December 12, 2001 Newsletter

Author: Linda DeLaine
Website: RL Online
Department:
Page: 0   ( 0) pages

Summary: Anniversary of the Russian Federation Constitution, results of the 4th Annual Vodka Taste off and more.

RUSSIAN LIFE'S
RUSSIAN CULTURE GUIDE NEWSLETTER

By Linda DeLaine, Editor
December 12, 2001

WHAT'S NEW

* December 12 is a holiday in Russia marking the ratification of the, so called, Yeltsin Constitution in 1993. According to the Public Opinion Foundation, 55% of the people questioned have never read the Constitution and are unfamiliar with its contents. Furthermore, 38% regard it as a bad document and 67% feel it should be amended in some way.

* Russian Life's 4th Annual Vodka Taste Off (Dec. 8, 2001) was a big success. All who attended had a wonderful evening enjoying Russian cuisine, entertainment and most of all, taste-testing 16 vodkas from 9 countries. The results of the 2001 Vodka Taste Off are out; compare this year's rankings an winner with the previous three taste offs.

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

Ded Moroz
Ded Moroz; Grandfather Frost; is the Russian counterpart to the Western Santa Claus and other Gift Givers worldwide. He and his assistant, Snegurochka, continue to delight children and adults alike. In 2000, Santa Claus traveled to Russia to meet Ded Moroz for the first time!

US & Russia: Allies Again?
The September 11 terrorist bombings have changed everything, including, it seems, the nature of the US-Russian relationship. Russian Life talked with a Russian opinion leader to gauge what the future may hold.

Soviet Foreign Policy - Pt. 2
This installment begins with events leading up to Barbarossa, Soviet Russia's contributions to the defeat of Hitler, the Yalta Conference and defeat of Japan.

Dagestan - Islamic Center and War Zone
Dagestan Republic, the war with Chechnya and the battle for ancient Islamic homeland.

Maxim Gorky
The turbulent life of this Russian author{1868-1936}, his experience with oppression and involvement in the Russian revolution make him one of his country's most loved and important writers.

Vodkaphiles
Vodkaphiles rolls out its newest review; Kutskovo Vodka. Visit Vodkaphiles for more reviews, news, recipes and shopping.

And much more . . .

REGULAR FEATURES

Russian Culture Update
Your Update page includes special on-line features such Time Photo Essays, Russia Journal Lifestyle reports, current ruble rate and more. As always, this page is your source for daily headlines, OP/ED, sports and business news.

Today in Russia's History - December
Key events in Russian history from the debut of The Nutcracker, Stalin's birth and Yeltsin's surprise resignation.

PARTING THOUGHTS

* This week in Russia's history was an active one. On December 11, 1994, President Boris Yeltsin ordered Russian troops into Chechnya beginning the first of two highly controversial and violent engagements in this region that in the 1990s. Today, Russia still wages war against rebellion in Chechnya and believes that the rebels are backed by Islamic terrorist leader, Osama bin Laden.

* The big news this week is the expected announcement by the White House of its intent to withdraw from the 1972 ABM Treaty. This comes a no surprise to Moscow or to those who have been closely observing the steadfast disagreement between Russia and the U.S. regarding the ABM vs. NMD (national missile defense shield). The treaty outlines the provisions by which either party can withdraw from the agreement (Article 15).

Pres. Putin "cautioned that unilateral U.S. withdrawal, which Bush has a legal right to do, could unravel the fabric of arms control woven over three decades of painstaking negotiations." (AP) Reports indicate that Bush informed Putin last week that he would withdraw from the ABM, affective 1 Jan. 2002, with the withdraw being complete 6 mos. later.

Supporters point out that the ABM is a product of the Cold War and no longer relevant or applicable. Those against the withdraw cite concerns that such a move would set off a new arms race and place in serious jeopardy and possibly nullify any and all arms control treaties that followed the 1972 agreement including the yet to be fulfilled START II. They, also, question whether the NMD can ever be truly effective and the White House justification that is would be of any use against international terrorism.

Complete ABM Treaty Text

--------------------------------------------------------------------
"I concur in his decision. There are all these questions about Russia upholding their end of the treaty anyway, and I just don't think we should penalize ourselves."
Rep. Bob Stump, R-Ariz., chairman of the House Armed Services Committee

"The administration has not offered any convincing rationale for why any missile defense test it may need to conduct would require walking away from a treaty that has helped keep the peace for the last 30 years."
Sen. Joseph Biden, D-Del., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee