thanks for joining our t.v. it's half past the hour these are your top stories finding rages on in syria's key city of aleppo the rebels are massing ammunition while government troops say they're preparing to hold their offensive made some calls for humanitarian corridors moscow says the ballance is stemming from foreign support to the rebels. the world's top was told lower mind no need to go to sweet enough to all that is of stockholm agrees to ecuador's all for to question julian assange and its london embassy instead a south american countries currently said to be seeking assurances that a solemn won't eventually be extradited to the u.s. . and what the olympic summer spectacle only hours away the athletes and spectators

have a right but it's corporate giants left grabbing the gold with the people fleeing london's traffic jams and political controversies. up next sophie shevardnadze a talks to history professor jeffrey roberts about the legacy of the soviet union and the rise of nationalism in a supposedly multicultural europe. geoffrey roberts a professor at university college course an island thank you very much for being with us today thank you so here in russia there are two dimensionally different takes on sterling some say he was a great guy who won the second world war and he actually gave the country an

immense post another state actually he undermined the economy which led to the eventual collapse of the u.s.s.r. what's your take on that when starving dog winston churchill was reported to have said that stalin found russia with a wooden plow and he left it with atomic bombs and i think that statement sums up stalin's achievement was to modernize the soviet union to urbanize so you can t. dust your license so that you can to build the foundations of a country that was able to withstand the german invasion in one nine hundred forty one and go on to a little bit too old fashioned and also the foundations for the post-war rise of the saudi you to a nuclear superpower you know if russia is still a great country to die. with an important role to play in the world and enormous potential for the future it's because of the foundations that were laid during

started time now having said that of course there could be lots of questions and discussions as to whether or not this modernization of russia had to have been as brutal as it was because of course modernize russia but you know in the post-war russia the pre-war russia as well but starting was also responsible for the deaths of millions of people so you can have a disk. about the cost you have a discussion. about time tips about whether or not different courses of action events would have been. perhaps more effective than the ones that starving starving pursued. but nevertheless in the end it's a historical fact that. the soviet union was successfully modernized under stalin albeit one i have a very brutal basis so the cause of the collapse really is to blame on other leaders they came after styling rather than what because that's just teleports my

course is that the system that the starving built on which persisted off to his death ok when he died. some are more brutal aspects the system disappeared such as the mass terra but sensually it was still style the system but i system is a very defective system in many ways and those defects in the end result. in the collapse and also the mentality you know that stalin sort of try to establish and said that you needed the mentality that he left after his death was also to blame for the collapse at the end of the day you know well it depends what kind of mentality you're talking you know stalin was a communist he believed in socialism he believed in a communist utopia he believed in the soviet system he believed that the soviet union was a model for the whole the whole world know one doesn't have to agree with his beliefs for that reason but one has to recognize the power of deprivation and the

power of everything was very very important in the historical development of the sort you before starting with a life and then subsequently because what happens is go bitch of comes along and he questions and challenges that traditional soviet self image and attempts to reform the system inquire radical what and the result of course is the. the eventual collapse of the system talking about sterling as a political figure i guess people in the west mostly know him as the man who let russia to win the second world war see here for us at home there is no doubt that we won the war without russia second world war would not have been won are their thoughts in the west about that and how is there a genuine interest actually in the west to really find out about the role of russia and how it really wrecked the war today while there are people in the west who would want to do more to russia the soviet union's role in winning the second world

war well because it's uncomfortable true for them to face up to this whole for a terrier socialist communist regime under this dictator stalin was responsible for tito to defeat a few of our men and in fact was responsible for as opposed to nazis well the the the those kind of people also tend to have the view that there was no great difference between naziism and commons and when that started in that were just as bad as each other but i don't think that would be the most prevalent view of the most prevalent view would be one of the would recognise the differences between nazis and communism and the differences between hitler and stalin and hitler was a far more dangerous dictator for the world than stalin was so i think and i think there is now there is creasing recognition of the soviet role in winning the war and of course there are always people who want to present

a different view present a distorted view of the events of the second world war so you are someone who knows a lot about it and who studied stalin you wouldn't say that at this point in the west there is a deficit of knowledge about stalin and his role and russians role in world war two there's always a deficit of historical knowledge as deficit of knowledge about the world not just in the west also in russia a. but you know i don't think that deficit is to grow. as i said i think there is now days much much greater recognition of the soviet role in the second recognition of the soviet role in the second world war more recognition than people in russia actually recognize because to what your science moves something russian boys saying to me why why don't they recognize our role in when the second world war and i would say to them actually most people most people do particularly since the end of the cold war during the cold war there was just ideological struggle going on and part that i looked was an effort by western

cold warriors to did no i the reality of the soviet role in defeating nazi germany and their western cold war is to the exist in a still making the same kind of arguments but they're not as widespread and effective as the east but yet you think that people from that war are still alive and the memories of that war are still so fresh you'd think that would learn our lesson but then you see these huge nationalist fret dressing up in europe what's to blame well that that's that's not the extreme right movement in europe ultranationalist in the national journal is not a new phenomenon or recently no it's true that recently. the political influence of national nationals of its very strong particularly the more extreme forms has grown in various countries of europe. i think that has mostly to do with the economic and political problems but europe is. facing at the

moment which poses a dollar for it to know the whole future of the european union i think is also part of we've thought you know as time goes on the war you know receipts from many memory becomes a much more distant event and the more time elapses. the more possibilities there offer people to present. distorted accounts. of the war so i think it's partly a function of of the distance we've got to travel from war to partly explains. this development of nationalism a lot from national extreme nationalism in europe but then because the moment the main reasons to do with contemporary politics i know an economics wrong with that. history now and that's that's not to say that history isn't important of course because there are many many lessons of history which are open to the contemporary crisis seem relieved to have faced the worst crisis that here are right now is

experiencing if that is to last or get worse that will also. but it would also incite that they rise of more national nationalist sentiment i think there is there is a great danger of that if the eurozone collapses the e.u. collapses the most likely. it is that they will be replaced by different forms of nationalism. questions will forms a national some extreme and dangerous take on herself i think there are great george michael's that's the historical lesson of what happened before the second world war particularly in the nineteen for that is where you had a similar crisis the world we got from now on the result. of the rise of notions of extreme nationalism in europe on the. emotions of a number for a terrible five years. regime so that's the lesson there is the historical lesson there is that there is

a great danger that developed i don't see is by any means being. simple i think the difference between now and then is that democratic culture democratic institutions are much stronger in europe than they were before the second world war so i'm confident i'm hopeful that european democracy kinds of this current crisis do you think talking about democratic institutions to think that a politician with anti-democratic views could rise to power through those democratic institutes but that that's exactly what happened in the case of hitler didn't it and that's what happened in a number of other countries in europe but before and all through the second world war so it's it's a distinct possibility that it will be a challenge it will be a test of western democracy not western democracy but european international democracy kind of useable life the challenge of

a kind of nationals in which chemicals fraud in conditions of economic collapse and political disorder could stick. and together as a united europe maybe work as a magic potion against president. i don't think it's a part of the cea. but i sincerely hope that the european union doesn't collapse because for all its faults the european union on what it represents is much much better than the ultra nationalist. alternative. who knows what's going to happen. i think it's possible the european union will survive and i hope it does support and if i were russian if i would russian i would actually be hoping that's the case as well because the collapse of the on the rise of extreme forms of nationalism in europe is going to pose a question if you can challenge for russia richer from other thank you very much

for this until you. are in more mouths to feed but where will the food come from can science provide the answers to the future of under the microscope. the future. if they shoot something inappropriate for public they can easily be. casualties of war ok. i wish he would have never happened but it has happened. in a war a t.v. camera becomes an unnecessary what destroys their own safety all foreign nationals including journalists and inspectors should leave. and it's clear what happens with

such witnesses i got on my site. many. nurses shooting.

fighting rages on in serious key city of aleppo the rebels are massing ammunition while government troops say they're preparing to halt their offensive med some calls for humanitarian corridors moscow says of the violence is stemming from foreign support for the rebels. they world's top whistleblower might not need to go to sweden after all that is if stockholm agrees to a point or stall for to question julian assange and its london embassy instead a south american country is currently said to be seeking assurances that asylum she won't eventually be extradited to the u.s. . and with the olympic summer spectacle only hours away the absolute sound of spectators have arrived but it's corporate giants left grabbing the gold with people fleeing london's traffic jams and political controversies it's the sports update with paul.

thank you very much karen welcome along the to the sports headlines is what we've got for you the time after seven years of planning the twenty twelve london olympics officially begin later on friday. monster in the way ahead of those games our teammate soviet swimming legend gregory may suddenly come to see what he makes of russia's chances in the pool. on the italian job for my england manager fabio capello is on a veiled as the new manager of russia to lead them to the world cup in brazil. but first only really one place to start there are just hours to go before the ceremony at the london olympics russia has sent just over four hundred athletes with the mission of bringing back twenty five gold medals but it's not just on the

podium where the country intends to leave its mall with more from the english capital. to seven years of planning and at a cost of fourteen billion dollars london is finally ready to stage the biggest show on the russia has arrived today with the i'm a finishing third in the medals title the majority of the squad on ice settling into the athletes' village by civilian plate park in the northeast of the city that is where the majority of medals will be won and lost over the next two and a half weeks and to give us a flavor of what it's like up there is that you've ample thanked us for our freeze village just behind me where the fire ten thousand schools and officials staying in the village church will sleep games including the whole comparable so russians will be he has told me things right it will crowned the pillage but we can go also to this i was very very impressed with the whole sense how it was much improved

from beijing. it's all now face to. face the result. of someone being spent so much so you must really be sure to enjoy this story and speak a small bit of completing plus for russia will be hoping for a more improved performance so that the back to the games ok that was when trying to fix this summer olympics russia sunday will be hoping to try and get around twenty five gold medals to try and seal third place in the middle table of the old me trying to ensure the likes of china and the usa have a moment just for believe much more realistic but if they can hold up a place that will be a very good spurs all the russians but overall i think the athletes will have a fantastic time in the games when really well with my so far and other patients here in stratford just in the east of london. this whole olympic honkies to be waste time just a few years ago the whole of the former rights when the page and yes said i mean the athletes really should enjoy the stay here and hopefully they can win this many

medals as possible now after the russian athletes have finished their events you might actually see them in the west end of london at either the. russia or sort she will explain more. during the olympics there will be a little piece of russia in the center of london the queen kindly allow the russians to host events in one of the royal parks kensington gardens you can go to russia park well last minute preparations are being finished with a chance of meeting one of the russian athletes and just have some form at concerts and on nothing the russian culture and if it's too hot you can chill out at such a park that presents the next winter olympics visitors of the venue will be able to see preparations for the olympic games watch figure skating shows on an ice rink and explore what the city has to offer thousands of people are expected to visit russian venues in kensington gardens that will be open during the olympic games and it seems like no one will have disappointed. you plenty to look forward to but not

everyone is happy because some london is all grumbling about the traffic restrictions in the center of the city during the games did they have a point will the dunya and has been gauging the nude but the nation. have come to one of london's most famous places to pull their square find out of the way people feel about the upcoming games and some olympic innovations the point is that the cd has gained some special olympic lanes linking olympic venues and making sure athletes and officials get to dance on time there are also some restrictions to the way rules can be used by coming drivers especially in central london. the traffic will be gridlocked in and around central london. they have a really full of traffic going to go pick family to get around london and stuff and it will shuffle to the twelfth of august london has been privileged to house summer

olympics for the third time and most of people here are already joining an suv braving the specter fierce he's very very good he's going to be. i mean which i will never see again i guess unless we're very lucky so despite some little difficulties that may be the expense of common people being part of the olympics is just priceless well the weather alone is enough to make each year for the moment because after the wettest june on record it's been lovely here in london over the last couple of days let's hope that continues for the opening ceremony on friday and beyond but whatever happens come rain or shine we will be here to keep you updated on russia's progress over the next seventeen days of competition and the arctic london. now staying on an olympic fame and moving to russia as a swimming prospect sat down and gauge the thoughts of the monster in the waves as four time olympic champion bradley made something of. so.

i got this positive energy from my favorite movies i learned you know like star wars excellent faith tale and they say the force should be with you and i actually . i was every time i see some little thing speech not maybe. not right i was thinking. before the final i saw the clouds in the sky and all the sky. and dark and so i thought ok this is a good site so the force to me and i showed my best. during this race a lot of my pictures from my life were possibly in front of my eyes it was the most difficult race of my career last couple of laps were very painful and i was you know. but you know i keep myself. if i go down to the bottom of the pool

so nobody really greet me after this so i just trying to you know keep some kind of sense of humor some kind of sense of control and i found that i really could control my body hundred percent but at the same time it was extremely. pleasant feeling that i could feel every cell of my body but second feeling was ok probably i will get this feeling again in the next three days because i knew before that it's going to be my last. you can be wrong in your predictions and i don't like to make any so i can only say we have changed. in really really in women's backstroke and breaststroke. so my pollution is the are they all going to get

into the final ensure their best results this result will be good enough so there will be a medal but i cannot before we get into the boy and. now away from the olympics into football and former any manager fabio capello has finally signed a two year deal to guide russia to the world cup in brazil the sixty six year old italian replaces dick advocaat who left after russia failed to make it past the group stages this summer. capello stepped down as england coach in february in protest against the f.a. stripping john terry of the captaincy the italian has won the league title with every club he's managed including real madrid ac milan roma and eventers russia will host ivory coast in a friendly next month before kicking off their world cup qualifying campaign with a double header against northern ireland and israel in september. i believe i can create a fantastic golden center to have experienced and young players playing together

but also i fundamentally believe experienced players must be a part of any young and aspiring team as they can provide the necessary passion needed to move forward. and capello's appointment has prompted a swift response in russian football with new lokomotiv moscow manager giving the italian the thumbs up. i think it would be good for us. to him because he's got one big advantage and the one big quality he's workaholic and she . was just a couple of teams here in russia you definitely have a lot of potential that's a lot of quality players here are going to be afraid to take a player from science if he thinks he's good enough and i think that is what blacks or elect in the last ten years. funny headings i'm jay have aged into the third qualifying round of the europa league they were on the second leg of that tie with

f.c. hundred four nil in budapest to claim a five nil aggregate victory samuel eto i scored twice on the side of goals from the sun a priority on the leg shot of next up for the moscow loss side is a test of the netherlands. but is all from the water sports for now at this point the more lights are here not a the wild weather is next. question is the same i understand not really underscoring the limits of the bank would be if you look back years in the market really. what explains my love. for you that is going to really put up with safety. in russia so much brighter if you only balance song from feinstein oppression.

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