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Vestnik Kavkaza, Russia
Jan 7 2014
Russia grows strong; Europe and the USA weaken
7 January 2014 - 11:33am
By Vestnik Kavkaza
At the end of 2013, right after terrorist attacks in Volgograd, the
Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs made a statement on its intention
to continue `the struggle against the cunning enemy who knows no
borders and can be stopped only collectively.'
According to Russian diplomats, `crimes committed in Volgograd, like
the terrorist attacks in the USA, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan,
Nigeria, and other countries are of the same mould and have similar
inspirers. In the context of provocation urges by heads of militants
to consolidate jihad forces and involve new terrorists into the war,
the position of some politicians who try to differentiate `good' and
`bad' terrorists, depending on the settlement of their geopolitical
goals, is obviously wrong.'
But for the failure in the struggle against the international
terrorism, last year (at least its second half) would be beneficial
for the Russian foreign policy. Alexei Pushkov, Chairman of the State
Duma Committee for International Affairs, believes that not only the
Syrian, but also the Armenian and Ukrainian directions were successful
for Russia.
`There are several reasons for this. First of all, we see a relevant
weakening of the USA's role in international policy. The second fact
was the weakening of the European Union as a foreign political player.
This weakening is connected with a very serious crisis which is taking
place in the EU. It explains the inconclusive policy by the EU toward
Ukraine. The offer made to Ukraine by the EU was absolutely
scandalous. What was offered? We give you our standards, we allocate a
certain sum for development of democratic institutes - 660 million
euros (not for the economy), and we give you an opportunity to
persuade yourself that someday you will join Europe. A European myth
was offered Ukraine. And for this they had to release Yulia
Timoshenko, increase gas prices for the population, stiffen their
budget policy, take IMF loans under very strict conditions. Actually,
the country was offered a path to financial default and social
instability,' Pushkov is sure.
According to him, if Ukraine signed the association agreement, it
would turn into an economic semi-colony of the European Union, and the
result of the elections of 2015 would be predetermined in the context:
`The EU would gather all its forces in Ukraine to sabotage
Yanukovych's positions. It also confirms the weakness of the European
Union. The $20 billion which Yanukovych asked from the EU to find a
way out of the financial crisis in Ukraine is not a sum off the scale.
A tenfold bigger sum was allocated to Greece. However, the EU didn't
go on the path. The EU failed to fulfill the task which it faced, if
it really wanted to take Ukraine into the European zone of influence.'
Pushkov thinks Ukraine should be considered in the context of
Armenia's decision to join the CU: `The Armenian decision was less
discussed, but it was the beginning of the crisis in the Eastern
Partnership. It was a shock for Brussels when they found out that
Yerevan rejected the signing of the association agreement. The domino
effect reigns here. If one country signs, the second signs, and so on.
And the EU counted on greater influence on Azerbaijan in this case,
which doesn't want to sign it, and that Azerbaijan will someday choose
the path of the countries which have signed the agreement. But when
neither Ukraine nor Armenia signs it, an absolutely different
situation is established.'
Pushkov is sure that Russia `showed that it can use not only the
financial leverage which we have, but also a diplomatic line.Russia
didn't set any conditions, nobody speaks about the Customs Union. It
is about reduction of gas prices and Russia's purchasing of Ukrainian
state bonds, which will enable Ukraine to pay its debts off. I think
the position is right. If it leads to something new in relations
between Russia and Ukraine, it will be wonderful, but the choice is
Ukraine's. We don't hide our interest in integration with Ukraine. But
one thing is to show our interest and another thing is to impose any
agenda on Ukraine. The year is coming to an end on a high note for
Russia. It confirms the strengthening of our capacities and the
weakening of the force centers which used to determine the
international agenda.'
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/49540.html
Jan 7 2014
Russia grows strong; Europe and the USA weaken
7 January 2014 - 11:33am
By Vestnik Kavkaza
At the end of 2013, right after terrorist attacks in Volgograd, the
Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs made a statement on its intention
to continue `the struggle against the cunning enemy who knows no
borders and can be stopped only collectively.'
According to Russian diplomats, `crimes committed in Volgograd, like
the terrorist attacks in the USA, Syria, Iraq, Libya, Afghanistan,
Nigeria, and other countries are of the same mould and have similar
inspirers. In the context of provocation urges by heads of militants
to consolidate jihad forces and involve new terrorists into the war,
the position of some politicians who try to differentiate `good' and
`bad' terrorists, depending on the settlement of their geopolitical
goals, is obviously wrong.'
But for the failure in the struggle against the international
terrorism, last year (at least its second half) would be beneficial
for the Russian foreign policy. Alexei Pushkov, Chairman of the State
Duma Committee for International Affairs, believes that not only the
Syrian, but also the Armenian and Ukrainian directions were successful
for Russia.
`There are several reasons for this. First of all, we see a relevant
weakening of the USA's role in international policy. The second fact
was the weakening of the European Union as a foreign political player.
This weakening is connected with a very serious crisis which is taking
place in the EU. It explains the inconclusive policy by the EU toward
Ukraine. The offer made to Ukraine by the EU was absolutely
scandalous. What was offered? We give you our standards, we allocate a
certain sum for development of democratic institutes - 660 million
euros (not for the economy), and we give you an opportunity to
persuade yourself that someday you will join Europe. A European myth
was offered Ukraine. And for this they had to release Yulia
Timoshenko, increase gas prices for the population, stiffen their
budget policy, take IMF loans under very strict conditions. Actually,
the country was offered a path to financial default and social
instability,' Pushkov is sure.
According to him, if Ukraine signed the association agreement, it
would turn into an economic semi-colony of the European Union, and the
result of the elections of 2015 would be predetermined in the context:
`The EU would gather all its forces in Ukraine to sabotage
Yanukovych's positions. It also confirms the weakness of the European
Union. The $20 billion which Yanukovych asked from the EU to find a
way out of the financial crisis in Ukraine is not a sum off the scale.
A tenfold bigger sum was allocated to Greece. However, the EU didn't
go on the path. The EU failed to fulfill the task which it faced, if
it really wanted to take Ukraine into the European zone of influence.'
Pushkov thinks Ukraine should be considered in the context of
Armenia's decision to join the CU: `The Armenian decision was less
discussed, but it was the beginning of the crisis in the Eastern
Partnership. It was a shock for Brussels when they found out that
Yerevan rejected the signing of the association agreement. The domino
effect reigns here. If one country signs, the second signs, and so on.
And the EU counted on greater influence on Azerbaijan in this case,
which doesn't want to sign it, and that Azerbaijan will someday choose
the path of the countries which have signed the agreement. But when
neither Ukraine nor Armenia signs it, an absolutely different
situation is established.'
Pushkov is sure that Russia `showed that it can use not only the
financial leverage which we have, but also a diplomatic line.Russia
didn't set any conditions, nobody speaks about the Customs Union. It
is about reduction of gas prices and Russia's purchasing of Ukrainian
state bonds, which will enable Ukraine to pay its debts off. I think
the position is right. If it leads to something new in relations
between Russia and Ukraine, it will be wonderful, but the choice is
Ukraine's. We don't hide our interest in integration with Ukraine. But
one thing is to show our interest and another thing is to impose any
agenda on Ukraine. The year is coming to an end on a high note for
Russia. It confirms the strengthening of our capacities and the
weakening of the force centers which used to determine the
international agenda.'
http://vestnikkavkaza.net/analysis/politics/49540.html