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El
Joined: 11 Jan 2008
Posts: 27
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 Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 4:59 pm Post subject: Britain Suspends British Council Operations in 2 RU Cities |
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Didn't take long.
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-01-17-voa15.cfm
Britain Suspends British Council Operations in 2 Russian Cities
By VOA News
17 January 2008
Britain has suspended operations at two cultural offices in Russia, after what British authorities called intimidation of local staff by Russian agents.
The head of the British Counci Martin Davison Thursday said he is suspending operations at British Council offices in St. Petersburg and Yekaterinburg immediately. He said Russian authorities made it impossible to continue working.
In parliament, Britain's Foreign Secretary David Miliband accused Moscow of "blatant intimidation." He called the conduct of Russian authorities "reprehensible."
A statement by the Slovenian presidency of the European Union urged Moscow to allow the British Council, the cultural arm of the British embassy, to operate freely.
The simmering diplomatic dispute intensified Tuesday, when Russian agents began questioning Russian employees of the St. Petersburg offices.
Russia says the closure order was a response to Britain's expulsion of several Russian diplomats earlier in 2007.
London expelled the Russians after Moscow refused to extradite Britain's main suspect in the 2006 poisoning murder of Alexander Litvinenko a former Russian spy in London.
For its part, Britain angered the Kremlin in 2006 by refusing to extradite exiled Russian businessman and Kremlin critic Boris Berezovsky. A Moscow court later convicted the billionaire in absentia on embezzlement charges.
The U.S. State Department Wednesday expressed concern about Moscow's actions.
The British Council's activities in Russia include teaching English, administering tests for students who want to study in Britain, and promoting British culture. |
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Vairocana
Joined: 10 Jan 2008
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Thu Jan 17, 2008 6:30 pm Post subject: That's what I meant before... |
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This is just one of the episodes that I had in mind, when I wrote on a Ukrainian thread about the volatile situation in Russia. And the way that British and American governments are reacting is literally throwing fuel on the fire.
Last edited by Vairocana on Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:33 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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phantombedwetter
Joined: 29 Nov 2007
Posts: 154
Location: Pikey infested, euro, cess-pit (Krakow)
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 12:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| And the way that British and American governments are reacting is literally throwing fuel on the fire. |
Presumably, the fuel will be old copies of Murphy's and FC Gold
Hat, coat, door....taxi! |
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Vairocana
Joined: 10 Jan 2008
Posts: 45
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 1:04 pm Post subject: ???? |
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"old copies of Murphy's and FC Gold" you got me stumped on that one!
Is that some kind of ESL textbook? |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:28 pm Post subject: |
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| Yeah. But I'm rather a fan of Raymond Murphy's, personally. I nominate Headway, all editions, particularly those published before 2000, and Betty Azar. |
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Kootvela
Joined: 22 Oct 2007
Posts: 513
Location: Lithuania
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| Posted: Fri Jan 18, 2008 3:37 pm Post subject: |
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| spiral78 wrote: |
| Yeah. But I'm rather a fan of Raymond Murphy's, personally. I nominate Headway, all editions, particularly those published before 2000, and Betty Azar. |
I side with that.
As far as suspending British Council operations goes, the main group of people who will suffer will indeed be the ordinary citizens who used the services for educational purposes. |
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phantombedwetter
Joined: 29 Nov 2007
Posts: 154
Location: Pikey infested, euro, cess-pit (Krakow)
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| Posted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:07 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
As far as suspending British Council operations goes, the main group of people who will suffer will indeed be the ordinary citizens who used the services for educational purposes.
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Speaking as someone who used to work for the BC, I think nobody will suffer.
The employees will be employed elsewhere, the students will go to different schools which offer the same stuff for half the price, the British govt will save as teaching Centres are generally hemorrhaging money (Particularly in Central Europe and Russia) and the local staff will get fat pay offs.
There is an argument that the teachers are settled with families and don't want to move, but that's hard luck folks!
If you take a job like this expect to be moved, if you stay for four or five years it's a massive bonus. If you want stability go back to England and get a job in the local state school.
(Oh sorry, you're not qualified for that, are you?) |
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