Putin & Castro are allies!!!

[ILay]

2 Ronald Barbour:

Dear Ronald,
I kindly ask you not to post insulting and provocative messages.

Especially basing on nationality, citizenship, age, gender or social position of your counterparts.

Your expression "Russia is in deep doo-doo" is insulting those living in this country and reading this board. It's also a provocative expression. So I kindly ask you to edit your message (put' for example - "Russia has great problems").

Or I will have to do it myself.

[ILay]

Dear Vavilen
and dear B.Ungaro,

Even taking into consideration the provocative manner which mr. Barbour was using, I kindly ask you to edit your postings and not use the insulting words like 'Idiot' in the future.

We already saw how many left the board just due to the exchange of insults. And I do believe that most of the members are here not for the reason of insulting each other but to exchange ideas and information.

Thank you in advance for understanding.

[ILay]

2 Ronbo:

regarding the exchange rate of Ruble:

in accordance with the London Banking Institute report of Sep-2000

the exchange rate by the purchasing parity for Ruble compared to USD should be
5 RUR = 1 USD.

The exchange rate of 28 RUR = 1 USD is maintained to support export companies and bring the non-tariff barriers for imports of goods having the substitutes in Russia.

It's difficult to evaluate the Russian economy and capitalization of Russian companies. But:

In year 1999 there was a research held by UNCTAD on Foreign Direct Investments.
Only one Russian company applied.
Here is what was written:
(Chapter 1 - The largest Transnational Corporations and Corporate Strategies)


...
quote

As only one firm from the Russian Federation responded to the survey - Lukoil Oil Company - the list does not include TNCs from that country...
Data for Lukoil confirm that the leading Russian TNCs are likely to be significantly bigger in size than the largest TNCs from Central Europe. Its 1997 level of foreign assets (at 1,5$ billion) is equivalent to that of the 24th company of the list of the top 50 TNCs from developing countries.

In 1998 ... foreign assets rose by almost 50 per cent to $2,3 billion. Foreign sales swelled by no less than 400 per cent, foreign employment soared by 400 per cent. As a result, Lukoil leads over all Central European firms in terms of foreign sales and foreign employment, and its transnationality index bounced from less than 6 per cent to more than 23 per cent.

The development of Lokoil may indicate the capacity of some Russian firms to switch from domestic to foreign markets - a trend not reflected in statistics on total outward FDI, which showed a sharp contraction in 1998 FDI outflows
unquote
...

Please take into consideration that such huge companies like Gazprom, Sibneftj, Yukos, Sibirskiy Allyuminiy etc never applied to the research.

Another interesting info (which i don't like frankly speaking) is that there is more cash dollars in Russia than in USA - 350 billions of cash (meaning banknotes) dollars in private ownership.

One of, hmmm, mistakes of EU is that they are not putting enough efforts to make Russia switching from USD to Euro. That could increase the role and power of European currency by far.

[Nonson]

But how strong is the state in LUKOIL’s makeup? Noviye Izvestia reported recently that around 40 per cent of the company’s shares are already owned by US shareholders. On their head be that allegation about US shareholders — the registration system for share ownership lets actual owners remain incognito for as long as they like by using offshore companies registered in Cyprus, Bahamas, etc. as front companies.
But it is true that foreign LUKOIL shareholders — both nominal and actual — have no connection with Russian state agencies and their combined stake in LUKOIL is larger than that of the Russian state.
One interpretation is that the Russian oil industry’s flagship is, in fact, controlled by unidentified foreigners. Their goals and priorities are not obvious and can be at odds with those of the LUKOIL president who has frequently stated his adherence to national interests.
If that is the case, then the state should no longer regard LUKOIL as a particularly important company having the right to claim particularly preferential treatment.
If ideological pressure on LUKOIL continues, hard times await the company. Its leaders should be prepared for tax, customs and currency control agencies’ keen — and not necessarily benevolent — attention.
It cannot be ruled out that some of its rivals, smaller in economic terms, will challenge the oil major. Anti-LUKOIL opposition, like that in the Komi republic where the oil company’s attempts to establish control of local oil producers (see LUKOIL ambitions opposed at Severnaya, Oil & Capital, No 1, 2000), may become infectious.
But those who are impatient to kick the wounded lion, should sit down and think first. The lion may have lost some of its strength, but it is certainly not dying.
These frequent attacks on LUKOIL are a manifestation of certain trends rather than a sign of global changes in the economy and oil industry.
Vladimir Putin and his emerging team have been quite pragmatic and watchful. Attempts to reduce LUKOIL’s influence by splitting it up or by replacing Mr Alekperov are unlikely — especially given that in technical terms, dismissing Mr Alekperov would be as hard as, for instance, sacking Anatoly Chubais as chief of the Unified Energy Systems power grid.
LUKOIL, no matter what people think about it, is the Russian oil sector’s showcase in the world. Breaking it up or making it look worse would be absurd — first and foremost for the state. (Part of a very long report without the writer being named). _____________________________________________ Several things in it should be considered relative to Ilay's posting.

[Nonson]

Regarding Ilay's intent to eliminate any appearance of insult to another on Russia.com: _____________________________________________
People who come here to post Fundamentalist Christian garbage are an insult to others. They are *****S. _____________________________________________ People who come here to post inane or insane political beliefs are an insult to others. They are *****S. _____________________________________________ So now, we who are, indeed, here to discuss and/or debate certain things must put up with the likes of Barbour, whose sole purpose is to wreck forums. I've seen it happen far too many times across the spectrum of forums and chatrooms. The sad part. In most instances, Administrators and Moderators have no idea of what is happening until it is too late. _____________________________________________ Russia.com is likely going to lose some more long term members. _____________________________________________ Ungaro, e-mail me. There is some things we need to discuss. Nonson

[This message has been edited by ILay (edited 20 December 2000).]

[Ronald_Barbour]

Dear ILay:

I humbly ask your forgiveness, and the forgiveness of those posting here, if my comment about Russia's economy being in the....well...whatever.....has offended anyone.

A more professional expression would have been, "Russia's economy has impressive problems."

However, my blunt turn of expression gives no one the right to call me an "idiot" or whatever -- I merely expressed my opinion on a subject -- and I would note that there are many academic sources that would back up my characterization of a troubled Russian economy -- just as you have cited sources that back up your opinion.

So who is right? I like the old expression, "Russia is not as strong as she looks; Russia is not as weak as she looks."

Sincerely, Ronbo


[This message has been edited by Ronald Barbour (edited 17 December 2000).]

[This message has been edited by Ronald Barbour (edited 17 December 2000).]

Greetings RonBo,

OK, you are not an IDIOT. However, your views
are IDIOTIC.

The problem you have, is the same problem that all CONSERVATIVES have. You are ANTI-
SOCIAL. You view everything as a personal
issue. You overlook our COLLECTIVE RIGHTS and our COLLECTIVE VALUES.

Everything that CONSERVATIVES want, I view as REGRESSIVE, and REACTIONARY and DANGEROUS. Please keep in mind that I am not
a bleeding heart LIBERAL. I enjoy my station
in life. The problem with you folks is that
you want to turn the US into just another
BANANA REPUBLIC. If things work out the way you are aiming, people like myself and other
immigrants will not have any oppertunities
in the future. The RICH will have all the advantages.

Just take a close look at MEXICO. Everything you folks want, can be found in the MEXICAN
SYSTEM. The question is: Do you want to turn the US into another MEXICO?

Think about it.