Putin and the Rise of Russia

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The author is indebted to many people who have, through their ideas, expertise and advice, contributed to the concept of this book. First and foremost I wish to thank Ms Katja Machotina from St Petersburg, Russia and Munich, Germany who has given me invaluable help and advice, asking questions and providing answers, and checking much of the detail.

Many diplomats, active and retired, have given advice, some have provided information and also source material otherwise difficult to obtain. Among them the late Dr Otto von der Gablenz, Dr Ernst-Georg von Studnitz, Dr Hans von Ploetz, Dr Michael Libal, Dr Hermann Freiherr von Richthofen, Dr Eberhard von Puttkamer, and last but not least Dr Hans-Georg Wieck who, as the head of Bundesnachrichtendienst in Pullach, was my neighbour in Ebenhausen while I was director of Stiftung Wissenschaft and Politik. I should also like to acknowledge the help received from Russia’s ambassador to Berlin Wladimir Kotenew. I recall many conversations with the Italian ambassador to Berlin Antonio Puri Purini. Ambassador (ret.) Robert Blackwill (ex NSC), Washington and now with the RAND-Corporation Santa Monica, with General (ret.) Klaus Naumann, with Professor Lothar Ruehl, State Secretary MoD (ret.), Bonn, with the Finnish Ambassador to Berlin René Nyberg, and also with John Kornblum, former US ambassador to Germany and now with Lazard Frères.

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