PUTIN — GORBACHEV — CHAVEZ — DISPUTED LANDS — FORMER YUGOSLAVIA — UKRAINE — MTV — SPORTS

RUSSIA/WEST — DISPUTED LANDS — DEFENSE — JEWRY — BLOGS — RUSSIAN IN NEW YORK — SPORTS — FEEDBACK

Poland will veto Russia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) if Russia continues to restrict Polish meat imports.

Both Polish president Lech Kaczynski and trade representatives stated they were considering this move. Polish authorities, both increasingly bellicose and hysterical, keep up verbal assault on Russia while Russian government remains silent and seemingly ignores the latest wave of provocations.

Andrei Lugovoy (Lugovoi) whom British authorities accused of murdering former Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko has claimed that the British security services were behind the murder.

Andrei Lugovoy said he holds ample evidence that MI6c had a hand in Litvinenko's poisoning by polonium-210. Lugovoy, who held a press conference today, also said MI6 tried to recruit him to collect information on President Putin and that both Litvinenko and exiled tycoon Boris Berezovsky were on its payroll.

Poland wants a common energy declaration on the part of the EU, which would be conditional and binding to all parties. Poland demands that the issue of energy supplies be made key condition to negotiations over any new treaty between EU and Russia.

News Summary Review — Quick Takes by Mike Averko — from May 11, 2007 

Alar Pink the head of Tallinn-based Kalev confectionary company applied for registration of Pronkssodur (Bronze Soldier) and the image of the gravesite monument as trademark through his Mosaic venture. If trademark is granted, the now demolished gravesite memorial could be used for marketing of four distinct categories of products — from distilled spirits and beer to school supplies.

On Tuesday, a monument to Nazi generals and collaborators was destroyed in Moscow. The monument was located in the inner courtyard of the Church of All Saints near Sokol subway station. Unknown vandals smashed the small obelisk with inscription to the Warriors of Russian Service Union, Russian Corps, Cossack Formation, Cossacks of the 15th Cavalry Corps (XV.Kosaken-Kavallerie-Korps) who Fell for the Faith and the Fatherland.