Posted on 07/13/2006 6:58:39 PM PDT by blam
Britain hits back at Russia as G8 tension escalates
By Graeme Wilson
(Filed: 14/07/2006)
Tensions between Tony Blair and Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, over human rights and energy security surfaced yesterday as the Prime Minister prepared to fly out to this weekend's G8 summit in St Petersburg.
Downing Street offered a robust response after Mr Putin criticised Anthony Brenton, Britain's ambassador to Moscow, for interfering in Russia's "internal" affairs by attending an opposition conference.
Mr Putin criticised the ambassador for interfering in domestic affairs
The Prime Minister's spokesman said that Mr Brenton had made clear he was not attempting to intervene in domestic Russian politics.
Asked if Mr Blair had worries about human rights in Putin's Russia, he added: "We have concerns and we have voiced those concerns and expressed concerns about certain aspects of the media."
The spokesman said Mr Blair would raise the issue again in St Petersburg, stressing that Mr Putin had put a discussion about Russia on the summit agenda.
There were also conflicting messages from London and Moscow on the crucial issue of energy security, which is top of Mr Putin's agenda this weekend, when he will host his first summit of the world's most powerful economies.
There is growing concern in Number 10 that the decline in North Sea oil reserves over the next couple of decades will leave Britain dangerously dependent on imported gas from Russia.
The Government responded with an energy review earlier this week that spelt out plans for a new generation of nuclear power stations and an expansion of renewables, including wind, wave and tidal power, to help close the energy gap.
However, a senior Russian official voiced unease about such an approach earlier this week. He argued that Mr Putin believed energy security needed to be built on "interdependence", an approach in which Britain and other EU countries would rely increasingly on Russian gas.
The official criticised those who argued that true energy security depended on each country trying to produce more of its own energy. "Independence means people will behave egotistically," he argued.
However, the Prime Minister's spokesman defended Britain's stance. Asked about the Russian argument on interdependence, he said: "I do not think it's surprising that a supplier wants to maximise supply. But it's not surprising that countries like ourselves look at it from our national interest."
He added that relying on gas would lead to an increase in carbon emissions and worsen global warming. "Part of the reason for nuclear being part of the energy mix is also to do with climate change," he said.
Russia is the true puppet master behind Iran and North Korea. They are using them to get oil prices as high as possible. Destabalize the world and drive those prices skyhigh.
Putin and his Kremlin oil mafia is playing them like a violin.
Putin needs these oil profits to rebuild his military, keep their political party in complete control of Russia for years to come, and use threats of energy cut offs to extort Europe and the US.
Russia - buncha belly kissing has-beens.
Putin is old-line oppressive Russia. And he still shows it when he opens his mouth. The ole KGB commies just cannot stand any visibility on thier competition that reflects on thier traditional totalitarian ways. In fact they don't like any competition at all ---
Russia is the true puppet master behind Iran and North Korea.
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One of the puppet masters -- the ChiComs are the other, and probably moreso with North Korea. The ChiComs are the life blood to that fat, pot-bellied moron -- all they have to do is cut the food and energy and NK freezes over like the Arctic and dies. You can bet the ChiComs were monitoring our radar and surveillance systems after they ordered NK to fire those missles --- IMHO! China took home the door prize in that little ruse.
While they are at it kick France out too and make it the G6!
It's time for Japan to have a real military. Nice guys no more.
Thanks, YOU have validated a strategy that the PENTAGON should follow, we do have options you know.............
You're right.
Bearing in mind that China invests mostly in the military and NK invests only in the military, Japan in time faces one of the 3 options: serfdom, life under US military umbrella or be protected by their own military.
I vote for option 3. Besides, we could use a powerful friend...
Yes, they did get out. Many Russians and Ukranians are now living here in Redmond, WA. A lot came over to work at microsoft and other technology companies. And surprise, surprise, they don't want to move back to Russia and are bringing over their parents and other family members as well.
Perhaps somebody can explain why Russia is part of the G8 in the first place [/sarcasm off]. i seem to recall the only reason they were admitted was because of their moaning and whining about how important they were. Maybe it's time for another Chernobyl.
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