Russia: Events in Near Abroad Take Center Stage
Russian newspapers are commenting on a wide variety of topics, with the effects of the financial crisis and events in its near-abroad taking center stage.
One of the more important stories over the past week is the difference of opinion between Russian and American presidents over what Ukraine calls "Holodomor," an artificially induced famine by the Soviet government in 1932-33 that killed millions of Ukrainians (and millions of other people across the Soviet Union). The famine's title is a Ukrainian word made up of "Holocaust" and "mor," or famine. Russian daily Dni.ru reported that President George W. Bush addressed Ukrainian people marking the 75th anniversary of the event, stating "solidarity of the United States with the Ukrainian people seeking to remember millions who perished when Stalin's regime created an artificial famine. ... The people of Ukraine are participating in advancing freedom across the world and America is proud to call Ukraine its friend."
The famine of 1932-33 created a huge row between Ukraine and Russia because Moscow refuses to accept blame for the events from seven decades ago, stating that it was the crime of the Communist regime at that time, that millions of other victims of Stalin's brutality perished across Soviet Union in regions besides Ukraine. Moscow therefore refuses to see the Ukraine "Holodomor" as Ukraine sees it - a pre-determined action emanating from Moscow intended to destroy Ukrainian people.
The paper quoted Russian President Medvedev's letter to Ukrainian President Yuschenko: "... Kiev's stance on this famine is meant to sow differences between our countries. ... It is time to look for collective approaches to this issue. The tragic events of the 1930s are being used, in our opinion, in order to achieve short-term political gains." Medvedev is further quoted as saying that "those who are using 'Holodomor' are not interested in scientific and historic data. They misstate facts and falsify victims' numbers. ... To say that there was a predetermined goal to destroy the Ukrainian people is to misstate facts and those who do it seek to create a nationalist subtext for the overall tragedy. ... The actions of Ukrainian leadership are meant to divide (Russian and Ukrainian) our people, united by centuries of cultural, historic and spiritual connections."
Dni reported that Georgian opposition has addressed Georgian people with the calls for President Saakashvili's resignation. The opposition also wants to try American politicians who "brought Saakashvili to power and supported him for the past five years." The opposition hopes that "arrival of Obama would mean the departure of Saakashvili," whom the opposition blames for worsening economic and political situation in the country. At present, Moscow considers Georgian leadership fully responsible for the August 2008 war in the breakaway region of South Ossetia that brought Russian military deep inside Georgian territory.
Daily Gazeta.ru commented on the recent speech by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin at the annual meeting of the country's largest party, "Ediniaya Rossiya." (United Russia) Putin addressed the party delegates in his new role as "the slayer of crisis," referring to the effects of the current global financial crisis on the Russian economy and society. The paper commented that the "tandem democracy" in Russia became more clear, "with President Medvedev controlling the institutions of power, while Prime Minister Putin controls the finances." The paper argues that Putin's speech to the party and the Russian people underscores the fact that the financial crisis is now directly affecting the country, and that government must do everything it can not to repeat the economic collapse and shocks of the 1990s. The paper further states that Putin's always-high popularity ranking among Russian people will remain high, and may even rise now that Putin has pledged to fight the effects of the global crisis.
Daily Vremya Novostei reported on one of Putin's acts to combat the crisis - Russian income tax will be lowered by 4%, quoting Putin's address to the party delegates: "That means that 400 billion rubbles will remain with the companies and industries and will continue to circulate in the economy."
Daily Izvestia published an interview with Duma Deputy Sergey Markov about the results of the recent G20 economic summit. Markov talked about the "rescue models" for the re-launch of the global economy, stating that US will either accept large-scale investments from China and Muslim countries, or that new "alternative capitalism " models will be explored by a working group proposed by French President Sarkozy. According to Markov, "Russia risks to be on the periphery of these discussions. Its position is right so far - greater cooperation, multipolarity of global centers, greater amount of reserves. Most importantly, we should depend less and less on the US economy." He further stated that "it is important for Russia to change its (economic) ideological orientation and to propose global solutions."
