Putin Takes Merkel On Moonlit Volga Boat Ride

[kskiska]

Source: Reuters

Russian President Vladimir Putin took German Chancellor Angela Merkel on an unscheduled, moonlit boat ride on the Volga on Thursday as they worked late into the night to smooth their choppy relations.

Putin and Merkel, in the Volga river city of Samara for a European Union-Russia summit, began their talks over dinner then broke off for a concert of classical music, said an official in the German delegation.

"After that, Putin said spontaneously that he wanted to continue the talks. They are now doing that on a boat trip on the Volga," the official said. The two were still talking on board the boat at around 11:00 p.m. (1800 GMT).

The concert, at the Volzhsky Utyos holiday resort on the banks of the Volga, was performed by the Samara symphony orchestra and soloists brought in from Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre.

Read more: http://www.javno.com/en/world/clanak.php?id=45042

[Frances]

1. But did Putin give Merkel a backrub?

[tchunter]

2. putin's more of a belly kisser

[Wiley50]

4. Bet Chimpy's so jealous

he got the hands off reation

[llmart]

15. Hey, you stole my response:)

However, I'll bet ole' Pooty Poot can't actually CONDUCT an orchestra like our multi-talented idiot-in-chief.

[AlCzervik]

3. Putin scares the shit of me. No one seems to be interested in what he is doing

to "Democracy and freedom" there. Of course our government is certainly in no position to point fingers but hopefully that will change soon.

[jeff30997]

5. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one...

Who thinks that Vlad The Impaler is dangerous.

[acmavm]

13. Of course he's dangerous. No one could rise up the ranks of the KGB

(especially being a 'field officer' in East Germany) like he did and not be totally ruthless. And he thinks like the old timers do. Lenin would be proud of him.

[Moochy]

6. Great Documentary on Link TV on Russian Godfathers + Putin

http://www.linktv.org/programs/god_fugitive

I found this to be very interesting, though I'm not sure how balanced it was, not that anyone is interviewing Putin on this subject of Boris Berezovsky.

Spotlight: Russian Godfathers - The Fugitive
Category: Documentaries
Regions: Eurasia
Topics: Current Affairs / News, Political Institutions / Systems
In the aftermath of the collapse of the Soviet Union, state-owned assets and resources of the former world superpower were seized by a tiny group of smart, ruthless, and well-connected businessmen. The group, collectively dubbed the Russian oligarchs, rapidly joined the ranks of the world’s richest people -- and now battle Russian president Vladimir Putin for economic and political control of the country.

In a political climate in which journalists and other critics of the Kremlin face imprisonment and even assassination, Russian Godfathers is a thoroughly up-to-date investigation of the rise and fall of the Russian oligarchs and their ongoing war with Putin’s 21st Century Russian Democracy. Obtaining unprecedented on-camera access to the billionaires who are currently at war with Putin, the three-part series offers unique insight on the ruthless struggle for wealth, power and control over resources.

An Oxford Film & Television Production for the BBC, Russian Godfathers is airing as part of Link TV’s Spotlight series. It won the British Grierson Award for Best Documentary Series.

[AlCzervik]

7. Thanks, bookmarking for tomorrow.

[David__77]

9. Yeltsin was far, far worse.

At least the country is starting to rebuild now after the total calamity of the 1990's. A nation can only stand so much humiliation.

[Psephos]

20. Yeltsin was a disorganized democrat; Putin is a cool and heartless authoritarian

It's a bit strange to see support for the autocrat over the democrat on a progressive board.

Putin turns my blood to ice water.

[PurityOfEssence]

19. So true

I wouldn't trust this fuck three steps toward the door under surveillance cameras and an armed guard.

He's deftly taken the deeply entrenched history of autocracy of that country to heart and danced around the complaints and resistance of others while KILLING opponents wholesale. This is one dangerous cuss.

Russia never has had an even break. The history of the Czars is one of selfish tyranny. Kerensky was too embroiled in the war, Trotsky was a spaz, Lenin, Stalin and the rest of the peoples' despots were assholes of the first order, Gorbachev was muddled and caught up in the sweep of events and Yeltsin was a sot who was enthralled with power.

Once again, this poor country never has had a fair shake of it, and Putin is an ice-blooded dick of the first order. Sadly, there isn't the slightest wisp of honorable pluralism in this country's consciousness, and there always seems to be a new shithead like Putin to keep such notions at bay.

Not only is it dangerous to the the rest of the world, it's destined to cause periodic upheaval and the continued subjugation of its people.

So sad.

[SoCalDem]

21. This sweet little guy?

Take the guy outta the KGB? Maybe. Take the KGB outta the guy? Never!

[Rydz777]

8. Merkel looked into Putin's eyes and saw his

soul. Sorry - correction - it was Bush who looked into Putin's eyes amd saw his soul. Putin looked into Bush's eyes and saw nothing.

[Bucky]

11. I thought Bush was gazing into Putin's navel

and gurgling with astonishment.
.

[Buns_of_Fire]

12. That's because he didn't shine a flashlight into Junior's ear

Hey, it's dark in those large, empty, cavernous spaces!

[Charlie Brown]

10. Let's hope they're paid a visit by the Creature From the Black Lagoon nt

[Endangered Specie]

14. What are they gonna be doing... signing a non-aggression pact?

:sarcasm:

[JNelson6563]

16. Putin and Merkel sittin' in a tree. k-i-s-s-i-n-g!

;-)

[tabasco]

17. Best response yet!

LOL!

[Sequoia]

18. The Owl and the Pussycat

The Owl and the Pussy-cat went to sea
In a beautiful pea green boat,
They took some honey, and plenty of money,
Wrapped up in a five pound note.
The Owl looked up to the stars above,
And sang to a small guitar,
'O lovely Pussy! O Pussy my love,
What a beautiful Pussy you are,
You are,
You are!
What a beautiful Pussy you are!'

[CHIMO]

22. EU, Russia Clash Over Democracy at Volga Summit

Russia's President Vladimir Putin and European Union leaders clashed on Friday over democratic freedoms at a contentious summit where police stopped opposition protests.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel voiced concern after leading Kremlin opponents planning a protest near the summit venue --
including chess legend Garry Kasparov -- were prevented from traveling there by Russian authorities.

"I hope that they will be able to express their opinion," Merkel told a joint news conference at the end of the two-day summit at which EU leaders discussed the state of democracy and human rights.

"I'm somewhat concerned that people had difficulties getting here, but perhaps a possible demonstration can still take place," Merkel said.

"If demonstrators throw stones, if they smash windows, then of course they should be curbed. But if someone has done nothing, if
they just want to go to a demonstration, then it's different," Merkel said.

http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,2542317,00.html

Seems like Merkel doesn't want France to get in front of them. But they have a short memory about where their natural gas is coming from. So Merkel may have a bit of a problem down the road.

Maybe it's a race to become the next poodle?