that's announcer i think since latvia is a member of nato since life is a member of european union i would say we haven't any fear from nobody well of course we have to. have fears from economic challenges from new international threats like international terrorism but well that's a challenge. facing any any country including like you you're mentioning the economic challenges was well as a member of nato ally that is for as i understand spence spent quite a considerable sum on defense well this reset let's call it in russia latin relations that we are seeing today do you think it may convince the let me leadership to scrap some costly defense programs i wouldn't link link reset policy and our defense spending have been cut quite substantially in the last two years. due to economic constraints. but we are still. lacking to have two percent military or defense expenditures of g.d.p. so we are spending less and that's a commitment of nato states so i think this is not claimed to. have a reset is not linked to the level of military expenditures in latvia and we have to holler our. commit

latvia and russia this is an issue between latvia and poland this is an issue of russia's own history and i think that is the same show to bring all knowledge about. tragic complex difficult issues of twentieth century and we have to start it. i think a good start is a hope of the victory we shouldn't try to reach immediately some finish but we have to stop and what's essential we have to start both and we have to start to cover this first step was done today i hope very much it will be successful you're absolutely both moscow and riga have already labeled this visit as successful well as far as i know you are yuruk coming to minister latin economist or he was coming to moscow in order to try to convince gazprom to cut the gas prices for latvia was this attempt successful. well. i should say that was no not the only issue of of for. minister of economy and a number of ministers who. came with the president to moscow we have signed a number of four agreements by a bilateral agreements. i should mention first and foremost the agreement in some double taxation agreement on our cooperatio

the status or rather of the rights all of the ethnic russians living in latvia there's more than half a million of ethnic russians living in latvia and out of them around three hundred thousand are considered or have a status of nonresidents which actually is fifteen percent of latino population now a status of nonresident was given to those who migrated to largely at all to june nine hundred forty when last year became one of the soviet republics but the problem is that they're not only those people the older generation is considered nonresidents but also their descendants. there are about eighty differences between the residents and nonresidents in the right. often deprived of many political rights such as for example. well the right to vote as well as many economic and social rights many russians living in latvia complain they have they find it difficult to there are discriminated against when they're applying for a job as well as those people who don't don't speak latvian language they also have many many problems in everyday lives it has to this issue was the focus of. all of the

always disagreed with that sounds and the nationalist moves in recent phobia are quite strong in latvia many veterans of the second world war are often discriminated against while the nazi collaborators are often glorified with a large beer now that's another problem that needs to be dealt with by the latvians themselves and the local authorities however the two presidents agreed that a special commission will be created to deal with these differences in the reading of the history allowing. the cadaver dogs and scientists to discuss this issue in detail however most analysts agree that this first visit by a life is president could be the first step towards normalization of the relations between the two countries daria perscribe reporting live from moscow. a group of influential iranian m.p.'s have voted for tehran to break all diplomatic ties with the u.k. after its ambassador criticized the country's human rights record the move comes on the back of iran's claim that britain's intelligence service was involved in the assassination of a top nuclear scientist. sharia was killed during a

is alcohol abuse. >> we are all proud that we are from latvia. our men compare themselves to europe. >> many of the women, on the other hand, feel that leading soviet communism behind has given them more opportunities than ever. they outnumber men at universities and on average live 11 years longer, the highest disparity in the eu. >> when you notice out in bars, there are more men than women. but there is nothing stopping the ladies from having a good time. >> the latest headlines for you on "bbc world news." snow and ice has left many stranded in europe. they're trying to clear a backlog of flights. and the north korean decision not to respond to the artillery exercises by north korea -- south korea. >> united nations security council kazakhstan the mandate of its peacekeeping force -- the united nations security council has extended its mandate of the peacekeeping force. in the ivory coast. our bbc reporter has more from oba zsa zsa on -- from one area. >> they certainly do not want the former colonial power to meddle. this is the man in charg

of course it's very pleasing to think that the first ever christmas tree appeared here in latvia and we have historic proof to back this claim everybody here knows that it was dressed with flowers and berries here in riga in fifteen ten. but head north and that theory's been cut down to size before somebody. started me. but. before i can believe but now i say. first christmas story about. the festive precut has reached such a pitch that even santa claus is weighing in. if you ask the finish people will tell you they were the ones to invent the christmas tree so with the norwegians in the germans i think what's important is not who decorated it first centuries ago but that we all do it nowadays seasonal spirit aside this symbol of contention for the two feisty neighbors shows just how much they have in common christmas comes once a year but this time you know the love trains have many ongoing haggles they also disagree about who is remind them of beautiful beer tastes better how many bears this nation is allowed to hand in nearby woods some of us say that without this illegal disagree

and while latvia and estonia battle it out we in russia we know the truth they're actually called new year's trees now business news with daniel after a short break. welcome to business ben seven out substantial new investments in russia's car industry with prime minister putin in attendance the german company sealed an agreement to build sprint's of violence at the gas factory initially novgorod output will be some twenty five thousand vehicles annually although says it will pump an additional one hundred fifty million dollars into its assembly plants in the kaluga region south of the capital that emit putin says the government will help the industry with cheap loans. despite sustainable growth the government has plans to further supply the auto industry in the future especially reserve fund was the created to ensure that. that's why in two thousand and eleven which we will continue to stimulate demand with. market over seventeen billion rubles. time for the stock markets the footsies crept further away from six thousand points in the opening minutes in london shares in mind randgold

ninety's after the openness freedom reestablishment of democracy in these countries you did have in latvia for example former walk for the s.s. veterans parading in their uniforms and in those early years government officials received there and i think this has been very much part of the discussions even as these countries we see membership in nato before in a new expression and i think it has been much progress i don't think in any case is the progress always complete but these groups do continue to march but they're not received by by governments they're not really condemning they mean they they're not for or against it they don't come out condemning it well you know i don't i don't think that's really entirely so i think you need to look more carefully we had many . discussions for example with president the two friedberger during her term terms in office and i think she became a very strong voice both in recognizing the holocaust that took place in latvia the importance of commemorating it and of making sure that these kinds of groups yes they do more actually who are but. they're not

deliveries what do they agree to well out to a year of talks gas from mr starr delivering gas to latvia with a fifteen percent discount of all that starting next year all of that in a moment but first brimblecombe sport has agreed to review a merger creating the world's fifth biggest mobile network the line network up. it was due to pay six and a half billion dollars for weather investments owner of italy's wind and egypt or us home but three of the nine board members called for better financial tournaments before finalizing the agreement. after almost a year of negotiations gazprom is agreed to sell gas to latvia at a fifteen percent discount the deal will come into effect next year meanwhile the company says it will raise production by up to fourteen percent by two thousand and fifteen that amounts to five hundred fifty billion cubic meters of gas a year gazprom has also announced an agreement with naftogaz to extract coal seam methane gas in ukraine. stocks are trading high on tuesday with sentiment bolstered by a round of corporate deals clued into rome to dominion banks six point t

the main problem is the are the rights of more than a half million ethnic russians living in now in latvia out of the more than three hundred thousand roughly fifteen percent of latino population have the status of nonresidents those who have the status all can deprive of their basic political rights such as for example they can to a vote in any latvian elections as well as a social and economic rights russia's president meeting with said that the problem has been discussed it is indeed a very sensitive issue as the lives of many people have been impacted and he also said that the problem primarily needs to be dealt with by the local authorities now of course the other problem between russia and large here is the different reading of history at large there has always maintained that it was occupied by the soviet troops russia has always disagreed with that sounds and the nationalist moves and rousseau phobia are quite strong in latvia now the two presidents agreed that a special commission will be created to deal with these differences in the reading of the history allowing the damage and

always disagreed with that sounds and nationalist moves and research will be are quite strong in latvia now the two presidents agreed that a special commission will be created to deal with these differences in the reading of the history allowing academics and our scientists to discuss this issue in detail however most analysts agree that this first visit by latvian president could be the first step towards normalization of the relations between the two countries . here with our team live from moscow on the way in just a few minutes wiki leaks worries find out what do you think's about and could have in store for the troubled arab nation. a group of influential in reining in m.p.'s have voted for tehran to break all diplomatic ties with the u.k. after its ambassador criticized the contras human rights record the move comes on the back of iran's claim that britain's intelligence service was involved in the assassination of a top nuclear scientist or she was killed during a bomb attack in the iranian capital punishment drawn based political commentator kyung mokhtari says the threat to bre

of latvia and estonia give each other a christmas roasting with a squabble over who was first to invent the festive decorate the tree. twenty forty five pm here in moscow war world news for me kevin owen in fifteen minutes but next the friday night sport. well if you are two sports update with the latest news and action a look at the headlines for us to. face because he must go coach u.t. so many students not like here after signing a three year contract. playing for pride him came oscar region claim a tough year early we know was algeria's which couldn't help but qualify for the last sixteen stage. and also the steelers are just a win away from clinching the a of c. north division title and a fast playoff ply pressuring the panthers. and we begin with the news that form a committee of moscow manager u.t. so many will be back on familiar turf having been confirmed as the next coach adds in on the key of the sixty three year old returns to the club he wept with from may two thousand and seven through to december last year so many lead to now but to the ukrainian league title and the u.a.

and latvia and estonia give each other a christmas roasting with a squabble over who was first to invent the festive decorated tree. there were of you watching around the world of a good morning from moscow it's one am him on name is kevin owen around tea this hour in our top story russia's lawmakers have launched the debates on ratifying the nuclear arms reduction treaty with america after it won backing in the u.s. senate the lower house of parliament already given its preliminary approval to finally sign off the deal in the new year and what's being hailed as a diplomatic victory by president obama his country is across what's happening at the moscow it. seems so that russian devotees a very optimistic and also along we all the americans they've been celebrating this tremendous victory the final ready be case in all the new strategic arms reduction treaty on capitol hill we know there had been those long heated debates on.

and it should be goodwill to all men for this christmas season but latvia and estonia are needled to buy each other's claims of being the first to decorate a tree. when you the top news and headlines from around the world this is our t.v. and we are certainly glad to have you with us russia lawmakers have launched their debates on ratifying the nuclear arms reduction treaty with america after it won backing in the u.s. senate the lower house of parliament has already given its preliminary approval it is said to finally sign off on the deal in the new year in what's being hailed as a diplomatic victory by presidents medvedev and obama. is across what's happening in moscow seems so that russian deputies a very optimistic and also along we owe the americans they've been celebrating this tremendous victory defined already be case in all.

and latvia and a stone to give each other a christmas roasting with a squabble over who was first would invent the festive decorated tree. good morning from moscow just after midnight now my name's kevin i weigh in on our top story on r.t. russia's lawmakers have launched their debates on ratifying the nuclear arms reduction treaty with america after it won backing in the u.s. senate the lower house of parliament ready given its preliminary approval it said to finally sign off the deal in the new year and what's being hailed as a diplomatic victory by president obama and medvedev. is across what's happening forests at the moscow. seems so that russian devotees a very optimistic and also along with all the americans they've been celebrating these tremendous victory the final right if you cation of the new strategic arms reduction treaty on capitol hill we know there had been the.

office and i think she became a very strong voice both in recognizing the holocaust that took place in latvia the importance of commemorating it and of making sure that these kinds of groups yes they do more actually. but. they're not received. they're commanded by the government leadership they do they do criticize them but let's be honest too there's a segment in the society where this still remains this kind of populism that plays on that fascist era passed not only in the baltic states it's present in slovakia and remaining in other countries that had a difficult history during the nazi era this is something we need to keep working but you do believe as of today politicians are showing enough leadership on such a fundamental issue i don't think i'd ever say they're showing enough leadership because i think there's always more that political lead. schip can do and unfortunately it's the nature of politics that in too many cases leaders are calculating what they say or do based on voting or support in their localities. calculations in their countries i think what we do find more and more is

youth branch of the key a child with twenty nine clubs from twenty six cities of russia belarus and latvia currently playing in the league and on thursday the best players were introduced during a training camp before the journey to north america the coaching staff will also travel stateside to take part in six exhibition games in the u.s. and canada the series begins on monday. this trip to the us and just enough america to. go for the parishioners on this a very. very positive. it should be very positive being so kind of the least. we look for the president of the league of these particular. best latest for this hour of a weather forecast is up shortly before an update on today's main news stay with us . hungry for the full story we've got it first hand the biggest issues get a human voice face to face with the news makers on our t.v. . wealthy british. market. scandal. find out what's really happening to the global economy because the reports on our. team prepares to ratify the new strategic arms reduction treaty with washington already approved by the u.s. senate the deal is praised by

youth branch of the cape child with twenty nine clubs from twenty six cities of russia belarus and latvia currently playing in the lead and also as do the best players were introduced during a training camp before the journey to north america the coaching staff will also travel stateside to take part in six exhibition games in the u.s. and canada the series begins on monday this trip to join us in just enough america to. step forth the parishioners on this american life it's a. very positive. it should be very positive being said than other states and we look forward to further a further development in the wake of these particular. that's latest for this hour the weather forecast is up shortly before an update on today's main news stay with us. i'm sure is that so much to me do you visit is there a place on the mark when the new exit institutions leaving the holy land christians have lived in the story palestine since the advent of christianity alongside muslims. russia. threats of war north korea has warned of a nuclear strike angered by the scale of. the world's first decorated christma

of course is very pleasing to think that the first of a christmas tree appeared here in latvia and we have historic proof to back this claim everybody here knows that it was dressed with flowers and very soon here in riga in fifteen ten. but head north and that fear is being cut down to size before somebody can do much to me. but. before i can believe but no i say. first christmas story about. the good you. did at the preakness has reached such a pitch that even santa claus is weighing in this is crazy to feel if you ask a fish people they were the ones to invent the christmas tree as it would not be so with a norwegian as in the germans i think what's important is not who decorated this is centuries ago but that this is a seasonal spirit a sign this symbol of contention for the to christ in neighbors shows just how much they have in common and christmas comes once a year because tony and the love trains have many ongoing haggles they also disagree about who is women are more beautiful because beer tastes better how many bears this nation is allowed to have the nearby woods some of us

in the press to pull out at least in europe as a stone here in latvia because over to this string of things find both sides of the argument of our web site called. next senior u.s. military commanders reportedly want to expand their afghan campaign into neighboring pakistan but officials deny allegations that secret cross border operations are already happening washington does however use unmanned drones to strike at suspected militants across the border kathy kelly who campaigned against the u.s. led war says america's military establishment trying to make some more money. it seems to me that the united states would have an effect similar to what has happened in the past here in afghanistan along with the drone attacks the invasion of a sovereign country. a united states joint special operations whose means of attack include death squads and assassinations and night raids would exacerbate the tremendous almost tidal wave of anti-american sentiment amongst the public united states establishment the military industrial complex companies have learned that you can make an enormous profi

youth branch of the key child with twenty nine clubs from twenty six cities of russia belarus and latvia currently playing in the lead and on thursday the best players were introduced during a training camp before their journey to north america the coaching staff will also travel stateside to take part in six exhibition games in the u.s. and canada the series begins on monday this team is an awesome just enough america to. step for the parishioners on this very. very positive. it should be very positive games than other states and we look forward for the development of the league of these particular. best latest for this hour of a weather forecast is up shortly before an update on today's main news stay with us . discovery. can give you. russian lawmakers are set to consider the new arms reduction treaty between moscow and washington after it is approved by the u.s. congress. threats of war north korea has warned of a nuclear strike on the south angered by the scale of souls the latest a live fire drills. and a less threatening neighborly dispute of sorts claims it introduced the world's

story has to get in front of you so it's also a festive fall out of eastern europe was a sturdier latvia a bit cooler over whom decorated the christmas tree. lined up both sides we are about website r t v dot com. senior u.s. military commanders reportedly want to expand their afghan campaign into neighboring pakistan but officials deny allegations that secret cross border operations are already happening washington does however use unmanned drones to strike at suspected militants across the border kathy kelly campaigns against the u.s. led war she says america's military establishment is just trying to make more money . it seems to me that the united states would have an effect similar to what has happened in the past here in afghanistan along with the drone attacks the invasion of a sovereign country. a united states joint special operations there is a means of attack including death squads and assassinations and night raids would exacerbate the tremendous almost tidal wave of anti-american sentiment amongst the public united states establishment the military industrial complex compani

youth branch of the cape child with twenty nine clubs from twenty six cities of russia belarus and latvia currently playing in the lead and on thursday the best players were introduced during a training camp before the journey to north america the coaching staff will also travel stateside to take part in six exhibition games in the u.s. and canada the series begins on monday and this takes you to the nelson is enough america to. step forth in the parishioners on this american. people very positive. it should be very positive being said than other states and we look forward for the president of the league of these particular. latest for this hour the weather forecast is up shortly before an update on today's main use stay with us. issues that so much given to you each musician playing on your mark with the new exit in species leaving the holy land christians have lived in historic palestine since the adjective christianity alongside muslims. discover it. becomes very. nature can give you. russia's medication and then you can construct the weights my love makers spend their already smoking

after almost a year of negotiations gazprom has agreed to sell gas to latvia at a fifteen percent discount the deal will come into effect next year meanwhile the company says it will raise production by up to fourteen percent by two thousand and fifteen that amounts to five hundred eighty billion cubic meters of gas a year gazprom says the plans are based on the developments in the domestic and external gas market and expects to produce just over five hundred billion cubic meters of gas this year. now u.s. stocks opened higher on tuesday with center been bolstered by a round of corporate deals including to wrong to dominion bank six point three billion dollars purchase of chrysler financial now european shares a gaining for the second day in a row in london the footsies trading just under a percent higher led by banking shares gaining eight point one point eight percent and world bank of scotland group added nearly three percent and make a rolls royce coopers up two percent up to citi group upgrade at the firm to buy from hold investors meanwhile shrugged off news that portugal's credit ra

after almost a year of negotiation gazprom has agreed to sell gas to latvia at a fifteen percent discount the deal will come into effect next year meanwhile the company says it will raise production by up to fourteen percent by twenty fifteen that's amounts to five hundred eighty eight billion cubic meters of gas a year gazprom says the plans are based on developments in that the mystic and external gas market expects to produce just over five hundred billion cubic meters of gas this year. russia's biggest mine in the last nickel has agreed to sell three and a half billion dollars of its stock to commodities trader traffic guru up north nickel silver eight percent stake in the form of american depository receipts held by subsidiaries is the latest move in the tussle between shareholders oleg deripaska and lived in that town in for control of the metals for last week no risk for twelve billion dollars to buy the block and share held by their cost. is take a look at the stock markets european shares are gaining for the second day in a row in jamaica rolls royce group drove up one point seve

estonia and latvia followed suit within weeks. all three gained their full independence in late august, 1991, which was recognized by the soviet union on september 6. in the intervening 20 years, these states have made remarkable progress in reforming their political and economic systems. they have joined the family of european democracies, become members of nato and the european union. indeed, all three baltic states are valued participants in the eye self mission in afghan and have worked to build stability and prosperity throughout eastern europe. mr. speaker, i strongly support this resolution that celebrates an important anniversary of our baltic allies. i urge my colleagues to join me in recognizing the close relations that our nations have continued to enjoy and, mr. speaker, at this time i reserve the balance of my time. the speaker pro tempore: the gentleman from florida reserves the baffle his time. the gentleman from new jersey is recognized. mr. smith: mr. speaker, i yield myself such time as i may consume. the speaker