The world’s figure skating championship was moved from Japan to Russia, meanwhile Chief Sanitary Officer of Russia announced the list of Japanese prefectures whose products and food will not be allowed to enter due to radiation risks. Putin’s reference to crusade times stirred his relations with the President and produced much talk on the domestic and world’s arena. Learn details in the expert weekly review of events by FederalPress.
p { margin-bottom: 0.21cm; }The world’s figure skating championship was moved from Japan to Russia, meanwhile Chief Sanitary Officer of Russia announced the list of Japanese prefectures whose products and food will not be allowed to enter due to radiation risks. Putin’s reference to crusade times stirred his relations with the President and produced much talk on the domestic and world’s arena. Learn details in the expert weekly review of events by FederalPress.
Products from Japan prohibited to enter Russia
Products made in six prefectures of Japan will not be allowed to enter Russia. Since the reports of explosions at Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant, radiation control units had been installed at the customs to check all products and goods arriving from Japan.
World Healthcare Organization acknowledged that the situation with food was far more serious than considered before after radioactive isotopes of iodine and cesium had been found in food products and water in some territories of Japan.
The banned list includes Fukushima, Gunma, Ibaraki, Chiba, Tochigi and Nagano. These prefectures suffered greater damages and influences of the nuclear power plant accident. “Products will be stopped even without dosimeter evaluations”, promised Chief Sanitary Officer of Russia Gennady Onischenko.
These limitations will be temporary, explains Confederation of Consumer Societies Chairman Dmitry Yanin. The Russian market will not at all suffer from the lack of Japanese goods. Japanese economy will not be harmed as well.
“All countries are interested in the quickest recovery of Japan after the catastrophes. Therefore all bans will be temporary. Japan needs to recover quickly and continue deliveries at the same volumes”, Dmitry Yanin continues.
The lack of Japanese foods in the Russian market will be noticed only by experts. Goods from Japan are usually very much expensive and take less than one percent in the Russian market.
Mintimer Shaimiev quits
Ex-head of Tatarstan Mintimer Shaimiev left higher administration of the United Russia political party. It’s been a year since Mr. Shaimiev had left his job as the head of the Republic and has “no intentions to actively participate in the party’s activities”.
Vitaly Ivanov, Center of Political Infrastructure Vice-President, says Mr. Shaimiev had a strong influence on the republican level but did not at all participate in any activity on the federal level.
The party lacks firm position and still has no “face”, Mintimer Shaimiev commented with little sentiment.
“Shaimiev is an old school man. He had to accept a lot during his presidential term. He is globally offended by the federals. Despite of the formal respectful attitude, he still had to surrender much. To surrender sovereign achievements of the Eltsin’s times, offended by limitations imposed over federal freedoms of Tatarstan. By this decision he means to say: I am no afraid of you, I do not respect you”, the expert considers.
Medvedev and Putin comment on Libya events
Virtual dialogue through mass media between President Medvedev and Prime Minister Putin regarding UN resolution over Libya stirred not just national, but also the world’s attention. Both international and national experts spoke about a split in relations within the political tandem.
March 21, Vladimir Putin characterized UN Security Council Resolution 1973 as being similar to "medieval calls for crusades". Prime Minister also added that was his personal opinion and did not change Moscow’s view of the situation. The statement was later repeated by his press secretary.
Mr. Medvedev later referred to the crusade remark as unacceptable and underlined that the UN resolution reflects how Moscow understands events in Africa.
Political expert Igor Bunin says this is the most acute virtual conflict of the President and the Prime Minister in all the time of their tandem’s work. The President could not go against the coalition of large countries. “Going against mainstream is always hard”, says Igor Bunin. On the other hand, Putin has always been against interference into internal affairs of sovereign countries.
The expert considers Russia’s two leaders have reached agreement as Russia abstained from voting on the UN resolution.
“Putin’s reaction was emotional. It was Milosevic yesterday, Kaddafi today, and who will be next tomorrow”, Ivan Bunin continues.
Criminal case in the Metro
Investigation Committee opened a criminal case against former head of Moscow Metro Dmitry Gaev. He is suspected in appropriation of 112 million rubles. During 15 years of work in the Metro Dmitry Gaev registered several inventions of automatic tickets control, installed them in the metro system and received income from using this technical know-how.
Prosecution General calls it a “system of personal enrichment”.
Center of Political Infrastructure General Director Sergey Mikheev says, “This is our national idea today – we get rich with what we sit on”. The expert thinks state officials do not want to work honestly, and this is the problem.
“The system works in a way that makes possible to dig something up on almost any official”.
Mayor of Moscow Sergey Sobyanin said live on TV that Moscow’s Metro was far behind times in development. Its length will be doubled and for this purpose no money should spared and loans taken if necessary.
Time zoning
According to new time zone regulation, Russia has switched to daylight saving time last time. There will be no reverting to standard time in October. New time zone will help saving 7 to 17 percent of light.
Expert opinions separated. They see both good and bad consequences of the reform. Aleksey Skopin, Regional Economics Professor of the Higher School of Economics says that saving some daylight is positive, but Moscow moves two more hours eastwards from Europe.
Tatyana Syrchenko, Responsible Secretary of the Committee for Restoration of Zone Standard Time, says we will go two hours ahead of nature because daylight time increases switch against natural clock. “All processes in our bodies are synchronized with the sun. By switching we abuse our bodies”.