Romania, Moldova and the Current Picture of the World

~by Veronica Bicer







Romania: Catalyst of the Moldavian Orange Revolution




At this hour of history Romania's concern should not be Moldova, but its integration into the EU, the quest to find the best position it can get on the global map.





Romania, from its highest-ranking politicians to the common people, is currently manipulated by the US' need and greed to terminate the USSR once and for all. The US is using both certain individuals’ lust for power, as well as the weak minds of naive Romanians to fuel the quotidian circus, at the same time planning to benefit from the flesh of the common people in upcoming military confrontations, if necessary.





The US’ insistence in planting military bases on the ex-Soviet block territory raises Russia’s appetite for an increasing military collaboration with the East European states, both the American and the Russian weapons supply for the militarization of the Russian sphere of influence, able to turn these territories into open guerilla battlefields like Yugoslavia has been not too long ago.





Even if Moldova was theoretically decoupled from Russian influence, with the occasion of the elections set to take place on the 6-th of March, it will never return to the “mother country”, like the Romanian governors who shamelessly quote from the CIA’s memoirs want to make us believe.





Moldova will never be able to become a naturally integrated part of Romania, simply because the present political realities of the 21-st century do not allow this any longer.





The scenarios that are played now in Moldova simply seek to turn it into another star in the huge American constellation, hungrily swallowed and then placed on the American flag amongst other easy captures.





Completely blinded by their historical lethargy and also by the US’ brainwashing technique constantly broadcast on the Romanian TV channels recently “freed” by CNN, which, besides a fierce anti-communism, promotes a dangerous policy of fueling nationalist pro-Moldavian and at the same time anti-Hungarian feelings, Romanians find themselves ravaged by memories steadily evoked for them by the US’ manipulators.





Daily staging harmful scenarios in the internal policy of Romania, the above-mentioned manipulators aim to create political turmoil, suitable background for a failure of Romania’s integration into the EU in 2007.





Back to Moldova, both newspapers and TV channels constantly recall for the public opinion the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact, referring to the setting up of Romania's Eastern border on the Prut, which would in fact mean requesting the cancellation of the political-territorial consequences of the Peace Treaty of 1947 (the Treaty that legally consecrated this territorial reality), at present the Ribbentrop-Molotov Pact being totally irrelevant for the configuration of Romania's borders.





Putin’s Bold Economic Plans for Eastern Europe





But while Romanians crave Moldova, Putin seems to have another plan in mind, completely strange from all the historical ballyhoo carefully highlighted in the Romanian media with the purpose of distracting the Romanian public from the real problems of the contemporary World and of fuelling an artificial nationalist anger that could be useful to the process of US interventions in Russia and also, very importantly, into the fragile EU.





Due to the conservatism and to the distorted information that constantly flood their ears few realize that territories, especially between the states that benefit from weak political strength in the interrelationship with the World, don't mean anything in the current global context without one thing: the energy power.





Apart from the realities of modern war, never declared but waged in more and more key spots on the World map with diverse weapons, from terrorist scenarios to dangerous military technology that hit the very natural defensive system of the Earth, the common people’s lack of knowledge has turned them into human weapons of the global war, actors persuaded by an unknown film director into enjoying the false illusions of prosperity promised by the velvet revolutions.





Considering the realities of the present international context, Putin seems to think fueling the US' Cold War dream of staging orange revolutions in some states in the former USSR, in order to give to the US the sensation that they are miraculously and finally able to advance forward, straight into the den of their secular enemy: the Kremlin - (see the anti-Fradkov-Putin demonstrations the US keeps staging in Russia).





All these unbelievable political events occur while Putin, in the backstage, seems to pull the economic threads of all these neighbouring freshly orange states.





The proofs are his latest diplomatic interventions in Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Serbia and the Kaliningrad region, expressions of his economic view on Russia’s need of a buffer zone of stable and friendly countries around it.





Concretely, the Russian president proposes military cooperation with all the states mentioned above, as well as economic collaboration in the energy sphere as it follows:





The Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Kiev to discuss with Ukraine issues of common interest like the presence of Russia's Black Sea Fleet on Ukrainian territory, the Transdniestrian settlement, interaction in the fuel and energy sector of both states, as well as the issue of military collaboration.





Russia regards its Kaliningrad exclave as a tool for the promotion of Russian-EU economic integration, staging reasons to defend its borders, like the recent scandal of a major drug trafficking channel meant to deliver cocaine “all over Russia”, drug dealers that were skillfully trapped by the Drug police of the Kaliningrad Region, the Russian media says.





Russia’s proposals are to resume construction of the second Bulgarian nuclear power plant (Belene) within the next three months, to boost the oil and gas trade with Hungary, as well as to take part in the development of the economy of Serbia, including the process of privatization, the Russian leadership emphasizing the need for more developed contacts in the energy and gas sphere with Serbia and Montenegro and also in the banking sector, with Russia proposing the formation of joint banks with the two ex-Yugoslavian states.





For Romania, besides the joint project calling for the modernization of a large-capacity thermal power plant, the Russian leadership has prepared to call into operation the second unit of the nuclear plant Cernavoda and also to complete the unfinished work at the third and the forth units of the nuclear plant, work that the initiators and managers of the nuclear project (Canada and the US) have deliberately put on hold for a decade and a half.





15 years after the anti-communist revolution, the Cernavoda nuclear plant finds itself in the awkward situation that none of the 4 units remaining in the construction phase after Ceausescu’s disappearance have been finalized.





The only unit ever called into operation was inaugurated during Ceausescu's time and now provides about 10% of Romania’s electricity requirements, saving millions of dollars in oil imports.





Russia’s Need for a Change in its External Policy




Putin’s “orange revolution” scheme, eagerly applied by the US in Russia’s important sphere of influence, could probably be designed to complicate the enemy, in order to gain time to fortify the BRIC alliance while keeping a vigilant eye on Russia’s sphere of influence, at the same time trying to spread Russia’s tentacles all over the World in search of oil (see South America) and for gold (see South Africa).





It could be an emergency scheme being applied by Russia, after the Berlin wall that, for four decades, protected the two Cold War foes from painful clashes, has crashed.





For more than a year now, due to the coming into force of the harmful treaties Putin’s predecessors have recklessly signed with the US, the clashes between the interests of the two superpowers occurring on ex-Soviet territory (see Georgia and the Baltics), an emergency change in the policy of Kremlin has become a must.





The goal of this new Russian external policy line that promises neither to be fruitful nor devoid of risks, is to acquire a decent level of leverage to allow the Russian president to raise his voice when it comes to crucial issues for his country, internationally.





After all, who was the one that said YES to the orange revolution last fall and who said a couple of years ago that his wildest dream is to see Venezuela?





These both events (the orange revolution in Ukraine and Putin's visit to Venezuela) occurred almost simultaneously.





The strikingly coincidental timing has put a big question mark on the whole Ukraine operation, which, most of the press agreed, occurred with Putin's consent.





Putin probably wants to complicate the chessboard game, thinking that he could gain something from all this, as it is hard to believe that while his buddy Chavez sings communist songs into Bush’s ears, accompanied by Lula and Castro, Putin isn’t able to guard his most important neighbouring territories from the US' scenarios.





On the other hand, it appears that Putin has now considered enticing Bush to attack Iran. In this moment Putin looks like nothing but a catalyst of the Iran conflict, which, it's true, was lingering there on the US' military agenda for a long time.





However, Putin had no interest in hastening the US' operation in Iran, knowing very well that if the US manages to link Iran to the EU by a gas pipeline, the diplomatic efforts he has performed all these years with the (almost achieved) purpose of trying to draw Western Europe by his side, will simply fall apart.





All these events seem to have been carefully planed and, if not all, at least a large part of them could have been discussed with Bush in advance.





Putin's Hermetic Medium Term Plan




Threatening to regain Russia’s economic presence in Iraq, Putin’s plan could therefore be to try to trap the US in the Middle East. Russia has announced its intentions to resume work on certain Iraqi-based projects during a Russian-Arab Business Council session, in Beirut, Lebanon.





Worth mentioning is that the US is already trapped in Iraq and that to conquer Iran is an even tougher task, considering the religious convictions of the Iranian population.





Lately, Putin hasn proved willing to ease neither the nuclear stance on Iran nor the arms sales to Syria, although he probably could do that, in exchange for asking the US for more observance of the borders of Russia’s sphere of influence. But it looks like Putin prefers to ally with South America instead of defending his own backyard.





Russia’s almost defiant position is very interesting, considering the calculus Putin has made as far as Iran’s fate and ending with the announcement that he plans to visit Iran himself. Conscious of the fact that he won’t be able to defend Iran from the US’ aggression alone, he planed to hand over Iran’s defense problem to India and China, just like it did with Kazakhstan, waking up the appetite of India and China for alliance with Russia. India and China have been therefore enticed with Iranian oil and gas resources, the price the two Asian states are now asked to pay being to guard Iran from US aggression.





The concrete project Russia is hasting to forge now is the Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline, meant to supply India with Iranian gas. A fierce economic-geopolitical battle between the US and Russia is in full fling there, as India is also studying the American backed Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan alternate gas pipeline project, which is scheduled to be extended also to China.





Significantly, Chinese state oil company Sinopec operates the Iranian Yadavaran field, for which it signed in November 2004 an agreement to buy oil and gas from Iran and to develop the oil field.





The prospect of Beijing increasing its reliance on Iranian energy sparked concern in Washington, as the US was spearheading international efforts to curb Iran's nuclear programme.







On the other hand, as a result of a deal Iran has signed in Delhi, now India holds a 20% stake in Yadavaran, Iran 30%, while China retains its existing 50% share.







At the same time Putin tries to achieve the equilibrium of forces between Russia and the Asian powers, taking care to keep China on tenterhooks with the promised oil pipeline branch to Daging.





According to the facts above and considering the hypothesis that Putin intends to entice the US into Iran, as the Iraq experience has shown that the US doesn’t have many chances to win any war it starts in the Middle East, the big question that needs an answer is: why Bush considers playing Putin's game?





It could be that Iran has threatened to switch the price of its oil into Euros, a move that the American market couldn't bear and so the US will be forced to play the Iranian card with all the risks that derive from it. The US might win, but it also might lose, if not the war with Syria and Iran in itself, at least a large amount of money, human and moral capital, as it constantly does in Iraq.





Meanwhile, drawing a red herring across the path of the US’ plans, Putin probably hopes to gain the necessary leverage to provide him the position to be able at some point to demand the USSR back, as it is hard to believe that he is as fond of the Latin beauties, as to prefer them to the indigenous ones, so to speak...





It is hard to say what a political leader has in mind and by now no clear trend in the Russian external policy has crystallized yet, so it is difficult to draw a safe prognostic on Putin's medium term plan.







The EU Response to the US’ Tough Stance







However, what is clear is that the US does anything in its power to hinder Putin’s efforts to restore the power of the USSR and it does that by any means.





The US hence tries to create useful leverage in order to keep the EU close for an eventual military intervention that could be needed in the Middle East, against the freshly restored Lebanon-Syria-Iran axis.





The US is keen to demonstrate to the EU how vulnerable that is, proving that while it is not even able to ratify its own constitution, it's only natural that the current pro-Russian regimes in France and Germany can be replaced anytime with more polite and cooperative ones, definitely more receptive to the American cause.





The US presses the EU with the decreasing value of the dollar, creating huge problems in the European economic core, from the temporary destabilization of the European market, to the unavoidable increase in unemployment, to protests and ultimately to generalized political chaos.







In response, especially that Bush visits Europe this week, the EU leaders have to be quiet and yield (it is hard to estimate how much) to US' pressure.







They will certainly simulate at least some cordial gestures meant to show their willingness to cooperate with the US and implicitly against Russia in key issues concerning tough spots on the World map, like the fiery Middle East.







Just like it did in Haiti, France has already expressed its solidarity with the orange revolution set to take place in Lebanon.





Last Week the Kyoto Protocol Came into Force




As the generalized war in the Middle East seems unavoidable, Putin has considered speculating in Russia’s interest another ardent American problem: natural disasters, with the aim of pushing for closer ties with the European Union.





Excessively mediated after the Tsunami disaster took place, the American eagerness of flooding South Asia with a wave of sympathy is well known.





The US, being the World’s biggest polluter hasn’t agreed to sign the Kyoto protocol for internal economic reasons, a weakness in Bush’s policy that couldn’t escape the attention of the speculative Russian president.





Making the best of the juncture, Russia has hence stated that the time had come to monitor approaching disasters from space, proposing the concrete establishment of such a system.





The Russian website RIA Novosti announced that “Russia has proposed the establishment of a global international system to monitor the Earth's surface from space” and that “this year the European Space Agency together with Italy's National Institute for Nuclear Physics and a number of the country's universities plans to launch a project to study new ways to predict earthquakes from space”.





“Importantly, there is not only the science and technology to do this, but also a political basis: the interaction mechanism contained in the Kyoto protocol.” was underlined in the article.





The US’ steady opposition to Russia’s proposal of building a joint space shield together with the EU is well known.





Like Bush’s aggressive intervention in South Asia, which relied on the earthquake alibi, Russia's promising program of allegedly predicting locations where and when a natural disaster will occur (named the Vulkan system) is in fact a clever attempt at legalization of the Russian-EU space military collaboration, a skillful diplomatic trick the Russian leadership has trapped the Bush administration into, in response to the Tsunami events.







However, being pretty vast and requiring the recall of the progress both Russia and the US have made in the military sphere, this topic would require a separate article.





REFERENCES:





ROMANIA'S RELATIONS WITH THE REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA



http://studint.ong.ro/moldova.htm



* Putin’s Bold Economic Plans for Eastern Europe



DIVERSE AGENDA OF RUSSIAN AND UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTERS' TALKS IN KIEV



http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5428465&startrow=31&date=2005-02-18&do_alert=0



HUGE DRUG CHANNEL BLOCKED IN RUSSIA



http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5424853&startrow=1&date=2005-02-17&do_alert=0



Bulgaria to Resume Nuclear Plant Construction Within Three Months - Official



http://www.bgnewsnet.com/story.php?lang=en&sid=19462



RUSSIA HOPES TO WIN BULGARIAN NUCLEAR POWER PLANT CONTRACT



http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5365297&startrow=1&date=2005-02-01&do_alert=0



RUSSIA BOOSTS FUEL AND ENEGY SUPPLIES TO HUNGARY



http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=159&msg_id=5424316&startrow=1&date=2005-02-17&do_alert=0



SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO, RUSSIA'S STRATEGIC PARTNER IN THE BALKANS



http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=159&msg_id=5420885&startrow=1&date=2005-02-16&do_alert=0



Cernavoda Units 1 and 2 -Cernavoda, Romania



http://www.aecl.ca/index.asp?layid=3&menuid=215&csid=73



RUSSIA AND ROMANIA TO IMPLEMENT JOINT PROJECTS IN ENERGY SPHERE



http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=159&msg_id=5414255&startrow=1&date=2005-02-15&do_alert=0



* Putin's Hermetic Medium Term Plan



PUTIN TO VISIT IRAN



http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5430525&startrow=1&date=2005-02-19&do_alert=0



Iran-Pakistan-India gas pipeline deal to be finalized



http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2005-02/20/content_2596746.htm



India finds a $40bn friend in Iran



http://atimes01.atimes.com/atimes/South_Asia/GA11Df07.html



China to develop Iran oil field



http://www.google.ro/url?sa=U&start=1&q=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/3970855.stm&e=7317



The Real Reasons Why Iran is the Next Target: The Emerging Euro-denominated International Oil Marker



http://www.globalresearch.ca/articles/CLA410A.html



* Last week the Kyoto protocol came into force



DISASTERS ON EARTH CAN ONLY BE FORECAST FROM SPACE



http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5414544&startrow=41&date=2005-02-15&do_alert=0

Auschwitz Commemoration: Bush - The Great Absent

~by Veronica Bicer


From Bush’s explosive inaugural speech we’ve learned that the main goal of his second term will be, without a doubt, that of promoting US arrogance and aggressiveness in the rest of the World.

The dream of the re-elected American president is therefore “the expansion of freedom in all the world”, defending “liberty” “by force of arms”, whether or not anybody out there, in “the darkest corners of our world” asks for it.

BUSH PREPARES THE GROUND FOR HIS VISIT TO EUROPE
Ahead of his visit to Europe, France and Germany, the parents of the independent European Union, have been shattered by “spontaneous” strikes and mass demonstrations, aimed to interject a sensation of weakness and uncertainty amongst the main European leaders: Jacques Chirac and Gerhard Schroeder, who, as is well known, will have to face elections not too far from now.

Bush’s inaugural speech seemed to mark another phase in the US’ war against the whole planet. In contradiction with the expectations of those who were envisaging a policy of diplomatic rapprochement promoted by the US with the occasion of Bush’s meeting with the leaders of the “old Europe”, during the couple of months preceding the important event, we’ve instead seen a real hurricane of social movements take place right in the core of the old continent.

The strikes and demonstrations that have shattered the political scene in both Germany and France were carefully masterminded and controlled from the center of globalization in Washington, demonstrations aimed at touching the most sensitive segments of the society: the intellectuals. Teachers, judges and doctors have filled the streets of Paris, criticizing the French government and promoting contradictory requests.

Lacking the minimum decent diplomatic approach on the issue, Bush practically left no room for putting Europe on a parallel with the US in the talks set to take place next month in Brussels. Bush’s meeting with the European leaders is set to unfold under the sign of force and of the US’ expectations of Europe’s automatic subordination in its relations with the North-Atlantic superpower.

The US hence expects that Europe will welcome Bush next month with reverence, surrendering before the overwhelming pressure put by the Bush administration on its very existential structures and hence will agree to blindly bow to pressure under the US’ globalist policy.

CIA’S REPORT ON THE EUROPEAN UNION
The most eloquent proof of Bush’s plan for Europe and of his arrogant approach toward the issue is CIA’s recently published report on the EU, a document that has found a powerful echo in the French press.

The report predicts that the European Union will break up within 15 years unless it radically reforms its ailing welfare systems, warning that Europe could be dragged into economic decline by its aging population.

It also claims that "The current EU welfare state is unsustainable and the lack of any economic revitalisation could lead to the splintering or, at worst, disintegration of the EU, undermining its ambitions to play a heavyweight international role."

The report adds that the EU’s economic growth rate is dragged down by Germany and its restrictive labour laws. Reforms there - and in France and Italy to a lesser extent - remain key to whether the EU as a whole can break out of its "slow-growth pattern".

The reality that, quite ahead of Bush’s visit to Europe, this report points its finger toward Germany and France and “to a lesser extent” towards Italy - the European states with the greatest desire to build a powerful EU independent of the center of globalization in Washington, shows pretty clearly the desire of the Bush administration to “administrate” a dose of diffidence into the core of the EU and therefore to hope to receive in return, from the EU main leaders, a policy of obedience.

CIA’s harshest statement (meant as a slap in the face of the ambitious European states) was to forecast that “by 2020 China’s gross domestic product will exceed that of individual western economic powers except for the US” and that “the economies of other developing countries, such as Brazil, could surpass all but the largest European countries by 2020”.

The embarrassing document prompted the French politicians to question the very announcement of Bush’s visit to Europe, stating that they “don’t understand” how the head of such a powerful state could be interested having direct contacts with a Europe in disintegration, wasting his time with such a long and obviously useless trip.

MASS PROTESTS AND ARTIFICIAL ANTI-SEMITISM IN RUSSIA
The social unrest in the old Europe coincided with the protests that have spread across Russia, mass demonstrations organized by the so-called “communists” - the oligarchic Russian political faction.

The demonstrators demanded, amongst other things, like the traditional benefits of the Soviet-era, the resignation of the current government and even the very resignation of Russia’s president Vladimir Putin.

This shouldn’t come as a surprise as, in his European trip, the American president is also scheduled to meet the Russian president in Bratislava, Bush being eager to apply to Vladimir Putin the same “diplomatic” treatment he has accustomed the main West European leaders with.

Far from settling down, the Russian mass demonstrations are set to continue next month when (aside from the pensioners who have already presented their demands) the students, the police and even the soldiers are expected to join the protests.

But under the superficial demands of the masses hides a more profound purpose. Bush’s people have organized these demonstrations. They want the resignation of Russia’s PM Mihail Fradkov, in order to make room for a “government of national interests”, as the communist leader Gennady Zyuganov stated.

Shortly before President Vladimir Putin attended the events commemorating the liberation of Auschwitz by Soviet troops, 19 members of the State Duma asked the Prosecutor General to launch proceedings to prohibit "all religious and ethnic Jewish organizations as extremist".

They called for an investigation aimed at outlawing all Jewish organizations in Russia, accusing Jews of inciting ethnic hatred, controlling the world and provoking anti-Semitism.

Meanwhile Andrei Cherkizov -- one of Moscow's most noted Jewish commentators who appears on Moscow Echo radio -- accused the Russian government itself of secretly harboring anti-Semitic views.

The stunning charges were first laid out in a letter published in a "patriotic" newspaper and signed by over 500 people, including newspaper editors, academics, intellectuals and the 19 nationalist members of the lower house of parliament.

In a similar incident in Germany, 12 members of a nationalist party walked out of the state parliament in Saxony last Friday to protest a tribute honoring victims of Nazi aggression.

THE PURPOSE OF THE RUSSIAN MASS DEMONSTRATIONS: THE DISMISSAL OF FRADKOV GOVERNMENT

In March 2004, Putin, in a totally unexpected move, dismissed the government, to name in a few days Mihail Fradkov the PM of Russia, a Russian with Jewish ancestry who was close to the security services and a former KGB operative in his youth.

Putin’s plan was pretty clear from the day he appointed the Jewish PM, seeking the rapprochement of the Jewish minority and the collaboration of the Jews in rebuilding a Russia seriously weakened during Gorbachev’s perestroika, Jews who not long ago were exclusively working for the US’ camp in order to help it to achieve its supreme globalizationist goal of splitting Russia into pieces and draining its natural wealth through pipelines meant to fuel (without payment) “the land of promise”.

After less than one year since Mihail Fradkov was sworn in, his intervention amongst the Jewish political representatives has shown its first fruits, causing unrest in American political circles that considered taking action to discourage Russia’s rise, by threatening its political circles with the “Orange Revolution”.

THE CONTROVERSIAL BILLIONAIRE ROMAN ABRAMOVICH
The British courts now pursue the Russian born Jewish Roman Abramovich who, not long ago, was nominated on the same list with the greatest enemies of Russia, being the second richest oligarch after Khodorkovsky.

Refugeed in England after Putin’s anti-oligarchic campaign, now Abramovich has found himself in the strange position of being sued by the London-based European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the return of $17.5 million, which should have been spent “helping small businesses in Russia”, as the ERDB states.

Abramovich, a controversial character, who was believed to be the next in line to be pursued by the Kremlin after Khodorkovsky’s jailing, has been increasingly suspected of making secret deals with the Russian president Putin.

Certainly, his evolution was completely different from Khodorkovsky's, probably due to the British protection he has benefited from all this time.

However, a recent article published by the official Russian website “RIA Novosti” reveals the unexpected support Kremlin shows to the main shareholder in Russian oil firm Sibneft, this coming as another proof that Abramovich benefits at present from protection from the highest ranks of Russian politicians.

The quote below from the article entitled “WHAT DOES ABRAMOVICH FEAR MORE - A SWISS COURT OR A RUSSIAN STREET?” looks like a bell rung by the Kremlin with the purpose of calling the common people towards amnesty for the oligarchic class.

The article is nothing but an attempt by the Russian officials to try to acclimatize the population with the new trend in Russian policy openly promoted by Vladimir Putin ever since the tragic events in Beslan took place:

“Nevertheless, the Russian business community is starting to realize the historical inevitability of closer cooperation with the government in Russia's social revival. Often, without advertising their actions, Russian businessmen anonymously start supporting the country's poor. They set up targeted social foundations, whereas some large companies finance housing projects in neighboring residential areas, and help to maintain transportation infrastructure, schools and local hospitals.

Gradually, the public is coming to see oligarchs less as unscrupulous squanderers of illegally acquired wealth, and more as influential citizens capable of feeling sympathy for their less successful compatriots.”

In another article published by RIA Novosti on the same topic, it reads: “as things really are, Runicom Co. (Roman Abramovich's Switzerland-based company from which ERBD is seeking to recover the $ 17.5 million), had paid the debt in full even before it was ceded to the EBRD, argues a person close to Mr. Abramovich.

As the EBRD now alleges, certain papers confirming the debt paid are forged. That is all wrong, and if the EBRD people say so in public once again, former Runicom functionaries may bring a libel suit, warned our informant, who made anonymity a prerequisite for his Novosti interview.”

The mild manner in which the ‘Abramovich’ case is presented on RIA Novosti, in opposition with the harsh accusations brought by the Western press, lead the reader to think that Abramovich might be benefiting from special treatment from Kremlin.

More and more publications lead us to believe that Putin and Abramovich have a special relationship and that Abramovich, unlike other oligarchs, benefits from special protection from the Kremlin.

Certainly, this time Abramovich has been framed by Bush’s people and, as far as the events have developed by now, it looks like Bush indeed is trying to rid Abramovich of his freshly pro-Russian air, which he could wave in the Jewish high circles.

Also obvious is that Abramovich hasn’t been automatically blessed with this special treatment from Kremlin, but that his behaviour has helped him to gain it and the Russian PM, Mihail Fradkov, who finds himself in the awkward position of artificially being rejected by the Russian people, could’ve been the man who paved the way for this to happen.

BESLAN EVENTS AND THE ISRAELI CONECTION

Immediately after the terrorist strike that occurred in September 2004 in Beslan, the Russian and also the Israeli politicians have connected the tragic events with the terrorist attack that occurred in Israel on 31-st of August 2004, both states hence announcing the need for the “development of broad bilateral, regional and multilateral cooperation in fighting international terrorism”.

Just a few days afterwards, on 6-th of September, during a one-day trip of Serghei Lavrov to Jerusalem, Israel’s and Russia’s foreign ministers inked a deal to step up intelligence cooperation, branding terrorism “the biggest challenge facing the international community.

“Israel has been the first country to offer assistance to Moscow in the aftermath (of the tragic events)”, Lavrov said during his visit to Jerusalem.

Since the Russian president appointed Mihail Fradkov as Russia’s PM and more so after the tragic events in Beslan occurred, Putin had a clear plan in mind – to mend ties with Israel, a plan that alarms the American Zionists and which, in consequence, must be kept at the stage of cocoon at any cost.

Therefore, in answer to the question whether the American Zionists will manage to hinder Putin’s efforts at copying the American model, by trying to rebuild his prosperous Eastern superpower from its ashes, lies not only in the continued existence of the Russian state, but also in the very survival of the World balance of power.

CHINA-ISRAEL MILITARY COOPERATION

In another train of thought, a fact worthy to keep in mind is that Israel has planned to upgrade a major weapons system sold to China more than a decade ago.

The United States claims that by upgrading the system, Israel violated its commitment not to transfer US technology to China without Washington's permission.

Further interfering in Israel’s personal deals, the US Under Secretary of Defense Doug Feith had demanded the Israeli Defense Ministry director general Amos Yaron's resignation, because he believed that he had misled him on the arms sale to China.

Therefore, with Israel already breaking some of the US’ commandments, as in the case of Israel’s clandestine military cooperation with China, Russian-Israel tacit cooperation should not come as a surprise.

Fradkov proved to be the suitable catalyst, able to improve relations between Russia and Israel. Under these circumstances, his dismissal would come as an indubitable victory for the US’ camp.

THE AMERICAN FISHER BECOMES GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF ISRAEL

The reaction of the Bush administration concerning the US-Israel relations, paradoxically proved, as in the EU case, to be dominated by anger and followed by reckless decisions.

The appointment of Stanley Fischer as governor of the Bank of Israel, a widely respected American economist and banker, who has left a job as a vice chairman of Citigroup just to become governor of the previously mentioned Israeli bank, could’ve been the sparkle meant to produce dissention in Jewish political circles and therefore the catalyst meant to encourage the development of diplomatic relations between Israel and the US’ rivals: Russia and China.

Ari Shavit, a writer for the daily Haaretz, went so far as to call Fischer's appointment morally unacceptable no matter how fine an economist he was: “It is bad enough, that the largest private bank in Israel is owned by a cruise-ship heiress from Florida, Shari Arison, chairwoman of Arison Holdings. The possibility that the government bank will now be handed over to a guest governor from Manhattan is simply intolerable." Shavit wrote.

"Fischer has a very liberal, capitalist and nonsocialist agenda," "He believes in markets, small government and that people should work for their living. That's why Netanyahu brought him in." said Omer Moav, a senior fellow at the Shalem Center and a senior lecturer in economics at Hebrew University.

But there are many Israelis who dislike Netanyahu and his policies: a significant part of the political center and the left in Israel. On the other hand, the fact that the US has decided to promote a pure capitalist to lead the Bank of Israel could’ve been a US’ reaction to the Israel’s tendencies of allying with leftist powers.

The main reason for the Israelis’ irritation comes from their frustration at having to face the reality of an outside choice, from suddenly realizing that the US is treating Israel as its Cinderella sister.

Renowned political philosophers like Shlomo Avineri, the former Foreign Ministry official, have also raised their voice against Fisher’s appointment, stating that “the fuss is reflective of a deeper Israeli ambivalence toward successful Jews in the rest of the world, who are a source of both pride and resentment”.

AUSCHWITZ COMMEMORATION: BUSH – THE GREAT ABSENT

The biggest diplomatic mistake in US policy towards Israel was to come only afterwards, when the most important heads of state were flying to Auschwitz to commemorate 60 years from the Jewish liberation from Holocaust, the most sensitive topic for Jews all over the World.

The big surprise was that at the commemoration only the trio Putin-Chirac-Schroeder was present to shake hands with the Israeli president, who was facing the awkward situation of meeting there, instead of Bush and Blair, Bush’s substitute – Dick Cheney and the freshly American-appointed presidents of Ukraine and Romania, Victor Yushchenko and Traian Basescu.

A diplomatic mistake of such scale can’t escape the observation of the highest rank of diplomats, but also of the unwariest of us, creating marks in the conscience of Jewish people for a long time.

RUSSIA –SYRIA ARMS DEAL

The warm relations between Russia and Syria and the arms deal these two states seem decided to conclude, should not be necessarily seen as an anti-Israel line in Putin’s external policy, but rather as Russia’s effort to consolidate its position in the Middle East, preparing to face an increasing US influence in the area.

Under the circumstances that the US has finally managed, after Arafat’s mysterious death, to arrange the Palestinian elections in its favour, that the American influence in Iraq is more and more visible, at the same time Iran being openly threatened with an American military intervention, Putin has to take concrete counter measures if he still hopes to preserve Russia’s influence in the Middle East.

The key asset of Syria is that it happens to share its Eastern border with Iraq. Russia’s efforts of mending ties with Turkey should not be viewed only from the economical prospective, but also as an effort of Russia to mend ties with another neighbour of Iraq.

On the other side, as far as Russian-Israeli diplomatic relations are concerned, Putin seeks to observe the slogan: “Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer”, Russia therefore promoting a policy of rapprochement towards Israel, a traditional US’ ally, at the same time taking cautious measures.

Bush’s belligerent statements on the Iranian issue could’ve provided Putin with quite the suitable timing for boosting Russia’s diplomatic and military cooperation with Syria, a goal probably existent for long on the Russian diplomatic agenda, but which has been put on hold, until a moment suitable to approach this sensitive issue.

CONCLUSION:

The conclusion I’ve jumped to, after the work of research needed in order to be able to put this analysis in writing, has been confirmed by the article posted by RIA Novosti and entitled “PUTIN AS A VICTIM OF ANTI-SEMITISM.” The article can be read in full at the link below:

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5343839&startrow=11&date=2005-01-26&do_alert=0



REFERENCES:

Full text of Bush's inaugural address

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/10691287.htm

1. BUSH PREPARES THE GROUND FOR HIS VISIT TO EUROPE

Protests against new labour laws in Germany

http://chapelhill.indymedia.org/news/2005/01/13367_comment.php

Loss of job benefits brings Berlin protests

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/03/business/german.htm

French government braces for more pressure after strikes

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/business/20050121-0723-france-protests.html

Widespread rail disruption in France on day two of rolling strikes

http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/afp_world_business/view/128183/1/.html

Strikes set to bring France to a standstill

http://www.smh.com.au/news/World/Strikes-set-to-bring-France-to-a-standstill/2005/01/19/1106110815236.html?onfiltered=true

Rail Strike Cripples France

http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4019375

Widespread rail disruption in France on day two of rolling strikes

http://www.turkishpress.com/business/news.asp?id=050119164442.t65vz79m.xml

2. CIA’S REPORT ON THE EUROPEAN UNION

CIA gives grim warning on European prospects

http://news.scotsman.com/index.cfm?id=56762005

3. MASS PROTESTS AND ARTIFICIAL ANTI-SEMITISM IN RUSSIA

Russia: wave of protests against welfare cuts

http://www.wsws.org/articles/2005/jan2005/russ-j27.shtml

As students join Russian protests, concerns over stability rise

http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0127/p07s01-woeu.html

RUSSIAN NATIONALISTS SEEK TO BAN JEWISH GROUPS

http://www.icej.org/cgi-local/view.cgi?type=headline&artid=2005/01/25/752449943

RUSSIA STILL HAS A CHANCE: COMMUNIST LEADER

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-26&msg_id=5347199

Ukraine's Lesson for Putin

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A40072-2005Jan26.html

4. THE PURPOSE OF THE RUSSIAN MASS DEMONSTRATIONS: THE DISMISSAL OF FRADKOV GOVERNMENT

PUTIN AS A VICTIM OF ANTI-SEMITISM

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5343839&startrow=1&date=2005-01-26&do_alert=0

PM FRADKOV FOR BROADER COOPERATION WITH SYRIA

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-26&msg_id=5346366

Putin, Sharon discuss security in the Middle East

http://www.interfax.ru/e/B/0/28.html?id_issue=10741518

5. THE CONTROVERSIAL BILLIONAIRE ROMAN ABRAMOVICH

EBRD says to take Abramovich to court

http://www.reuters.co.uk/newsArticle.jhtml?type=sportsNews&storyID=655791

Bates not in Roman's league

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/sport/story/0,6903,1396548,00.html

EBRD SUES ABRAMOVICH, DAVOS REFRAINS FROM COMMENTS

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?pr...1-28&do_alert=0

WHAT DOES ABRAMOVICH FEAR MORE - A SWISS COURT OR A RUSSIAN STREET?

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?msg_id=53245

Chelsea's debt of gratitude to Putin

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/main.jhtml?view=DETAILS&grid=D&xml=/sport/2005/01/24/sfnhay24.xml

Abramovich Met Putin Before Yukos Oil Merger Halt, Paper Says

http://www.scandoil.com/moxie/news/world_news/abramovich-met-putin-befo.shtml

Will Roman Abramovich Be The Next In Line?

http://www.mosnews.com/column/2004/03/08/abramovich.shtml

Aid bank sues Abramovich for £10m

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2-1448131,00.html

ABRAMOVICH CONTROVERSY: TYCOON'S MEN NOT NOTIFIED ON EBRD CLAIM

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&msg_id=5325498&startrow=1&date=2005-01-19&do_alert=0

6. BESLAN EVENTS AND THE ISRAELI CONECTION

Israel, Russia Sign Memo on Terrorism

http://www.jewishjournal.com/home/preview.php?id=12839

Israel, Russia, agree to united front in “war against terrorism”

http://middle-east.news.designerz.com/israel-russia-agree-to-united-front-in-war-against-terrorism.html

7. CHINA-ISRAEL MILITARY COOPERATION

US up in arms over Sino-Israel ties

http://atimes.com/atimes/Middle_East/FL21Ak01.html

Closer Sino-Israel defense ties give US headache

http://www.isn.ethz.ch/news/sw/details.cfm?ID=10624

8. THE AMERICAN FISHER BECOMES GOVERNOR OF THE BANK OF ISRAEL

Israel lures a top banker and sets off political spat

http://www.iht.com/articles/2005/01/23/business/ibank.html

STANLEY FISCHER - A MONSTER IN THE BANK OF ISRAEL

http://www.barrychamish.com/html/fischer.html

9. AUSCHWITZ COMMEMORATION: BUSH – THE GREAT ABSENT

Heads bowed in the snow, old and young pay silent tribute

http://news.scotsman.com/international.cfm?id=103402005

PUTIN TO PARTICIPATE IN EVENTS AND ACTIVITIES DEVOTED TO 60TH ANNIVERSARY OF LIBERATION OF CONCENTRATION CAMP IN OSWIECIM

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-26&msg_id=5343942

PUTIN PROMISES TO COUNTERACT ANTI-SEMITISM

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-27&msg_id=5349828

10. RUSSIA –SYRIA ARMS DEAL

Syria worried about Iraq's future

http://washingtontimes.com/upi-breaking/20050127-054354-4238r.htm

Syria-Russia relations important to both

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/apmideast_story.asp?category=1107&slug=Syria%20Russia

DAMASK SPEAKS OUT FOR MOSCOW'S ACTIVE ROLE IN MIDDLE EAST

http://en.rian.ru/rian/index.cfm?prd_id=160&do_alert=0&date=2005-01-26&msg_id=5346830

Sharon discusses Syria over phone with Russian president

http://www.haaretzdaily.com/hasen/spages/530063.html