talking about Turkey invading Iraq and going after the Kurds. Now they are recalling the ambassdors in Finland? Something is afoot.

Check the links, this is just that one diplomat said what all think. I think he likes Finland and knows how hard the guys back in Moscow are. But again, only way Finland will leave NATO co-operation is the returning of the main parts of the ceded territories. And the point that pissed Moscow must be the part when he speculates about Putin staying in power untill 2025. :lol:

[AVGWarhawk]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2007-10-18T144600Z_01_L18369093_RTRUKOC_0_US-SHIELD-RUSSIA-PUTIN.xml



There is a lot of manuevering going on in Russia. Perhaps Finland and NATO are part of some larger plan he has?

It is like a cold war starting over again. Being as the US is parking some missiles in Poland and Finland/NATO relationship is an issue over this?

[Happy Times]

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?type=topNews&storyid=2007-10-18T144600Z_01_L18369093_RTRUKOC_0_US-SHIELD-RUSSIA-PUTIN.xml



There is a lot of manuevering going on in Russia. Perhaps Finland and NATO are part of some larger plan he has?

The plan is to regain as much of their former lands and sphere of interest. Simple. :D
Its just they have to offer more that smiles. If they would be talking about giving back Viborg in Karelia and Petsamo in Kola peninsula with gas and oil rights, we could start signing treaties tomorrow. :rotfl:

[AVGWarhawk]

I see. I'm not up on the happenings in that part of the world. I do have to say that Putin has been very busy in the last weeks. Kind of makes me uneasy. :shifty:

[Happy Times]

I see. I'm not up on the happenings in that part of the world. I do have to say that Putin has been very busy in the last weeks. Kind of makes me uneasy. :shifty:

You are safe, behind a sea and thousands of nukes.:lol: Its the little ones that have be carefull in what choices they make.

[AVGWarhawk]

Very true. I think Russia might be providing the little ones with what it takes to make a nuke. Just an uneasy tension around the world to me. Then again, I have been reading the news again which often makes me depressed anyway. Back to cartoon watching were the living is free and easy :smug:

[Camaero]

Very true. I think Russia might be providing the little ones with what it takes to make a nuke. Just an uneasy tension around the world to me. Then again, I have been reading the news again which often makes me depressed anyway. Back to cartoon watching were the living is free and easy :smug:\

Yeah, I am just never going to watch the news again. Life will be better!:yep:

[U49]

Russia is close to elections... So it seems opportune for the government to steer a "more national course" for the sake of patriotism than it is useful for the country in usual times.
It gets paid in votes (or public opinion if in a dictorship) which mostly is more interesting for any government then trade balance or international affairs.

a little bit to far in this case, but still we can learn, what will happen if you don't keep it under control:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goering#Quotations

So far it seems to work until today..

[SUBMAN1]

I hear you guys. I gave up watching the news too. Too much drama over little crap. I wonder if they are seeing a decline in ratings? We can't be the only one. I still read the news online, but I get to skip over crap that I think is overblown. Watching the news and you are stuck with their hyped up drama on their schedule.

-S

[waste gate]

I hear that Putin is not actually planning to step down, constitution or not. This more aggressive stance my be a calculation to keep the wolves at bay as it were. I mean western criticism for the Putin doctrine, ie constitution and elections be damned. If the Russians are perceived as a powerful force and the memories of the cold war are ignited, perhaps the west won't put up much of a fuss if Putin remains in office. The names change but the politics at the top remains the same in Russia.

Just my thought.

[Skybird]

There is a lot of manuevering going on in Russia. Perhaps Finland and NATO are part of some larger plan he has?

Becoming elected.

[antikristuseke]

Putin has been flexing russias muscles for quite a while now, but i doubt anything serious will come of this. Anyway putin is in his second term in office now so he cant get re elected as far as i know.

[bookworm_020]

Putin has been flexing russias muscles for quite a while now, but i doubt anything serious will come of this. Anyway putin is in his second term in office now so he cant get re elected as far as i know.

For President, he can't continue, but he's planing to run for Prime Minister. The Bloke who will succeed him as President is one of his biggest supporters. What are the chances of him running for president again in a couple of years? It wouldn't be against the Russian Constitution then.

[Skybird]

Putin has been flexing russias muscles for quite a while now, but i doubt anything serious will come of this. Anyway putin is in his second term in office now so he cant get re elected as far as i know.
That is true, but he has spent his time on assuring that obedient vasalls are in place to support him and follow his will - when he has become elected as prime minister of the next government. His title changes, his power does not. You will need to live with Putin for a much time longer.

However, I do not see him to be in full control anymore as he once has been. The secret services of russia are said to be engaged in an "all out war" against each other, and this disopute as well as their power has slowly taking over the real power in russia, it seems. As a matter of fact they have more manpower and are greater in size now as the KGB in the Soviet Union ever has been.

And I start to have doubts that Putin is any longer in full control of the ghosts that he called. It seems to me that much of what he says not only is aiming at pleasing potential voters (I am sure he will get elected), but also is aiming at satisfying and appeasing the rivalling services that compete to bring the economy and the wealth of Russia under their control. They are the only ones that could pose a threat to him.

Putin's merit: he successfully prevented th selling of Russia's key economy to foreign powers, and prevented the rule of the oligarchs that had been on parade under Yeltsin as a result as a too hasty opening of Russian markets to foreign investors. Putin's curse: he only prevented it to see it now falling into the open arms of the secret services and the mighty people in them.

Maybe he has outsmarted himself?! However, you have to count the Russian in again if doing global politics.

[U49]

Anyway putin is in his second term in office now so he cant get re elected as far as i know.

Referencing to the current law, 2007, october, 18th, 23:00 UTC ??? ;) :hmm:

[nikimcbee]

Russia is close to elections... So it seems opportune for the government to steer a "more national course" for the sake of patriotism than it is useful for the country in usual times.
It gets paid in votes (or public opinion if in a dictorship) which mostly is more interesting for any government then trade balance or international affairs.

a little bit to far in this case, but still we can learn, what will happen if you don't keep it under control:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goering#Quotations

So far it seems to work until today..

You're probably right! Putin needs to rattle some sabres to look tough to the old school communist types.:roll:

[The Avon Lady]

Putin isn't doing this just for show.

[Skybird]

Putin isn't doing this just for show.
Yes, and his run for becoming prime ministre illustrates that. In parts, it is election show. In parts it is appeasing the intel services and their lobby. But it also is by conviction - he wants Russia regaining the powerful status that the Soviet Union once had.

Since a majority of Russians support him, and also want a "leading leader", I do not see anything that could stop him. He has strong cards, especially in form of the prospering energy economy and the international customers dependencies on Russian energy ressources. He makes maximum use of this - and how could one blame him for that. We would do it too, so we shall not expect the other to act stupid and in violation of his own interests.

I do not mean to embrace and defend the man fullheartly. All I say is his actions and motivations can be understood. That's why I prefer him to many others: he is predictable on the basis of his interests and motivations. Easier to deal with somebody on that basis, then if not knowing what he is up to, and why. In the end, russia will always be beyond europe's influence and commands. So, better Putin, than something like the old intrigant polit bureau.

[Hakahura]

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