For years, Moscow has been waging a war of information and ‘worldview’ without regard for cost, resources or time. The authorities exploit the ‘vulnerability’ of democratic systems and Western peoples. Propaganda compensates for personal shortcomings and provides a language for action.
The Moscow Patriarch met with the Catholic community in Paris and repeated the need for collaboration between the two Churches against the challenger of modernity. “Threat of marginalization” overshadows Christianity.
Atmosphere is cordial but no one expects much from the first meetings in terms of results. The United States issues a statement about the upcoming six-nation talks which should mark the end to Pyongyang’s nuclear programme.
Dictatorial governments, wars, the “bad influence” of a nearby power, but above all widespread poverty cause corruption, according to a 2007 report by Transparency international. The situation worsens in Russia and Central Asia. The fault lies with the multinationals.
Nazarbayev will travel to Brazil. Both address the UN General Assembly, Berdymukhammedow tonight. Turkmen president leads a delegation of officials and business leaders to discuss co-operation with the United States, announces amnesty for 9,000 people, many of whom were jailed for crimes of opinion.
Following the official announcement of changes at the top of the Mother of God Archdiocese, the Catholic community in Russia is hopeful that relations with the Orthodox might improve. Mgr Pezzi replaces Mgr Kondrusiewicz, who moves to Minsk. The new bishop is expected tonight in Rome.
Zuunmod’s 20 Catholics travel 60 kilometres every Sunday to the capital to attend mass. Now Joseph the carpenter is trying to convince the authorities to grant him and his community a permit to build a church in his home town. In the meantime he talks about his faith.
Two Malaysians are candidates for a Russian space mission. Malaysia’s National Fatwa Council has come up with new religious guidelines since praying, ablutions and turning towards Makkah are difficult to do in a spaceship circling the Earth 16 times a day. Ramadan fasting can be postponed until return to the Earth.
Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan pay starvation salaries to their public servants, who end up charging “extra” the people they are supposed to serve. Others simply neglect their regular job for a second one. Everyone loses faith in government, which is indifferent anyway.
Putin confounds Russian and foreign analysts by appointing an unknown, Viktor Zubkov, to replace Prime Minister Vicktor Fradkov who unexpectedly resigned. In Russia prime ministerial appointments signal Tzar Vladimir’s intentions with regard to his succession. Observers agree that the real election campaign for 2008 has just started.
This is the first high-level visit in almost 50 years. The Russian president, who is on his way to the APEC summit in Australia, is trying to play his cards in a region increasingly shaped by Sino-US rivalry. Deal involves the sale of weapons worth US$ 1 billion.
Over 4 thousand people pay tribute in front of the wooden cross outside the gym of school no. 1 where three years ago 331 people died in the Russian army assault. Prayers in all of the Churches Orthodox and Catholic. The Beslan Mothers organisation writes to Putin: “come to Beslan and tell us the truth”.
Just days before the third anniversary of the massacre in the primary school, authorities declare the main group committed to shedding light on the tragedy illegal. “The Beslan Mothers” meanwhile ask that official investigations include video evidence which points the finger at Russian troops. Only 8% of the population trusts in the Government’s “truth”.
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