What does the tit for tat expulsion of diplomats from the respective embassies in Berlin and Moscow mean?
In yesterday’s News Review on Press TV (Iran), I and my fellow panelist John Steppling in Norway were given an opportunity to explain the forces behind the German decision to expel more than 30 Russians as well as Russia’s mirror response in sending German diplomats home as persona non grata.
For my part, I tried to highlight what the loss of about 40% of staff means for the functioning of an embassy and for those dependent on its consular services. This is because the embassies perform an invaluable service to their nationals living in the host country.
There may be well more than a million Russian passport holders who are long time residents in Germany and require assistance of the consulate to renew passports, to register the birth of children, to validate powers of attorney for settlement of property issues in Russia, and so forth. I am speaking now of what I have seen at the Russian consulate in Brussels: most of those who were being served were RF citizens, not foreigners seeking visas. Ironically, given the Russophobe thinking in Germany behind the sharp cut-back of embassy personnel, the RF citizens were highly diverse in ethnic terms, meaning that many obviously came from the Caucasus regions and other minority peoples.
Can we foresee the closure of the respective embassies in the not too distant future? That is really a possibility because it corresponds to the misstatement by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock about a month ago that Russia and Germany are “at war.”
Does the mass expulsion of diplomats bring us closer to real war? Listen in…
http://www.urmedium.com/c/presstv/123264
Translations below into German (Andreas Mylaeus), French (Youri) and Spanish (Hugo Guido)
Dienen Botschaften überhaupt einem Zweck?
Was bedeutet die gegenseitige Ausweisung von Diplomaten aus den Botschaften in Berlin und Moskau?
In der gestrigen Nachrichtensendung von Press TV (Iran) hatten ich und mein norwegischer Kollege John Steppling die Gelegenheit, die Hintergründe der deutschen Entscheidung, mehr als 30 Russen auszuweisen, sowie Russlands spiegelbildliche Antwort, deutsche Diplomaten als Persona non grata nach Hause zu schicken, zu erläutern.
Ich habe meinerseits versucht zu verdeutlichen, was der Verlust von etwa 40 % des Personals für das Funktionieren einer Botschaft und für diejenigen bedeutet, die auf ihre konsularischen Dienste angewiesen sind. Denn die Botschaften leisten einen unschätzbaren Dienst für ihre im Gastland lebenden Staatsangehörigen.
Es mag weit mehr als eine Million russische Passinhaber geben, die seit langem in Deutschland leben und die Unterstützung des Konsulats benötigen, um Pässe zu erneuern, die Geburt von Kindern zu registrieren, Vollmachten für die Regelung von Eigentumsfragen in Russland zu validieren und so weiter. Ich spreche jetzt von dem, was ich im russischen Konsulat in Brüssel gesehen habe: Die meisten, die dort bedient wurden, waren Bürger der Russischen Föderation und keine Ausländer, die ein Visum beantragten. Ironischerweise waren die Bürger der Russischen Föderation angesichts des russophoben Denkens in Deutschland, das hinter dem drastischen Abbau des Botschaftspersonals steht, ethnisch sehr gemischt, was bedeutet, dass viele von ihnen offensichtlich aus den Kaukasusregionen und anderen Minderheiten stammen.
Ist die Schließung der entsprechenden Botschaften in nicht allzu ferner Zukunft absehbar? Das ist durchaus möglich, denn es entspricht der Falschaussage von Außenministerin Annalena Baerbock vor etwa einem Monat, Russland und Deutschland befänden sich “im Krieg”.
Bringt uns die massenhafte Ausweisung von Diplomaten näher an einen echten Krieg? Hören Sie rein…
http://www.urmedium.com/c/presstv/123264
Les ambassades servent-elles à quelque chose ?
Que signifie l’expulsion « coup pour coup » de diplomates des ambassades respectives de Berlin et de Moscou ?
Dans la revue de presse d’hier sur Press TV (Iran), j’ai eu l’occasion, avec mon collègue norvégien John Steppling, d’expliquer les raisons de la décision allemande d’expulser plus de 30 Russes, ainsi que la réponse en miroir de la Russie, qui a renvoyé des diplomates allemands chez eux en tant que persona non grata.
Pour ma part, j’ai essayé de mettre en évidence ce que la perte de quelque 40 % du personnel signifie pour le fonctionnement d’une ambassade et pour les personnes qui dépendent de ses services consulaires. En effet, les ambassades rendent un service inestimable à leurs ressortissants vivant dans le pays d’accueil.
Il est possible que plus d’un million de détenteurs de passeports russes résident depuis longtemps en Allemagne et aient besoin de l’aide du consulat pour renouveler leur passeport, enregistrer la naissance de leurs enfants, valider des procurations pour régler des questions de propriété en Russie, etc. Je parle ici de ce que j’ai vu au consulat russe de Bruxelles : la plupart des personnes servies étaient des citoyens de la Fédération de Russie, et non des étrangers à la recherche de visas. Ironiquement, compte tenu de la pensée russophobe en Allemagne à l’origine de la forte réduction du personnel de l’ambassade, les citoyens de la Fédération de Russie étaient très divers en termes ethniques, ce qui signifie que nombre d’entre eux venaient manifestement des régions du Caucase et d’autres peuples minoritaires.
Pouvons-nous prévoir la fermeture des ambassades respectives dans un avenir assez proche ? C’est vraiment une possibilité, car cela correspond à la déclaration inexacte de la ministre des affaires étrangères, Annalena Baerbock, il y a environ un mois, selon laquelle la Russie et l’Allemagne sont « en guerre ».
L’expulsion massive de diplomates nous rapproche-t-elle d’une véritable guerre ? Ecoutez…
http://www.urmedium.com/c/presstv/123264
¿Las embajadas sirven para algo?
¿Qué significa la expulsión de diplomáticos de las respectivas embajadas en Berlín y Moscú?
En el News Review de ayer en Press TV (Irán), mi compañero panelista John Steppling en Noruega y yo tuvimos la oportunidad de explicar las fuerzas detrás de la decisión alemana de expulsar a más de 30 rusos, así como la respuesta espejo de Rusia al enviar a los diplomáticos alemanes a casa como persona non grata.
Por mi parte, traté de resaltar lo que significa la pérdida de alrededor del 40% del personal para el funcionamiento de una embajada y para aquellos que dependen de sus servicios consulares. Esto se debe a que las embajadas realizan un servicio invaluable a sus ciudadanos que viven en el país anfitrión.
Puede haber más de un millón de titulares de pasaportes rusos que son residentes de larga data en Alemania y requieren asistencia del consulado para renovar pasaportes, registrar el nacimiento de niños, validar poderes notariales para resolver problemas de propiedad en Rusia, etc. Estoy hablando ahora de lo que he visto en el consulado ruso en Bruselas: la mayoría de los que estaban siendo atendidos eran ciudadanos de la FR, no extranjeros que buscaban visas. Irónicamente, dado el pensamiento rusófobo en Alemania detrás de la fuerte reducción del personal de la embajada, los ciudadanos de la FR eran muy diversos en términos étnicos, lo que significa que muchos obviamente provenían de las regiones del Cáucaso y otros pueblos minoritarios.
¿Podemos prever el cierre de las respectivas embajadas en un futuro no muy lejano? Esa es realmente una posibilidad porque corresponde a la declaración errónea de la ministra de Relaciones Exteriores Annalena Baerbock hace aproximadamente un mes respecto a que Rusia y Alemania están “en guerra”.
¿La expulsión masiva de diplomáticos nos acerca a una guerra real? Escuchar en…
http://www.urmedium.com/c/presstv/123264
As embaixadas têm alguma função?
O que significa a expulsão de diplomatas das respectivas embaixadas em Berlim e Moscou?
Na News Review de ontem na Press TV (Irã), eu e meu colega de entrevista, John Steppling, na Noruega, tivemos a oportunidade de explicar as forças por trás da decisão alemã de expulsar mais de 30 diplomatas russos, bem como a resposta espelhada da Rússia ao enviar diplomatas alemães para casa como personæ non gratæ.
De minha parte, tentei destacar o que a perda de cerca de 40% da equipe significa para o funcionamento de uma embaixada e para aqueles dependentes de seus serviços consulares. Isto ocorre porque as embaixadas desempenham um serviço inestimável a seus cidadãos que vivem no país anfitrião.
Pode haver mais de um milhão de portadores de passaporte russo que são residentes há muito tempo na Alemanha e precisam de assistência do consulado para renovar passaportes, registrar o nascimento de crianças, validar procurações para se resolverem questões de propriedade na Rússia e assim por diante. Estou falando agora do que vi no consulado russo em Bruxelas: a maioria daqueles que estavam sendo atendidos eram cidadãos da Federação Russa, não estrangeiros que buscavam vistos. Ironicamente, dado o pensamento russofóbico na Alemanha por trás do corte acentuado do pessoal da embaixada, os cidadãos da Federação Russa eram altamente diversificados em termos étnicos, o que significa que muitos obviamente vieram das regiões do Cáucaso e de outros povos minoritários.
Podemos prever o fechamento das respectivas embaixadas em um futuro não muito distante? Isso é realmente uma possibilidade porque corresponde à declaração errônea da ministra das Relações Exteriores Annalena Baerbock, há cerca de um mês, de que a Rússia e a Alemanha estão “em guerra”.
A expulsão em massa de diplomatas nos aproxima da guerra real?
Gilbert Doctorow 
Thank you! I am always glad when your post arrives. BTW, the link works, but the video does not play. I will try later on. Sometimes, the system does ‘allow’ the content to play.
LikeLike
Gilbert, thank you so much for bringing out “the human side” of these expulsions. Of course, I’m in Russia, so during my time here I have watched the same “tit-for-tat” kind of s0-called diplomacy. Fortunately I got my kids’ U.S. passports renewed just before it got really bad. And the fact we are all dual citizens means we are not as dependent on the U.S. Embassy. But this really hurts so many expats! The U.S. Embassy in Moscow is pretty much worthless. I see the same problems for Russians in Germany. I have Russian friends and relatives there. And in emergencies you need that embassy to be ready and able to help. Thank you again for reminding everyone of this dimension to the issue.
LikeLike
Given the absolutely huge physical footprint of the US Embassy in Moscow, one wonders if they will need all that space going forward.
LikeLike
I am expecting that some small seemingly inconsequential nation will, exasperated at the U$A’s perpetual hubris and lecturing, will shut up the U$A diplomat for good. And since the U$A is spread so thin, then what would the U$A do if MANY small seemingly inconsequential nation(s) will execute (sorry for the pun) the same resolve?
At a personal level, I am NOT serving ‘Muricans at my business in Nelson, BC. Period. I do not want their currency and narcissism. ‘Muricans that travel to Canada (or anywhere else) are tourists that care about their wallet over anything else. Americans that do not travel have my support!
LikeLike
Dear Gilbert,
I’m a 72-year-old retired physician living in California who visited Russia in 2018 and again in 2019. I admired Steven Cohen and I became aware of you years ago. I read your posts with great pleasure.
I would like to visit Russia again. U.S. sanctions make air travel and housing a challenge. U.S.-based travel services are unhelpful. Should I look for a travel service in say, Dubai?
Or maybe I should not try to visit? Maybe it’s just unwise for me — I do not speak Russian — to travel under a “tourist visa” to visit people who are under attack from my own nation? Any advice appreciated.
Glenn D Rennels
ps: Best wishes for a good trip to Lake Baikal.
>
LikeLike
I recommend that you get your visa and then fly to Dubai for an onward flight to Moscow. In advance by phone and email you can arrange with a Russian travel agency like Intourist to receive you in their Moscow offices to finalize your travel inside Russia. You will need to carry cash because non-Russian bank cards no longer are accepted in Russia. Otherwise, you will feel welcome wherever you go here. Another access point for entry or departue from Russia is Helsinki, from where there is bus service to St Petersburg. I will be writing about that experience shortly.
LikeLike