European Council of Oligarch Rights - Yukos

European Council of Oligarch Rights - Yukos https://www.rt.com/business/215155-russia-accepts-court-verdict/ Russia ‘forced to accept’ €1.86bn compensation for former shareholders of oil giant Published time: 17 Dec, 2014 13:02 Russia has agreed to pay €1.86 billion in compensation to former Yukos shareholders after the European "The judges have made the decision. We are forced to accept it. We believe it is unreasonable, but there’s nothing we can do," said Konovalov as quoted by RIA. At the same time he said Russia is not obliged to abide by the decisions of the ECHR, adding that the enforcement of decisions is ‘goodwill’ on the part of a member country of the Council of Europe. "Life will show to what extent this decision will be enforced in Russia," he said. On Tuesday the ECHR ruled against the Ministry of Justice appeal to overturn the July 2014 decision. The court then ordered Russia to pay the compensation. Russia must now pay €1.86 billion (US$2.51 billion) to the former shareholders of Russia's once largest private oil company for unfair tax proceedings, which allegedly led to the liquidation of Yukos in 2007. The compensation sum was calculated on the basis of fines imposed on Yukos by the Ministry of Taxes and Assessments in 2000 and 2001 following a tax audit. A part of the seven percent execution fee levied against the company was included as well. Another ruling by the International Arbitration Court in the Netherlands has ended a decade long case brought by former Yukos shareholders which ordered Russia to pay about $50 billion in damages. The Yukos oil company existed from 1993 to 2007. In August 2006 it was declared bankrupt at the request of a syndicate of foreign banks to which Yukos owed about $500 million. Later this debt was purchased by Rosneft. In 2007 the company's property was sold at auction to cover its debts. Yukos was dissolved on November 21, 2007. https://www.rt.com/business/215155-russia-accepts-court-verdict/ Council of Europe f. May 1949 founding states: Britain Ireland France Italy Luxemburg Netherlands Belgium Denmark Norway Sweden Greece & Turkey join 10 months later Iceland & Germany the following year currently 47 member states European Convention on Human Rights drafted in 1950 by the then newly formed Council of Europe entered into force on 3 September 1953 -- international treaty -- fundamental rights & freedoms -- compensations imposed under ECHR large -- Russia to pay excess of $2 billion in damages to shareholders of Yukos   all European states currently members council *except states not recognised *except Belarus, Vatican & Kazakhstan observer states: USA & Japan -- criticised b/c both apply death penalty https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Member_states_of_the_Council_of_Europe COMMENT From what I've read, it's the Russians that need to be compensated. Russia became a member state of the Council of Europe in 1996, but as the Council has no enforcement capacity, Russia ought to tell the Council to get stuffed. Council membership is overrated, especially when you're being economically sanctioned by all these a$$holes.

NPD Germany - End Boomerang Economic Anti-Russia Sanctions

ꕤ Article SOURCE https://archive.is/00OSm Original Source https://npd.de/wirtschaftssanktionen-gegen-russland-sofort-beenden/ GOOGLE TRANSLATE {German to English} NPD National Democratic Party of Germany (Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands) Website http://www.npd.de/ [access via Tor Browser, if blocked] End economic sanctions against Russia immediately! Pastörs The NPD Group will call for an immediate end to the anti-Russia EU sanctions during the December session of the Diet. Slump in orders, loss of revenue, not least vulnerable jobs: The anti-Russia sanctions turn out already as a tangible boomerang. As the Austrian Institute for Economic Research has calculated mid-year, Germany is affected by all the European countries most affected by the sanctions. Here are just under half a million jobs and 27 billion euros in added value in the balance. Even and especially M/V wont to Russia many years, intensive connections and economic relations. At least 100 companies maintain business contacts there. The dips are immense, as is apparent from data of the State Statistical Office. Accordingly, exports of goods in the first quarter broke in 2015 compared to the same period last year by almost half a. Were delivered in the first three months of 2014 have products worth EUR 60.4 million to Russia, there were only 32.7 million euros in the same period 2015. The NPD Group has therefore made an application on the agenda for the coming parliamentary session. With the initiative, the state government will be asked to stand up without delay at the federal level for a termination of the existing sanctions against the Russian Federation and its citizens, authorities and companies. The second should be averted further EU sanctions which are directed against Russia. Furthermore, requires the national opposition, that the federal government continue to assume a role of mediator, and to do this with the proviso a critical but neutral dialogue with Moscow and the EU ( http://www.dokumentation.landtag-mv.de/Parldok/dokument/37115/wirtschaftssanktionen-gegen-russland-sofort-beenden-.pdf ). Already last year, the NPD has confronted Parliament and provincial government with several initiatives for EU-Ukraine-Russia-problems, for example in the context of the current hour on 17 September 2014 as the National demanded a clear commitment to traditional Russia-day. By two applications, the NPD team spoke for an end to the EU-escalation policy ( http://www.dokumentation.landtag-mv.de/Parldok/dokument/34664/eu-eskalationspolitik-beenden-keine-sanktionen-gegen-russland-.pdf ) as well as against the also accompanied by medial barrage saber rattling towards Moscow ( http://www.dokumentation.landtag-mv.de/Parldok/dokument/35059/nein-zu-einem-krieg-gegen-ru%C3%9Fland-ja-zur-nationalen-souver%C3%A4nit%C3%A4t-unverz%C3%BCglicher-austritt-aus-dem-nato-aggressionsb%C3%BCndnis-r%C3%BCcktritt-von-den.pdf ). The EU sanctions against Moscow were imposed in spring 2014 after the Russian Crimean referendum. Beginning in December 2015 gave Brussels known to prolong the sanctions for another six months. The "European Union" is thus making even the lackey of the United States, are following tough geopolitical and economic interests in the Eurasian region. The sanctions are part of a strategy of encirclement of Russia after the NATO has been advanced up to Russia's borders 1991 onwards. In addition, the so-called Eastern Europe installed in missile defense of Moscow is rightly perceived as a threat, which applies to the West initiated "revolutions" on the periphery of Russia as well. source https://archive.is/00OSm Original Source https://npd.de/wirtschaftssanktionen-gegen-russland-sofort-beenden/ ---------------------- ꕤ ---------------------- COMMENT NPD is the German nationalist-socialist party. The NPD is constantly harassed by the official German authorities, in attempts to shut down the political party. NPD has been (and probably currently is) infiltrated by government spies who have used entrapment in an attempt to shut down the party (which resulted in failure of the government's attempt to ban the party). Repeated attempts to ban the nationalist-socialist political party have been unsuccessfully so far, but there is a fresh 2015 attempt to ban the party. Note also that members are targeted by the extremist left and others (so anyone joining up might want to use an alias and an untraceable purpose-specific e-mail, I would guess). So far, I like the sound of NPD. They sound like a proper opposition to the established political order, as opposed to tools of the established order. Check out the economic rebound to Germany.  Sales to Russia stripped by almost 50% (if I'm reading that correctly ... I'm not really 'maths-y' ... lol). This article is directly off the NPD site, translated to English by Google. In my location, while using Firefox browser, I wasn't able to directly access their site on two occasions:  a day ago and today.  So the site must be blocked where I am. First Firefox browser try today, I get a re-direction to some advertising crap about millionaires. Second try on Firefox, no go:  'unable to connect'. However, I was able to access the NPD site (shortly beforehand) earlier today via Tor Browser. So I am going to guess that this is Western government censorship and denial of information and therefore denial of informed consent, along with denial of information. https://npd.de/ via Firefox Able to access via Tor Browser: https://www.torproject.org/projects/torbrowser.html.en *** Double checked to make sure I wasn't mistaken about the site.   I'm not mistaken.  The site must be blocked at my end. Something strange is going on with the Google Translate, as well. Tor Brower site access shows the following site/screen for NPD:  Tor Browser NPD Site Access But a Google Translate throws up this: Tor Browser Google Translate Site (1) Tor Browser Google Translate Site (2) That doesn't make sense to me.  Has Google Translate been hacked or hijacked? ꕤ

RUSSIA - US & EU Sanctions - Foreign Oil Companies Affected

FACTBOX-EU, U.S. players in Russian energy sector MOSCOW, Sept 11 Thu Sep 11, 2014 3:54pm IST (Reuters) - The United States and European Union may stop billions of dollars in oil exploration in Russia by the world's largest energy companies in a new round of sanctions, U.S. government sources said. Following is a factbox on key projects in Russia in which energy firms from the European Union and the United States are involved or plan involvement: BP - BP obtained a 19.75 percent stake in state-controlled Rosneft as part of a deal that saw the British firm sell Rosneft its stake in the Anglo-Russian oil producer TNK-BP for $55 billion last year. - The companies agreed to explore Russia's hard-to-recover oil deposits. BP's head, Robert Dudley, a U.S. citizen, sits on Rosneft's board. EXXONMOBIL - Is involved in the Sakhalin-1 oil and gas project off the Russian Pacific island of Sakhalin, which produces more than 100,000 barrels of oil per day. ExxonMobil owns 30 percent in the project, while Rosneft has a 20 percent stake. Other stakeholders are Japan's Sodeco and India's ONGC. - Rosneft and Exxon agreed to develop West Siberia's hard-to-recover oil, where resources are estimated to be bigger than those in the Bakken formation in North America. ExxonMobil pledged to provide financing worth up to $300 million. - Rosneft and Exxon will tap the offshore reaches of the Russian Arctic. The acreage in the Chukchi Sea, Laptev Sea and Kara Sea spans approximately 600,000 square km (150 million acres). Exploration drilling in the Kara Sea began in August. - Both companies have agreed to tap Black Sea reserves. STATOIL - Rosneft and Norway's Statoil are due to develop the Domanik shale formation in the Volga region. - Rosneft and Statoil will jointly work on the Norwegian continental shelf in the Barents Sea, where Rosneft was awarded a 20 percent stake in the license PL713. - Both companies will also work in Russia's Perseevsky area in the Barents Sea and the Kashevarovsky, Lisyansky and Magadan 1 areas in the Sea of Okhotsk. - Statoil owns 30 percent stake in Kharyaga oil project in northern Russia. ENI, CONOCOPHILLIPS - Along with Rosneft, Italy's Eni will develop the Fedynsky, Central Barents blocks in the Barents Sea and the Western Chernomorsky block in the Black Sea. - Rosneft has the Polar Light project with ConocoPhillips in the Russian Arctic. ROYAL DUTCH SHELL - Royal Dutch Shell works with Gazprom Neft, the oil unit of state gas company Gazprom, via Salym Petroleum, which produces 140,000 barrels of oil per day. - Salym Petroleum is also exploring for unconventional oil at the Bazhenov formation in West Siberia. - Gazprom Neft and Shell created another joint venture last year to explore for shale oil at three deposits in West Siberia. - Shell owns 27.5 percent at the Sakhalin-2 project, which produces over 100,000 barrels of oil per day and around 10 million tonnes of liquefied natural gas. Gazprom has 50 percent stake, Japan's Mitsui - 12.5 percent, Mitsubishi - 10 percent. TOTAL - Total holds a 40 percent stake and leads Kharyaga oil project with production of around 30,000 barrels per day. - Total agreed with Lukoil to explore the Bazhenov formation. Seismic acquisition should start this year and exploration drilling is due to follow in 2015. (Reporting by Vladimir Soldatkin and Katya Golubkova, editing by Elizabeth Piper/Jeremy Gaunt) http://in.reuters.com/article/2014/09/11/ukraine-crisis-russia-energy-idINL5N0RC1B320140911

Nice list of foreign interests in oil exploration in Russia.

Thought I'd set it aside here for an easy find when wanted.

check it out.

SERBIA - Won't introduce anti-Russian sanctions

EU candidate Serbia says will not exploit Russian embargo August 23, 2014 Serbia said on Friday it would not subsidise exports to Russia, after the European Union urged the Balkan country - a candidate for accession to the bloc - not to exploit the Kremlin's ban on Western food imports. Serbian food producers hope to take advantage of the trade row but the West-Russia stand-off over Ukraine has put Serbian authorities in a tight spot, caught between their ambition to join the EU and economic and political ties with Russia. Prime Minister Aleksandar Vucic said he had received an aide-memoire this week from an EU official in Belgrade calling on Serbia to refrain from boosting exports to Russia, as a matter of solidarity with the bloc. Vucic told a news conference Serbia had not planned to subsidise exporters to Russia but also would not join the Western sanctions on Moscow. [...] http://www.brecorder.com/business-a-economy/189/1216377/

Well done, Serbia.

But if they join EU, will they still have the ability to opt out of EU decisions?
Expect that's not the case, so why join EU?

Sweden whining about sanctions -- but were fine with sanctions on Russia. Hypocrites.

Sweden seriously concerned about EU security after Russia import ban August 08, 16:52 UTC+4 STOCKHOLM, August 08. /ITAR-TASS/. Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt said on Friday he was deeply concerned about the European Union’s security following Russia's ban on imports from the West. “There is no doubt that the situation is extremely worrying,” Bildt told Radio Sweden. “This is the most worrying situation in European security policy I have ever had to face for quite a long period of time - 25 years.” On Thursday, Russia announced suspension of food imports from Norway, Canada, Australia, the United States and the 28-nation European Union worth billions of dollars in retaliation for sanctions imposed by those nations in recent weeks over events in Ukraine. The ban, targeting cheese, fish, beef, pork, fruit, vegetables and dairy products over the next 12 months, is expected to seriously affect Western economies. Combined with other import bans imposed earlier this year, the new trade measures cover Western imports worth $9.1 billion in 2013, according to Russian customs data. Exports of sanctioned products from Europe to Russia were worth $6.5 billion last year. http://en.itar-tass.com/world/744125

So it was fine when Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt was calling for tougher sanctions on Russia, along with his Polish wannabe American buddy, Radoslaw Sikorski, but he's whining about sanctions imposed by Russia?

What a pack of hypocrites.  Bildt was among those calling for 'tougher' sanctions on Russia.

Take it like a man, Bildt.  Surely it's no more than expected.  Don't play coy now.

As for worried about 'security', get real.  What he's worried about is money.

Politics is always about the money.  Follow the money.

Check out the theatrics and the dishonesty of these politicians.

RUSSIA - MORE SANCTIONS

RUSSIA HIT BY NEW WORLD SANCTIONS By Press Association Published: 10:35 AEST, 30 July 2014 The European Union and US are to impose new economic sanctions against Russia following the downing of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17, which has been blamed on Moscow-backed rebels in Ukraine. ... arms embargo, a ban on the sale of dual use and sensitive technologies, and a ban on the sale of bonds and equities by state-owned Russian banks in European capital markets. Eight more officials ... expected to be subjected to asset bans and travel freezes. David Cameron said the new sanctions should send a message to Mr Putin that his behaviour in Ukraine was unacceptable" and Russia could expect "tough action" from the international community until it changed course. [DAVID CAMERON TAKING NICK CLEGG'S POSITION ... RIGHT DOWN TO THE PUTIN'S 'BEHAVIOUR' BULL ...  THESE U.S. SOCK PUPPETS AREN'T EVEN ORIGINAL ... LOL] The measures were agreed as world aviation chiefs set up a "senior level" international task force to deal with the threat to passenger planes following the downing of flight MH17. [NOT JUST ANY 'CHIEFS' ... WORLD! AVIATION CHIEFS ... NOT JUST ANY LEVEL ... 'SENIOR LEVEL'! ... TO DEAL WITH THE NON-EXISTENT THREAT TO PASSENGER PLANES, AS AIRCRAFT ARE EXPECTED TO BE DIVERTED FROM A THE UKRAINE WAR ZONE. EXAMPLE OF BULLSHIT PROPAGANDA RIGHT THERE, FOLKS.] ... EU sanctions had been imposed after Russia ignored calls to seek a peaceful resolution to the crisis in Ukraine, with arms and fighters continuing to flow across the border in support of the pro-Moscow separatist rebels. [SAY THE ALLIES OF THE US, WHOSE PUPPET GOVERNMENT IS INSTALLED IN UKRAINE, WHILE U.S. MAKES A CORPORATE & MILITARY, IMPERIALIST GRAB IN EUROPE.] "It is meant as a strong warning: illegal annexation of territory and deliberate destabilisation of a neighbouring sovereign country cannot be accepted in 21st-century Europe," he said. [WHO HAS A LONG AND DELIBERATE RECORD OF DESTABILISING AND COLONISING THE WORLD? THE SAME PARTIES WHO ARE SELF-APPOINTED ARBITERS OF WHAT IS 'ILLEGAL'.  LOL.] Signs were emerging of concern in the City of London about the possible blowback sanctions on Russia could inflict on the UK economy. Energy giant BP - which owns a 20% stake in Russian oil firm Rosneft - warned that further international sanctions could have a "material adverse impact" on the company's business in Russia and its own financial position. [PERFECT THEN. KEEP 'EM COMING.  LOL.] The EU discussions on enhanced sanctions came as the US accused Moscow of increasing troop numbers on its border with Ukraine and shipping more heavy weaponry to the pro-Moscow rebels. [TROTTING OUT THE SAME-OLD SAME-OLD ACCUSATIONS ABOUT THE RUSSIAN 'BOGEYMAN' ... ON RUSSIAN SOIL.  MUCH THE SAME MOB WHO INVADED RUSSIA IN 1918.] http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/pa/article-2710280/RUSSIA-HIT-BY-NEW-WORLD-SANCTIONS.html

This is a wonderful lesson on 21st century imperialism and propaganda in action.

It's basically a how-to, if you observe the parties carefully.

That headline ought to read 'Hit by New World Order' sanctions.

An alternate take on the anti-Russian sanctions - here.

UK - Arms Embargo - Cameron's Porkie Pies

Cameron claims export licenses allowing UK arms sales to Russia don’t breach embargo Published time: July 24, 2014 15:04 Edited time: July 24, 2014 23:23  ... Heated criticism of British arms deals with Russia emerged after a group of MPs revealed over 200 licenses allowing the sale of British military equipment to the Russian Federation. These revelations surfaced in a report published on Wednesday, conducted by four separate House of Commons committees. The Committee on Arms Export Controls’ hard-hitting review contradicted a public statement by David Cameron on July 21. The Prime Minister had indicated the government had enforced an absolute arms embargo against Russia. Speaking in the Commons on Monday, Cameron called for an outright EU-wide ban on arms sales to Russia, claiming such an embargo was already in place in Britain. “Future military sales from any country in Europe should not be going ahead,” the Prime Minister told Westminster MPs. “We have already stopped them from Britain,” he claimed. But the Commons committees’ report contradicted Cameron’s claims. The review carefully scrutinized controls on Britain’s arms exports to Russia, revealing 251 export licenses for the sale of controlled goods to the Russia Federation worth approximately £132m.   ... Previously, Britain’s new Defense Secretary Michael Fallon, said Britain does not export arms to Russia “that could be used for internal repression.”   Fallon claimed Britain has “one of the strictest arms sales policies in the world. We don’t sell arms to countries that might use them internally, or might use them to cause regional instability.” But MPs have called for stricter controls on weapons sales to “authoritarian regimes” - emphasizing that over 3,000 export licenses for arms deals worth £12bn have been approved for 28 states criticized by the UK's Foreign Office for their unacceptable human rights records. Such states include Israel, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Sri Lanka.  ...extracts only...article @ ... Source - RT News - here.

Well, fancy that!

And fancy calling for an EU outright ban while doing a roaring arms trade to Russia and DENYING it.

John Kerry does the 'full Ginsburg'

Carl P. Leubsdorf:  Kerry makes the most of Ukraine July 24, 2014 Appearing on all five Sunday morning television news shows has become a familiar practice since the term “full Ginsburg” was coined after the first person to accomplish the feat, Monica Lewinsky’s lawyer William Ginsburg, in 1998. Obama administration officials have increasingly employed the practice — notably Secretary of State John Kerry, who last weekend became the second person, after Treasury Secretary Jack Lew, to complete a second “full Ginsburg.” But where Ginsburg’s main impact was to get his name applied to the tactic, Kerry has sought to restore the Sunday shows as major platforms for making news, rather than a forum for repeating past positions and policy conflicts. In September, he used his five TV appearances to disclose that the administration had positive proof that Syria had used the neurotoxin sarin against its civilians. On Sunday, he presented an explicit and convincing case that Russia had supplied the weapon its Ukrainian allies used to shoot down a Malaysian Airlines commercial plane. These appearances were a major part of the secretary of state’s ongoing effort to strengthen both the U.S. voice around the world — and his own — as President Barack Obama’s main spokesman on international issues. In the process, he is also playing a far more public role than his predecessor, Hillary Clinton, who preferred a low-key, diplomatic approach to improve the U.S. image abroad. That may be one reason a Politico poll this week gave her mediocre ratings as secretary of state, along with the fact that, for 18 months, the main publicity surrounding her four years concerned Republican charges that inadequate security in Benghazi was responsible for the death of four Americans. Clinton also had little use for the Sunday morning platform, though it can easily provide news to dominate the headlines and network newscasts on a day where news tends to be spontaneous, rather than planned. “I have to confess, here in public, going on the Sunday shows is not my favorite thing to do,” Clinton told a congressional committee in explaining, perhaps speciously, why she deferred to then U.N. Ambassador Susan Rice on the weekend after the Benghazi terrorism attack. “There are other things I prefer to do on Sunday mornings. … And I did feel strongly that we had a lot to manage, that I had to respond to, and that that should be my priority.” Kerry, however, has eagerly pursued the public pulpit, which often focuses on issues with which he has spent years dealing as a longtime member and later chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as the 2004 Democratic presidential nominee.

He has not been reluctant to tackle the more intractable international issues, like the generations-long Israeli-Palestinian dispute, the bloody and complicated Syrian civil war and the Russian effort to destabilize Ukraine both politically and militarily. Kerry’s high-profile efforts have not been trouble-free. On Sunday, he stirred a flap by making what appeared to be very candid comments about the Israeli effort to destroy the Hamas terrorism infrastructure in Gaza in a cellphone conversation that he didn’t realize microphones were picking up. “It’s a hell of a pinpoint operation,” he twice said, apparently referring to Israeli statements its efforts would be limited. A few minutes later, on Fox News Sunday, host Chris Wallace asked if he was “upset that the Israelis are going too far.” “It’s very difficult in these situations,” Kerry replied. “I reacted, obviously, in a way that anybody does in respect to young children and civilians.” Kerry is no stranger to such situations. Some months back, his offhand comment about Syria’s chemical weapons resulted in the Russians suggesting international talks. Kerry’s increasingly high-profile role has coincided with speculation about whether his predecessor, Clinton, will seek the presidency in 2016 and, if she doesn’t, who should be the Democratic nominee. Besides Vice President Joe Biden, there have been sporadic suggestions that Kerry, who came within 118,000 Ohio votes of winning in 2004, would be a strong candidate. But he made clear in a CNN interview last February that once was enough for him. “I’m out of politics,” Kerry told CNN’s Jake Tapper. Besides, judging from his first 18 months, his day job will keep him pretty busy through 2016. Source - Tallahassee Democrat - here.

Cool.  Now I know what the 'full Ginsburg' is.  Kinda.  LOL

Jack/Jacob Lew and John Kerry have been lobbying for anti-Russian economic sanctions (briefly mentioned here), so that's probably what the media round was about.

Jacob Lew and the Obama administration are also having a go at 'unpatriotic' international mergers:

rising number of U.S. companies using international mergers to relocate their headquarters overseas in an effort to avoid paying U.S. corporate taxes. [here]

Lew calls these 'inversions' which:

“hollow out the U.S. corporate income tax base.” [as above, here]

Reference made in the article to expected call for 'economic patriotism'. 

Who would have guessed there was such a thing in a free market economy in the land of the free etc?

I don't understand the significance of Kerry's 'pinpoint' phone call.  It doesn't sound particularly controversial to me, so I don't understand why this keeps coming up in media like it's some big deal rebuke or something, when it's not.

Doubt Clinton will be in the running for Pres, but Kerry might be despite what he says.

The 'news-making' stuff is interesting.  Politicians appear to set the news agenda on the day.

JOHN McCAIN'S BIG MOUTH

Republican Senator John McCain calls for Vladimir Putin to be banned from G20 July 24, 2014 - 7:48AM Nick O'Malley [...] Senator McCain has toed a consistently strong line against Russia for its support of rebels in Eastern Ukraine, calling for US President Barack Obama to arm the Ukrainian government. In response to the decision by European foreign ministers on Tuesday to broaden sanctions against but not increase their severity, Senator McCain said, “It's a joke and they will do nothing and I predicted they would do nothing". Describing President Putin as a “KGB thug”, he told London’s Telegraph newspaper, “[European leaders] will continue to do nothing until the day they become independent of Russian energy. Until then they will talk." Senator McCain is one of several American politicians growing increasingly frustrated at what they perceive to be lack of action against Russia. On the Senate floor, Republican Dan Coats said, “I suggest we do whatever is necessary to bring Russia’s economy to its knees," he said. "We need to see that [Russian] stock market plummet. We need to see confidence and support for anything Russia makes or exports denied.” Source - SMH - here.

McCain's a big mouth.  

Calling for Obama to arm the Ukraine government ... with McCain's buddies' weapons by any chance?

Send McCain over to Russia to sort it out with Putin.

As for SMH, what are they, a US propaganda sheet trumpeting what the likes of big-mouth McCain jerk off to in senate?

All the sheeple will read this and take it as gospel.  LOL

EU-UN TOOTH FAIRY - UKRAINE - RUSSIA

Summary: 18 July 2014, Brussels - Council of the European Union Background on the Foreign Affairs Council 22 July 2014 in Brussels The Council will start at 9.30, presided by the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton. The Council will first exchange views on the situation in Ukraine. [...] The Council will take stock of the follow up given on the agreement at the European Council of 16 July to expand the EU restrictive measures, as well as on further diplomatic steps as outlined by Heads of State and Government and discuss next steps. In particular, the European Council stressed again the EU's support for a peaceful settlement of the crisis in Ukraine and urged agreement on a genuine and sustainable cease-fire to create the conditions for the implementation of President Poroshenko's peace plan. It regretted that the requested steps set out in the 27 June conclusions have not been adequately taken and agreed to expand the restrictive measures. It also requested the European Investment Bank to suspend the signature of new financing operations in the Russian Federation and invited the Commission to reassess EU-Russia cooperation programmes. (see European Council conclusions). The Council also is set to formally establish an EU civilian mission under the Common Security and Defence Policy, which will advise on a revised strategy for the civilian security sector in Ukraine, including the police and national guard, and mentor the implementation of reforms. The European Council of 26/27 June saw the signing of the remainder of the Association Agreement/DCFTA with Ukraine. EU leaders urged the Russian Federation to actively use its influence over illegally armed groups and to stop the flow of weapons and militants across the border, in order to achieve rapid and tangible results in de-escalation. In addition, the European Council set out its expectations on four steps towards de-escalation, underlining the EU's readiness to adopt further restrictive measures (see European Council conclusions, paras 29-33). A trilateral meeting between the EU, Ukraine and Russia was held on 11 July in Brussels in order to consult on the implementation of the recently signed Association Agreement/DCFTA and to explore its possible economic effects on Russia. The participants agreed to launch a consultation mechanism with primary focus on technical regulations, standards, customs administration, conformity assessment procedures and sanitary and phytosanitary measures arising from the implementation of the AA/DCFTA. The EU strongly condemns the illegal annexation of Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and refuses to recognise it. As part of the EU's non-recognition policy, imports of goods originating in Crimea or Sevastopol into the EU have been prohibited unless they have Ukrainian certificates. In response to the crisis in Ukraine, several summit-level meetings involving Russia have been cancelled and negotiations on visa matters and a new agreement with Russia have been suspended. The EU has also targeted 72 persons responsible for actions that threaten or undermine the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine with an asset freeze and a travel ban. Two confiscated entities in Crimea are also subject to an asset freeze. EU leaders have reiterated several times that further steps by Russia to destabilise the situation in Ukraine will lead to additional and far reaching consequences for relations between the EU (and its member states) and the Russian Federation in a broad range of economic areas. The EU supports the Ukrainian economy as set out in the Commission's package of 5 March. Disbursements of the macro-financial assistance (up to € 1.6 bn) and of EU assistance under the state-building contract (up to € 355m) have started. At the same time, the Commission has made it clear that it stands ready to continue to act as a mediator between Ukraine and Russia and their respective energy companies on gas supplies, transit and prices. ...extract only...rest @... SOURCE - EU-UN - here.

------------------------------------------------
COMMENT

[Iraq, Gaza & Syria also get a mention.]

Looks like EU's hitting the Russians economically.

The move with the certification of goods from Crimea is evil genius.

And check out the whopping  €1.6 billion ($2.16 billion) earmarked financial assistance as well as €355 million (abt $480 million) 'state building' assistance.

Is that the EU tooth fairy at work or is it something else?

The EU acting as 'mediator' should be fun times to be had by all; the EU's not exactly impartial.

MH17 - War of words - Threat of extension of anti-Russian sanctions

Financial Times (Source - FT - here) is running with a western ultimatum to Russians and a push for extension of anti-Russian sanctions story.

Putin's the villain because he supposedly has control over the eastern Ukraine 'rebels' (otherwise known as the 'self defence force').

Nobody condemns Ukraine's Petro Poroshenko for calling off the ceasefire in the first place:

Early on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko announced that the armed forces, national guard, border troops and security service are no longer restrained by the ceasefire regime, thus enforcing his decision against another extension of the ceasefire in east Ukraine. According to Poroshenko, the move to call off the ceasefire was dictated by the fact that protection of Ukraine’s territorial integrity, safety and the lives of civilians require offensive as well as defensive action against independence supporters. The president’s most recent initiative is inconsistent with his previously voiced intention of crisis-resolution, because the peaceful settlement effort was intended to immediately stop the violence. Ukraine’s government promised to stick to the implementation of the peace plan, which envisages disarmament, decentralization, unrestricted use of the Russian language and reconstruction of destroyed housing at the government’s expense. Earlier Tuesday, Russia’s lower house speaker Sergei Naryshkin stated that without a comprehensive ceasefire, peace in Ukraine cannot be restored. [Source - RIA Novosti- 15:05 01/07/2014 - here]

John Kerry reckons 'evidence' points to a Russian SA-11 downing MH17.  But the west is jumping up and down because of lack of access to 'evidence', so wouldn't this make Kerry's 'evidence' speculation at this point in time?  Irrespective of the exact device which may have taken down the MH17, does John Kerry actually know who fired the weapon?  I highly doubt that.  So this is more US-biased anti-Russian speculation floated about in the press.

Much is made of the lack of access to the site; but the site in question is a war-zone.  And it was the west's Poroshenko that reinstated it as a war-zone, on the strength of his US support not to extend the ceasefire:

Tuesday after President Petro Poroshenko announced he would not renew a ceasefire but go on the offensive to rid Ukraine of "parasites". ... The United States said the separatists had not abided by the ceasefire and Poroshenko had "a right to defend his country". Within hours of Poroshenko's early morning announcement, his military went into action against rebel bases and checkpoints, bombarding them from the air and with artillery. [SOURCE - Reuters - here]

'Right to defend' etc ... hmmmm, that rings a bell.  Oh, that's it; it reminds me of the US position on Israel and Gaza!  Look how well that's working out.

Philip Hammond UK Foreign Secretary gets in on the act, as does Frank-Walter Steinmeir, German's Minister for Foreign Affairs.

UK wants an immediate extension of sanctions passed.  Of course, they do.  They're tight with the US and they themselves probably have UK corporate interests to consider when it comes to the grab in Ukraine.

Financial Times provides a link to their story on Obama's 'MH17 Wake Up Call to Europe Over Sanctions'.

The alleged rebel wiretaps get a mention, but all this does is drag unsubstantiated allegations into the impression-creation mix -- like it's supposed to.

Hungry Corporate American Vultures Eagerly Poised Over Ukraine

Corporate American Vultures

Multi-source Article

 ...

To their credit, senators from both parties voiced frustration with the Obama administration’s continued passivity at a Foreign Relations Committee hearing Wednesday. “What are we waiting for?” asked Chairman Robert Menendez, D-N.J. Administration officials predicted that the oft-promised sanctions would come “very soon” if Russia did not change course — perhaps following a European Union summit meeting next week. But the White House has not committed itself to unilateral action if the European Union falters.

The administration is not wrong to prefer joint action with the Europeans if it is achievable. But the United States has the power to impose crippling unilateral sanctions on Russia, especially through the banking system. If the Ukrainian government can act without the permission of France and Germany, so can the United States.

SOURCE - here.

Article appears both:

1.  Huston Texas (the oil capital)
     (under 'Opinion' - The Courier of Montgomery County)

http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/courier/opinion/ukraine-deserves-support/article_646dfc05-debc-5962-a445-6b41606f4e85.html
Posted: Friday, July 18, 2014 10:29 pm
[Quoted as 'Washington Post' article]



2.  Washington Post - political capital - 
     under 'opinion'

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-us-should-follow-ukraines-lead-and-act-unilaterally-on-russia-sanctions/2014/07/10/a355c460-0853-11e4-a0dd-f2b22a257353_story.html
[Posted: July 10]

----------------------------------------------------
COMMENT


The article sings the praises of the puppet government and claims it's doing wonders without help from the US and the EU.

Never mind the crippling sanctions on Russia from both the US and the EU, as well as the unrelenting pressure which includes provocations in the Ukraine, US naval exercises in the Black Sea, the blockage of Russia's Southstream project in Bulgaria, and the constant lobbying for further sanctions and calls to action, in the US political arena and in the corporate controlled press.

Corporate America thirsts for the blood of east Ukrainians:

It remains to be seen whether Ukrainian forces can finish off the insurgents while observing a pledge to avoid civilian casualties and whether Putin will step up his military support for his proxies. The Russian leader has been playing what NATO’s secretary general correctly termed a “double game,” offering fake compromises to the West while continuing his campaign to make Ukraine ungovernable. Putin has economic as well as military cards to play: He has suspended Russian gas deliveries to Ukraine and threatened to impose crippling trade tariffs. He has patience and plenty of time; for the moment he is popular at home, and the Russian stock market is rising. [Posted: Friday, July 18, 2014 10:29 pm - source - here.]

And, of course, it accuses Russia of this and that.

Mentions supsension of Ukraine gas deliveries, but does not state that the Ukraine has not paid their gas bill.  LOL.

The 'crippling trade tariffs' are what exactly?  Is it, 'pay your gas bill'?  Or is it something else?

Whatever this is, it's like a mass newspaper-lobbying drive to blacken the target and to urge sanctions - making out how 'brave' the Ukrainian government is, how recalcitrant the Russians are, and how 'reluctant' the Democrats government is.  LOL


Meanwhile, US 'oil central' and US 'politics-finance central' feed on write-up that leaves one with the distinct impression that corporate America is a vulture -- a vulture eagerly poised and hungry for a long anticipated, bloody, Ukraine meal.

Are Americans stupid?

Renew America Article - 

aka 'Are Americans Stupid?'

July 19, 2014
Is the German chancellor an agent of Russia?
By Cliff Kincaid

In the wake of the shoot-down of the Malaysian Airlines plane over Ukraine, various pundits continue to say it is unlikely that Europe will do much about it. But why? It is just a lack of will? Or something else?

The evidence is being ignored by most of the media, but it continues to indicate that German Chancellor Angela Merkel is an agent, or at least a stooge, of Russia's Vladimir Putin.

In an extraordinary development, the office of the President of Russia reports that Putin said on Wednesday that the German Chancellor is "a reputable European leader under whose leadership Germany has made great progress in the social, economic and political spheres."

The message noted "the high level of cooperation that Russia and Germany have reached," and reported that Putin told Merkel "that the further development of bilateral ties regardless of the political situation serves the interests of both nations."

The comments were included in the context of greetings on Merkel's 60th birthday.

The Kyiv Post reports that the people of Ukraine, who are involved in that "political situation" alluded to by Putin, are not amused.
...
He added, "Western and NATO countries believed they could tie Russia into greater military cooperation through engagement, but now have realized that Russia was probably never really interested in that."

This confirms the point made by Air Force General Philip M. Breedlove, NATO's supreme allied commander for Europe and commander of the U.S. European Command, who recently told a Pentagon news conference, "For the last 12 to 14 years, we've been looking at Russia as a partner. We've been making decisions about force structure, basing investments, et cetera, et cetera, looking to Russia as a partner."

The truth is that Russia deceived the U.S., and Germany was in on the deception. The real partners are Russia and Germany.

...extract only...
SOURCE - Renew America - here.

----------------------------------------------------

COMMENT

Now they're resorting to smearing Angela Merkel.  LOL.
Pathetic.

Awww, the US was 'earnestly' cooperating with Russia -- er, like they were cooperating with their ally, Germany -- on whom the US was recently caught spying?    LOL.

Deceit is what the US specialise in.  LOL.

MOSCOW - Abbot's comments unacceptable

New Zealand

MH17: Russia furious at 'unacceptable' Tony Abbott comments
MARK KENNY


Moscow has voiced anger over being blamed by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott for the downing of a Malaysia passenger jet over eastern Ukraine that killed all 298 people on board, calling his comments "unacceptable".

"Without bothering himself about evidence and operating only on speculation, Mr T. Abbott assigned guilt," the foreign ministry said in a statement. "Abbott's statements are unacceptable." 
...
The forceful comments came after Foreign Affairs Minister Julie Bishop emerged from a meeting with Russia's ambassador to Australia Vladimir Morozov, to reveal Moscow had denied the involvement of pro-Russian rebels and attempted to lay the blame at Ukraine's feet.
...
The atrocity has sparked questions over why the Malaysian carrier was still using a flight path over the Ukrainian war zone, when other airlines, including Qantas, had changed their flight paths in recent months due to an increase in the intensity of fighting in the area.
...
Peter Jennings, executive director of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, said direct military action was unlikely, though the West could look at providing military equipment to the Ukrainians.

"It's a serious geopolitical issue. It lifts Russia back to being the bad boy threat of the Soviet days," he said.

"[But] neither NATO nor the US has an appetite to do anything on the ground. It would be a combination of tougher sanctions and more open support of Ukrainians, for example, providing them with their own military hardware."

One example might be to provide the Ukrainians with Patriot anti-missile batteries, as the the Ukrainian air force does not have strong self-defence capabilities.
...

...extracts only...

SOURCE - stuff.co.nz - here.

--------------------------------------------------------

Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) - ACT location

'Think tank' ... formed & mostly funded by the Australian Government
But is 'independent'
Role of:

• developing ideas on Australia's defence and strategic policy
• informing the public on defence and strategic policy issues

Peter Jennings (former Deputy Secretary in the Department of Defence)

[wikipedia]

 
COMMENT

Not surprised Russia isn't impressed with Abbott's melodramatics.

* US will probably arm Ukraine govt ... to secure US investment to date

* US & buddies will probably amp up the anti-Russian sanctions

RUSSIA - Council on Foreign Relations / Brookings Institution Interview

Council on Foreign Relations

Fueling the Fire in Ukraine

Interviewee: Steven Pifer, Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Interviewer: Robert McMahon, Editor, CFR.org
July 18, 2014

SOURCE - CFR - here.

------------------------------------------------------
BLOGGER SUMMARY


Seek step-up of sanctions against Russia.

Outline what constitutes an unbiased investigation

• Ukraine
• Malaysia
• Boeing
• Neutralis:

• Finland
• Austria
• Switzerland

Suspicions of Russian control of eastern Ukrainians rehashed

Bloomberg 2013 Report:

• Russia had $43 billion in foreign currency bonds, circa Dec 2013
• Jan-Feb 2004, drop to $7billion
• March-date, zero

US - blocking lending to select large Russian corporations

EU - blocking all lending from:

• European Investment Bank
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development

Question:  will Russia be a part of the resolution or the problem

Will sanctions bring Russia to heel?

--------------------------------------------------------------

COMMENT


This is what stood out for me (not complete summary).

War is much nastier than I imagined.

Being indebted could cripple a country.
It's restrictive  -- particularly if investments and borrowings aren't spread.

Any country that's in debt could find itself dancing to someone else's tune.