Vladyki Hilarion: MP can leave the World Council of Churches

Metropolitan Hilarion Kapral of New York and Eastern America (1948- ), First Hierarch of the ROCOR

The Archpastoral Council of the MP was in session last week, and bishops of the ROCOR, headed by their newly-elected First Hierarch, Metropolitan Hilarion of New York and Eastern America, participated in it for the first time. During one of the breaks between sessions, Metropolitan Hilarion gave an exclusive interview to RIA-Novosti. His interlocutor was Andrei Zolotov.

Andrei Zolotov

Vladyki, in your address on the first day of the council you emphasised that you were here for the first time, so, much was new and incomprehensible to you. Now, some three days of sessions have passed. Is this still your impression and feeling?

Metropolitan Hilarion

Firstly, there was joy in the fact that we bishops from abroad had this contact with our brother-bishops for the first time. Certainly, I did not know many of them. However, I think that many of the Russian bishops do not know one another either, because so many of them have been so recently promoted. Our cooperation was joyful because we learned so much about church life and management here in the motherland, and we also were able to discern which problems existed only here and which problems are general for all of us. As we became acquainted with our brother-bishops, as we talked with them, a bond of fraternal love and understanding developed. We saw that these are remarkable people, whom we did not truly know, and, then, only from a distance, we saw their photographs or we heard about them on the news. Now… we have fraternal contact. This development is creative.

Andrei Zolotov

You indicated in your address that you would not remove from the agenda the question of the withdrawal of the MP from the World Council of Churches. Were there discussions on this in the official sessions of the council or informal talks outside of the sessions?

Metropolitan Hilarion

No, we did not address the matter formally. However, many of the bishops came up to me and expressed their agreement with this proposal, they were glad that I had brought it up and that the question was raised. Truly, I believe that most believers from all quarters would like to see this happen. This shall strengthen our position at home, abroad, that is, where some clergy and laymen went into schism precisely because of this question. If we re-evaluated our membership in the WCC, if we altered our participation to be merely observers, as the Roman Catholics are observers at its sessions, probably, this would greatly ease the minds of many people who feel that the past participation of the MP in the WCC and other ecumenical bodies was beyond the pale. If we could correct this, it would cause great joy throughout the church.

We should not fear that our witness to the truth of Orthodoxy shall be restricted by this. On the contrary, when others see that we not only confess the Orthodox faith, but, we also reflect it in our lives, it shall be attractive. People are drawn in from Protestantism and Catholicism precisely because our church dogma is immutable, it continues on the path of the Apostles and Holy Fathers, and it stands firmly rooted in the ancient church traditions. They see that the teachings and practise of the church do not change in mindless conformity with contemporary fads, but, everything remains as it was taught by the Saviour and His Apostles, it stands fast in the Orthodox way. When people see this, they wish to be Orthodox. I believe that this shall not only continue, but, intensify, because the decline in the contemporary Protestant and Catholic churches is palpable. Now, Orthodoxy is growing everywhere.

Andrei Zolotov

If we speak of an increase in the Orthodox Church, then, I understand that a question concerning mission was raised at the Council. You have much experience in mission amongst heterodox communities. What, in your view, is most important for mission in the contemporary world?

Metropolitan Hilarion

At first, the most pressing need is for internal mission. It is necessary for the Russian people to return to Orthodoxy, those who have not yet been baptised, and those who still do not believe. There is still much work to be done here. Our task in the West is similar, because our first priority is looking after our flock. For example, there are young people in mixed marriages. Often, it happens that the Orthodox partner gradually moves away from the church. Sometimes, the heterodox partner converts to Orthodoxy, but, frequently, this can turn out negatively. Another large problem is assimilation. Therefore, we must work hard to hold our young people in the church. Nevertheless, we also witness to the outside world. We are always eager to welcome them, if we can sense a sincere desire to embrace the Orthodox faith. We prepare them with catechetical instruction and we receive into the church either through baptism or through chrismation.

We do not do as some groups do, where they go from house to house knocking on strangers’ doors, and so forth. No. People learn about Orthodoxy from literature, their friends, family contacts, and religious publications. In all these different ways, people come.

Andrei Zolotov

Even before your election as the First Hierarch of the ROCOR, you went down to Latin America and attempted to win back those who went into schism. What is the situation today with those people who went into schism from the ROCOR after its reunification with the MP?

Metropolitan Hilarion

In Latin America, they still refuse to join us. There are many clergy in several countries that left, for example, in Brazil, Argentina, and Chile. I talked with all of them. They told me the reasons why they left. Certainly, they are isolated. Their bishop passed away several years ago, and we could not find a replacement for him immediately. Now, we have a new bishop for Latin America in the ROCOR that we ordained literally on the eve of the Archpastoral Council, but, thus far, there is no archpastoral care directly on the spot. Unfortunately, they did not accept my answers to their questions. I think that this occurred because there was a lack of information. Perhaps, their relative isolation preserved old concepts, concepts of the past, when there was no confidence in the hierarchy in Russia. Maybe, this is due to the fact that they have not had the opportunity to visit Russia and see what has changed, that the church is now completely free. However, the issue of ecumenism disturbs many of them. In Australia, those who left indicated that it was precisely the fact that the MP is a member of the WCC that constituted the main reason for their departure.

Andrei Zolotov

Vladyki, our experience here in Russia is that the same people who protested against the membership of the MP in the WCC were the same people who are in favour of canonising figures such as Ivan Grozny, et al.

Metropolitan Hilarion

Certainly, there are extremists. However, I am speaking of ordinary parishioners who are disturbed about the membership of the MP in the WCC. There shall always be those who are never satisfied and they shall always find “reasons” for their dissatisfaction. But, as I say, I am referring to the majority of the believers abroad here.          

30 June 2008

RIA-Novosti

Quoted in Pravoslavie.ru

http://www.pravoslavie.ru/smi/502.htm (in Russian)

Fr Sergei Rybko Plays the Drums at a Rock Festival in Perm

Fr Sergei Rybko, rector of St Sergius parish in Bibirevo, “the Apostle to the Conterculture”

Perm, 30 June 2008 (Interfax):

Hegumen Sergei Rybko, rector of St Sergius parish in Bibirevo, who preaches amongst rockers, hippies, bikers, and counterculture youth, played the drums at the opening of a rock festival at the abandoned Bakharevka airdrome in Perm. Accompanying him, his colleague, Fr Nikolai, played the guitar at the opening ceremony. The priests played several rock numbers, the website of the newspaper Permsky Obozrevatel (The Perm Review) reported. Earlier, Patriarch Aleksei decorated Fr Sergei with a church order for his successful missionary work. Fr Sergei related that he turned to God thanks to such legendary rock-groups as the Beatles, Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin. He has composed a rock-opera. “There’s a way to God and to salvation through rock music, and this road is very wide. Many of our Russian rock musicians are Orthodox people. They are turning to God more and more in their music”, Fr Sergei said.

Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=news&div=25209 (in Russian)

Editor’s Note:

Fr Sergei Rybko, along with Fr Andrei Kuraev, is one of the greatest preachers in Russia today. Literally, thousands of people attend his parish in Bibirevo in the Moscow suburbs, and Fr Sergei has brought multitudes to Christ. Batiushka Sergei runs a rock club, preaches at rock concerts, and engages contemporary society at every opportunity. He is not afraid to face the modern world, and in this he is quite unlike many American Orthodox who use the Church as a means of escape from modernity. If this tendency is not checked, it leads to pharisaism and neo-puritanism, ending in schisms such as those of Diomid, Agafangel, and Panteleimon of Brookline. We should follow Fr Andrei and Fr Sergei, not pied-pipers who want us to retreat to a Penza Cave to live in “purity”.

ROCK ON, FR SERGEI! 

The Way of the Confessors: The Path of the Cross all Over Russia

Three pilgrims carrying the cross have set off from Arkhangelsk in a sail/rowboat. They are going to sail along the entire northern coast of Russia in the Arctic seas, some 8,300 kilometres (@4,500 nautical miles)! Fr Dmitri Lukyanov, one of the pilgrims, said, “This is the first attempt to traverse the entire northern passage using a sail/rowboat. We are going to use the boat to get to Vladivostok, and then we are going to return to Arhangelsk by land using motor vehicles”.

The leader of this expedition, entitled “The Path of the Cross all Over Russia”, is the well-known adventurer Georgy Karpenko. The other two participants are yachtsman Andrei Deyev and Fr Dmitri Lukyanov, a former professional athlete. “Extremes, records, survival, glory… for those of us who are experiencing this, they are empty words. Then, you understand it… it is all God’s Will. The path of the cross is necessary for the spiritual unity of our motherland. It can help each and every one of us to understand our importance and our purpose, so that we can feel its support in our efforts to bring about a revival of Orthodox Russia”, the pilgrims said in an effort to explain their determination.

Praying always, praying everywhere

Georgy Karpenko told us that everything on the boat was stowed securely when they left Arkhangelsk on the Northern Dvina.  “All the skippers from around here warned us that the northern wind in combination with the tides agitates steep counter waves, into which our little boat could crash, as into a wall. However, with God’s help, we shall prevail in crossing this most perilous section of our path”, Mr Karpenko said. On average, the pilgrims expect to advance 200 to 220 kilometres (108 to 119 nautical miles) per day on this leg of their journey.

Fr Dmitri said, “Gradually, we’ll get our sea legs and get used to the Spartan conditions. We read the akafists to the Saviour, to the Mother of God, and St Nicholas continuously”. They carry the Ruling Icon of the Mother of God on board, the cross is affixed to the upper part of the mast, a banner with the icon of Christ is aft, along with the Russian flag and the St Andrew ensign (the Russian naval flag: editor’s note). In a word, the path of the cross is not only felt spiritually, it is also perceived physically.

The pilgrims stop at the coastal settlements upon their route, where often there are no churches or priests. Fr Dmitri baptises people and hears their confessions. He said, “They greet us very enthusiastically. You can see how God attracts them! Along our route, we are going to be placing Orthodox crosses, and instead of landmarks, we are going to place commemorative plaques so that the memory of our path with the cross would remain for a very long time”.

1 July 2008

Anatoly Belevtsev

Ekspress-Gazeta (Express-Newspaper)

Quoted in Interfax-Religion

http://www.interfax-religion.ru/?act=print&div=8601 (in Russian)

1 July 2008. A Day at the Races…

Russia’s national football team has vast prospects ahead

According to experts from the largest biggest US sport website ESPN, Russia’s national football team has vast prospects ahead, with a good chance to be qualified for the 2010 World Cup. In the wake of Euro 2008, the Russian footballers are now on the list of the best European clubs, ESPN commentators emphasised. This year, the national team rewrote Russian football history by managing to make it into the semi-finals of the European Football Championship.

29 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29011&cid=52&p=29.06.2008 (in English)

Spain wins Euro 2008

For the second time in history, the Spanish national football team won, following a 44-year break, the European football championship title. The Spanish beat Germany in the finals of the championships 1:0 in Vienna on Sunday. The footballer who scored the goal, Fernando Torres, was recognised as the best player of the match. The Euro 2008 championship bronze medals went to Russia and Turkey. The Ukraine and Poland are due to jointly host the next European football championships in 2012.

30 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29044&cid=52&p=30.06.2008 (in English)

Spain is the one at Euro 2008: ¡Viva España! ¡Viva los futbolistas Españoles!

Spaniards madly celebrated their team’s win of the European football championship until the early hours of the morning. Crowds of jubilant people took to the streets upon learning about the win. King Juan Carlos I and Prime Minister José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero offered their congratulations to the national team players right after the game. The King said the Spanish footballers had given everyone in Spain a tremendously joyous victory and he thanked them for doing that. 

30 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29060&cid=87&p=30.06.2008 (in English)

Editor’s Note:

Well, our Russian boys got skunked… this year. As for next year… but, as for today, our sincere congratulations to a team that played well and hard. We are not only called to be good at sport, we are called to be “good sports”.

¡Olé España!

200 compete in 20^th International North Sea Heat

Over 200 European swimmers took part in the 20th international North Sea Heat. The athletes were taken to the Frisian Island of Langeoog by ferryboat, whence they had to swim 10.6 kilometres (6.5 miles) to Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony) Länd in Germany. Things were complicated by a stormy wind, yet, none of the swimmers fell out of the race. All of the swimmers received an award irrespective of the time they clocked. 

30 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29060&cid=87&p=30.06.2008 (in English)

World Festival of Equestrian Sport opened in Aachen

The World Festival of Equestrian Sport opened in the German city of Aachen. This is the most prestigious of all outdoor equestrian tournaments and brings together the best riders and horses of more than 20 nations. Russia plays the role of a partner and honorary participant in this year’s event. The mounted escorts of the President’s regiment, seen in action only by visiting heads of state, have, for the first time, arrived in Aachen. Cossacks of the Don host will show their worth and Ossetian horsemen will perform the most difficult tricks, including the art of galloping with their heads under their horses’ bellies, at the Aachen festival. Russian troikas will delight Aachen with their prowess and beauty.

1 July 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29121&cid=52&p=01.07.2008 (in English)

Voice of Russia World Service

Spain beat Germany to become Euro Champions

Spain lifted the European Championship trophy Sunday night, their first major soccer title for 44 years in a deserved 1-0 win over Germany in the Euro 2008 finals at the Ernst Happel Stadion in Vienna. With six wins prior to Sunday’s final, Spain were by far the most consistent side in the competition and their imagination and skill, as well as a Fernando Torres goal in the 33rd minute, was enough to see them crowned champions. Spain’s coach, Luis Aragones, said after the match, “This is a happy day for Spain; we’ve won this tournament in style”. Aragones praised Torres, the game’s only scorer following a superb pass by Xavi Hernandez, saying, “He could be one of the best players in the world, no doubt”.

Spanish King Juan Carlos, who watched the match along with Queen Sofia and Prime Minister José Luís Rodríguez Zapatero, told national TV, “We suffered, but in the end, it was worth all the pain”. Spain’s EFE news agency reported that around 90 people required medical treatment, mostly for minor injuries as the country partied all night long celebrating their long-awaited win. with temperatures reaching 30 degrees centigrade (86 Fahrenheit), the country’s fire service sprayed crowds with water to try and keep them cool. The Spanish newspaper El Mundo reported that 26 people had been hospitalised, one with serious injuries, after police were called in to contain high-spirited and drunk fans who were throwing bottles in the streets. On their way to the final, Spain defeated Russia twice, in the group stages and in the semi-finals, as well as beating world champion Italy in a tense quarter-final penalty shoot on 22 June.

30 June 2008

http://en.rian.ru/sports/20080630/112572721.html (in English)

Four Russians named to Euro 2008 team

Four Russian players were included in the Euro 2008 Team of the Tournament, with only winners Spain better-represented, the UEFA announced Monday on its website. The symbolic team is dominated by players from the Spanish squad, which contributes nine of the 23, but, also includes four Russians and three Germans. The Netherlands and Portugal supply two players each, whilst there is one representative each from Turkey, Croatia, and Italy. “The Team of the Tournament is something which we put into our technical report for our coaching colleagues. We give them pointers on the players that our technical experts have appreciated during this event”, UEFA Technical Director Andy Roxburgh said, according to the website. The Russian team finished the tournament with the bronze after losing its semi-final 3-0 to Spain, which in turn beat Germany 1-0 to win the title.

UEFA Team of the Tournament:

Goalkeepers:

Gianluigi Buffon (Italy), Iker Casillas (Spain), Edwin van der Sar (the Netherlands).

Defenders:

Bosingwa (Portugal), Philipp Lahm (Germany), Carlos Marchena (Spain), Pepe (Portugal), Carles Puyol (Spain), Yuri Zhirkov (Russia).

Midfielders:

Hamit Altntop (Turkey), Luka Modric (Croatia), Marcos Senna (Spain), Xavi Hernandez (Spain), Konstantin Zyryanov (Russia), Michael Ballack (Germany), Cesc Fabregas (Spain), Andres Iniesta (Spain), Lukas Podolski (Germany), Wesley Sneijder (the Netherlands).

Forwards:

Andrei Arshavin (Russia), Roman Pavlyuchenko (Russia), Fernando Torres (Spain), David Villa (Spain).

30 June 2008

http://en.rian.ru/sports/20080630/112598588.html (in English)

Russia’s Dementieva and Petrova to meet in Wimbledon last eight

Yelena Dementieva (1981- ), Russian tennis star

Russia’s Yelena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova both clinched straight set victories in the fourth round of the women’s singles at Wimbledon on Monday, and will meet in the quarter-finals. Fifth-seed Dementieva cruised to a 6-2 6-1 victory over Israel’s Shahar Peer to reach the last eight for the second time in three years. Peer had defeated Russia’s Dinara Safina in the previous round. Nadia Petrova, seeded 21st, overpowered compatriot Alla Kudryavtseva 6-1, 6-4. Kudryavtseva, ranked 154 in the world, had been a relative unknown before her shock victory over Maria Sharapova in the second round.

Of the other three Russian women in the fourth round, fourth-seed Svetlana Kuznetsova was defeated by Poland’s Agnieszka Radwanska, Alisa Kleybanova lost to Venus Williams of the U.S., and eighth-seed Anna Chakvetadze was beaten by the Czech Republic’s Nicole Vaidisova. In the men’s singles, Russia’s Marat Safin is currently playing Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka for a place in the quarter finals. Earlier in the day the other Russian competing in the fourth round, Mikhail Youzhny, lost 3-6, 3-6, 1-6 to Spain’s Rafael Nadal, the number two seed.

30 June 2008

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080630/112627216.html (in English)

Russia’s Yekaterina Makarova through to Wimbledon quarter-finals

Yekaterina Makarova (1988- ), Russian tennis player

Russia’s Yekaterina Makarova and her Tunisian partner won in straight sets in the women’s doubles to go through to the quarterfinals at Wimbledon. Markarova and Selima Sfar beat the number nine seeds and former Wimbledon and Australian Open double champions, Yan Zi and Zheng Jie, from China 7-5, 6-4. The pair will now face Australia’s Samantha Stosur and America’s Lisa Raymond (16) in the quarters.

1 July 2008

http://en.rian.ru/sports/20080701/112661995.html (in English)

Russia’s Safin moves into Wimbledon quarter-finals

Marat Safin (1980- ), Russian tennis champion

Russia’s former world number one, Marat Safin, continued his winning streak at Wimbledon beating Switzerland’s Stanislas Wawrinka (13) in the third round to go through to the quarter-finals. The unseeded Safin, 28, who beat third seed Novak Djorkovic in the second round, clinched the match in four sets 6-4, 6-3, 5-7, 6-1 on Monday to the obvious delight of the crowd on Wimbledon’s No. 1 court, to reach his first quarterfinal at the grass court championship since 2001. He will now face Spain’s Feliciano Lopez (31).

His younger sister, Dinara Safina (9), did not enjoy the same success, however, after losing in straight sets in the women’s doubles to number six seeds Victoria Azarenka and Shahar Peer, who earlier beat Safina in an epic singles match (7-5, 6-7, 8-6) which lasted almost three and a half hours. In the mixed doubles Russia’s Igor Andreyev and Maria Kirilenko are due to play the Czech pair, Lukas Dlouhy and Nicole Vaidisova, in their third round match on court two Tuesday. And Yelena Dementieva (5) and Nadia Petrova (21) will meet each other in their women’s singles quarterfinal match on Wimbledon’s Centre Court. In other results Russia’s Dmitri Tursunov and Nadia Petrova lost in the mixed doubles to Britain’s Jamie Murray and American Liezel Huber, 6-2, 2-6, 9-7.

1 July 2008

http://en.rian.ru/sports/20080701/112679820.html (in English)

Russia’s Dementieva reaches first Wimbledon semi-final

Yelena Dementieva (1981- ), Russian tennis star

Russia’s Yelena Dementieva reached the semi-finals of the prestigious Wimbledon tennis tournament for the first time in her 10-year professional career after a marathon quarter-final victory Tuesday. In a match that lasted almost two and a half hours, fifth-seed Dementieva managed to overcome her compatriot Nadia Petrova (seeded 21) in three sets 6-1, 6-7 (6-8), 6-3. “It feels wonderful. It’s my first semi-final here and I’m very excited about it. It has been a good run for me. I’m happy I’m getting my game back”, Dementieva said after the match, the WTA website reported. In her semi-final match, Dementieva is set to play defending champion Venus Williams. The American advanced to the semis by zipping past Thailand’s Tamarine Tanasugarn in straight sets 6-4, 6-3.

1 July 2008

http://en.rian.ru/sports/20080701/112748563.html (in English)

RIA-Novosti

A Modest Proposal for Metropolitan Hilarion…

Blessed Elder Seraphim Rose of Platina (1934-82), acknowledged American elder of the 20th century

All of us have heard of the fact that the Monastery of St Herman of Alaska in Platina CA and St Xenia Skete in Wildwood CA were spared serious damage during the current round of forest fires in their vicinity. I would say the following to Metropolitan Hilarion:

“Sir, the monasteries were spared through the intercessions of Blessed Elder Seraphim Rose, a miracle in anyone’s book. As Blessed Seraphim is venerated widely both in America and all over the Orthodox world, and he died in communion with the ROCOR, shall you not pass his name to His Holiness for consideration for universal glorification? It would be a move that would be hailed from Athos to New York to Moscow. St John Maksimovich was glorified 28 years after his death, it has been 26 since the repose of Blessed Seraphim. What do you say, sir?”

This is my own opinion, it is the opinion of no official body, but, I do daresay that most Orthodox believers, wherever they may be, would agree.

It is time.

Vara Drezhlo

Tuesday 1 July 2008

US-Iran Conflict is Fraught with the Risk of a Global Energy Crisis

The most recent war of words between Washington and Tehran has already sent oil prices sky-high and oil experts in the Gulf countries fear that if the situation eventually comes to blows, the result could be an energy crisis on a global scale. Observers have long linked record-high oil prices to the conflict around the so-called Iranian nuclear threat. In a situation where there is no lack of oil on the world markets, the current spike can only be due to subjective reasons. Iran’s nuclear programme raises many questions in the world, no doubt about that, and the Iranians’ refusal to roll up their uranium enrichment work could really mean they might be developing a nuclear weapon… 

Washington’s repeated threats to bring the intransigent Iranian leaders to their senses are not making the situation any better. Even US intelligence data about Iran rolling up its military nuclear programme as back as in 2003 have not been enough to cool some hot heads in the White House and on Capitol Hill. The Iranians, for their part, are showing no desire to back off and Washington is capitalising on Tehran’s counterproductive anti-Israel rhetoric and its lack of transparency in dealing with the IAEA. 

Under these circumstances, the recent Iranian desire to establish its control over the Strait of Hormuz, a bottleneck that up to 60 percent of the global oil output must pass through, and the American reaction to this desire only added fuel to the flames, sending oil prices to a staggering 143 dollars (3,351 roubles. 90.55 euros. 71.70 UK pounds) per barrel. The executive director of Kuwait’s Oil Organisation, Saad ash-Shuweib, believes that if the situation degenerates into a full-blown war, the price could jump to 200 dollars (4,687 roubles. 126.64 euros. 100.24 UK pounds) per barrel.

The current presidential race in the US is seen by many, including Georgy Mirsky, a Moscow-based Iranian-affairs expert, as a big factor here. “It is absolutely clear that because they are bogged down in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Americans are unable to launch any military strike on Iran. All this is a heavy blow to President Bush who, after the debacle in Iraq, would certainly like to strike the Iranians and say that he prevented them from going nuclear…” 

Russia believes that the only way to reverse the very dangerous slide to war would be to end the current war of words and seek a diplomatic solution to the conflict. 

1 July 2008

Aleksandr Vatutin

Voice of Russia World Service

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29086&cid=57&p=01.07.2008 (in English) 

1 July 2008. A Shot of Culture, if you please…

Holiday of Russian Culture in London

A holiday of Russian culture, dedicated to Russia Day and the Year of the Family, took place in London on Sunday. The holiday, organised by the Coordination Council of Russian Compatriots with the assistance of the Russian embassy in the UK, saw prizes awarded to schoolchildren who won in the I Love Russia competition. The 250 schoolchildren, ranging in age from 6 to 16, in the competition produced all sorts of works, including drawings, posters, essays, and compositions. 

30 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29060&cid=87&p=30.06.2008 (in English)

Film by Russian director racks up impressive first weekend

Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov (1961- ) (right)

The R-rated action thriller Wanted by Russian film director Timur Bekmambetov racked up an impressive 84 million dollars (1.969 billion roubles. 53.222 million euros. 42.126 million UK pounds) in box-office receipts on its first day of screening, according to the preliminary estimates by Universal studios, which is distributing the movie in North America.  Interestingly, the budget of the film was just 150 million dollars (3.517 billion roubles. 95.04 million euros. 75.225 million UK pounds). This Hollywood production uses many special effects and computer graphics. It is the first time that a Russian director turned out such a big hit in Hollywood.

30 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29060&cid=87&p=30.06.2008 (in English)

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29063&cid=51&p=30.06.2008 (in English)

23^rd World Congress of Architects in Torino

View of Venaria Reale from the palace

9,000 architects, architectural students, and other experts are due to take part in the 23d World Congress of Architects, held at the recently-restored residence of the former Savoy dynasty, Reggio di Venaria near Torino. It is the first time that the congress was held in an Italian city.

30 June 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29060&cid=87&p=30.06.2008 (in English)

French applied art on display in Moscow

The cream of French applied art is on display at an exhibition that opened in Moscow on Tuesday. The Violet Street: From Paris to Moscow exhibition showcases items made of glass, ceramics, china, leather and bronze, along with barrel organs, tapestries, and custom-made weapons. Visitors also have a chance to enjoy exquisite gloves and fans created for leading European fashion houses.

1 July 2008

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29093&cid=51&p=01.07.2008 (in English)

Voice of Russia World Service

Russian-directed film starring Angelina Jolie beats box office records

Wanted, an American studio movie directed by Russian filmmaker Timur Bekmambetov and starring Angelina Jolie, beat box office records at its worldwide premiere, Universal Pictures said on Monday. The action film took $84 million dollars (1.969 billion roubles. 53.222 million euros. 42.126 million UK pounds) in worldwide receipts on 26-27 June, Vadim Ivanov, the studio’s commercial director, told a news conference. Mr Ivanov said the story of the unusual transformation of miserable office clerk Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy) into a skilful assassin had the largest box office receipts in Russia, the UK, and South Korea with 10.8 million (252 million roubles. 6.8 million euros. 5.412 million UK pounds), 8 million (187 million roubles. 5.06 million euros. 4.009 million UK pounds), and 6.7 million dollars (156 million roubles. 4.2 million euros. 3.357 million UK pounds) respectively. “This is the best possible start for Universal Pictures in Russia and for Timur Bekmambetov”, he said.

The Kazakh-born Mr Bekmambetov said, “I am glad our film became No. 1 picture at world box offices. We did not even dream about it”. Based on the comic books by Mark Millar and J.G. Jones, the 150 million dollar (3.517 billion roubles. 95.04 million euros. 75.225 million UK pounds) picture is filled with eye-popping special effects like bending bullets, slow-motion and sped-up sequences, with which Mr Bekmambetov distinguished himself in his supernatural Russian-language thrillers Night Watch and Day Watch. Ms Jolie plays Fox, who recruits the dormant “born assassin” Gibson to replace his murdered father, the top killer at an elite order of paid killers. The movie also stars Morgan Freeman as head of the ancient brotherhood of assassins.

Mr Bekmambetov thanked Russian audiences for going to the cinema on Friday instead of the previous scheduled premiere date of 26 June, when the Russian national soccer team lost 3-0 in the quarter-finals of Euro 2008 to Spain. He also said initial box office sales were not “the end of the game, yet, but, only the first time”. But, he said he expected “the picture to be a springboard for future films”, his own and those of other Russian directors. “…A precedent will be set to show that movies can speak Russian to the whole world”. The film also features Russian actors Konstantin Khabensky and Dato Bakhtadze.

30 June 2008

http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080630/112583189.html (in English)

RIA-Novosti

More Opposition to the Lisbon Treaty Surfaces in the EU

Polish President Lech Aleksander Kaczyński (1949- )

The number of opponents of the Lisbon Treaty, the set of institutional reforms aimed at streamlining the work of the enlarged European Union, is increasing. After the treaty was defeated by a referendum in Ireland on 12 June, Poland announced its decision to go the same way. According to AFP (Agence France-Presse), Polish President Lech Kaczyński refused to ratify the Lisbon treaty. The announcement came as surprise, both to the majority of Polish citizens and to the other members of the EU. The Polish parliament approved the treaty in April, but, Mr Kaczyński’s signature is needed to finalise the ratification.

According to Dmitri Danilov, the Director of the Centre for European Security of the Institute of Europe, the forecasts are beginning to come true… “Obviously, more EU members are becoming sceptical of the treaty. Now, seeing that the European Constitution has failed, the EU faces another crisis. It is difficult to say how the whole thing will end”.

Mr Kaczyński said Ireland’s rejection of the Lisbon Treaty makes the ratification process a waste of time. “At the moment, the question of the treaty is pointless”, he said. But, this is just an excuse. Warsaw has long been dissatisfied with the decision-making process in the EU. Still, to be approved, the document must be ratified by all 27 members. If the Lisbon Treaty takes effect, the standard system of voting in the Council of Ministers will be “qualified majority voting”. It will be based on the principle of a double majority. Decisions in the Council of Ministers will need the support of 55 percent of the member states (currently 15 out of 27 EU countries) representing a minimum of 65 percent of the EU’s population. It means that Eastern European member states, Poland included, will have less leverage and influence, and Warsaw could no longer impose vetoes on EU initiatives. Nevertheless, Mr Kaczyński’s decision makes the process of reform even more complicated.

1 July 2008

Voice of Russia World Service

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29107&cid=56&p=01.07.2008 (in English)

Kosovo on the Brink of Political Crisis

Desecrated Orthodox church in Kosovo, destroyed by Albanian nationalist fanatics. This is why all good Orthodox Christians must support our Serbian co-religionists absolutely and without limit.

Kosovo shall face a new political crisis because the National Assembly of the Republic of Serbia (Skupstina), its Parliament, declared the UDI of Kosovo adopted by the Kosovo Albanian leadership in February invalid. In response, Pristina said it was ready to take over all regions [in Kosovo] with a Serbian majority. The [Kosovo Serb] parliament was formed after an election on 11 May. Although the elections were not recognised either by the Albanians or the UN Mission, the Serbs have decided emphatically to only obey the legitimate parliament in Belgrade. The date of inauguration, 28 June, is symbolic, as on this very day in 1389 Serbia fought the bloody Battle of the Kosovo Pole (Kosovo Field) with the Ottoman Turks, an event that became an iconic example of the heroic struggle for national identity by the Serbs.

The majority of observers believe that the establishment of state institutions independent from the Pristina Albanian government is the only way the Kosovo Serbs still have to try and defend their rights and bring their position home to other members of the international community. Vladimir Bruter, an expert on the region, thought that now everything will depend on the reaction of international organisations. “The UN will not support the attempts of Pristina’s leaders to seize control over some Kosovo districts as the UN is not interested in any kind of military operation in the region. Apparently, Belgrade will provide an adequate reaction to any step taken by Pristina, and this will lead to no good. The region faces another deadlock”.

Russia suggests a constructive method to settle the Kosovo issue. Moscow insists that the sides should hold peace talks and take into consideration the public opinion in both the Serbian and Albanian parts of Kosovo. Time has shown that EU faces a deadlock each time it ignores Belgrade. In the meantime, Serbia is being fed promises about EU membership. At the recent meeting of the 17th OSCE Parliamentary Session on Sunday, it was again announced that Serbia would become a full member of the EU soon after the opposing parts achieve an agreement on Kosovo. However, experts say that it is high time for the EU to correct the numerous mistakes it had made in Kosovo over the past 10 years.

1 July 2008

Voice of Russia World Service

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29113&cid=56&p=01.07.2008 (in English)

Editor’s Note:

The US and the EU still don’t get it. Kosovo Pole is one of the most sacred sites in Serbia. No Serb shall allow it to be profaned by Albanian rule. Reflect on the following… the US supports Croatia, Bosnia, Albania, the Ukraine, Latvia, and Estonia. All of these states enthusiastically supported the Nazis in World War II, and they were willing accomplices in the Jewish Holocaust. All of these states give great honour to veterans of the SS. Should we be supporting those who freely and enthusiastically supported one of the grossest and most vile evils to have existed on the planet? I think not. Serbia and Russia were America’s allies against Hitler. Reflect on THAT.

Kosovo je Srbija. Nothing more need be said.

Talks on US Missile Defence System in Europe Gather Steam

Talks between Poland and the United States on the deployment of ten American anti-missile silos may draw to a close this week. The announcement was made in Warsaw by Zbigniew Chlebowski, the leader of the parliamentary faction of the ruling Civic Platform Party. Although he provided no convincing evidence to back his words, Mr Chlebowski argued that there is every indication that the talks are nearing an end.

Meanwhile, there have been repeated statements from Polish leaders of late saying that Warsaw is in no hurry to wind up talks with Washington, but, will seek an agreement that would meet its national interests. Such an agreement would require the United States to provide Poland with multi-billion-dollar assistance in upgrading its army and with Patriot missiles. Moreover, Poland signalled its readiness to enter talks on the issue with the new White House administration in early 2009. The US, in turn, opposed the demands and the talks are in a stalemate. There have been no official reports on a forthcoming compromise either. But, even if the talks do come to a close, it is highly unlikely that the deployment issue will see a full stop. The agreements are due to be ratified by the parliaments of Poland and the Czech Republic, where most people are against the deployment of the US missile silos and radar sites.

Russian-American talks on missile defence are still continuing as well, with no progress in sight. Moscow is strongly against Washington’s plans. What has to be remembered too is that any US agreement with Poland and the Czech Republic signed now might soon be reconsidered by the new US president, particularly in case of a Democratic victory. Significantly, similar statements were voiced within just a few days of one another by former US Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton and former National Security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski.

30 June 2008  

Viktor Yenikeyev

Voice of Russia World Serivce

http://www.ruvr.ru/main.php?lng=eng&q=29054&cid=58&p=30.06.2008 (in English)