Thread: Why is Putin not with all the world leaders at the funeral?

Originally Posted by kamka

As for me, it's just another two reason for not liking him much...

And what exactly is so wrong about being polish? jw.

Well... hmmm... I think Polish people are not bad in their mass, and even good people, but their state leaders were, how to say, somewhat ineffective from one point of view, and arogant and opinionated from another point of view. After mongol invasion they quickly took weakened western Russian lands and pretended to ba a greatest state in Europe. Being on the outskirts of Catholic world, they decided to be more saint than the Pope itself and considered themselves the most arduous defenders of Catholic faith (and many of them still beleive in this). It is very typical behavior for those who are uncertain in their own position, a psychology of "a henchman".
In spite of their overexagerrated ambitions they lost their territory many times in 18-19 centuries.
The situation with serfs (dependant peasants) was even worse than in Russia. Even Russian administration and landlords wondered.
In the middle of 19 c. Polish rebels did everything to antagonize Russsian public opinion and even to get aversion of supportive Russian 'democrats'.
After the Czar's government gave land to Polish peasants, the rebels lost the support of their peasants also.
After the Oct. Revolution Poland again quickly appropriated western Russian, Belorussian and Ukranian lands. On the sly. They supported Ukranian nationalists, but just because they were anti-russian. Otherwise they didn't recognise Belorussians and western Ukranians and wanted to "Polonize" them.
In September 1939 Polish government quickly fled at the first signs of the war and left their army and people behind.
And now they are again one of the most staunch supporters (i.e. henchmen) of NATO and USA administration.
By "them" I mean Polish government and Polish ruling class throughout a history. I have nothing against Polish people (because they are on another side of a political pole).

interesting article in today's Los Angeles Times...
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... ines-world

Originally Posted by kamka

As for me, it's just another two reason for not liking him much...

And what exactly is so wrong about being polish? jw.

Never heard about "Смутное Время" ('Time of Discord', 1598-1613)?

Originally Posted by Scorpio

Never heard about "Смутное Время" ('Time of Discord', 1598-1613)?

the Dimitriey chaos, ok, fine... and? Are the events from XVIth century the reason for you not liking the Poles from the XXIth century? wow. talk about prolonged resentments.

Originally Posted by JB

interesting article in today's Los Angeles Times...
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld ... ines-world

Rightly so, they should have restricted the amount of coverage here in the UK too. We are not a catholic country, and most people are atheist. The TV schedules were all messed up because everyone was showing the same thing at the same time.

Not only that but the pope old boy did not even have the decency to die at an appropriate time. He made quite a mess out of Prince Charles' wedding now didn't he?

Originally Posted by DDT

Not only that but the pope old boy did not even have the decency to die at an appropriate time. He made quite a mess out of Prince Charles' wedding now didn't he?

Well, you know the history between Royal English marriage and the Pope. Maybe this was the Pope's last laugh.

Mordan, let me ask you in my turn, why he should have been there?

Mordan's one of those Russia-haters that are learning Russian for God knows what reason. Sort of like 85% of Chinese-Forums.com, which is why I never go there anymore(they're even worse because they're expats).

Here is the list fo the dignitaries who attended the funeral. Please note that Prince Charles did attend as well as the Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradko and Metropolitan Kirill, foreign minister for the Russian Orthodox Church.


Afghanistan: President Hamid Karzai
Albania: President Alfred Moisiu, Prime Minister Fatos Nano. (AP)
Argentina: Vice President Daniel Scioli, Foreign Minister Rafael Bielsa.(AP,REUTERS)
Australia: Governor General, Major General Michael Jeffrey and his wife Marlena
Austria: President Heinz Fischer, Chancellor Wolfgang Schuessel, (AP,REUTERS) Parliament Speaker Andreas Khol. (AP)
Bangladesh: Food and Disaster Management Minister Chowdhury Kamal Ibne Yusuf (REUTERS)
Belgium: King Albert II, Queen Paola, Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.(AP, REUTERS)
Bosnia: Chairman of the state presidency, Borisav Paravac (REUTERS)
Bolivia: President Carlos Mesa and his wife, Elvira Salinas (REUTERS)
Brazil: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva.(REUTERS, AP)
Britain: Prince Charles, Prime Minister Tony Blair. (RETUERS,AP)
Bulgaria: President Georgi Parvanov.(RETEURS,AP)
Canada: Prime Minister Paul Martin.(RETUERS,AP)
Chile: Foreign Minister Ignacio Walker.((RETUERS,AP) President Ricardo Lagos cannot attend as his 108-year old mother
Colombia: Vice President Francisco Santos.(AP)
Costa Rica: President Abel Pacheco.(AP)
Croatia: President Stjepan Mesic, Prime Minister Ivo Sanader (REUTERS)
Cuba: National Assembly President Ricardo Alarcon (REUTERS)
Cyprus: President Tassos Papadopoulos (REUTERS)
Czech Republic: President Vaclav Klaus, Foreign Minister Cyril Svoboda.(AP, RETUERS)
Democratic Republic of Congo: President Joseph Kabila, Vice President Jean-Pierre Bemba (REUTERS)
Denmark: Prime Minister Anders Fogh Rasmussen (Reuters)
Dominican Republic: First lady Margarita Cedeno and Ambassador to the Vatican Carlos Rafael Marion-Landais.(REUTERS)
Ecuador- President Lucio Gutierrez or Foreign Minister Patricio Zuquilanda
El Salvador: First lady Ana Ligia Mixco de Saca, Foreign Minister Francisco Lainez. (AP)
Egypt: Culture Minister Farouk Hosni (AP, REUTERS)
Estonia: President Arnold Ruutel.(AP, REUTERS)
European Union: European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and his wife, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner, Justice Commissioner Franco Frattini and External Relations Commissioner Benita Ferrero-Waldner. Also European Parliament president Josep Borrel (REUTERS)
Finland: Prime Minister Matti Vanhanen (AP,REUTERS)
France: President Jacques Chirac and his wife, Bernadette. (AP, REUTERS)
Germany: Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, President Horst Koehler. (AP, REUTERS)
Greece: President Karolos Papoulias (REUTERS)
Guatemala: President Oscar Berger and his wife, Foreign Minister Jorge Briz and Nobel Peace Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu. (AP)
Haiti: Interim Prime Minister Gerard Latortue.(AP)
Hungary: President Ferenc Madl, Prime Minister Ferenc Gyurcsany.(AP, REUTERS)
India: Vice-president Bhairon Singh Shekhawat. (AP,REUTERS)
Indonesia: Social Welfare Minister Alwi Shihab, Religious Affairs Minister Maftuh Basyuni (AP, REUTERS)
Iran: President Mohammad Khatami (AP, REUTERS)
Ireland: President Mary McAleese, Prime Minister Bertie Ahern.(AP,REUTERS)
Israel: President Moshe Katsav, Foreign Minister Silvan Shalom (REUTERS)
Italy: President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (REUTERS)
Japan: Former foreign minister Yoriko Kawaguchi (REUTERS)
Kenya: Foreign Minister Chirau Ali Mwakwere, Local Government Minister Musikari Kombo (REUTERS)
Kosovo: President Ibrahim Rugova (REUTERS)
Latvia: President Vaira Vike-Freiberga.(AP, REUTERS)
Lebanon: President Emile Lahoud, Prime Minister Omar Karami, (AP REUTERS) and parliamentary speaker Nabih Berri (REUTERS)
Liechtenstein: Prince Hans-Adam II, Princess Marie, Prince Nicholas.(AP)
Lithuania: President Valdas Adamkus.(AP, REUTERS)
Luxembourg: Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa, Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker.(AP)
Macedonia: President Branko Crvenkovski (REUTERS)
Madagascar: President Marc Ravolomanana, Foreign Affairs
Malaysia: Bernard Dompok, minister in charge of the civil service, Abdullah Mohamad Zin, minister in charge of religious affairs (REUTERS)
Mozambique: President Armando Guebuza (REUTERS)
Netherlands: Prime Minister Jan Peter Balkenende (REUTERS)
New Zealand: Governor-General Silvia Cartwright (REUTERS)
Norway: Queen Sonja, Prime Minister Kjell Magne Bondevik (King Harald is in hospital recovering from heart surgery) (REUTERS)
Nicaragua: President Enrique Bolanos, Foreign Minister Norman Caldera, Ambassador to the Vatican Armando Luna.(REUTERS)
Pakistan: Religious Affairs Minister Mohammad Ejaz ul Haq (REUTERS)
Palestinians: Prime Minister Ahmed Qurie (REUTERS)
Panama: First lady Vivian Fernandez de Torrijos. (AP)
Paraguay: Vice President Luis Castiglioni and Minister of Education and Culture Blanca Ovelar
Philippines: President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo (REUTERS)
Poland: President Aleksander Kwasniewski and his wife, Prime Minister Marek Belka, former President Lech Walesa.(AP, REUTERS) and Tadeausz Mazowiecki.(REUTERS) The Polish delegation plane is flying from Warsaw at 3 AM on Friday to arrive in Rome for the funeral. (GMT+1)
Portugal: European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso, President Jorge Sampaio.(AP,REUTERS)
Romania: Romanian President Traian Basescu, Prime Minister Calin, Popescu Tariceanu.(AP,REUTERS)
Russia: Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov; Metropolitan Kirill, foreign minister for the Russian Orthodox Church.(AP, REUTERS)
Serbia: President Boris Tadic (REUTERS)
Serbia and Montenegro: Kosovo President Ibrahim Rugova(AP) and President Svetozar Marovic (REUTERS)
Seychelles: President James Michel (AP)
Singapore: Deputy Prime Minister Professor S. Jayakumar (REUTERS)
Slovakia: President Ivan Gasparovic, Parliament Chairman Pavol Hrusovsky.(REUTERS)
Slovenia: President Janez Drnovsek, Prime Minister Janez Jansa, Foreign Minister Dimitrij Rupel. Rupel will represent the head of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe.(REUTERS)
South Africa: Deputy President Jacob Zuma ( REUTERS)
Spain: Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.(AP, REUTERS)
Sri Lanka: Prime Minister Mahinda Rajapakse (REUTERS)
Sweden: King Carl XVI Gustav and Queen Silvia (AP,REUTERS)
Switzerland: President Samuel Schmid.(AP)
Syria: President Bashar Assad. (AP, REUTERS)
Ukraine: President Viktor Yushchenko (REUTERS)
United Nations: Secretary-General Kofi Annan. (AP)
United States:

Officials US Delegation: President George W. Bush and his wife, Laura. Former U.S. presidents Bill Clinton and George Bush, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice (DC Desk)

Senators Frist, Biden, Bunning, Collins, DeWine, Dodd, Domenici, Durbin, Kennedy, Kerry, Leahy, Martinez, Mikulski, and Santorum (Office of Bill Frist)

Delegation from the House of Representatives:
Hon. J. Dennis Hastert (R-IL), Speaker of the House, Hon. Tom DeLay (R-TX), House Majority Leader, Hon. Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Democratic Leader, Hon. Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), Democratic Whip, Hon. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT), Hon. David R. Obey (D-WI), Hon. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY), Hon. Christopher H. Smith (R-NJ), Hon. Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Hon. Jerry F. Costello (D-IL), Hon. Christopher Cox (R-CA), Hon. Michael R. McNulty (D-NY), Hon. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Hon. John A. Boehner (R-OH), Hon. Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA), Hon. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA), Hon. Tim Holden (D-PA), Hon. Peter T. King (R-NY), Hon. Bart Stupak (D-MI), Hon. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Hon. Phil English (R-PA), Hon. Mark Foley (R-FL), Hon. Gil Gutknecht (R-MN), Hon. Sheila Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Hon. Ray LaHood (R-IL), Hon. Robert W. Ney (R-OH)

Other: NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Uruguay: First lady Maria Auxiliadora Delgado de Vazquez and son Alvaro Vazquez. (AP)
Turkey: Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan
Venezuela: Foreign Relations Minister Ali Rodriguez, Planning Minister Jorge Giordanni. (AP)

Religious leaders:
Metropolitan Kirill, head of external relations for the Moscow Patriarchate. (Patriarch Alexiy II -- who repeatedly refused to meet the Pope -- will not attend) (REUTERS)
Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople Bartholomew I (REUTERS)
Spiritual head of the Anglican Church, Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams (REUTERS)
Chief Rabbinate Director-General Oded Viner (REUTERS)
Greek Orthodox leader, Archbishop Christodoulos (REUTERS)
Turkey's Armenian Patriarch Mesrob II (REUTERS)
Maronite Patriarch Nasrallah Sfeir (REUTERS)
Romania's Orthodox patriarch Teoctist (REUTERS)
Bulgaria's Orthodox Rousse Bishop Neofit and Vidin Bishop Domitian (REUTERS)
Norwegian Bishop Finn Wagle of the Protestant state church (REUTERS)
Swedish Lutheran archbishop, K.G. Hammar (REUTERS)
Head of Uganda's Catholic Church, Cardinal Emmanuel Wamala (REUTERS)
Albanian religious leaders: Selim Muca of the (Sunni) Muslim community, Rrok Mirdita, the Catholic Archbishop, Haxhi Dede (REUTERS)
Reshat Bardhi of the (Shi'ite) Bektashi Muslim sect and Orthodox Archbishop Anastasios of the Orthodox community.
Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Abune Paulos