This and That

This and That What's happening? Discovered a Turkish controlled 'exclave' in Syria -- guessing it's this place. According to the Treaty of Ankara signed between France and Turkey in 1921, Turkey controls the tomb and no mention is made of the land beneath it. So it's not really a territory within a territory, like I imagined?   Checking elsewhere, it states it's 'smaller than a city block', so it's not just a few feet by a few feet like I first thought when I read about the tomb.  It's some kind of tiny 'territory' after all.  Looks like it's going to shape up as an excuse for Turkey to take 'action' against Syria if the IS group attack this territory. Encountered a creepy photo of what was allegedly the FSA group getting a child to behead what I suppose was a Syrian loyalist:  bound, hand and foot (I think), on his side, with his head resting, raised on some kind of block.  The child held something above his head, swinging.  Not sure what it was.  Imagined it was an axe.  But I'm now guessing it was a sword, seeing it's the Middle East.  Elicited a degree of revulsion. Stumbled on some information on the Trade in Services Agreement (TISA).   Trying to recall what it was, got it mixed up with the other agreements. This one relates to:   "liberalizing the worldwide trade of services such as banking and transport" [wikipedia] It's just another in agreement upon agreement that gives the US control right around the globe. "The EU and the US are the main proponents of the agreement, and the authors of most joint changes."  [wikipedia] But it doesn't end with the US and the EU.  A host of other countries are involved in this and end result is that something like two-thirds of 'trade of services' will be subject to the provisions of this agreement. Apparently, nobody finds the spread of US control at all frightening and they're happy to sign up.  Guess that goes back to being corporate controlled governments doing the bidding of big business, instead of primarily being engaged in representing the people of the nation they're supposedly serving as an elected government in a 'democracy'. Add to that unpleasant picture the fact that this is a 'secret' agreement that was supposed to stay quiet for 5 years after signature.  More information on that is available at the WikiLeaks.org site.  Not sure what I can and can't link to without being in breach of some law or other, so search away.  Easily found. The secrecy of the agreement and the two-thirds of 'world trade in services' being subject to the agreement were the really big red-flag aspects in my view.  But there's also a lack flexibility to respond to changes in world finance that binds governments who sign up for this, and probably other stuff I don't remember or care to know. How outrageous is it that 'democratic' governments are *hiding* what they're signing their entire countries up for! The WikiLeaks site pointed out that the US is pushing for cross-border exchange of data that includes personal and financial information.  So I take it this is yet more surveillance and foreign control.  The G20 ministers meeting resulted in either sign-ups or agreements to sign up for banking data exchange on what is probably a global scale once all the US puppets sign up, so the G20 erosion of liberties could be TISA related -- or just an added round of more of the same erosions. Highly doubt that this will ever affect me personally, in a direct way.   But this affects everybody in terms of the climate their government is creating:  one of secrecy, one of perhaps 'duty' and subordination to foreign interests, one of inability to put national interests first given constraints of such agreements, one of inability to freely act or legislate in future due to provisions of such an agreements, one of divulging citizens' data to foreign interests and therefore conducting what amounts to surveillance on behalf of a foreign power or powers, and so on.  And if you put all of that together, it's like coming under control of some foreign invader state that already controls much of the world.  A world that is shaping up to be one large prison controlled by the US through control of currency, global institutions, defence agreements, the EU, mass surveillance arrangements and various trade agreements. [Image source:  rachelcarsoncouncil.org] If you imagine US control as a vice; it's a vice that's constantly squeezing to erode national sovereignty and to erode civil liberties, right around the world.  It's literally suffocating.

Poland's Radek Sikorski - Crimea & Ukraine

Sikorski: If Poland is hawkish on Ukraine, is Russia a dove? Published: 12/09/2014 - 08:34 | Updated: 12/09/2014 - 09:11 SPECIAL REPORT: If the EU had reacted more strongly to Russia's annexation of Crimea and adopted sanction more quickly, as Poland advocated, the currrent conflict in Donetsk, Ukraine, would not have happened, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski told EurActiv in an exclusive interview. At the age 18, Radosław (Radek) Sikorski chaired the student strike committee in Bydgoszcz in 1981. In June 1981 he travelled to the UK to study English. After martial law was declared in Poland in December 1981, he was granted political asylum in Britain. He studied at Oxford. In the mid-1980s, he worked as a freelance journalist for publications such as The Spectator and The Observer. He returned to Poland in August 1989 and since 2007 has served as deputy minister of defence, deputy minister of foreign affairs, minister of defence and foreign minister in Donald Tusk’s cabinet. He spoke to EurActiv’s Georgi Gotev and EurActiv Poland’s Krzysztof Kokoszczyński. Poland is one of the counties shaping EU foreign policy during the Ukrainian crisis. How can that influence be maintained and expanded into other areas of common policy? When we called for a united European energy policy or solidarity in response to Russian trade barriers we were often called “Russia-phobes”. Now, after president Putin broke a whole series of international agreements, Europe is starting to understand the value of solidarity and standing together. Not only against Russia. Better coordination among European countries translates into better security and economic position in the long run for all of us.  [comment 2016:  Oh, yeah.  Is that why Europe has been invaded by over 1 million Arabs and Africans (conservative estimates), while the European Union has stood by and watched with 'Welcome' signs .... ?   Is that why Europe is meddling in the Middle East?  Is Europe destroying countries to steal resources?  LOL ] But our analysis and ideas have been valuable and not only in case of Ukraine. Since it joined the EU, Poland has been actively shaping the European Union’s internal and external policy. We undertook several initiatives aimed at strengthening the EU Common European Security and Defence Policy and the Eastern European neighbourhood. Most recently, Poland, together with Sweden and the UK, was among those EU countries that initiated and drove the establishment of the European Union Advisory Mission to Security Sector Reform in Ukraine.  [Comment 2016:  these would be the evil governments then: Britain, Sweden & Poland - No doubt anti-Russian, pro-neocon and keen on intrigue and military actions.] The conflict in Ukraine has reinvigorated NATO, to a certain extent at least. In this new security environment do you foresee any developments in EU security policy or would that area of policy take now a definite back seat to arrangements through NATO? The Ukraine-Russia conflict has reinvigorated both NATO and the EU. Obviously there are areas one of the latter is more competent than the other. Mutual compatibility between their actions must be assured.  [comment 2016:  What?  Are you kidding?  All the EU did was punish European farmers with sanctions?  Tip out another load of rotten tomatoes in high street, Europe.  ] How would you respond to those in the EU who criticise Poland's position on Ukraine as too hawkish? If Poland is a “hawk”, than how are we to describe Russia? A “dove” of peace? As a neighbour of Russia, we wanted to be a partner with her as much as it is possible. We managed to establish cross-border movement with the Kaliningrad Region. Tens of thousands of Russian citizens may visit Poland without any bureaucratic formalities and trade started to flourish.  [comment 2016:  Russia might do better to partner with a snake than partner with Poland's politicians. ] However, when Russia decided to take over Crimea and to directly engage militarily in the territory of its neighbour, we had to clearly communicate to Moscow that it has to stop.   [comment  2016:  Crimea voted to return to the bosom of Mother Russia.  Return Kosovo to Serbia, you EU creeps.  ] Possibly, if the EU's reaction to the Crimea annexation had been vigorous enough and we had pushed forward for more decisive, immediate sanctions, then [the conflict in] Donetsk would not have happened. Poland aspires to become a regional leader in Central and Eastern Europe. What, in your view as foreign minister, is the current role of Poland in the region? It seems Poland is not – at least not yet – able to truly coordinate policy with the Baltic and other post-communist countries? Most of the time, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, for example, cannot be seen as “followers” of Polish policy...? Countries freely shape their policies – in line with democratic procedures, international commitments and according to their interests. The efforts of our four countries, all with similar backgrounds in terms of recent history, have made possible the creation of the Visegrad Group. It turned out to be an effective and flexible instrument of developing policies in the region. This does not mean however that we must always be unanimous and speak in one voice. Differences in the perception of interests which are at stake, specific circumstances, as well as traditions and the potential of the individual countries come into play.  [comment 2016:  Visegrad Group sounds like bad news.  Run.  ] Are you optimistic that the EU is warming up to the idea of putting in place a more coherent energy policy? How would you describe the Polish role in this endeavor? Recent developments in the East proved that EU needs to urgently push forward some of the key aspects of the energy agenda. The main challenge shall be to continue a consequent market integration based on common rules enshrined in the third energy package. Europe needs a well interconnected network of energy infrastructure and more efficient security of supply mechanisms. No member state shall be left alone in case of supply disruptions. Poland has always been a major proponent of the creation of the Energy Union which Prime Minister Tusk has called for on several occasions. We have the know-how about how the things work in the East and we know the major issues that restrict the development of the internal market in our region. Poland is one of the larger member states of the EU but she also enjoys warm relations with the US. The relations between Brussels and Washington can be sometimes tense – as was the case with PRISM and wiretapping of the senior politicians in the EU. How can Poland balance its relationship with the US with its responsibilities as a member state of the EU? And what can Poland do to defuse tensions between both sides of the Atlantic? And what about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP)?  [comment 2016:  LOL ... Yes, we know what kind of 'warm relations' Poland shares with the US, thanks to the leaked Radek tape.  ] Transatlantic cooperation and close ties between Europe and the US are the foundation of our common prosperity and security. We have to work on it regardless of some tensions which are unavoidable when we face so many complex challenges. Our good relations with US are an asset. There is no doubt Poland will be championing a “team spirit” among both the EU and US.  [comment 2016:  this guy sounds like a shill for US-Anglo capitalism.] Polish foreign policy is based on the principles and values we share on both sides of Atlantic. In the present security situation, we understand much better that the transatlantic community requires our engagement in any sphere – security, economy, democracy building. In this regard the TTIP may be a significant factor of Europe’s energy independence.  [comment 2016:  another creepy capitalist serving politician.] What does Donald Tusk’s appointment mean for Poland? The decision of EU leaders to elect Prime Minister Tusk to become next European Council President is a great achievement. It is undoubtedly the prime minister’s personal success but equally a success of Poland. We take this decision as both a signal of appreciation of the policies Poland has pursued over ten years of its EU membership and a sign that the distinctions between “old” and “new” member states are rapidly crumbling. On the 10th anniversary of Poland’s accession to the EU, a Pole will lead the institution which sets the priorities of Europe.  [comment:  Poland has been shilling for US-Anglo capitalism for a decade & this is its reward for being a lapdog.  Not much of an achievement, really, is it?  LOL  ] http://www.euractiv.com/sections/poland-ambitious-achievers/sikorski-if-poland-hawkish-ukraine-russia-dove-308392  COMMENT Noticed this has just had a bit of attention. This is from ages ago when I didn't know what was really going on. Not sure that my grasp of politics is greatly improved since, but I do know that Radek's 'sage' advice is wholly unimpressive and Euroactive onanists ought to be be ashamed of themselves.  LOL What a bunch of ass-kissers.  ;) [NOTE:  I've had to reformat this, as my earlier posts weren't formatted in a manner to allow for subsequent template alterations. ]

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.

US & European Labour Markets

European job market has strengths the US doesn’t WASHINGTON – Compare unemployment rates, and America’s job market looks much stronger than Europe’s. The U.S. rate for August is near normal at about 6 percent. In the 18 countries that use the euro currency, by contrast, it’s a collective 11.5 percent. Yet by some measures, Europe is doing better. It’s been more successful in keeping people working, letting the disabled stay on the job and boosting the proportion of women in the workforce. And Europeans in their prime working years — ages 25 to 54 — are more likely to be employed than Americans are. Fewer than 77 percent of prime-age Americans have jobs, compared with 80 percent in Belgium, 81 percent in France and 82 percent in the Netherlands, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. Though the eurozone’s overall unemployment rate is 11.5 percent, individual countries include low-rate nations like Germany and Austria (4.9 percent) as well as some with much higher unemployment than the United States: Portugal (14 percent), Italy (12.6 percent), France (10.3 percent), Belgium (8.5 percent). Yet Josh Bivens, research director at the liberal Economic Policy Institute, says America’s relatively low “headline unemployment rate is painting too rosy a picture of how the U.S. labor market is doing.” The fall in the U.S. unemployment rate has been exaggerated by rising numbers of adults neither working nor looking for work. The government counts people as unemployed only if they’re looking for a job. When many stop looking, the unemployment rate can fall even if few people are hired. No single reason explains why prime-age employment and workforce participation trends are weaker in the United States. But among the factors: • American workers get laid off. Europe better protects prime-age workers. “There’s nowhere in Europe where you can just fire a worker,” says Dean Baker, co-director of the liberal Center for Economic and Policy Research. By contrast, says Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics: “It’s very easy for companies to fire workers in the U.S.” • Disabled Europeans still work. The U.S. disability program forces many ailing Americans to choose between working and collecting disability. The number receiving disability payments from Social Security has gone from 7.1 million at the end of 2007 to 8.9 million. “The U.S. system has a strong bias that insists (on) looking at disability as a static or permanent condition,” says Ilene Zeitzer, a former Social Security Administration official. “Either the person is so disabled (he or she) cannot work, or they are not that disabled and thus they are denied benefits.” In European countries such as Sweden, by contrast, workers can take sick leave and then transfer if necessary to temporary disability. • Older European women are working more. Though American and European women are similarly likely to be working or seeking work, in Europe the percentage is climbing. In the United States, it’s falling. Kirkegaard says one reason could be the need to care for aging parents. That need “is a lot less prevalent in Europe” because such services are more likely to be paid for by government programs, he says. Such generous social programs are supported by Europe’s higher tax rates. • European reforms bring part-timers and temps. Spain, France, Germany and Italy have eased rules that had made it hard for companies to hire part-time and temporary workers. The loosened rules have enabled more Europeans to find work. Beginning in 2003, Germany cut the duration of unemployment benefits, raised the retirement age and eased restrictions on temporary staffing agencies. It also required the unemployed to actively seek work to receive benefits. Likewise, Spain cut unemployment benefits and made it easier for companies to hire part-timers and temps. And in 2012, Italy made it easier to hire workers on short-term contracts. http://www.desertsun.com/story/money/business/career/2014/09/06/europe-job-market-american/15228205/

Some valuable information here about the labour markets.

Good for getting a feel for the economies & moods of different countries.

Appears there's a trend of workers' rights being eroded.

The Rome Statute - International Criminal Court

ꕤ Article SOURCE https://treaties.un.org/Pages/ViewDetails.aspx?src=TREATY&mtdsg_no=XVIII-10&chapter=18&lang=en Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court Rome, 17 July 1998 Entry into force:     1 July 2002, in accordance with article 126. Registration    : 1 July 2002, No. 38544 Status              : Signatories : 139.   Parties : 123 The Statute was adopted on 17 July 1998 by the United Nations Diplomatic Conference of Plenipotentiaries on the Establishment of an International Criminal Court.  In accordance with its article 125, the Statute was opened for signature by all States in Rome at the Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations on 17 July 1998.  Thereafter, it was opened for signature in Rome at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy until 17 October 1998.  After that date, the Statute was opened for signature in New York, at United Nations Headquarters, where it will be until 31 December 2000. plenipotentiary A person, especially a diplomat, invested with the full power of independent action on behalf of their government, typically in a foreign country. [source] Note Israel & USA not party to Rome Statute ꕤ

Monsanto Colonises Ukraine

Monsanto in Ukraine: IMF loan for Ukraine may give GMO giant a backdoor into EU http://on.rt.com/z0ekxl Published time: August 30, 2014 15:33 Ukraine’s bid for closer ties with the west could come at a cost. With the IMF set to loan the country $17 billion, the deal could also see GMO crops grown in some of the most fertile lands on the continent, warns Frederic Mousseau. Very few, not least the Ukrainian population are aware of these details, but according to Mousseau, who is a Policy Director at The Oakland Institute, in return for the cash, Ukraine could very well become a test ground for GMO crops in Europe, something the rest of the European Union has been looking to prevent. RT caught up with the Frenchman, who voiced his concerns at what may lay ahead. RT: When this $17 billion deal is approved by the IMF and the Ukrainian ban on GM crops is lifted, does that mean it is just a matter of time before Ukrainian farmers grow modified crops? Frederic Mousseau: This is very likely because there is a lot of pressure from the bio-technological industry, such as Monsanto, to have these approved in Ukraine. It is also part of the EU Association Agreement, which has a particular article which calls for the expansion of bio-technology and GMOs in Ukraine. RT: If it was one of the pre-conditions of the multi-billion dollar loan, do you think it is fair to say that Monsanto has considerable influence over the IMF and the World Bank and even dictates terms to them? FM: We saw in 2013 that Monsanto invested $140 million in new seed plans in Ukraine. It is clearly the bread basket of Europe and it is a key target for a company like Monsanto, which sees this huge potential for production and this huge market. Europe has been quite resistant in allowing GMOs, but if they are successful in Ukraine then there might be a domino effect in Europe. RT: Was it a coincidence or a pre-planned action back in December 2013, when the ban on GM goods was lifted in Ukraine, just weeks before the IMF was supposed to give that county a loan? FM: It can’t be a coincidence because we have seen a very strong mobilization of the industry and the agro business in lobbying the government and the EU to have these changes in the legislation. Also we have seen this investment coming in prior to any adoption of GMOs. So clearly this pressure was there and to have such a clause in the EU Association Agreement means that the lobbyists in the industry must have been at work for months before that. RT: The president of the US-Ukraine Business Council has said that it is necessary to get the Ukrainian government out of the agriculture business and transform it into a private sector industry. Can we say that America has set its sights on the vast fields that could be a gold mine for agriculture? FM: There are these seed businesses like Monsanto and pesticide companies, but there is also the land of Ukraine, which has so far been under the control of the Ukrainian government and has not been available for sale. There will be a big push to privatize this land and make it a valuable commodity, which can be acquired by foreign corporations. What we have seen in recent years is that even if the land could not be purchased, it has been leased on a massive scale. Already 1.6 million hectares have been acquired by foreign entities and it is very likely that if the reform programs continue, there will be more companies, more interest and they will be looking to strike deals for Ukrainian land. RT: There is considerable anti-GMO sentiment around the world. If you take this into account, how beneficial would it be for Ukraine to rely on the US-based GMO crops industry? FM: It comes as part of an agreement with the EU and we know that European citizens and farmers are against GMOs, but still we have a deal with the European Union, who have worked out a deal with Ukraine to expand the use of GMOs. It seems like it has been something that has been arranged by the lobbyists of corporations and the civil servants within the European Commission. We have seen all over the world that this is not beneficial for farmers, it is not beneficial to citizens. It is just in the interest of the corporations who are taking over control of seeds used by farmers around the world. The food that is produced does not become better or cheaper. RT: How harmful potentially do you think growing GMO crops could be for those rich fertile Ukrainian soils? FM: We have seen in the US, where GMO crops have been cultivated for a couple of decades now. We have concerns about the quality of soil because the use of GMOs comes with a high level of the use of fertilizers and this destroys a lot of the organic materials in the soils. There is also a very high risk of contamination for those farmers who choose not to use GMOs and we have seen this very clearly in North America where there has been a lot of contamination. SOURCE - RT News - here.

Good article, worth reading.

Found it anger provoking.

Big American business is behind what's going on in Ukraine.

And check out the power these people have:  laws were changed before the IMF came through with the bail-out.

Looks like they've got friends in the EU as well.

And check out the land grab. 

The whole thing's sickening.

"The EU and Russia Policy: Happily Forgotten Lies"

The EU and Russia Policy: Happily Forgotten Lies MOSCOW, September 2 (RIA Novosti) - Some of the world’s worst criminals claimed that they committed their crimes in a fit of forgetfulness or oblivion, without actually realizing they were doing something wrong. Khodorkovsky for example complained to the German magazine Der Spiegel that he “sometimes suffers from memory holes.” But of all the powerful people in the world, the EU commissioners are probably the most forgetful. When scanning their statements on Ukraine, one gets an impression of dealing with individuals who forget not only their own words but even of locations where they happen to be or to have been. Here are some examples. [... continued @ source ...] http://en.ria.ru/analysis/20140902/192573336/The-EU-and-Russia-Policy-Happily-Forgotten-Lies.html

Worth checking this out.

Too slack to copy in entirety.  Link's there.

In a rush.  Got to sign off, as I've spent HOURS messing around with news stories.

I'll be amazed if I retain any of this.  LOL

MINSK - CUSTOMS UNION TALKS - Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan with Ukraine & EU

First Results of Talks in Minsk Positive 06:50 27/08/2014 MOSCOW, August 27 (RIA Novosti) - The first results of the multilateral talks in Minsk, attended by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Kazakhstan, as well as European Union officials, are deemed positive, with several issues discussed, including the situation in Ukraine, gas issues, Russian food embargo and others. Speaking on the situation in the troubled eastern regions of Ukraine, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko suggested accepting his peace plan that should help to cease the bloodshed and rebuild the Donbas region. “I'm convinced that this plan remains a viable and practical instrument for ceasing bloodshed and rebuilding the Donbas region after the conflict. In this regard, I call on all participants of today’s meeting to consider the possibility of making this plan a basis for the Donbas crisis settlement,” Poroshenko said.  [What isn't mentioned is that his 'peace plan' (if it is unchanged) is a call to DISARMAMENT of independence supporters ... which is a call to SURRENDER! rather than a 'ceasefire'.] Despite differences in attitude to the crisis in Ukraine, all participants of the Customs Union-Ukraine-EU meeting agreed on non-violent manner of the crisis de-escalation and said the captives should be released. “Everybody agrees that de-escalation is needed and hostages should be released,” Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said. Earlier this month, a spokesman for the Ukrainian Defense Ministry said that about 1,000 people were held captive by the militia in eastern Ukraine. The authorities of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People’s Republic announced that about the same number of independence supporters were unaccounted for. Russia expressed its willingness to do everything possible to ensure the progress of a peace process in Ukraine and stop the bloodshed in the country. “Russia will do everything possible for this peace process once it starts. This process must be launched as soon as possible,” Russian President Vladimir Putin said. The sides are also said to have agreed on cooperation on Russia’s humanitarian aid delivery to the citizens of eastern Ukraine. “We discussed a possibility and necessity to render humanitarian aid to Donetsk and Luhansk and agreed on the ways we are to cooperate on this issue. I do not want to jump ahead but certain agreements have been reached,” Putin said. It was added that a meeting of the contact group for Ukrainian reconciliation, involving Russia, Ukraine and the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), may take place in Minsk on Wednesday. Moscow and Kiev have also agreed to intensify the work of the trilateral group for the implementation of the Ukraine-EU Association Agreement. According to Russian Energy Minister Alexnader Novak, Russia, Ukraine and the European Union have also reached an agreement to continue three-party talks on gas issues that continued from mid-April to June to no avail. The European Union expressed no concern about the gas supplies being potentially interrupted by Ukrainian authorities in light of a law passed by the Ukrainian parliament, which allows Kiev to impose more than 20 different types of sanctions against Russia, including a possible ban on the transit of Russian energy resources through its territory. Novak noted that Russia did not consider the possibility of European customers purchasing Russian gas on the Russian-Ukrainian border and had no plans to review its contract with Ukraine for the gas transit to Europe.  [This unclear to me] “We have not discussed this today. … But our position is as follows: the transit contract is in force until 2019 and it cannot be reviewed at least till that time," the energy minister said. The talks on energy issues involving the energy ministers from Ukraine, Russia and the European Union will be held on September 6. The Minsk talks also touched upon the Russian ban of food imports from Western countries and the issue of embargoed goods being actively shipped to Moscow via Belarus. “Even within the Customs Union framework, embargoed goods are being actively re-imported to the Russian Federation from the European Union countries, namely via Belarus,” the Russian president said. Moscow said it would lift its food embargo when Russia’s national security was no longer threatened. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Arkady Dvorkovich pointed out that Russia had to impose the embargo to make its Western partners think twice before imposing any anti-Russian measures. Russia expressed hopes that Western countries would treat with respect the measures Moscow was taking to protect its economy. “Our partners should weigh all options and make a decision. … We will treat with respect any choice by our European colleagues, Ukrainian partners. We hope that they will also respect our measures, aimed at protecting our interests,” Putin said. So far, Moscow has positively evaluated the Customs Union-Ukraine-EU meeting in the Belarusian capital. EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton has also given a positive assessment of the talks. Belarusian Foreign Minister Vladimir Makei said that the participants of the Minsk talks had had a candid dialogue and considered the meeting positive, stressing that the sides had held an open exchange of opinions on a range of issues. The meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko took place in Minsk and lasted for two hours. After that, Poroshenko planned on meeting with EU representatives in the Ukrainian embassy. EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton, the European Commission Vice-President in charge of energy, Guenther Oettinger, and the European Commissioner for Trade, Karel De Gucht, are among the participants of the Minsk meeting. http://en.ria.ru/russia/20140827/192377376/First-Results-of-Talks-in-Minsk-Positive.html

Don't know what to think.

Talks are ongoing.

Poroshenko's 'peace plan' isn't a peace plan.

But there is a trilateral settlement of Ukraine discussion about to take place, so something interesting could come out of that.

Didn't get the energy / gas at border to third parties stuff.

Contract is in force until 2019 & Russian's aren't 'renewing' it - which presumably also means they're not amending it in any way.  So contract stands? 

Bit lost on that one.  Bit frazzled today & not focused enough to think.  LOL

Quickie Round-up

Been slack maintaining entries. Twitter is a much faster medium with a sense of immediacy.  Quite addictive.  Been like a heroin junkie on twitter lately. Twitter more suited to churning information, which I'm doing right now. Blogger's a snail in comparison but it's a wonderful medium for more involved discussion of information. So what's been happening: Middle East Iraq Kurds (with help of US bombing) have taken x3 Iraq towns.  Trouble up north.  From map someone sent me on Twitter the other day, they've to a long way to go.  The map was dotted with towns that Islamic State had taken. Iran Diplomatic meeting with Saudi Arabia. These two are competitors rather than allies, I understand. Iran is alleging industrial sabotage and claims to have apprehended x4 spies, who are being interrogated. Story of a shot down Israeli drone spying on nuclear is in the news, but I haven't checked it out yet.  How slack is that? From recollection, Fars News mentioned Iran has one of the world's largest gas resources.  A few countries are clamouring for business, by the sound of it. Iran will meet UN's Catherine Ashton on Sept 1 (from recollection) to further discuss the nuclear energy matter -- which has been an ongoing discussion for ages now b/c the west (and probably other interests) are trying to block Iran's bid for nuclear enrichment.  West fear of nuclear power / weapons potential, so want Iran to SCALE DOWN -- which is the OPPOSITE of what they want. Iran's been subject to sanctions.  If I understand correctly, it is not permitted to use/trade in US dollars (which is international currency), is not permitted to do electronic transfers and it would most likely be subject to trade restrictions (specifics of which I don't recall, if I've come across that in my travels).  Anyway, the US can make that kind of blockage when it comes to currency and trade because it has big representation (voting rights when it comes to IMF and is influential re WTO and actually controls the international currency and impacts international economy through its Federal Reserve).  So US tends to have an upper hand. But that may alter in the future b/c the Chinese economy is not that far off the US economy - 16 point something percent of global GDP versus US 19 point something.  However, at this point, US has the voting rights and representation advantage because China has a meagre representation compared to the US. Saudi Arabia Chopped off something like 19 heads since Aug. 4th.  Yet it is on the UN Human Rights Council. Saudi Arabia very close US ally and appears to be a close business partner.  Shell (while foreign owned / non-US 'owned') has an arm with it's head office based in Texas and it's HUGE. Saudi Arabia happens to be a 50% partner in projects. Saudi Arabia is hosting a 'Friends of Syria' pow-wow.  But it is actually friends of the Syrian *opposition*.  So it's kind of like a false advertising title, no? Attendees: Turkey, US, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar, Egypt & Jordan. So that pretty much tells you who's with the US (who's against Syria -- well, against the current rulers, I gather) and it gives you a peak into part of the dynamics of control of this part of the world. Interesting that Italy's in the mix.  Wonder why Italy's involved.  Know it's EU/NATO involved ... what has it got to do with the Middle East? All of them:  imperialists.  History of imperialism.  And current imperialism in the form of big money corporations.  But Italy's broke, I think.  So what's it doing? Italy's maybe some kind of pawn?  Probably the immigration pawn.  Everyone's jumping 'ship' from North Africa and entering Europe through Italy (as well as Spain, I believe).  So maybe their role is something to do with immigration due to wars? Nope.  Syria is next to Israel.  The immigration is launching itself from Libya, where there's a people smuggling trade going on, I think.  It was referred to as 'human trafficking' but I'd say they mean 'people smuggling'.  Don't know for sure yet. Syria Assad government is probably struggling.  There's the US and everybody else against that government.  The west their M/E allies have tried to unseat him by supplying rebel militias with weapons and thus encouraging the bid to topple the Assad government. The opposition, I believe, is assorted militias rather than one political/military body attacking the government. Syria has asserted that there will be no air bombing in its territory without its prior consent -- ie re the bombing of Islamic State militias the US intends to do in Iraq (which it wants to extend or may wish to extend to Syria, where they are also dominant (I believe). The laugh is, US probably funded and armed these people in the first place.  I'm not entirely clear on that but it looks like they might have. In my travels, it was asserted that Assad is playing the rebel militias off against each other.  I don't know that.  That was just someone's opinion.  Not clear to me how this could be an advantage to him - ie this backing of rebels who are fighting his troops.  Doesn't make sense to me. Israel Bombing of Gaza resumed.  Something like 360 bombs dropped by Israel and deaths over 100 Palestinians since 19th, I believe. Stray mortars from Syria have landed Golan Heights.  Prior Syrian territory claimed by Israel during Six Day War 1967.  Now Israeli controlled.  Too rushed to double-check at the moment.  Anyway, deemed strays. Lebanon Massive strike of electric energy company.  Company not profitable.  Power blackouts.  Something like 2,000 workers are contract workers.  They want full-time employment.  Problem of state subsidy, lack profitability plus claims that workers clock on but don't perform -- ie take off.  Anyway, looks like worker are burning stuff outside the premises and blocking management from entering. Libya Tripoli taken over by rebel forces.  Finally got the airport.  Burned. Italy MASSIVE monthly spending on patrols: #EU - Italy picks up 3,500 refugees at sea this weekend!.. spends 9.5 mil euros ($13 mil) PER MONTH air/sea patrols>http://goo.gl/xCuNuw #Italy rescue 70,000 North African refugees since start Oct 2013 patrols> Libya launching point. 'Human trafficking'> http://goo.gl/E9QBhs Spain Doing it hard.  Unemployment at 25%.  Farmers cracking the shits over the EU sanctions (really US-EU-NATO when you consider the dynamics).  Costing them big time not being able to supply Russia. Poland Someone enterprising found a partial way around sanctions.  Investment in Belarus + intensive preservation + Belarus (& ors) being in 'Customs Union' (Eurasian), means side-stepping (to some degree) the anti-Russian sanctions and being able to unload produce to Russia. France Ooh, la la.  Big problems.  Government dissolution.  Economic minister badmouthed France policy and Hollande called for dissolution and new cabinet.  Eco min not happy that spending cuts are to finance tax cuts for corporations in bid to increase employment.  Eco minister pissed at tight fisted Germany not stimulating economy, I think. Eurozone Things are crap.  Economy stalling.  Will probably resort to QE. #EU - sounds like Eurozone *deflation* .. 'ailing bloc'... ECB quantitative easing? >>  http://goo.gl/Sw0JvX Described as a 'last resort' measure.  But this has been done before.   New to watching politics and economics, so I'm not up on exactly what it is apart from buying up 'assets' (in form of bonds, I think). UK, Japan and one other has done this before. Serbia Big problem with hazardous industrial waste -- accumulated, historic also.  Contamination fears. Elections in Republic of Serbia - part of B/H.  Serbia says will not interfere. Former diplomat to Turkey (and expert on Islamic affairs) claims neighbouring Turkey has an expansionist agenda. Two dairy companies will supply Russia, as Serbia will not bow to the EU anti-Russian sanctions.  Serbia is in negotiations to join EU and is not fully fledged member, so can do what it wants, I suppose. And that's the end of the round up because I could go on forever and not cover everything that's going on right now.  And while I'm summarising I'm hanging to check on latest news I'm missing out on! There's so much happening!!!

Above is just a quickie (and not necessarily complete) round-up from memory of last day or so events/news.

Excuse typos.  In hurry.