The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

[ArmSurvival]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

It seems as if Alex Jones and Ron Paul are becoming quite popular with Russia Today... Needless to say, I see why. Alex Jones and Ron Paul are two of the increasingly rare (and endangered) voices of sanity, decency and true patriotism in America today. Listen closely to the message of these men and then pay attention to the conveyor belt bullxxxx that is spewed upon us all by mainstream political pundits and elected politicians... A world of difference. I wish more Americans had the decency, the common sense and the concern for this nation to listen to men like this talk about the serious ills plaguing America.

Damn straight. Alex Jones has uncovered so much government and media BS, and when you actually research what he says, you will find plenty of credible sources which agree with him. I'm glad you're aware of him and his message. His website has a lot of sources, and the home page links you to his daily broadcast.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Putin rules out Russian military bases in Cuba, Venezuela

Russia sees no need to set up permanent military bases in Venezuela or Cuba, but could use their military infrastructure, the prime minister said on Thursday. "There is no need to build permanent bases, although we have such agreements with the Venezuelan leadership. I do not think the Cuban leadership would object either. If necessary, we will be able to use these countries' ports to refuel and replenish supplies for our warships," Vladimir Putin said during a televised question-and-answer session. He said Russia also has several such agreements with other countries. "I'm going to reveal a big military secret to you. When we announced that our warships were headed for Venezuela to participate in a joint exercise, we received many questions - honestly speaking, I had not expected this - requests from many countries for our warships to call at their ports," he said. He called the recent Russian-Venezuelan naval exercises "a success." Russian and Venezuelan warships concluded on Tuesday the active phase of VenRus-2008, during which they practiced deployment, coordinated tactical maneuvering, air defense, search, pursuit and the detention of a ship suspected of illegal activities. The Russian task force arrived in Venezuela at the end of November, following a two-month tour of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, which saw Russian ships visiting Libya, Turkey and France.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081204/118691034.html

In other news:

Russia to deploy alpine units at its military bases abroad

Russia's Defense Ministry plans to deploy special mountain units at military bases in S. Ossetia, Abkhazia, Armenia and Tajikistan, as well as in the Urals and Far East, a ministry official said on Thursday. "All military contingents deployed in mountainous regions will have battalion-level units specially trained for mountain warfare," said Col. Vladimir Chabanov, deputy head of the Ground Forces combat training department at the Russian Defense Ministry. Russia has already deployed two mountain brigades in the North Caucasus republics of Daghestan and Karachayevo-Circassia. They are manned by contract soldiers and total about 4,500 personnel. Chabanov said the newly formed units would be equipped with special weaponry and equipment developed for combat at high altitudes in mountainous areas, including professional mountain-climbing equipment. Russia currently deploys a military base in Gyumri, Armenia and a military base near the Tajik capital, Dushanbe, which hosts the 5,000-strong 201st Motorized Rifle Division. Moscow is also planning to open one base in Gudauta, in the west of Abkhazia, and another in Tskhinvali, the capital of South Ossetia, following a five-day war with Georgia over South Ossetia in August.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081204/118690747.html

[Mizzike]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

The only thing I dont like about Ron Paul was that he voted against a recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYwtPbKPnn4

I actually didn't have a problem with that answer, and I can understand it. I personally wouldn't be disappointed if the resolution passed, but recognition can be done at the state level. Look on the bright side - 38 out of the 50 states recognize the genocide, and it is taught in schools in many places now. It is much more productive to do it at a local/state level than to wait and wait on a national resolution, especially when it is so controversial for US foreign relations.

So overall, Paul doesn't deny that genocide happened, but his position coincides with his philosophy about the role of government...in that it is not the federal governments job to intercede in other countries' problems and mandate history or pick sides because usually it just creates new foes and problems for America. Don't expect a guy who pushes for a non-interventionist foreign policy to make an exception for Armenia ^_^

On top of that, remember that as long as the US is at war in the middle east, the Turkey base will always be non-negotiable. All these Armenians getting excited about Obama are going to go back to being dissidents again because he will be forced to cave in like GWB. In that sense, as long as AIPAC has the hold on congress then the US will never get out of the middle east. So even if H.Res. 106 happens to come up for vote and happens to pass as well...I think there is a 90% chance Obama will not support it because of international pressure, not only from Turkey but from Israel as well. AIPAC will fight it because a dent in US-Turkey relations, and/or the removal of the Turkish base would hinder US capacity to fight Israel's wars. Obama was just pandering during election season like most politicians do and Armenians fell for it.

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Russia's Putin had painful plans for Georgian leader

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin appeared wryly to confirm on Thursday French media reports that he had said Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili deserved to be hung by his testicles for his role in the August war with Russia. French media had quoted Putin as saying in a heated conversation with French President Nicolas Sarkozy in Moscow on Aug. 12 that Saakashvili should be "hung by his balls" for starting the war which was roundly condemned by the West. In a distraction from queries about the economic crisis during a lengthy televised question and answer session with the Russian public, Putin was asked: "Is this true you promised to hang Saakashvili by one part?" Smiling thinly at the question, posed over a crackling phone line by a man in the Russian city of Penza, Putin, who has in the past used coarse language to hammer home a point, waited for the laughter of his studio audience to subside before replying: "But why only by one part?" Up until now, Russian officials had described the talks with the French president as a "tough dialogue" but did not deny that Putin had made such a comment. Putin then frowned and blamed Saakashvili for triggering the brief war and compared his attack on the breakaway region of South Ossetia with the U.S.-led 2003 invasion of Iraq. "Seriously speaking, both me and you know about tragic events in another region of the world, in Iraq, invaded by American troops due to a concocted pretext of searching for weapons of mass destruction," said Putin. "They found no weapons, but hanged the head of state, albeit on other charges ... " said Putin, referring to the 2006 execution of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. "I believe it is up to Georgia's people to decide what kind of responsibility must be borne by those politicians who led to these harshest and tragic consequences," he said. Months of skirmishes between separatists and Georgian troops erupted into war in August when Georgia sent troops and tanks to retake the pro-Russian rebel region of South Ossetia, which threw off Tbilisi's rule in 1991-92. Russia responded with a counter-strike that drove the Georgian army out of South Ossetia. Moscow's troops then pushed further into Georgia, saying they needed to prevent further Georgian attacks. The West condemned Russia for a "disproportionate response" to Georgia's actions. Russia said Georgia's attack on civilians and Russian peacekeeping troops in South Ossetia left it with no other option. Georgia accused Moscow of launching a premeditated and unprovoked invasion of its territory.

Source: http://wiredispatch.com/news/?id=476598

[ZORAVAR]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Because of a busy schedule, I have not been posting lately. But I have been following discussions on this forum and hope I will be able to contibute more in the future.

The Russian Navy has multiplied its training sorties this year. The amount of ships on distant deployments is amazing. Nothing of this scale happened since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Many foreign ports have been visited (showing the flag).

The Pyotr Veliky battlegroup is conducting maneuvers in the Caribbean together with the Venezuelan Navy. The Pacific fleet is going to do the same with the Indian Navy in the Indian ocean soon (INDRA 2009). The Neustrashimy destroyer is conducting anti-pirate patrols near Somalia...and now this:

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Group of Russian Northern Fleet warships with aircraft carrier leave for the Atlantic

The ADMIRAL KUZNETSOV aircraft carrier in the Atlantic during an earlier sortie this year.

MOSCOW, December 5 (Itar-Tass) -- A group of Russian Northern Fleet ships headed by the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser Admiral Kuznetsov left their base to carry out tasks in the Atlantic and the Mediterranean, the Russian Navy commander’s aide Igor Dygalo told Itar-Tass.

The group of Northern Fleet warships the heavy aircraft-carrying cruiser "Soviet Union Fleet Admiral Kuznetsov", the big antisubmarine ship Admiral Levchenko and two support vessels left the main Northern Fleet base of Severomorsk and headed for the Atlantic and the Mediterranean Sea, he said.

The trip of the warships will last several months. In accordance with the training plan, the ships will carry out set tasks and visit several ports of European and Mediterranean states, the navy commander’s aide added.

http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=13346172&PageNum=0

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

End of an era. History will look favorably upon Alexy II.

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Head of Russian Orthodox Church dies aged 79

Head of Russian Orthodox Church dies aged 79: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Pa1RKmzJ8g

Death of Aleksy II: End of an era: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvePpLGE5gY

Tributes to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Aleksy II, have been flooding in from around the world. The 79 year-old died at his home near Moscow on Friday morning following several years of illness. The Russian Orthodox Church in New York has held a service of mourning for the Patriarch. A service has been also held at a house temple in the late Patriarch’s central Moscow residence. On Friday evening Bishop Aleksandr will hold a memorial service at Moscow’s Christ the Saviour Cathedral. A source from the Church has said that the Patriarch died from suspected heart failure, although this hasn't been confirmed. Alexy II's health reportedly deteriorated after a visit to Kiev in July. In September he underwent a heart operation in a German hospital. But this didn’t stop him from working. When in Germany, he used the opportunity to meet the local Orthodox community and performed a liturgy in Munich’s Cathedral of New Martyrs and Confessors. And the day before his death he held a divine service in the Cathedral of Assumption of the Moscow Kremlin to celebrate the beginning of the Christmas fast. An emergency session of the Synod will decide on the date of the funeral service on Saturday. A source hinted Aleksy will be buried in the Epiphany Cathedral in Yelokhov in Moscow, on Tuesday. The Holy Synod of the Russian Orthodox Church now has a maximum of six months to elect a successor. They will have to choose a new procedure for the elections, since it has changed several times in the 20th century. During Communist rule, the head of the Church was de facto appointed by the party leadership. Aleksy himself was elected in a secret ballot contested by three candidates. Until a successor is chosen, the Synod will choose an acting Patriarch called a locum or ‘place-holder’.

World grieves for spiritual leader

Bells of Orthodox churches tolled to announce the death of Patriarch Aleksy II. Requiem services are being performed across the world to commemorate the departed leader of the Russian Orthodox Church. Meanwhile, condolences have flooded in. Dmitry Medvedev postponed his visit to Italy when the news broke about Aleksy’s death. The President will now return directly to Moscow from the Indian capital, Delhi. In an address to the nation, Medvedev praised Aleksy’s successful reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church and said his death was a great loss to the country and for him personally. According to the President, the Patriarch was “a true shepherd, whose whole life was an example of spiritual resolve and high deeds. He was with his congregation in the times of persecution and in the time of the revival of the faith." "We all deeply grieve the loss. We will always remember his spiritual help, wisdom and boundless devotion to his country and his people.” The death of Patriarch Aleksy II is "a tragic, sad event and a great loss,” said Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, who is known to be a devout believer. Putin strongly supported the Orthodox Church during his presidency. He said Aleksy was “full of light” and “a real Patriarch.” The head of the Russian spiritual mission to Jerusalem, Archimandrite Tikhon, said. “We all know that his good and great deeds had a huge impact and left a long memory among the people and world Christianity. We pray that God embrace the soul of Aleksy II and grace the Orthodox Church.”

The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, said he will remember Aleksy II as a personal friend and a friend of the Church of England: “He was a leader of big scale, of great experience, determination and courage, who led his church through a period of serious challenges in Russian history with a firm hand.” The Roman Catholic Church said the news of the Patriarch’s death was deeply saddening. Brian Farrel from the Pope Council of Christian Unity said: “Aleksy’s lot was leading the Russian Orthodox Church in a time of great change, and being a great Patriarch, he managed to accomplish this mission with faith in God and a feeling of great responsibility and love to the Russian people.” Deputy Head of the Mufti Council of Russia, Damir Gizatullin, praised the Patriarch’s role in forging friendship between faiths. “Aleksy II was one of the grandest members of Orthodox Christianity and a man who fostered interconfessional dialogue in our country and abroad,” he said. Russia’s chief Rabbi Adolf Shaevich praised Aleksy II for his “education, personal humility and dignity”. He said the Patriarch’s death “hurt every heart in Russia in spite of their confession or nationality. All his life was dedicated to the spiritual revival of Russia and its citizens.”

The head of the Georgian Orthodox Church, Ilya II, has sent his condolences, describing Aleksy II as a warm friend of the Georgian people. “Aleksy was a great spiritual leader,” he said. “He was a friend of the Georgian church and the Georgian people. We express our deep condolences to all Orthodox believers, especially to the Holy Synod and the clergy of Russia.” The spokesman for the Grand Duchess Maria Vladimirovna told how the Romanov family is grieving over Aleksy’s death: “It’s a terrible strike for Orthodox Christians. The imperial family has lost its spiritual father and a wise friend.” Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko has sent official condolences to the Russian Orthodox Church. “During his visit to Ukraine, Aleksy II inspired our compatriots by his deep faith and struck us with his balanced approach and wisdom,” he said. Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev said: “The selfless and relentless service of Aleksy II will be remembered in history. He had a rare understanding of the need for revival and devoted all his long life as a preacher and a shepherd to this great goal. He never meddled in politics, but in the time of need cast his low but convincing voice to defend social justice and protect the miserable ones.”

Author of Orthodox revival

Aleksy the Second will be remembered as the first Patriarch of a new Russia. He led the revival of the Russian Orthodox Church after Soviet repressions and united it with foreign congregations following a 90 year split after the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917. The son of a priest, Aleksey Ridiger was born in Tallinn, Estonia, on February, 23, 1929. Before enrolling in a theological seminary, the future patriarch served as an altar boy and subdeaconed in his father’s parish. Ordained in 1950, he returned to Estonia and was later appointed Bishop of Tallinn and all Estonia. For more than 25 years he worked in a conference of European churches, a body set up at the height of the Cold War to promote dialogue and friendship with other churches around the continent. During the 1980s, Aleksy did much to rehabilitate church relations with the Soviet state. For decades the church had been brutally repressed in the Soviet Union, which promoted an atheist society. From 50,000 active churches in tsarist times, there were only 7000 left after the Bolshevik revolution of 1917. But with the introduction of the policy of Glasnost, or Openness, late in the 1980s, new political and social freedoms marked a revival. A ban on religious imagery on television was lifted, meaning citizens were able to watch church services for the very first time. And some confiscated church property was returned by the government. In 1988, Russia marked a thousand years since its conversion to Christianity It was the first time in Soviet history that the government supported church celebrations.

Just two years later Aleksy was formally installed as Patriarch of Moscow and all Russia. While the Soviet Union was falling apart, Aleksy dedicated himself to keeping the church together. He travelled widely, visiting more than 100 dioceses as Patriarch and encouraged congregations to come back to the fold. A noted academic, he had hundreds of articles published in both religious and secular press worldwide. He placed great emphasis on the education of the clergy, overseeing the building of new theological schools and colleges. And at the end of 2006 there were more than 27,000 active parishes throughout the old territory of the Soviet Union. He also remained active internationally, presiding over the reunification of the Russian Orthodox Church outside of Russia in May 2007. The two churches had separated in the early 1920s. But relationships with other faiths proved more difficult. Aleksy refused to meet with Vatican Popes, accusing the Catholic Church of aggressive missionary policies in both Russia and traditionally Orthodox former Soviet republics. However, he did pay the first official visit to France. Aleksy spoke at the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe saying that human rights are often used to undermine Christian morality. At home, Aleksy was criticised for the church’s quest for dominance over other religions and interference in secular life. Aleksy was a prominent and highly public figure, and all Russian Presidents in modern history have sought his blessing for the post. In times of harsh economic reforms and shifts in public values, Aleksy stood firm as a beacon of morality and faith.

Source: http://www.russiatoday.com/news/news/34307

Metropolitan Kirill named interim leader of Russian Church

The governing body of the Russian Orthodox Church, the Holy Synod, elected on Saturday Metropolitan Kirill of Smolensk and Kaliningrad as the interim leader of the Church. Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Alexy II, who led the Russian Church for 18 years, died at the age of 79 in his residency near the capital on Friday. His body has been brought to the Cathedral of Christ the Savior and will be lying in state. Alexy II will be buried on Tuesday in the Annunciation side-chapel of Moscow's Epiphany Cathedral. Alexy II became patriarch of the Russian Orthodox Church in 1990, shortly before the collapse of the atheist Soviet Union, and presided over a religious revival in Russia, with thousands of churches and monasteries being restored and hundreds of new ones built across the country. A national council of bishops, priests, monks and laymen should be summoned within six months to elect a new patriarch for the Russian Church.

Source: http://en.rian.ru/russia/20081206/118731681.html

[truAnatolian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

You should buy a dress, change your name to Svetlana and move to Siberia. I hear the Russian sailors there need some help staying warm.

Why are you such a massive Russophile? Do you identify your self as Russian or Armenian?

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

You should buy a dress, change your name to Svetlana and move to Siberia. I hear the Russian sailors there need some help staying warm. Why are you such a massive Russophile? Do you identify your self as Russian or Armenian?

I rather hand over you and your mother to drunken sailors in Siberia. And I rather identify myself as a Russian than a turkic assgiver like you...

[Pazooki]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

I rather hand over you and your mother to drunken sailors in Siberia. And I rather identify myself as a Russian than a turkic assgiver like you...

Owned

sorry but someone had to say it :P

[Armenian]

Re: The Rise of the Russian Empire: Russo-Armenian Relations

Russia, Armenia Seek Broader Ties - Putin

Russia and Armenia plan to take measures to bolster their bilateral cooperation, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said ahead of talks with his Armenian counterpart Tigran Sargsyan on Friday. "The results we have achieved [in our cooperation] are far from being the limit for our countries. We plan to increase our cooperation," Putin said. The overall amount of Russia's accumulated investment in the Armenian economy totals $1.6 billion, and bilateral trade grew by nearly 17% in 2007, he said. "I believe it is quite useful to expand the Armenia-based operations of major Russian companies like Gazprom, Inter RAO UES, RZHD and some banks, including VTB," the Russian prime minister said. Joint projects in areas such as the fuel and energy sector, non- ferrous metals, transport, construction, and information technologies hold great promise, Putin said. Armenia and Russia have a strategic relationship, Prime Minister Sargsyan said. Such consultations are important and useful amid the ongoing global financial crisis, he said. "We should coordinate our efforts, which will obviously make it easier for us to deal with the difficulties facing our economies today," the Armenian official said.

Source: http://www.istockanalyst.com/article...d_2859895.html