Aleksejs,

I really prefer not to digress from the Parex Bank topic, but since you brought it up:

Racism in Russia during the 2000s
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Racism in Russia during the 2000s appears in the form of negative attitudes and actions towards people who are not considered ethnically Russian. This includes antisemitism [bold mine] and a general demeaning attitude to northern indigenous peoples of Russia, as well as hostility towards various Caucasian/Central Asian ethnicities (whether of Orthodox Christian or Muslim faith).

In May 2006, Amnesty International reported that racist killings in Russia were “out of control” and that at least 28 people were killed in 2005.[1] In 2006 Amnesty International registered 252 victims of racist crimes, of which 21 died. In February 2007, President Vladimir Putin asked the Federal Security Service to combat racism,[2], but hate crimes still increased. From January 1 to July 31, 2007, Amnesty International registered 310 victims of neo-Nazi and racist crimes in Russia; 37 of those victims died as a result of attacks. Amnesty International criticize Russian police for not doing enough to combat racist crimes, and for often ignoring reports from civilians about threats and crimes.[3] According to the Moscow Human Rights Bureau, from January to March, 2008, 49 people were killed in assaults by radical nationalists, 28 of them in the greater Moscow area.[4]

The number of Russian neo-Nazis is estimated at 50,000 to 70,000, “half of the world’s total.”[5][4]. The director of the Human Rights Bureau, Alexander Brod, stated that surveys show xenophobia and other racist expressions affect 50 percent of Russians. [bold mine][6]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anti-national_sentiment_in_Russia

Sveiki!

“/..../ what is the general opinion on Melngailis’ appointment?  Any consensus?”

At least to my mind the key question is how much of a free hand Melngailis and his Parex ‘rescue team’ will have?  Especially his CV and Ābele’s (available from http://jauna.diena.lv/lat/politics/politika/iespejamais-kargina-pectecis-parex-prezidenta-amata-nils-melngailis ) are reassuring.  But, is this enough?

The problem is that’s entirely unclear to me how the Parex ‘rescue team’ fits into the evolving, soon-to-be-announced economic stabilization plan.  Unfortunately, I have to add that some of the authors of said plan (presumably, among them Finance Minister Slakteris and PM Godmanis) have not overwhelmed anyone with the degree of their financial expertise - much less their public relations’ finesse, the lack of which has *deepened* rather than lessened the specific Parex crisis.  (See Paul Raudseps’ editorial http://www.diena.lv/lat/politics/dienas_komentari/pauls-raudseps-beidziet-rakt )

Slakteris’ TV interview with Bloomberg news on November 25 is available in 3 parts on uTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlKptdCSFpw ,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Nd98zpA_iM&feature=related , http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=62ZvvwiFEis&feature=related )  His problems with English are the least of it.  And totally aside from the fact that since then he’s contradicted much of what he said, what is truly frightening is his inability to answer obvious questions.  It’s been suggested that he’s just a ‘front man’ and others more competent are actually creating the stabilization plan.  If so, then how could said competent people not have known that Slakteris would need to answer what Latvia plans to do with the IMF monies in order to stimulate the economy? (Last tape, minute 6:10.)  The lack of a strategy is painfully evident.  Presumably, one has been created in the last 2 weeks.

Visu labu,

Elizabete
PS Just an aside - surprisingly, the Slakteris’ tapes appear to have been placed onto uTube by someone in Ireland.  Despite their low turnout at elections, good to know that some ‘economic emigres’ still do care about what’s going on in LV.

Sunny Bernstein’s klotz kascheh:

ambersun - 08 December 2008 11:01 AM

Aleksejs,

How do you know that “Kargin is not Russian. He’s Jewish. As is Krasovickis.” Why should we care?  Are they Latvian?

1) There is probably some sort of smell test involved. 2) There are protocols to consider. 3) As if citizenship matters…

/R

According to some amateur moyel, there is one good test:

“Droppa u pantts, Grazhdanyin!”

The names of Pauls Raudseps and Nils Melngailis have come up frequently in regards to the current Latvia financial situation on LOL and elswhere in the media. I have watched both of these young men grow up, together with my children, in the Boston Latvian Community. I am very proud and exited about their contributions to my birth country Latvia and wish them continued success.
Lauris

Peteri B et al.,

“According to some amateur moyel, there is one good test:

“Droppa u pantts, Grazhdanyin!” “

Not necessarily.  Moslems get the “treatment” too.  In parts of US it was standard procedure, unless one objected.  There is the story of a good latvian lutheran mother looking at the bill asking what the $50 extra charge is for.  Answer; Why, for the circumcission.  One can imagine the mother still screaming now . But hey, $50 extra bucks is $50 extra bucks for the doctor.

Visu labu,

Sveiki!

For those actually interested in LV’s economic crisis, you might find M Zanders’ comparison to Hungary’s bailout informative:

http://blogi.nozare.lv/zanders/2008/12/08/mums-var-but-skarbak-neka-ungariem/

It seems that he, too, found the lack of a strategy for stimulating the economy disturbing (i.e., „Latvijas gadījumā diemžēl pagaidām vēl skaidrības par ekonomikas „sildīšanas” precīzām formām nav.”)

Visu labu,

Elizabete

In light of Parex Bank’s failure, were their personal and political connections of benefit or harm to Latvia?  Were they loyal and constructive Latvian citizens working to benefit Latvia’s future progress and growth?  Why don’t you want to discuss this?

Start with the last one - sure, I’ll discuss it. This is the first time you have brought up any questions rather than your perpetual cutting and pasting.

You have to admit that Parex has become the second-largest bank in the Baltics. Neither Estonia nor Lithuania have such a large domestic bank that keeps its money here and lends it here. You have to admit that no other locally-owned banks have branches in Berlin and St. Peterburg. And, given the action of the Latvian government, the bank is large enough that its fall would threaten Latvian economy. You have to admit that it’s an accomplishment that those two Latvian citizens should be proud of and that this bank contributed greatly to the “benefit (of) Latvia’s future progress and growth.

PS Videos of Slakteris have been taken off YouTube. You can watch neka Personiga online for those. But I’d be interested in ambersun’s answer to her own question only when it comes to Slakteris:

Was he a loyal and constructive Latvian citizen working to benefit Latvia’s future progress and growth?

Sorry. Still slammed at work and no let up in sight. But Aleksejs asks:

We should ask Andrejs if speaking Hebrew or Yiddish alone qualifies one as a Jew. I think it’s a bit more complicated than that - especially when it comes to Russified Jews, don’t you think? I suspect that there is more than one way to skin a Jew.

Sorry, can’t comment. Been disqualified on all counts. According to the Rabbis I am not a Jew. According to Ambersun and Roberts I am not a Latvian. Have already been skinned. Don’t speak Yiddish and my Hebrew is getting really rusty. Suspect on all counts due to membership in various cliques and various and sundry friendships with odious peoples.

Andrejs, simplifying

Andrejs,

What’s with the groundhog day “maldinasana?”

I’m surprised that you continue blaming the nefarious powers of the Rabbis, Roberts, and me of depriving you of your rightful and true identity.  I can’t speak for the Rabbis and Roberts, but as far as I am concerned, you can be the person you want to be.  Just wake up tomorrow and see the light - and tell the world just exactly who you are.  We all will be happier for it.

To correct your “maldinasana:”  “....to anyone interested in claiming full Latvian rights in Latvia, ...  one is “Latvian” ... if one only wants to be and chooses to be.”

It’s really that simple, Andrejs, unless I need to suspect some nefarious purpose here on your part for this prolonged identity crisis.

My Dear Amber,

I’ve never claimed to be anything but a Latvian. If you have evidence to the contrary please do share with the rest of us.

You on the other hand to me on another thread:

This is not meant to be rude, but why should what you care is spoken in public in any country matter, especially if it is in a country where you have chosen to not invest in as a citizen?

Andrejs, not to be rude, but Latvian

Ambersun appeared to have changed her tune.

“....to anyone interested in claiming full Latvian rights in Latvia, ...  one is “Latvian” ... if one only wants to be and chooses to be.”

What are full Latvian rights that one has to claim?

Aleksej – don’t be a candy ass for Ambersun. Being full of Latvian rights is the same as being full of Russian rights. It means that one is simply full of it either way you stake the claim. Of course, there’s a choice, a deep seeded decision that needs to be made. We’ll all eventually get it off the chest.

Cheers, Ivars

Alright. It is all about choices, Ivar. I chose to return to Latvia, the country of my birth, where my family has lived for generations. I consider myself to be a Latvian patriot and a citizen who cares about what is going on in this country. My native language happened to be Russian - that is all. I happened to be a very disappointed Jaunais Laiks voter. In those terms, I’m in the same boat as Roberts.

I see what is going on in this country at this time in our history going far beyond the relationship between the local Russians and the ethnic Latvians. Right now, the issue is the economy whose condition touches equally Latvians and non-Latvians. It is about jobs, about schools, about standards of living. It is the economy, stupid. 

The government formed by parties of the correct ethnic persuasion could have implemented changes in tax and economic policies earlier, so it would not be as painful for the destitute, the pensioners, the large families, the disabled. Alas, after three fat years, the government had spent nearly every santim they raked in, leaving nothing for the rainy day fund. In a way resembling the population who had taken out loans to go on holidays to exotic places without worrying about paying the money back. People like Šlesers and Kalvītis told us that rising inflation was a good thing, it was a sickness one has to suffer before one gets better. They largely ignored foreign economists—including the International Monetary Fund—who issued warnings that Latvian economy was overheating. In fact, judging by a recent Wall Street Journal article about the arrest of a Ventspils lecturer, it is unpatriotic to question things in Latvia. So we resort to labels as a defense mechanism for someone who attempts to question what is being done in Latvia.

It is this picket-fence mentality wrapped with the national (not ethnic) inferiority complex that forces us to act this way. We have to build a national library at an immense expense to prove to ourselves that we are indeed a real country even though the whole world is falling apart around us and we cannot afford it. We’re like a neighbor who went housebroke trying to prove to someone that they’re wealthy.

Now many ethnic Latvians say that the government ought to be the government of experts, not political hacks ignorant of the nozare they manage, a proposal by the SC, a party they would not support on principle.

But glancing on frequent posts on LOL, it is all about Latvians and Russians; it’s about the language; it’s about those russkies who know nothing of history. It’s as if 1990s are alive and well on pages of this forum. So it is an exercise in intellectual athletics or just a mockery of the whole debate. It doesn’t surprise me that the first words coming out of ambersun’s mouth when I met her outside the Occupation Museum was “Ambersun ir ta persona.” So with this persona one can amplify one’s positions to an absurdity as if this created online personality somehow excuses one’s pontificating about how things ought to be in Latvia from a stool located in California. You can be done away with Russia and Russians and this forum would cease to exist because participants would have been left with no subject to talk about. 

I think, we, here in Rīga, have moved beyond an ethnic question. Ethnic issues are of concern to those who do not have any other political footing to stand on. Parties like TB/LNNK (who released a recent Christmas clip unflattering to Russians) and PCTVL are bound for history books. They have fulfilled their mission. This is probably why at least one new party, like Štokenberg’s SCP, base their platform on economic principles, not on ethnicity. Even President Valdis Zatlers on Monday urged political leaders to set aside their ideologies and work together for the best of their country amidst the economic storm. The move was surprising and welcome by us, the post-ethnics. I see it as a role of the president in this country to remind political actors that what unites them is to make this country a better place to live. Of course, there are difference on how to reach other, nor does it mean that opposition should just cave in. But at least it sets the framework for the conversation. And that impressed me. I wouldn’t call myself a fan of Zatlers by any means of imagination.