Europe and Russia - marriage in the pipeline? (see English text at the end)

Путин: "Сближение России и Европы неизбежно"

Putin: Closer ties of Europe and Russia inevitable

Link to video : http://www.1TV.ru/news/polit/165864

Россия может быть полноценным индустриальным партнером Германии в сфере машиностроения, фармацевтике, производстве медицинской техники и стройматериалов, пищевой промышленности и других отраслях. Такое заявление сделал российский премьер-министр Владимир Путин на встрече с руководителями ведущих немецких компаний.

По словам главы российского правительства, в ближайшие месяцы будет упрощена разрешительная процедура на покупку иностранцами акций в стратегических секторах российской экономики. Владимир Путин не исключил и образования единой валютной зоны со странами ЕС.

Завершилась встреча Владимира Путина с канцлером Германии Ангелой Меркель.

Важной темой этого дня в Германии стало вступление России в ВТО. Владимир Путин об этом разговаривал с представителями немецких деловых кругов, и председатель российского правительства не исключил, что Россия присоединится к ВТО в следующем году.

Владимир Путин: "Мы считаем, что свой путь мы почти прошли, в практическом плане все основные вопросы с Евросоюзом мы согласовали".

Также сегодня Владимир Путин встретился с канцлером Германии Ангелой Меркель. Вместе они обсуждали возможности экономического развития. Оба сошлись на мысли, что одним из условий успешного экономического развития является отмена виз между Россией и Евросоюзом.

Владимир Путин: "Российский подход к этой проблематике хорошо известен. Мы выступаем за максимальное упрощение визовых процедур в наших отношениях с европейскими партнерами, и неоднократно заявляли о готовности перейти к безвизовому режиму.

Сегодня в ходе дискуссии с представителями немецкого бизнеса, руководитель ЕАДС неожиданно мне сказал: "Надо бы как-то упростить визовый режим". Я говорю: "А вы-то от чего страдаете? Он ответил: "Мы создали целые группы, инженерные коллективы. Мы их должны оперативно перебрасывать из одной страны в другую. Много проблем - это мешает работе". "Я думаю, что все, что мешает развитию экономики, должно быть устранено".

Ангела Меркель: "В ходе последнего визита Президента Медведева в Германию мы договорились о создании "дорожной карты", в которой наметим план действия по постепенному переходу к безвизовому режиму. Конечно, мы не решим этот вопрос за один день, но будем продвигаться к этому шаг за шагом".

В первой половине дня Владимир Путин принял участие в работе экономического форума, он организован газетой "Зюддойче цайтунг".

Россия заинтересована в европейских инвестициях и технологиях, заявил Владимир Путин. Ей есть, что предложить. Экономика восстанавливается после кризиса. В этом году она подрастет примерно на 4%.

Владимир Путин: "ВВП России составляет сегодня свыше триллиона евро, и ежегодно, что еще важнее, ежегодно прирастает на 50-70 миллиардов евро. Правительство России последовательно реализует планы модернизации экономики и создание благоприятной бизнес-среды".

Российский бизнес также готов инвестировать в европейские компании, но подчас бизнесмены натыкаются на препятствия. На европейские рынки их просто не пускают. Примеров этому масса.

Владимир Путин: "Давайте вспомним шумную историю с "Оппелем". Разве этому концерну стало лучше после того, как уже практически согласованная сделка была сорвана. Мне кажется, нет, ничего к лучшему там принципиально не изменилось. Другая наша частная компания "Ренова" приобрела высокотехнологичное производство в Швейцарии по производству солнечных панелей. Но по судам затаскали, но сейчас вроде урегулировали, слава Богу, но так невозможно работать".

Путин негативно оценил и так называемый европейский "Третий энергетический пакет", пакет документов, запрещающих продавцам газа и электроэнергии владеть транспортными сетями, он одобрен Еврокомиссией в прошлом году.

Владимир Путин: "Вот построили инвесторы российские и немецкие трубопроводные системы для подачи газа конечному потребителю в самой Федеративной республике, но сейчас им отказывают в том, чтобы они имели право на эту перекачку. Послушайте, но компании вложили сотни миллионов долларов и евро в этот проект, и все было нормально, все по правилам. Теперь задним числом принимают другое решение и отказывают им в использовании собственного имущества. Что, подзабыли у нас наши коллеги какие-то элементарные, основополагающие принципы? Один из них называется - закон обратной силы не имеет".

Россия настроена на сближение с Европой, именно этому посвящена статья Владимира Путина в газете "Зюддойче цайтунг", опубликованная накануне, в ней российский премьер предлагает создание общей экономики большой, не ограниченной Евросоюзом.

Единая экономика от Лиссабона до Владивостока - невозможно? Владимир Путин привел пример из истории Германии. Решение канцлера ФРГ Гельмута Коля, который объединил две части Германии, невзирая на то, какие различия тогда были между ГДР и ФРГ.

Путь предстоит длинный и сложный. Вступление России в ВТО, столько раз откладываемое, создание единого европейского энергетического комплекса, отмена визового режима. Владимир Путин в перспективе даже не исключает создание общей российской европейской валюты.

Владимир Путин: "Я не знаю, какие формы должна приобрести наша кооперация, в каких формах мы будем сближаться друг с другом. Будет это общий рынок свободный, будет это наше ассоциированное членство в Евросоюзе. Но сближение России и Европы, если мы хотим сохраниться как цивилизация, хотим быть успешными и конкурентоспособными, сближение России и Европы неизбежно".

Во время общения зашла речь и о внутренней политической жизни Германии, об усилении позиции "зеленых", и их желания перевести страну на использование возобновляемых экологически чистых источников энергии.

Владимир Путин: "Я не понимаю, чем вы будете топить, газа не хотите, атомную энергетику не развиваете, а что, вы будете дровами топить? За дровами тоже в Сибирь надо ехать, понимаете? У вас же и дров тоже нет".

Этот комментарий зал встретил смехом. По совпадению, именно сегодня в Берлине выпал первый снег.

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While I am not going to translate the full video into English, I would like to share my thoughts about it. Reading news on Russian mass media is my all-time favourite way of studying Russian language. Unfortunately my time left in Russia is too short to purchase a TV, hence reading it online becomes my lifeline for knowledge. You can find news from their First Channel : www.1tv.ru. If you are fanatical like me about Russian news but not able to understand it, try using google translator will help you to grasp the essence of it. However, such direct translation has its flaws, if not many.

In this story on Friday, Russian Prime Minister Putin met with his German counterpart, Chancellor Angel Merkel in Berlin and painted a picture of closer ties with Europe. He calls on EC to create a common economic space. Many issues were raised.

He told an annual economic forum of German corporate managers organized by Germany's Suddeutsche Zeitung newspaper, "If we want to survive and maintain a competitive edge, closer ties between Russia and Europe are inevitable."

Putin said he came to this conclusion for the first time after hearing remarks made by former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl during a meeting with former St. Petersburg mayor Anatoly Sobchak at the beginning of the 1990s.

According to Putin, Kohl spoke sincerely and convincingly of the urgency of closer ties between Russia and Europe.

"For me, a person who used to work in Russia's foreign intelligence during the Soviet era, this conversation, which I witnessed and partially translated, completely changed my views on this issue," Putin said.

He outlined his vision of a future Europe, including creation of an economic community from Lisbon to Vladivostok, including a free trade zone and "progressive types of economic integration," in an article published by Suddeutsche Zeitung on Thursday.

He also insisted on the idea of a joint energy sector as an ideal solution to future energy demands. At the end of the forum, with his typical wit and merciless humour, he underlined the dependency of EC on Russia.

Directed to Germany or perhaps to EU in general, he said, " I do not understand, what you will heat with, you do not want gas, you are not developing atomic engineering, and what, you will heat with fire wood? In order to get fire wood, you need to go to Siberia. Do you understand? You do not even have fire wood. ".

The hall was thunderous with laughter and maybe the Germans were actually painfully resisting it.There are many reasons to love ad not to love Putin. His brutality in delivering humour and underlining the truth or even threat at the same time, is one of them to either love him or hate him. It is Russia's call and reminder of who needs who more when winter comes. And it happens that Berlin had its first snow when his words were sounded.

Coincidentally, Kaliningrad welcomed the first snow today on 26 November, 11 days later than last year when I first arrived.

Hello Perestroika!

Haiying is our newest dorm mate. My role is that of inspection and quality control of the perestroika of her room.

We have experienced friends with skillful hands to undertake the work. Now, this is the freely-distributed wallpapers!

Being considerate and well-liked, she could hang around and let others willingly do the work for her. That's our unconditional camaraderie in the dormitory.

These are not renovators. They are our good friends from Nepal and Blangadesh. They are studying Russian too.
My guest appearance was meant to lend moral support...and add one more fun picture to my memory.

I cannot seem to stop writing about our perestroika in the dormitory. Since the day I completed my renovation, the end result seems too irresistible. And right after that, we have Shafiq from Kabul who completed his with help from his brother. Two months later, Sazhad made his attempt after living there for 1 and a half years. Now it is Haiying from China who did her's with help from Narendra and Zamil. With the work going on the corridor, even Russian students were curious.

Giving a talk in Russian

In School No. 47, an elementary school.

Vanessa's father is a Chinese. She is happy to learn some Chinese words.

My education in Chinese started from this word : ren! (people) . Most important thing in life is actually back to basics, how to be a good person and live well.

Explaining in Russian the essencee of Chinese words and the basic structure of the language. I need to practise more to be more confident.

I felt like a star. Thank you, all students.

My teacher was there to assist me in times of need.

Last week, I gave a short presentation in Russian to 30 Russian students in my university. They are students of my Head of Russian Language Department Mdm Larisa Nikolaievna. University students from year one till they graduate need to take Russian language lesson, this speaks volume how difficult this language is. I was initially quite nervous, but when I saw their friendly faces, I relaxed and be myself.

My teacher Irina Sergeevna spent 2 hours with me to rehearse how to speak and helped me with mistakes I made along the way. She said it does not matter if I do, most importantly it is the platform to speak the language. She even invite me to speak to school children about Chinese language. I would love to!

I was happy that the students responded warmly and rushed to answer my questions. It was really fun. And they asked many questions and I responded accordingly. I am very proud to be a Chinese, and I would help anybody to appreciate its beauty.

I said President Medvedev recently visited China and suggested that people of two countries should learn each other's language. I said I am doing my bit to help him to fulfill his wishes. Hopefully I would plant the seed of interest in our Russian students' minds, and maybe there will be one more student learning Chinese!

Today I was invited to speak in a primary school for students of the fourth standard. I realised I had to speak in a much different way when speaking to adults. It was still challenging. The students were very responsive and very interested in Chinese characters. They wrote everything they heard and saw on the white board attentively.

During the break, they all gathered around me and asked for my autograph, and some even asked me to write their names in Chinese. We have Masha, Dasha, Daniel and Alexis. Lovely students!

They also asked many questions. One asked me what is the staple food of Chinese. Another was interested to find out where exactly is Singapore. I also invited them to come to the white board to write the Chinese words, following the strict order of Chinese writing. They were thrilled, all raised their hands!

My teacher told them that my initial intention in learning Russian was to sing Russian songs, and next thing to happen was that I was already singing to them in Russian, "Katchusha". And I was glad that they all know the lyrics and we sang together!! And I also sang a children's song in Chinese, "当我们同在一起". They applauded warmly. Some were busy taking pictures of me.

Thanks to their teacher, Tamara Vitorevna for taking all these pictures today. One beautiful boy even came to me and meekly said, please come again and walked away. The other teachers spoke to my teacher and would like me to come again. Well I would be glad to do so.

Eid Mubarak Celebration in Kaliningrad

What we know as Korban in Singapore and Malaysia, is called Eid Mubarak Celebration here.

Happy mood when our friend, Shafiq from Kabul joked around.

Great cooks - Narendra and Faruk.

Chef of the day. Nasir. Actually he is only one of them.

Celebration in full swing.

Amir, a beautiful baby from a Blangadesh-Russian mix-marriage.

Syrian brothers, with Blangadesh in the middle. "Не это плохо! "

Some can act cool and silly at the same time. From Kabul again.

Some can smile any time at the camera. The four Chinese students from Dorm 1.

International representation from China, Singapore, Russia, Afghanistan, Nepal, Blangadesh and Syria.

A happily newly married couple from Northeastern China. The one in yellow is our newest member in the dorm.

Heavenly delicious lamb dish from Nasir, the greatest chef among all. He is from Blangadesh.

Chicken dish and rice.

Our teacher, Irina Sergevna.

In full anticipation of the celebration!

Contribution from Chinese, including me, Russian-style salad.

Our favourite teacher again!

Willing helpers.

Deep fried chicken.

Homemade chapati.

Tables are set to welcome guests.

Eid Mubarak is an important celebration for our Muslim brothers and sisters. They live in the same dormitory with us. They are from Blangadesh, Syria and Afghanistan. Their invited guests include one Singaporean, four Chinese, three Russians and etc.

We don't often have such major celebrations like this, of this scale, of this level of participation from friends near and far. It was thrown jointly by Narendra, Nasir, Jumil, Sajjad and Faruk. They were the main cooks. And we Chinese contributed salads and fruits. It was a joyful time. As we live in the dormitory, we had to gather cutlery and chairs and whatever useful from all the rooms to present a great party.

It was simply superb! Thank you all.

Китайская кухня (Sharing recipe with Russians)

Chicken with red pepper. You can use any kind of meat or vegetable.

Вы мoжете выбирать любые сoрта мяса и oвoши.

Special kind of 'hoi-seen' (seafood) sauce.

The kitchen in my dormitory in the university.

(I was happy to find abalone sauce in Kaliningrad. Volodya didn't understand why they live peacefully like Buddhist monks in the sea but yet Chinese eat them. The sales woman asked me how it tasted. I promised I will write or translate recipes for her in Russian.)

Абалонный Соус - специальный соус даров моря с уникальным и тонким ароматом для гурманов. Это превосходно для пропаривания, жарки, маринования и тушения под соусом.

Рецепт 1:

Домашнные паровые яйца

Что нужно-

2 – 4 яйца

Зелёный лук,(или петрушка, как угодно)

Соль и перец по вкусу

Абалонный соус по вкусу (1 -2 ст.л)

Кукурузное масло, 3 ст.л

1. Взбейте яйца в глубокой миске. Добавьте теплую воду (тот же самый объем как яйца) и соль. Тогда добавьте албалонный соус и масло. Перемешайте до однородной массы 5 минут в одном направлении.

2. Поставьте миску на поддон в горшок с кипящей водой. Поставьте миску в горшок. Наставьте металлический поддон горшком и миской яиц. Закройте крышкой и варите на водяной бане под крышкой 15 минут.

3. 0чистите и измельчите зелёный лук.

4. Украсьте мелко нарезанным зелёным луком.

Рецепт 2:

Курица с красным перцем*

Что нужно-

Арахисовое или кукурузное масло – 4 ст.л

Имбирь (очищенный и нарезанный, или чеснок добавьте) – 1 горовка

Филе курицы (тонко нарезанные, с перецом и солей 20 минут) – 500 г.

Свежий красный сладкий перец ( нарезать квадритиками) – 2 шт.

Перец и соль по вкусу

Для соуса-

Абалонный соус – 2 - 4 ст.л

Китайское розовое вино – 1 или 2 ст. л (можно водку добавьте если нет китайского вино)

1. Нарезать и перемешать курицы с черным перцем горошком и солью и оставить на 20 минут.

2. Нагрейте масло в сковороде (или китайский вок) под сильным огнём.

3. Положите в неё имбирь и жарьте в течение 1 минуты.

4. Добавьте мясо и готовьте 2 минуты до изменения цвета.

5. Добавьте перец и жарьте еще 5 минут. **

6. Смешайте ингедиенты для абалонный соус и вино.

7. Влейте полученную смесь в мясо и варите 10-15 минут.

*В этом рецепте, Вы можете выбирать любые сорта мяса и овоши. Самое главное – нарезать не большмими кусочками, чтобы быстрее пожарились.

**Лучше всего жарьте красный перец или любые овоши отдельно и потом добавьте в мясо. Я лично так препочитаю.

Interviewed by "Russian Reporter", not only literally

I have the burning urge to understand every word in the magazine.

The cover of weekly magazine "Russian Reporter", great stories and pictures.

How to say in Russian: Whatever that will not kill you will make you stronger.

How does it feel like being interviewed by your favourite magazine? It happened today. Two reporters from "Russian Reporter" (www.rusrep.ru) came to interview me. They are working on a special report about Kaliningrad. It took about 2 hours, and I shared my journey in their country and my encounters with Russian people. My dean Mr Vladimir Galiga recommended me to them and so we did the interview in my dormitory and we took pictures.

Recently, I have found something valuable to me in Russia. As a former reporter, I always like to read newspapers or magazines in foreign countries. And besides reading newspapers regularly I am happy that I have found "Russian Reporter". I like the approach of the magazine, very down-to-earth - questioning many burning issues in the society, no blind sympathy but very objective in presenting the facts, and lead us to think and rethink, about and for those who really care.

It touches delicately on issues about the destiny of Russia as a nation, how is it going to move forward. The magazine listens to the inner voices of intelligent and civic-conscious people who cares, loves and maybe loves-hates the country.

After I found it, I approached my teacher Irina Sergeevna, and she agreed we could pick up some articles and study them closely. The first issue I bought was titled "100 most influential people in Russia". It was a special report that zoomed into ten professional fields and their elites, and shared their views. They are from the legal, teaching, medical, journalism profession, there are also bureaucrats, social activists, artists, entrepreneurs among others. They did interview with one representative from each field. And reading them in Russian shows how different the way they express themselves because of the professional field they come from. Doctors are direct and straight-forward. The bureaucrat seemed to talk a lot but we understand little what he said. Sound familiar isn't it?

I must admit it is still difficult to fully understand the text but I tried hard to get as much as I can. With the help of my teacher, it helped a lot but I still feel a wall exists between me and the Russian text even I know already know every single word. I am sure it will become easier and easier!

And it gave me great happiness when I discovered what I long knew in English and Chinese when expressed in Russian. My favourite philosopher Nietzsche said, whatever that will not kill you will make you stronger. My eldest cousin-brother Kok Kee in UK first wrote to me when I was 15 in a letter. It seems to have become my motto in some ways. I saw it in the issue of Russian Reporter - Тo, чтo не убывает, делает нас сильнее. The reporters referred to the crisis of multi-culuralism model in Europe and how the development of the European society has overcame many crises in history. And hence, this crisis that is compounded by economic difficulties should be seen as a test, that European society must bite the bullet and overcome this crisis, like it did before.

What I also start to question is whether in Singapore we know who are the elites, and our notion of elite in our society and how they impact on the way the society is moving forward. As an individual how am I going to contribute to my own young country? We have a vibrant forum on the internet discussing everything that we don't in the mainstream media. Many people are seeing, thinking and writing, albeit on different platforms, I hope somehow this constitute great strength to shape and move our country forward.

My understanding of the Russian society is greatly helped by such publications. From my beloved prosperous little country to the biggest country on earth, it takes not only an air-ticket.

A festive November

A stalk of red rose from Haiying who arrived in our dormitory a week ago.

Kind words from Gu li-ya.

My classmate Mariana from Brazil. A professional multilingual translator.

This is what I appear in the eyes of three year-old Matusha. Potent and wild imagination. I love it.

Gifts, flowers, books, ornaments, hair-pins, vase, marzipan and most importantly heartfelt wishes, and happy moments together.

Meant to delete this picture but I could not, you could take a good look at my happiness.

A card from Mama Galia or Mama Galina.

The ultimate gift is from Matusha who came personally to wish me happy birthday! In return, I gave him a chocolate bar and our favorite Kvacc, a kind of traditional drink made from bread.

My birthday meal. Gu-liya and Cui wen-hao cooked Chinese 'Long-life' noodles, I cooked chicken wings and cabbage with dried shrimps. They are family to me.

Beautiful Natasha's son Matusha came with his congratulatory drawing and wishes.

Gift from Mama Galia, a book about the first czar of Russia, Peter The First, the little tiger with money, together with a pen, is from his grandson Mishenka!

Chinese 'Long-live' noodles from great cook - Cui. The pure white poached egg was still in the boiling water then.

Mama Galia's daughter, Svetlana whom I have yet to meet made this extremely delicious noodle dish for me. She translated my English blog about mama Galia into Russian, and from there she knew me.
My Russian teacher, Irina Sergeevna Picarevckaya.

A birthday with less than 40 candles, they only had that much in the shop.. :)

From left, Russian teacher of Shafiq, Larisa, Shafiq from Kabul, Nasir, Narendra (Nepal), Sajjad (Blangadesh, India). Mariana, my classmate from Brazil is holding the camera.

Here you see Mariana! She is my only classmate in the group.

Cutting the cake.

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“We have made thee neither of heaven nor of earth,
Neither mortal or immortal,
So that with freedom of choice and with honor,
As thought the maker and molder of thyself,
Thou mayest fashion thyself in whatever shape thou shalt prefer.
Thou shalt have the power out of thy soul's judgment,
to be reborn into the higher forms, which are divine.”

--Giovanni Pico Della Mirandola (1463-1494)

Italian Renaissance philosopher

Yesterday was my birthday. I bought a cake for my friends and teachers in the university. I received many gifts, they are from my teacher Irina Pisarevskaya, Mama Galia, her daughter Sveta and her son Misha, Gu li-ya, my dean Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich (a book that he co-authored with other professors in the university about the Great Patriotic War of Russia), our new friend Haiying who put a stalk of red rose outside my door.

However the highlight is from our little Matusha who drew something for me and wished me happy birthday personally. He came with his mum Natasha, together with Mariana. As my room was too warm, he insisted he needed to undress and walked around the room. As it was late, they were meant to drop by and wished me Happy Birthday. They stayed on a bit, he was undressed by his mum to the bare minimum. When he delivered his mission, he dressed up and left.

Mama Galia, Sveta and Misha prepared cards and gifts and also food for me. What a lovely family! In the evening, Guliya and Wen-hao prepared "Chang-shou" or Long-live noodles. It was sumptuous.

I spoke to dad, mum and Stanley the day before. And I received my sister's sms at 6am in the morning. And thanks to Facebook, friends from abroad are reminded of this day. It took me an hour to reply everyone. Thank you!! Perhaps we might not see each other often, I have you in my thoughts wherever I am.

I had a hearty talk with Volodya on the phone too, describing what happened in the day in Russian.

I also had a missed call from Milan, it was Boris who helped me to buy a birthday cake last year. Although I am not celebrating with the same people this year, with different teacher and classmate, but I wish them well. Brother Martin from Singapore called too upon knowing the 'big day', thanked him and his wife Georg for sending and checking on the parcel which finally arrived last week. Two cans of Dutch peanut butter brought me much happiness, not to mention the bak-chang leaves, mushrooms, dried shrimps and etc.

At this age, I still like to celebrate this day, a day of gratitude and love, and many good wishes for the future. In Singapore, I always have multiple celebrations, it is not birthday, its "birth-month". Our tall and charming dean said to me, in Russia, age than ends with zero is considered jubilee. I wonder where will I be and what will I become in ten years' time. No matter how time flies, family and friends will always be an important part in my life, and it makes any sufferings, cares and concerns, and fatigue all worthwhile. Living is to me, thinking, working, caring and loving, if not reading and writing.

Really strange, some people in Russia refused to believe my real age and think that I am of their age, which is half my age. However my white hair and lines on the neck are mercilessly giving me away but I relish the process of living and breathing, the harvest of love and friendship, the pain and suffering that diminish with the tickling of Time.

Thank you Life. Thank you Russia.