tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33558417647818158152024-03-19T08:54:51.968+00:00The Eblana European Democratic MovementEverybody is welcome, this blog is highly political, it represents my views, wishes and dreams. It will contain topics about culture, politics, E.U. issues, social comments and everything else that I find the need to share and pass on, from the country I come from originally (Greece) to the country I found my home (Ireland),Europe and the world.The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.comBlogger356125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-53359196692040532552023-11-27T23:48:00.001+00:002023-11-28T05:18:36.872+00:00November 2023 Dublin riots, are a dark omen for Ireland and Europe.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhWgWJ_p_ZLeDxukx7wGAWSvSlHAHcxZoa9odU4DnX6Wi-CPjhxRZ6y7OAqztLIKlHVdwfxOjHOdmjtyz9Lv_EtHw-hp8Ic2SB8iF4I8F_XkqHnxTKS3hfNSV6A0INyAfkaKHoyNAqarLPqwAi0jTMFBjjJA3PLvIfGRcBIO-YWJ2Ow5qTeoNX0Xohtc/s1280/dublin-riots-parnell-street-2023.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGhWgWJ_p_ZLeDxukx7wGAWSvSlHAHcxZoa9odU4DnX6Wi-CPjhxRZ6y7OAqztLIKlHVdwfxOjHOdmjtyz9Lv_EtHw-hp8Ic2SB8iF4I8F_XkqHnxTKS3hfNSV6A0INyAfkaKHoyNAqarLPqwAi0jTMFBjjJA3PLvIfGRcBIO-YWJ2Ow5qTeoNX0Xohtc/s400/dublin-riots-parnell-street-2023.jpg"/></a></div><p> I could not believe that last week, November the 23rd, the city I have been living for almost 20 years would go up in flames, just because of a knife attack would spark a far-right inspired riot. (<a href="https://planetradio.co.uk/cool-fm/local/news/rioting-breaks-out-dublin-after-anger-over-knife-attack-near-school/">Image</a>)<p>
<p> The <a href="https://planetradio.co.uk/cool-fm/local/news/rioting-breaks-out-dublin-after-anger-over-knife-attack-near-school/">violence broke out after three young children and their care assistant were attacked in Gaelscoil Choláiste Mhuire, a primary school on Parnell Square East,</a> in the north of the city centre on Thursday afternoon. A five-year-old girl and the woman were seriously injured and remain under medical care, while the two other children, a five-year-old boy and a six-year-old girl, suffered less serious injuries.<p>
<p> The then <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/nov/27/dublin-riots-far-right-ireland-anti-immigrant">unconfirmed reports on Thursday</a> that the perpetrator was an immigrant to Ireland poured fuel on the fire (it’s since been reported that although the suspect is Algerian-born, he is a naturalised Irish citizen who has lived in Ireland for two decades). That was enough to become a spark, that led to the explosive events that followed. <p>
<p> The incident itself took place at 13:30 pm Dublin time, but by 7 o'clock the city centre was in flames. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/dublin-wakes-looted-stores-smouldering-vehicles-after-night-riots-2023-11-24/#:~:text=People%20were%20urged%20to%20stay,three%20buses%20and%20a%20tram.">Thirteen shops were damaged or looted</a>, 11 police cars damaged and destroyed along with three buses and a tram. One officer was seriously injured. From anti-immigrant and counter-protests outside the school, it progressively got worse and it turned into a full mayhem. <p>
<p> I live and work in Dublin central, my apartment is only two blocks away from the epicenter; I could see, hear and even smell everything that took place that night from my balcony. And while the Irish leadership would love to bury this as quickly as possible, by downplaying the far-right while pushing for the "thug" and anti-social element in this occurrence, I will beg to differ. <p>
<p> It is true that many of those who got involved in the riots, were just opportunists and "thugs", trying to cause mayhem and steal shops by breaking into them, during the chaos. But not all of them fall in this category. Since the Covid epidemic ended, I have often watched in horror from my balcony, small groups of Irish nationals protesting for "Ireland for the Irish", "Irish first", or "no more refugees" in the streets below. Not great in numbers, just in the few tens of individuals, but that was unheard in Ireland 20 years ago when I first arrived in the country. <p>
<p> <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2023/05/13/far-right-anti-immigration-activists-take-credit-for-burning-dublin-refugee-camp">Only last May</a>, far-right anti-immigrant activists have claimed responsibility for setting fire to a makeshift camp housing asylum seekers in Dublin. Posting on social media, the group Real Message Eire claimed they were angry at the presence of what they call a "shanty town" with "illegal migrants and communists", in a predominantly working-class neighbourhood of the Irish capital. And that was not the only time such thing happened. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXysBhTEw5fPUHy08nbbRn8tyydon_0bJDzBtLixqCVZaLfVFUcLDZzCVnGgku-EfwZ6iQMLT5JRTe6v5qoM6phBdAcICZwFHX3x8bl4mrAXNknTGG9VY7JfgT7ekQLl1FYIi129oZN0kT5DMHgCBla4ZpFVCbHGInz-TApR24amp-esCTyB_LvzKG54/s800/2023-11-23T221242Z_1_LYNXMPEJAM0IS_RTROPTP_3_IRELAND-STABBING.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="518" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdXysBhTEw5fPUHy08nbbRn8tyydon_0bJDzBtLixqCVZaLfVFUcLDZzCVnGgku-EfwZ6iQMLT5JRTe6v5qoM6phBdAcICZwFHX3x8bl4mrAXNknTGG9VY7JfgT7ekQLl1FYIi129oZN0kT5DMHgCBla4ZpFVCbHGInz-TApR24amp-esCTyB_LvzKG54/s400/2023-11-23T221242Z_1_LYNXMPEJAM0IS_RTROPTP_3_IRELAND-STABBING.jpg"/></a></div><p> From peacefull protests some years ago, when the Syrian refugee crisis errupted, when Irish participants would claim "we are not racists, we are just concerned that these people will not be properly accomodated in our rural region", we have seen burning of refugee centres and now a full on graffiti spraying on migrant shops, riots, protests and burning buses with sprayed on messages like "OUT" in Dublin. (<a href="https://ca.marketscreener.com/news/latest/Dublin-wakes-to-looted-stores-smouldering-vehicles-after-night-of-riots-45431780/">Image</a>) <p>
<p> All this time the signs were there to see, but the Irish leadership and indeed society do what the Irish do best; denial. The authorities just sat on their own thumbs, with the typical Irish attitude "ah sure it will be grand", perpetuating the image and thought of Ireland being a very tolerant and welcoming country; which it used to be. But the signs of the few years have been increasingly pointing to a worrisome trend and development, plus no government or authority wanted to openly call a spade a spade and even more importantly, do something about it. <p>
<p> Since the Ukrainian refugee crisis, the Irish people have seen their country take in a huge number of refugees from the war torn country, offer them free housing, social welfare benefits, free postage to send parcels back in the country and many more benefits. Since the conflict began, <a href="https://www.dublincity.ie/news/dublin-city-council-and-irish-red-cross-launch-new-appeal-accommodation-those-fleeing-ukraine#:~:text=Since%20the%20conflict%20began%2C%20more,accommodation%20and%20other%20community%20supports.">more than 98,500 people from Ukraine have arrived in Ireland</a>. That sadly happened right after the Covid pandemic, which saw the living standards of many deteriorate, whilst as result of the continuing support for Ukraine in its war against Russia, the cost of living in Ireland has skyrocketed. <p>
<p> Irish people also face at the same time, an ongoing housing crisis which is a direct failure of its own politicians and society. <a href="https://independentleft.ie/the-housing-crisis-causes-and-solutions/">As of March 2023</a>, despite years of consecutive governments saying that housing is a priority, the housing crisis is getting worse. According to figures from the Department of Housing 11,754 people are homeless and relying on emergency homeless accommodation. This is up on 10,492 in March 2022 and 7,991 in May 2021. <p>
<p> This affects vulnerable families and people the most of course, and many of those who participated in the riots could come from such background. Rents in Dublin and Ireland overall are crazy and there is no end in sight, as the refugees put pressure on the country's property market. I work in a company's HR department, and since the pandemic ended we lost so many young, Irish, talented employees that simply cannot affort to rent in Ireland any more with the entry salaries companies offer nowadays, and they opt-out to migrate to Southern Europe, the UK, or Canada for better quality of living and life-work balance. This in one of the EU nations with the highest GDP. <p>
<p> And if we link what has happened in Ireland last week, with what has been happening across Europe for the past few years, it is easy to see that our leaders are failing us repeatedly. Around the same time when the riots in Dublin were happening, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-67504272">another shock wave rippled through Europe</a>; the veteran anti-Islam populist leader Geert Wilders has won a dramatic victory in the Dutch general election.
After 25 years in parliament, his Freedom party (PVV) won 37 seats, well ahead of his nearest rival, a left-wing alliance. <p>
<p> This development follows similar outcomes in Italy, Sweden and many other EU nations in recent years and if the next one is France, the EU is heading for yet another major crisis, or even fight for its existence. All our ruling elites can do, is <a href="https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/russia-destabilizing-europe-by-guy-verhofstadt-2016-02">blame Putin for the rise of the far-right</a> in our continent, but never themselves, or take stock from the outcome of their policies during the past few decades. That is decadence, corruption, folly and a disgrace.<p>
<p> The problem is, that while I totally empathise with the anger some youths may feel about their reality and the predicament which the rulers of their countries have inflicted upon them, violence and racism are never the solution or the answer. Although it is true that the attacker (who has been arrested, remains in custody and injured) in Dublin is an Irish citizen of migrant stock, many rumors circulate about him: that he was arrested before for another knife crime and that he suffers from mental illness. The Irish authorities, always so cautious have not yet released a statement on the motives for the attack, and that in my opinion is a mistake, as it allows certain perhaps unfounded speculations to be circulated on social media by the same groups that instigated the riots. <p>
<p> But even if we accept that the attack was a terror or any other racist assault against the Irish society, those who belive in such rumours conveniently <a href="https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/dublin-stabbings-and-riots-a-visual-guide-to-how-events-unfolded-1556624.html">ignore that two other foreigners</a>, a Brazilian and a French national, risked their lives to stop the knife attack. Passing by on a moped is Caio Benício, a delivery driver originally from Brazil, stopped and used his helmet as a weapon to stop the attack. In addition, Alan Loren-Guille, a French student on his way to work in a restaurant, also intervened and knocked the attacker's knife out of his hand. <p>
<p> Such issues will never be resolved with more hatred, so please do not turn this country into another far-right haven. The Irish authorities and government may have acted fast to detain those responsible, but this is a short-term solution. In a few months or even years, the monster of populism could return if appropriate actions are not taken, and Ireland if it is not careful could have its very own "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anders_Behring_Breivik">Breivik</a>" moment in history. Wether the Irish or indeed the European leaders want indeed to prevent such thing from happening in the future, they better come with solutions for their citizens' needs soon and stop their own kind of populism, of constantly blaming outside factors or countries and their leaders, for their mistakes. <p>
The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-34007534981535795432023-07-05T19:35:00.002+01:002023-07-10T12:31:32.668+01:00Europe better tread carefully in the future.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQo7Quo3_i-5SYtKXQ99ZQ7cfL1oP9slequ2MIBGkFbADXmJU3-Fs7Agb3oisQghOmtdKecPBVGvmx2yHorrpik9t9avlryn3q6mEd-ju-pGb7hrVrjDXgHpMV39Pb1r3IvzLbNRm3g5pZlBOwTjHjQ_XejYf375h43sHfdPswhFvN4bfWJM6jy6CYDw/s864/312790412_keeping-scaled-864x486-c-center.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="486" data-original-width="864" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQo7Quo3_i-5SYtKXQ99ZQ7cfL1oP9slequ2MIBGkFbADXmJU3-Fs7Agb3oisQghOmtdKecPBVGvmx2yHorrpik9t9avlryn3q6mEd-ju-pGb7hrVrjDXgHpMV39Pb1r3IvzLbNRm3g5pZlBOwTjHjQ_XejYf375h43sHfdPswhFvN4bfWJM6jy6CYDw/s400/312790412_keeping-scaled-864x486-c-center.jpg"/></a></div>
<p> For the past year and a half, we all been watching a terrible disaster unfolding. This time not in the Middle East or Asia, but right on our doorstep; Ukraine. <p>
<p> "Putin's War", as Western media often portray it, is anything but though. These kind of conflicts have happened many times before in history, one of such times it was Greece that suffered the consequences of the struggle between East and West, with the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Civil_War">Greek Civil War</a> happening back in the post WW2 '40s. <p>
<p> That conflict was the first proxy war of the Cold War and represents the first example of postwar involvement on the part of the Allies in the internal affairs of a foreign country, an implementation of George F. Kennan's containment policy. Greece in the end was funded by the United States (through the Truman Doctrine and the Marshall Plan) and joined NATO (1952), while the insurgents were demoralized by the bitter split between the Soviet Union's Joseph Stalin, who wanted to end the war, and Yugoslavia's Josip Broz Tito, who wanted it to continue. (<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_Civil_War">Wikipedia</a>) <p>
<p> Drawing parallel's from one disaster, we can see what future awaits Ukraine for the coming decades, if it manages to win this war and maintain its territorial integrity; it cannot do it alone, unless NATO goes to war with Russia, but no one is prepared to do this yet. We have a stalemate as it stands, with Russia still occupying roughly the same amount of territory, since the start of the war.<p>
<p>The West insists on helping the embattled nation at all costs, <a href="https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-eu-military-support/32483294.html">"for as long as it takes"</a> to achieve victory! The problems is, does any of them care about the human casualties, or teaching Putin another lesson is the only thing that matters? In addition, does any of the Western leaders have any vision of what will happen to Ukraine, once it joins NATO and EU, will it be just another unstable, problematic member like Greece or the Balkans?<p>
<p> This is clearly another war between the West and Russia for supremacy, similar to that of the Greek Civil War. Ukraine is being used by both sides to settle old scores once and for all, and one can only wonder why don't Americans just don't go to war with Russia themselves in the Pacific and their shared borders close to Alaska, but insist on dragging everyone else in the vortex of their power struggles with their old arch-enemy. Whoever wins that slaughter, gets Greece, Ukraine and Europe, or the rest of the world for that matter. <p>
<p> Europeans already pay a high cost for this war, we have all noticed our cost of living sky rocketing, despite all anti-Russian propaganda by our media, and Ukraine cheering. This war could have been easily avoided, if the two sides just gave up the "super-power" complex. But no, this bras de fer is not new, in fact it never went away. The West has maintained the arrogant "winner" complex of the Cold War, and wishes that neither Russia, China or anyone else ever challenge their hegemony again. But the world is changing. Plus, for how long can the West maintain this unethical monopoly in the world's riches and when poorer nations'citizens pour into Western lands, the solution they can think of is "<a href="https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/promises/trumpometer/promise/1397/build-wall-and-make-mexico-pay-it/">building walls and make them pay for it?</a>" <p>
<p> The struggles between Russia and the West started with the emergence of Vladimir Putin, as a dominant figure in Russian politics. And partly, this is the West's fault too. In a recent BBC documentary series, "<a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episodes/b01b434y/putin-russia-and-the-west">Putin, Russia and the West</a>" we can see that ever since the Libyan Civil War and the West's involvement in it, relations started going sour between NATO and Putin, after a few very promising years of reconciliation efforts. Russia's view was the any outside involvement in Libya should not be a "regime change", rather a humanitarian assistance, to save lives. Putin, who was acting as a Prime Minister, while Dmitry Medvedev was Russia's President at the time, openly clashed back then even, as Medvedev tried to approach and please the West, negotiating the conflict with them. Putin on the other hand, a former KGB man, knew from the start that this is a regime change operation. <p>
<p> US President Obama and his Western allies, proved Putin right, as they ousted Muammar Gaddafi from Libya despite Russia's objections, making it very difficult for Medveden to defend any trust in the West again among his country's elites, pushing of course the Russian public opinion, firmly behind Putin. In the Syrian Conflict, Putin was able to solidify his dominance in Russian politics, again after Western insistance of another "regime change" and a decisive victory in favor of Assad. <p>
<p> It is then a wonder why then Western Powers condemn Russia when they meddle in other nation's affairs, while they do exactly the same in regions of their interest. I would wholeheartedly support the Western cause, if I saw that in the aftermath of each Western invasion or bombardement, countries like Libya, Syria, Iraq or Afghanistan saw their political, financial and societal standards rise. But this is not the case. In fact what we have seen, is that these regions are far worse after the "removal" of their "dictators", so why do we continue messing countries up, and then we do not like dealing with the consequences; refugees, migration, instability. <p>
<p> We are proving Putin right all the time. His stance of "no regime change", sounds much better, than the hypocrytical Western "humanitarian cause". If our leaders trully cared about human rights, there would be no need for "Black Lives Matter" demonstrations in America, or riots in France over the killings of migrant youths. Why we do not focus on bettering our own societies first, but insist on meddling in other nations' affairs? <p>
<p> It is simple; our leaders do not like "dictators", because they are harder to handle and manipulate. Little do they care about human rights in other nations. If a "dictator" is not West friendly, our governments and elites, cannot get access to the wealth and riches of that nation, under favorable for Western interests terms. We never bother Saudi Arabia, despite their terrible human rights records (women and LGBT individuals or migrant worker treatment). They play nice with USA and many of its Western allies, notable the UK. However Gaddafi and Assad, were not nice to the West like the Saudis, nor is Putin.<p>
<p> If the West establishes a new puppet regime, it can then achieve its goals in the region. This is not a conspiracy theory. John Bolton, a former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and former White House national security adviser, admitted that he had helped plan attempted coups in foreign countries. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/us/former-senior-us-official-john-bolton-admits-planning-attempted-foreign-coups-2022-07-12/">He made the remarks to CNN</a> after the day's congressional hearing into the Jan 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.<p>
<p> So how can the US blame Russia for doing exactly the same? The Americans do not even show any regard for their own allies. In 2012, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-greece-plot-idUSBRE82D18L20120314">a Greek prosecutor pressed charges of treason and trying to destabilize Greece </a>against unknown suspects, over an alleged 2008 plot to overthrow the then-conservative prime minister, Costas Karamanlis. Court officials said the plan was hatched to thwart efforts by Karamanlis efforts to improve energy relations with Russia and included overthrowing and even killing the premier. It was not clear who was behind it. Eeehmmm... <p>
<p> Karamanlis pursued closer cooperation with Russia on energy issues, annoying Greece’s western allies. He supported the South Stream gas pipeline, which would bring Russian natural gas to Greece and western Europe and rival the Nabucco, the U.S.-backed pipeline that will convey gas from central Asia to the West. Yeah sure, it is "not clear who was behind it", just like there is not enough evidence to explain the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Nord_Stream_pipeline_sabotage">2022 Nord Stream pipeline sabotage</a>. Funny because every time Russia or China do something wrong, the West always finds enough evidence to condemn them, yet when it is them staging coups even in allied nations, somehow there is never enough proof! <p>
<p> Former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GxzBqghRs5k">allegedly sent a message saying ‘It’s Done’</a> to the U.S Secretary of State Antony Blinken immediately after the Nord Stream attack. Yet the US as always refuses to admit the obvious. Who else would blow Russian pipes in the North Sea, since the Russians paid to built it and they could just turn it off, instead of blowing it to stop the gas flowing into Europe? <p>
<p>Is it any wonder also, that the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greek_government-debt_crisis">Greek Economic Crisis</a>, started in 2009, a year after the attempted coup to kill or overthrow Karamanlis in 2008, for his pro-Russian stance? Suddenly scandal after scandal hit Greece and the whole of Europe and America turned on Greece, ridiculing the country, bringing it to its knees with bullying and debt, all because the intentions of a Greek PM. The works of John Bolton come to mind here for sure. No other EU nation receiving an IMF bailout (ie Ireland, Portugal) faced such humiliation like Greece. <P>
<p> With attitudes such as these by Western leaders, is it any wonder why Putin has this bullish and standoffish attitude towards the West? I am not sure I agree with his stance, but I totally understand it after all the things the West has done over the years. Ideally I would like closer relations between Europe and Russia, but America and the European puppet governments it has established over the years, are a thorn. When the USA does not hesitate to plot to assasinate a Prime Minister of an allied nation, in order to push for their gas pipes and interests in Europe, in an ever ongoing effort to "de-Russify" our continent, how can Russia trust us and cooperate nicely? <p>
<p> The West keep hiting Russia economically hard, by sabotaging any projects that will allow closer EU-Russian collaboration, then it cries wolf when Russia fights back and acts the same way in Georgia and Ukraine. We do not just expand NATO and EU, we are cutting away partners, markets and source of income for Russia, to push for American ones and we are doing this by staging coups like the ones in Greece, or bribing the aspiring EU/NATO member states' leadership with money in order to join our "club" and denounce Russia. Any efforts for closer relations with Russia are faced with the threat of assasination or coup, just like the case of Greece. <p>
<p> Why does it always have to be us or them, and why we can never be with both and either of them? If America portrays itself as the "land of the free", it surely does not allow for much freedom to its allies once they join their club, unless they do its biding. These are developments that should worry all European citizens. This is a proof of democratic deficit in the West, evidence of corruption, of a fascist regime similar to what we accuse Russia of. <p>
<p> Anyone who does not hate Russia at the moment in Europe is being treated as "Putin's mouthpiece", a "paid troll paid by Kremlin" (including me most of the times), and no one wants to see things for what they are. We are not allowed to express our concerns openly, think or question the current status or our government's actions in Ukraine. We are forced to pay for this war, just as we were forced to save European and American banks in the economic crisis of 2009 (remember the crisis started in the USA, plus no bailout money stayed in Greece, Ireland etc) and no amount of protests can change anything. We are not being heard. This is scary. <p>
<p> I for one would worry more about the state of European democracy, as I am a European. If Russians love Putin, it does not affect me as I am not a Russian citizen, but that does not mean I must not cooperate or trade with them, as we do with Turkey (a brilliant example of Western democracy by the way) or Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States. <p>
<p> It really does bother me where Europe is heading, right under US control, with the full collaboration of our own "elected" leaders. We are becoming a US colony and it is obvious (something that I suspected but did not want to accept that it could not be changed in the future) that the EU itself is nothing more than a US tool to bring the whole of Europe under their absolute control, and we as citizens have no say whatsoever in our own future. European leaders must reconsider and stop this path we are heading. They lied to us and promised that a "united Europe" would stand with Russia, China AND the USA as an equal partner and contender, becoming a global player for the betterment of the lives of all EU citizens. But sadly all we see is the sell out of our future and reputation as Europeans, to the interests of the "few" in the West. <p>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-11820344604828018302022-08-31T00:33:00.002+01:002022-08-31T15:40:51.726+01:00Yes Mr Scholz..... But!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KcqTv54i83mLJjksVk261NfTRqHxyZqVJecJKGWilvCOfJYWPW78ikHFVSr2Q7lBWwJ_eSFHpyWcQ4iEvJzDh8KmnBvnQjbCjSpNOnfqCo_wM3jIdayhjJFzOiGWQ6hd-eYuRT6AEBhIFB998ZUWYHXZPugF7FM4IpGR5P1LtCgXnCFzM58WFEx_/s885/5db5e09293.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="885" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0KcqTv54i83mLJjksVk261NfTRqHxyZqVJecJKGWilvCOfJYWPW78ikHFVSr2Q7lBWwJ_eSFHpyWcQ4iEvJzDh8KmnBvnQjbCjSpNOnfqCo_wM3jIdayhjJFzOiGWQ6hd-eYuRT6AEBhIFB998ZUWYHXZPugF7FM4IpGR5P1LtCgXnCFzM58WFEx_/s320/5db5e09293.jpg"/></a></div><p> In his <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/eu-needs-majority-voting-foreign-tax-policy-scholz-2022-08-29/">speech in Prague’s Charles University on Monday</a>, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has pushed for the idea of ending national vetos, and gradually transitioning to majority voting on foreign policy and tax issues in the European Union. The goal is to prevent the bloc from becoming paralysed by the vetoes of individual states, as it is about to take in new members. It is not the first time that a high profile European leader, has openly called for such radical step in EU. Mr Scholz's speech, comes almost five years after<a href="https://www.euractiv.com/section/future-eu/news/european-treaties-arent-set-in-stone-says-scholz/"> Emmanuel Macron’s in Sorbonne</a>, that laid out his grand EU agenda. <p>
<p> As a pro-European and a federalist myself, I am partially intrigued and excited that European leaders are finally mulling over ditching their national vetoes, something that brought so many delays, frictions, disagreements and missed opportunities during the past decades in Europe. However the ride is not going to be easy, as it will be very hard to persuade small states like Malta, Ireland, Greece plus so on; and rightly so. <p>
<p> It will require some serious negotiating, convincing the leaders but also the citizens of the smaller members- Ireland requires a referendum for any constitutional changes remember, that Europe is ready for the big leap, it is mature enough to think collectively in solidarity and "European". For example, the EU Commission early in 2019 kick-started a debate on reforming decision-making for areas of EU taxation policy, which currently requires unanimity among member states. <a href="https://timesofmalta.com/articles/view/scholz-backs-end-eu-veto-seeks-gradual-transition-majority-voting.977285">Malta and a number of other small</a> nations have traditionally opposed any move towards tax harmonisation on an EU level. <p>
<p> If these states, such as Ireland, are to be convinced to abandon a policy which gives them competitiveness and wealth, what guarrantees will they get in return, that their economies will receive substantial assistance to compensate for the loss of revenue? Since by abandoning their veto will inevitably mean that a part of what contributed to their prospetity, will be compromised for the greater European cause. What will the rest of the EU offer them as an alternative; industries, job creation or simply subsidies? <p>
<p>Or what if the EU Council decide to allow refugess to enter its territories on the grounds of humanitarianism, but decline to agree on ditching the Dublin III Regulation and distribute the refugees or asylum seekers equally among the member states. As result, the countries on the outer borders of EU like Greece or Spain, will have no say or opportunity to dispute what is being unfairly enforced on them. Will the rest of their European partners think "European", do what is right and help in a situation that they took part agreeing upon? Until now, all we have seen was bickering among EU member states, but so far we had the unanimity decision making to blame. <P>
<p> This development will also bring new challenges and questions elsewhere. How will the three EU governing bodies (European Parliament, EU Commission and the EU Council) be affected by the new reality? The most interesting case of course, is that of the Council, since it is there that the national vetoes happen. If majority voting will replace unanimity, how can a nation safeguard its interests, if the rest do not share or understand its sensitivities?<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDB2SrwkXuLvdw_dqot1O0snqaK8jLeFJwQmdX5ssndjymj9OYFCKCmycmW_WQyLJhq8anrJGk_0MlrKVkwX-Dx2yBAmAiZKE1bZsGkDz-JhehJ2usEJ29Wzvb18lIAwtd9v_OVShvH7MYPdBg6GjXJcdWSiz2eP9XCCm7-JWZE4OXGU0dGEuz1kD/s766/1606384776-veto.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="432" data-original-width="766" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQDB2SrwkXuLvdw_dqot1O0snqaK8jLeFJwQmdX5ssndjymj9OYFCKCmycmW_WQyLJhq8anrJGk_0MlrKVkwX-Dx2yBAmAiZKE1bZsGkDz-JhehJ2usEJ29Wzvb18lIAwtd9v_OVShvH7MYPdBg6GjXJcdWSiz2eP9XCCm7-JWZE4OXGU0dGEuz1kD/s320/1606384776-veto.jpg"/></a></div><p> In addition, since the bigger, richer countries like Germany, even if they lose their own veto, they could bribe, pressure, blackmail or influence enough governments to get their point accross, how smaller poorer EU states like Bulgaria can secure their red lines on a issue and if they cannot, how will they be convinced by Macron and Scholz, to abandon their veto. <p>
<p> If we fail in this attempt for decision making streamlining, the only other two alternatives would be firstly if we aimed for the gradual full empowerment of the European Parliament, as the main decision making of the EU. Leaving out of course, the bickering of national governments, by merging the Council and the Commission in one single body, acting like a Senate, Congress of any form of a bicameral government. But that is something even more radical, plus I doubt that Europeans are ready for such fully fledged federalist solution. Never mind our governments. Secondly, we could leave things as they are, leaving Europe always a tail follower in global developments. <p>
<p> Finally, how do Macron and Scholz view the future EU foreign policy that they so much want to form, since Europe is still a dwarf in the global stage on this matter and on defense, thus it requires US support and protection? I have never hidden that I am not an Atlanticist and this reliance of Europe on America, is increasingly troublesome for me.<p>
<p> The US Administration has recently opened not just one front with the war in Ukraine-fighting Russia, but they are also itching over Taiwan, potentially angering China. If they are not carefull, they could start a global conflict and Europe-as their side-kick, won't have other option but to take sides and join them, with whatever the outcome and consequences. As it did in the case of Ukraine and is paying a much higher price, both than the US and Russia, on economic terms. Instead of our American cousins, waiting to see how will the war in Ukraine conclude, they are keen on sending their Senators in Taiwan, "as a message to China", that the US will always support the Republic. Is this the right time to do it? They should be pulling Russia and China apart, not uniting them as a common enemy!<p>
<p> Clearly they are troubled by what is happening in the world, like the <a href="https://impakter.com/brics-expansion-five-new-members-in-2023/">BRICS enlargement</a> , or the <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/russia-s-latest-move-toward-de-dollarization-seen-as-symbolic-/6721720.html">"de-dollarization"</a> of the global economy, as attempted by Russia and its partners in BRICS, notably India. The two countries have agreed to create <a href="https://thepaypers.com/online-payments/russia-india-to-create-rupay-mir-connectivity--1258090">"RuPay"</a>,a system of cards based on Russia’s Mir payment system be accepted at ATMs and POS in India. <a href="https://www.orfonline.org/expert-speak/india-russia-trade-settlement-a-way-forward/">In addition, during 2021, 53.4 percent of all payments from India to Russia were made in rubles</a> while 38.3 percent were in dollars. India emerged as a leading foreign country to switch to the Russian currency. <p>
<p> The aim is obviously to topple the dollar and to wean the world of the American economic dominance. So where does this leave Europe then? If the world changes and BRICS achieve their goal, will a unified Europe always fight the US corner, or form its own destiny? Unless the plan of Scholz and Macron is to crush any dissidents in EU ranks, making it easier for the US influence to be maintained, at least in Europe. Then should we allow such thing? <p>
<p> <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2022/08/14/ukraine-war-zaporizhzhia-blackmail-hungary-imports-more-gas-anthem-played-to-russian-touri">Hungary for example</a>, announced in mid-August that it is importing more Russian gas than previously planned under trade deals, following a visit by its top diplomat to Moscow in July. Bulgaria <a href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/europe/bulgaria-says-talks-needed-resume-russian-gas-supplies-2022-08-22/">also stated recently</a>, that talks to resume Russian gas supplies are 'inevitable.' It is clear that EU member states are "cracking" in their support for sanctions against Russia, since Europe failed to provide them until now, with viable, long term solutions or alternatives. The pressure by the US to keep up the hard-line stance towards Russia in support of Ukraine is mounting, however <a href="https://www.thejournal.ie/energy-costs-ireland-5852264-Aug2022/">Europeans are afraid of what will happen this winter</a>.<p>
<p> As businesses suffer, many fearing closure and households struggling to pay their bills, could European leaders successfully push now for such a radical and bold development in Europe, plus how will it be received by the voters, who are angry and desperate at the moment? As we have witnessed before in difficult times, citizens tend to turn to national politicians, not the "Brussels bubble" for solutions, nor they rely on other European partners to save them.<p>
<p>Only today, 6 months after the war in Ukraine broke out, <a href="https://www.thejournal.ie/energy-costs-ireland-5852264-Aug2022/">EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said</a> officials were “working on an emergency intervention and a structural reform of the electricity market”. She stated that the current crisis was “exposing the limitations” of the current structure, with EU energy ministers set to hold urgent talks in Brussels on 9 September. MEPs called for an “EU wide cap” on prices and said that efforts must be made to”decouple electricity and gas prices altogether.” Will that be enough to save the face of EU in the voter's eyes and maintain their confidence in its institutions? <p>
<p>To conclude, Mr Scholz' suggestions are long overdue, plus much welcomed in most pro-European and federalist circles. They get a reserved "yes" from me. However their timing, implementation, willingness of the national governments and of course of the citizens, in a such challenging time such as this, could potentially defeat and derail his plans; no matter how useful, or righteous. It remains to be seen if Europe is mature and ambitious enough to decide and press ahead on its own, or remain in America's shadow forever. Sadly with the collaboration of our leaders, as the globe moves quickly forward to a new era and a multipolar world. <p>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-22930065891642371642022-07-18T02:20:00.006+01:002022-08-11T14:13:51.226+01:00Is Europe prepared for a Multipolar World? <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAQ0nwfnUKhuYvnSmCwcE-7VJI9mpkRHJ2zp0iBev7_KIz6jeOuWR45uHsT2OavPr_4ZzSM1qX9iryJaKEG_DrVpOqRVy5wWrPKYlOIf3tsTysj0fTNl_vkb_GvX2Pv0cyAx5zD5FhpVtDMexDpe5kICyyZfbOLnxIYD7QlDx7GVnEBvEzxvSEazA/s938/1624198345140.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="476" data-original-width="938" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLAQ0nwfnUKhuYvnSmCwcE-7VJI9mpkRHJ2zp0iBev7_KIz6jeOuWR45uHsT2OavPr_4ZzSM1qX9iryJaKEG_DrVpOqRVy5wWrPKYlOIf3tsTysj0fTNl_vkb_GvX2Pv0cyAx5zD5FhpVtDMexDpe5kICyyZfbOLnxIYD7QlDx7GVnEBvEzxvSEazA/s400/1624198345140.jpg"/></a></div><p> It has been 5 months since Russia invaded Ukraine. During this time, most of us hoped for a quick compromise by either side, to end this war, limiting the losses in human lives. Obviously this is not the case. Another aspect that has been made absolutely clear, is that this is not just a war between Ukraine and Russia. It is a proxy war between the West and Russia, with Ukraine being the battlefield. <p>
<p> The saddest thing is that this conflict could have been totally avoided. The West insists on blaming the Russian President, Vladimir Putin for everything regarding this war, simplifying the reasoning behind it, as him being a dictator and war monger, thirsty for more land, expanding the former Russian empire, that Russia is not a democracy rather a fascist regime, citing the Soviet Union's role in WW2 and many other outrageous things. A blatant propaganda, anything as an excuse for their voters, on why they decided to pump billions of their money into this war, arming and supporting Ukraine in a conflict it cannot win, unless the West decides to put boots to the ground; starting of course WW3. <p>
<p> How to explain to American, Canadian and European citizens, that this winter, their homes are going to be cold, their house bills and grocery prices higher, their transport and petrol super expensive, because that evil dictator Putin decided to invade a peaceful neighbouring country. This is laughable. The war was being waged in Ukraine for 8 years and during this time, no Western media really explained what was going on in that region. <p>
<p> No government of a NATO country, informed their citizens that since 2014 <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-military-success-years-of-nato-training-11649861339">the alliance had a presence in Ukraine</a> and was training Ukrainian soldiers, in preparation and anticipation of this war. They knew what was coming, but instead of trying to prevent it with diplomacy, they poured more oil into the fire, by deploying troops in the war torn region, arming the Ukrainian side. Has any of us, the citizens been informed about this all this time?<p>
<p> There is a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bvt3asiSc8A">YouTube video</a>, in which we see former US Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain in Ukraine in 2016, literally preparing the Ukrainians for this proxy war, encouranging them-or lying to them most likely, that they can win this conflict with the aid of USA. How many Ukrainians are the Americans prepared to sacrifice I wonder, to achieve their goals in the region? Them being of course, cutting the ties between Europe and Russia, weaning our continent off cheap Russian energy and removing Vladimir Putin from Russian leadership. They clearly want a reliant Europe on their energy and arms and a weaker, more managable Russia, without authoritarian strongmen like Putin. A win-win for USA. That is not what they may be getting though. <p>
<p> To think that Europe can be cut off from its reliance on cheap Russian energy, and hook itself on that of USA in a matter of months is simply daft. This should have been planned and worked on for decades, but now our American friends want us to achieve this within a year. And to achieve this, we will have to rely on Saudi oil, or Russian oil via countries like Azerbaijan, and other very "democratic" nations such as Iran. The American President had to go <a href="https://www.npr.org/2022/07/15/1111658496/biden-looks-to-secure-more-oil-production-during-his-saudi-arabia-trip?t=1658129437487">begging for more oil from Saudi Arabia</a>, a nation that they scorned before, but not as much as Russia, obviously. <p>
<p> In a <a href="https://babel.ua/en/news/80618-bloodbath-and-involved-zelensky-the-media-published-a-transcript-of-the-conversation-between-putin-and-macron-which-happened-shortly-before-the-invasion">published telephone conversation </a>between French President Emmanuel Macron and his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin which took place just 4 days before the Russian invasion, we see that the reasons that the war was allowed to happen were stubborness, pride, petty drama and quasi legalities and treaties, past agreements and intransigence, instead of reason and common sense. Macron is trying to convince Putin to meet with US President Biden, while Putin called for pressure on Zelensky to allow Ukraine to begin direct talks with “D/LPR” militants, something that Macron described as impossible, since "in a sovereign state, the texts of laws are not made up by separatist groups, but democratically elected authorities". That of course made Putin angry as he added: "this is not a democratically elected government. They came to power as a result of a coup, people were burned alive there, it was a bloodbath, and Zelensky was one of those responsible". <p>
<p> Instead of trying avoid this war, as this will be detrimental for everyone involved apart the arms industries, our leaders insist on arguing on legalities and engaging in power-games. On the other hand, there has been little exposure in Western media, of the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/War_in_Donbas_%282014%E2%80%932022%29">bombarments of the Donbas and Luhansk regions,</a> by the Ukrainian army, but only the damages that Russia is now inflicting on Ukraine. We are not exposed to the full background of the war, which started after the alleged regime change, the Euromaidan, instigated by US agents in Ukraine-according to Putin's point of view. Where was <a href="https://www.buzz.ie/news/world-news/russian-ambassador-rte-john-oliver-26364265">a grilling on Irish television of the Russian ambassador</a> all these 8 years for example, to request an explanation of Russia's clear involvement and support of the Russian speaking separatists in Ukraine? Nothing, there has been an utter silence.As if Ukrainian soldiers were not killing Russian speaking civilians all these 8 years, but then how did these <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casualties_of_the_Russo-Ukrainian_War#Total_deaths">14,000 or so victims</a> of the civil war (prior the Russian invasion) occured? <p>
<p> The fact that we are only shown one side of this war, should alarm us. This is not a balanced, but biased portrayal of the conflict, to suit the West's narrative and interests in the region. The question is, why is Europe following US foreign policy so blindly, even if it is clear that we will pay for this war a higher price. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AhbUop0PhEDftYG5eyVkqniW911AmUS7iSOLO-h6VyFKjD4veOtd-bTDMHGUYKAbKt1FCE1zYvY66MjMKM2GwvUcffh_5gBGNZh_Wp6-FMF6Ph8ARZwqMWgUoxNaZiPLtilxRqTHmQWQxF9Ll1B0G7zQ5m3zEOKogbdsdA27eFl1kkttX8UaTO0R/s1920/62441902_7.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1920" data-original-width="1920" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9AhbUop0PhEDftYG5eyVkqniW911AmUS7iSOLO-h6VyFKjD4veOtd-bTDMHGUYKAbKt1FCE1zYvY66MjMKM2GwvUcffh_5gBGNZh_Wp6-FMF6Ph8ARZwqMWgUoxNaZiPLtilxRqTHmQWQxF9Ll1B0G7zQ5m3zEOKogbdsdA27eFl1kkttX8UaTO0R/s320/62441902_7.png"/></a></div><p> <a href="https://www.euronews.com/my-europe/2022/07/14/this-is-what-the-euro-dollar-parity-means-for-you-and-the-european-economy">The euro slid towards parity with the American dollar</a>, the first time in 20 years. The last time the euro fell below the dollar was November 2002, when the common currency was still in its infancy. A sliding euro will add to the burden on European households and businesses already reeling from record-high inflation. A weaker currency would make imports, which are mostly denominated in dollars, more expensive. When those items are raw materials or intermediate goods, their higher costs can further drive up local prices.<p>
<p> Riots are already errupting in <a href="https://www.johnlocke.org/dutch-farmers-protesting-damaging-climate-change-policies%EF%BF%BC/">the Netherlands</a> over new greener farming practices, in <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/italys-taxi-drivers-protesting-fear-competition-86738014">Italy we have taxi driver riots</a> over new regulations liberalizing taxi services to include ride-sharing operators like Uber. In addition, German farmers are joining un support for their Dutch counterparts, as the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/news/2022/jul/15/the-uber-files-how-the-leak-prompted-outrage-across-the-world">Uber files scandal</a> is shaming the EU Commission and officials, as well many goverments like that of Macron. In this volatile environment in Europe, after 2 years of a pandemic, in which many saw their businesses facing closure, prices of goods, rents and services going up, now we have a war that adds extra expenses to the average European household.<p>
<p> How long before there are more intensive quarrels, frictions and divisions in the EU, as<a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-04-29/recession-threat-hangs-over-europe-s-fragile-economic-growth"> a recession</a> is almost a certain reality for most European households during this winter. Inflation is rising across the eurozone and in some cases <a href="https://estonianworld.com/business/estonias-year-on-year-inflation-hits-a-whopping-22/">like that of Estonia</a>, it has reached the whooping year-high of 22% this month. In Germany, <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/german-residents-make-plans-amid-fears-of-a-winter-gas-shortage/a-62482737">residents make plans amid fears of a winter gas shortage</a>, as the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/d0c5815f-f0a2-49ad-8772-f4b0fbbd2c94">country dims the lights to cope with Russia energy supply crunch</a>. Fears of winter energy crisis bring calls for shorter hot showers and cooler swimming pools. The green agenda is out of the window, as Germany and several of its European neighbours are <a href="https://www.cbc.ca/news/science/germany-coal-renewable-energy-climate-russia-1.6500354#:~:text=Germany%20and%20several%20of%20its%20European%20neighbours%20are%20returning%20to,following%20the%20invasion%20of%20Ukraine.">returning to coal-fired power plants</a> in order to conserve precious reserves of natural gas. How will all the above impact the German or European industries and economy, the backbone of our continent's political and social structure, plus way of life? <p>
<p> If we add to the mix the number of Ukrainian refugees into Europe, which get immediate access to social welfare, housing and work in most EU countries, then the European economy is heading for a big crash. More <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Ukrainian_refugee_crisis#:~:text=An%20ongoing%20refugee%20crisis%20began,the%20country%20by%203%20May.">than 9 million Ukrainian refugees </a>have flooded Europe since the Russian invasion. In some countries like <a href="https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ukrainian-refugee-crisis-grows-in-tents-in-ireland-rx7trx26b">Ireland which took in 50,000 fleeing Ukrainians, this refugee crisis is becoming a big problem</a> and they country is struggling to cope in finding accomodation, no matter how generously and valiantly they are trying to house the ever increasing new arrivals. The problem is how long will the Irish, or in fact European people, be willing to pay for all this, the billions thrown into Ukraine for support, the arms and weaponry provided, the housing expenses for all the refugees, as their own household bills are rising and life standards are being erroded. <p>
<p> Two European Prime Ministers resigned already; the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-62070422">UK PM Boris Johnson,</a> who after a series of scandals finally gave in due to the high cost of living, plus his Italian counterpart, Mario Draghi for similar reasons. <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/8dd69dbb-b476-4192-9db2-944f7e937f8f">Italy’s economic prospects have soured as inflation bites due to the Russo-Ukrainian war</a>. The optimism seen at start of 2022 is fading fast as country undergoes cost-of-living squeeze. So one has to wonder if all the bravado of the European leaders against Russia and Vladimir Putin for the past 8 years and since the start of the war, all the economic sanctions they came up with to hurt the Russian economy and bring down its President, do they now realize that they have backfired? The Russian rouble not only did not collapse, but it is <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/russia-ukraine-ruble-currency-russian-economy-sanctioms-2022/">the strongest currency so far this year, contrary to the euro. </a> <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/europe-shot-itself-lungs-with-sanctions-russia-orban-says-2022-07-15/">Europe 'shot itself in the lungs' with sanctions on Russia</a>, the Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban stated recently, and how spot on he is on this. Russia is a country with vast resources, plus the world is not only comprised by the West. If Europe rejects Russian energy, there are plenty more regions on the planet eager for Russian cheap gas! <p>
<p> Why must Europe remain the lap-dog of USA, rely on its army for its own protection, but in return do not have its own foreign policy and must do whatever the US lobbies decide to do? From this war, the US and Russia are the big winners so far, while we Europeans-especially the Ukrainians are paying the highest price. Wouldn't it better to maintain good relations with Russia all this time, negotiate and try to find a solution to the conflict peacefully? What if we don't like the Russian leadership, we do dealings with Turkey and Saudi Arabia, themselves very autocratic countries, lacking democracy and with a very bad human rights or freedom of the press records. Turkey is always being referred as a <a href="https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/nato-chief-stoltenberg-speaks-with-turkish-president-tayyip-erdogan-about-finland-sweden-joining/article65493630.ece#:~:text=Photo%20Credit%3A%20AP-,NATO%20chief%20Jens%20Stoltenberg%20said%20he%20had%20a%20%E2%80%9Cconstructive%20phone,and%20Sweden%20joining%20the%20alliance.">"valued ally" </a>by NATO's Secretary Jens Stoltenberg, despite the Turks humiliating Sweden and Finland in order for them to be allowed in the alliance, demanding these two countries go against their traditional stance on the Kurdish and other similar problems. Despite Turkey <a href="https://www.euractiv.com/section/politics/short_news/athens-shocked-after-erdogan-threatens-in-greek/">openly threating Greece</a>, an EU and NATO member with war in a Twitter post, plus dealing and negotiating with Russia as <a href="https://tass.com/politics/1427365">they do not join the sanctions against the country, by other Western nations</a>. <p>
<p> We do not object or feel outraged when the Turks invade <a href="https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-710270">Syria</a> and <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2022/04/18/turkey-launches-new-military-offensive-in-northern-iraq">Iraq</a>, or when the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-60082788">Saudis bombard with NATO tolerance and support, Yemen</a> for the past 7 years. It is this Western hypocricy and arrogance which inevitably will lead to its own downfall. We have been prospering through conflict and other people's suffering for too long and we should be ashamed of ourselves. The whole so called "Western Civilization" has thrived on war, arms sales, economic bullying and domination, inequality and American hegemony, with the collaboration and support of Europe. How long can we exist like this, being such hypocrites and become outraged by the actions of Russia, but not our own and those countries like Turkey that we "need" to achieve our goals in a region? <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsCWM-iP6KHC2sUxuG5OUS5EizgeCjnkQmv8-xyge2Zo7ByhMz5fBmreNLxDop-XPLFtmMI44rGliRE5ZyqZ5c0mjieiWxxwk243nXBcK8OnN01PmAHpY8dJfImJ1EPcZUCssMOtPhfBszEdyd1YTf6Wubvla3xkpJW5W4qX1NgXQI9tP8-CNBnrf/s1200/rics.webp" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="680" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbsCWM-iP6KHC2sUxuG5OUS5EizgeCjnkQmv8-xyge2Zo7ByhMz5fBmreNLxDop-XPLFtmMI44rGliRE5ZyqZ5c0mjieiWxxwk243nXBcK8OnN01PmAHpY8dJfImJ1EPcZUCssMOtPhfBszEdyd1YTf6Wubvla3xkpJW5W4qX1NgXQI9tP8-CNBnrf/s320/rics.webp"/></a></div><p> The world is changing mind you. As the West is boasting about NATO getting two new members, Sweden and Finland, the so called BRICS (the economic block of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) is also expanding. <a href="https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/iran-argentina-apply-to-join-brics-bloc-after-recent-summit-report-122062800935_1.html">Argentina, Iran</a>, S<a href="https://www.middleeastmonitor.com/20220714-brics-expects-egypt-saudi-arabia-and-turkey-to-join-group-soon/">audi Arabia, Turkey and Egypt </a>have applied to join the group, with Indonesia also thinking of following suit. The developing world wants a change, is getting organized, creating an alternative to Western hegemony. They clearly had enough of our condescending, arrogant and hypocritical attitude towards them. They understandably want to work and trade with their own rules, not those imposed by the West, which often do not suit them, or they are unfair to their economies since they are created to perpetuate Western economic dominance. <p>
<p> The war in Ukraine most likely will be lost, if we leave the country on its own. At some stage, European but also American voters will have enough of financing this lost case. Ukraine has 3 times or less the population of Russia and even with our military support, they will one day simply run out of people. The Russians have shown how determined they are in winning this. For them, it is all in now, either win or face more humiliation from the West, like the one they suffered back in the '90s. They will not allow this to happen, the West must expect this. The Russians have been preparing for this conflict, as the West were arming and training Ukrainian soldiers. We had the chance to stop it and do as Putin has asked us, allow negotiations between the two warring sides to take place, but with our arrogance and idiotic, short sighted, "treaty obsessed" legalities, we did not take this chance. We should have. Now that the war has started, there is simply no way back. The Russians will play all their cards to win this.<p>
<p> The US does not want an open conflict between the two, as it will lead to a WW3 and this one may become a nuclear one. So they will not put boots on the ground. Europe is already struggling financially, so why on Earth are we not giving up and save Ukrainian and Russian lives, our economy and world peace? And for what really, a decades old grudge between America and Russia? We do not have to be destroyed again as a continent, so that these two can settle their scores. Europe should distance itself from America, seek to restore its relations with Russia and be ready to join the new, multipolar world that is emerging. The age of American/Western hegemony is coming to an end, even the <a href="https://www.thehansindia.com/news/international/global-dominance-of-west-is-coming-to-an-end-says-tony-blair-753851">former British Prime Minister Tony Blair stated it recently</a>. It does not have to be catastrophic or end up in a global, generalized conflict. We should let it happen and join the new era. It will be a fairer world, with Europe being one of the pillars, if of course we remain united and strong. If we do not, then our worse fears will be materialized and we will become a divided, poor continent, relying on those countries which up until now we scorned. <p>
<p> So far we tried so desperately to avoid this fate, by attaching ourselves on the military might of the USA. In this case though, we chose wrong. The USA's power is weakening and so will its appetite to always put up with our need for "mothering" and protection. Even if we remain attached to their hip, bigger blocks are prepared to challenge them and inevitably, we will be caught in the middle. A multipolar world is not all that bad and it looks inevitable at this stage. Why go in an all-out war with Russia and China with a potential annihilation, just so we help USA maintain their grip on the world, as we hope for a better and favourable treatment by them? Instead of taking the plunge into adulthood, truly unite as a continent, create our own foreign policy backed by a European defense mechanism, independent from the USA, and join this multipolar world and new reality, together with the challenges and opportunities it offers? <p>
The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-80104404719065216792022-03-16T22:41:00.003+00:002022-03-17T10:22:08.420+00:00Europe is at war again!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPjUMXOTMOGWlU-lFXZRnBGzvpbxoGNq9WLcmTsyTII4ATjktyJxW-5zm9T5aeDOjw5lSr4P2oTnwx2EbNlTrRlEtwOmonPEaFGuFBU-XbMemciPeiCO9rhVkIWbX_GFSQu9_v0v625j80Cqk-Lj6gjNS3FDIUY2tjQ9w6QRMf2n7mz-b3tOIYY4Ed=s1156" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="771" data-original-width="1156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhPjUMXOTMOGWlU-lFXZRnBGzvpbxoGNq9WLcmTsyTII4ATjktyJxW-5zm9T5aeDOjw5lSr4P2oTnwx2EbNlTrRlEtwOmonPEaFGuFBU-XbMemciPeiCO9rhVkIWbX_GFSQu9_v0v625j80Cqk-Lj6gjNS3FDIUY2tjQ9w6QRMf2n7mz-b3tOIYY4Ed=s400"/></a></div><p> It is hard to believe that Europe is at war once more. Since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the situation has been escalated and it hangs by a thread, with every European hoping that it will end soon. However, we have to realize that it most likely won't, plus that it is not only Ukraine and Russia that are at war right now. <p>
<p> An economic and information war has also been waging for the past 20 days, starting with the sanctions imposed by Western countries against Russia- all 4 rounds of them, which will obviously retaliate as these sanctions get worse; and everything indicated that they would from the beginning. Europe and the US are determined to support Ukraine, but the only way they can at the moment, is with arms and financial aid. They will not risk an open war with Russia, so we are all left watching as this tragedy unfolds in disbelief. <p>
<p> But the war does not stop on finances. Propaganda and counter propaganda has been circulating on social media and news channels from all sides.European universities hit by an apparent piece of Russian disinformation have had to quash rumours circulating online after the country’s human rights commissioner claimed Russian students are being <a href="https://sciencebusiness.net/news/european-universities-hit-russian-disinformation-about-student-expulsions">expelled from campuses in Europe</a>. Several organisations and institutions have had to clarify they are not expelling Russian students after claims by the Kremlin-supporting official circulated on social media. <p>
<p> That was most likely an exaggerated reaction to what European countries resolved to, in order to protest the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Not only has Russia been stripped of two prestigious events – the Champions League men’s final and Formula One’s Russian Grand Prix –but an increasing number of performances by <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/mar/01/the-show-cant-go-on-russian-arts-cancelled-worldwide">Russians are being cancelled worldwide. Concerts, dance recitals and exhibitions have been postponed indefinitely </a>. <p>
<p> In Greece for example, Minister of Culture and Sports Lina Mendoni ordered the suspension of any current or upcoming activities and events held in Greece in collaboration with Russian cultural organisations, <a href="https://greekcitytimes.com/2022/03/01/greece-cultural-events-russia/">the ministry said</a>. In addition, Greece’s biggest gaming firm OPAP on Monday halted betting on Russian sport events in solidarity with Ukraine where a Russian invasion continues. OPAP said it has stopped offering betting on any match related to Russian competitions, including football, basketball and volleyball, either online or through its outlets in Greece. <p>
<p> This indicates that European nations are determined not only to hit Russia hard, but to humiliate it for its actions against Ukraine. I wonder though if Vladimir Putin and his supporters are really bothered by all this, or is the West just acting bitterly for what it cannot control. Is cancelling Russian arts throughout the continent, which have been an integral part of our collective heritage, the way to solve the impasse? Western nations lost the chance to help Ukraine 8 years ago, when the civil war started; they should have pulled the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy aside, to try and mediate a solution between the two warring communities, before Putin decided to intervene himself. But is this what Western nations really sought as a solution after all in the first place. <p>
<p> <b>Europe's hysteric Russophobia.<i></i></b> <p>
<p> Four years ago, I had the unique privilege to work as an election observer in the last Russian presidential elections in the city of Kazan, which of course Putin won. The fear and hysteria that I received about my decision to accept the invitation was phenomenal. Some of my friends warned me to be careful of what the Russians offer me to drink, in case they poisoned and killed me. But why would Russian officials ask me over to their country to assassinate me, since they could easily do it while I was in Ireland. Or why would I become a target, as I never wrote anything in favor or against Vladimir Putin and his government. <p>
<p> All I ever insisted on saying for years, is that Europe should try and work on its relations with Russia, if they were ever in the mood for the same of course. After all, it is a country which shares borders with us and will never go away thus we should do so, not for their sake, but for ours. In various articles that I wrote for this blog and <a href="https://theeuropeannetwork.eu/why-closer-relations-between-europe-and-russia-could-be-beneficial/">Europa United- </a> which have been translated in french for the now banned in Europe, Sputnik channel, I presented a scenario where Europe achieves its own military and foreign policy, distances slightly itself from USA, while remaining in close cooperation with it, but approaching somewhat Russia, in order to achieve long lasting peace on the continent, putting aside our differences. <p>
<p> And by only writing sympathetically about EU-Russian relations, it was enough sometimes to put me in the same basket as many "Putinists", individuals that are rather on the payroll of Putin or his "usefull idiots", spreading propaganda and lies. For starters, the only article I ever got paid was the one I did for Euronews, plus I really wish someone had paid me a penny for the over 300 articles I wrote in my 12 year blogging experience. <p>
<p> I remember the debates we had with my other editors of the various online platforms I contributed, on how to present these articles, reporting from the <a href="https://theeuropeannetwork.eu/what-do-the-2018-russian-elections-mean-for-europe/">Russian elections </a> and explaining my position on why we could benefit from stable and somewhat "good relations" with our neighbours; without of course sounding like a Putin propaganda platform, or having to "neutralize" them with an contradicting opinion piece for balance afterwards. As if in a real democracy we must be apologetic for our opinion, principles or merits. If only one point of view is accepted, then we are not too different than the autocratic "regimes" we so much love to criticise. <p>
<p> It is evident that it is Europe and America that have a real problem with Russia and not just the other way around. European progressives, liberals and other intellectuals, usually see Russia as the "enemy", their ideological nemesis that they must constantly bash in order to validate their positions, whilst presenting the country as a threat, in order to convince Europeans to unite. That is something that I always disagreed with, since I do not think that a federal, united Europe should be forced or based upon fear, of Russia or anyone else, rather the realisation of a common set of values and future that we must all aspire to. America's problem of course is wanting to keep Russia out of Europe altogether, as they see our continent their own playground and "sphere of influence". <p>
<p> In addition, countries on the Eastern front of the continent, that sadly fell beyond the Iron Curtain during the Cold War, are understandably very suspicious and wary of Russia and its interests. But if the Russians wanted to claim their countries back, they would have made a move or staged a protest prior to 2004 and their mass entry in the EU. It is the military Western expansion they object to, especially when it comes to Ukraine and Caucasus. So any hysteria or fears that after Ukraine, others will follow must stop, unless the war escalates further into a NATO-Russia war. The only way for Eastern Europe to soothe its relations with Russia and build up trust again, is if the latter acknowledges and apologises for its mistakes during the Soviet era-in which Russians suffered too by the way, plus Eastern Europeans are willing to do so; no military alliance and build-up, or American influence and "protection" can achieve this, in fact the US military presence may be exactly what pours more oil to the flame. <p>
<p> Moreover, I always found it rather hypocrytical that Western nations have no problem collaborating with worse regimes than Russia, like Saudi Arabia for example. Have any of the Western expats in United Arab Emirates, dared to stage a campaign there about LGBT rights, democracy, gay pride etc.? How do we expect to change a country like Russia to fit our standards in order to do business with it, since we are unable to change EU member states like Hungary and Poland- hardly beacons of liberal democracies themselves, while they are integrated in our institutions? Besides, why must everyone in the world share our own values, in order to be worthy of our acceptance and praise? I am a proud European, thus a Westerner, but unlike some of my kind, I do not expect other nations to share my values in order to coexist, trade or interact with them. <p>
<p> The West had always varied rules for different nations too. Bashing Greece for its bail-out prgramme, while giving Ireland just a slap on the wrist for the same. Proceeding in quick sanctions against Russia for invading Ukraine, but never acting as decisively for other ongoing conflicts like Yemen, Syria, Cyprus and the Palestine issue. Scolding Russia for its wars, but never USA for its failures in the Middle East that resulted in thousands trying to flee into Europe. Being so keen in receiving Ukrainian refugees, but making it as awkward in finding a solution for those from Syria. The latter have to stay in refugee camps, while the Ukrainians are being given visa free access to EU nations. <p>
<p> In a recent <a href="https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/rte-presenter-david-mccullagh-goes-23225880">televised interview</a> on the Irish national broadcaster RTE, TV presenter David McCullagh has gone viral after his "priceless" interview with the Russian Ambassador in the country. The journalist spoke to Ambassador Yury Filatov as Russian troops continued to invade Ukraine, whilst he maintained an agressive tone of voice, barely allowing his guest to speak or explain. The news anchor said the ambassador was giving the "Russian version of events" which are "misleading". It was slightly embarassing to watch, as if journalists are meant to be openly biased and "grill" plus embarass their guests, not try to get answers from them, thinking that we as viewers are stupid and cannot, or should not make our own minds, if what Mr Filatov was saying was true or nonsense. <p>
<p> He also asked "why does our government entertain your presence here when you're acting as an apologist for slaughter?".Mr Filatov responded: "It is a good question. You might ask your government. It's up to them. I can leave any time." This has become viral on the internet, especially in the US where they happily made a laughing stock of Mr Filatov. Such incident of course would never happen to a US Ambassador, or any other Western diplomat in Ireland, since the country relies heavily on US investments and companies to accumulate its wealth. Ireland would never "grill" any US official like this, questioning him for example about their involvement in Afghanistan and their failure to secure a victory in the country after of 20 years of presence, which resulted in a massive humanitarian crisis, only a few months ago. <p>
<p> The only good thing that came out of this, is that Ireland is finally abandoning the taboo of "neutrality" and for the first time in the 18 years that I live in this country, I viewed a debate on national television about this long cherished policy. It was finally admitted that Ireland is neutral "only militarily" and not politically, and that we as a country have chosen sides long ago. Finland is having the same debate and I believe also Sweden. Because if these countries feel they belong into a "block", then they should start exploring ways to contribute more to its security. Until now, Finland had a rather high military spending to protect itself from Russia (allegedly), while Ireland like Austria and Switzerland, enjoyed the so called necessary "protection and stability" that NATO offers to Europe, rather for free. <p>
<p> Don't get me wrong, I also hate militarization. In this age and time I feel it is disgraceful that we all have to resolve in high military spending to protect one from the other, while we fail to solve issues with diplomacy. It is shameful that instead of hospitals and schools, we must make bombs to kill other peoples, because they have different views than us. I am a staunch pacifist. But if we have to keep NATO for "protection", then all countries of Europe that are for US military presence and investments in the continent and have chosen "sides", should contribute to its budget. Why must countries like Poland and Greece for example, be the spear heads against any "Russian threat" after all? <p>
<p> <b>Europe is at war!<i></i></b><p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizbWgOJ9Coj9BVohPsqkKqzJgsIZyauxlKU8meVHiBFyzVXKKYEoWoU6MEvM20CAbwXDukLLUGHph137TP-eTqI2kYr095QXsamJc23zQ54AQ6iS9cqz3ZJi-tr0VbKafPTxJa-DHqvMTEavhxJyR7xO7uLJ7vApD3ZXyUEWnNztwrH4F3cydOGzjd=s770" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="431" data-original-width="770" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizbWgOJ9Coj9BVohPsqkKqzJgsIZyauxlKU8meVHiBFyzVXKKYEoWoU6MEvM20CAbwXDukLLUGHph137TP-eTqI2kYr095QXsamJc23zQ54AQ6iS9cqz3ZJi-tr0VbKafPTxJa-DHqvMTEavhxJyR7xO7uLJ7vApD3ZXyUEWnNztwrH4F3cydOGzjd=s320"/></a></div><p> However all the above is about to change. Ireland recently published a <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/recommended-defence-forces-upgrades-will-be-huge-ask-says-coveney-1.4797944">Commission on the Defence Forces report</a>, which recommended that the Government work towards three levels of "ambition" on military reform and upgrade. Level one is maintaining the current status quo, while level two would mean plugging gaps in the current security apparatus by acquiring capabilities such a military radar system and modern aircraftcost, for an extra €500 million a year. Level three would see Ireland upgrading the Defence Forces to the level of other countries of similar size, which would bring the defence budget to about €3 billion a year.The commission recommended that the Government work towards level two, for now. <p>
<p> So you see what that the consequences of Russia's invasion- because it is an invasion, no matter how the Russians try to call it or mask it, are far reaching and not only Ukraine is affected. Europe is at war. On the 13th of March, the Irish Taoiseach Micheál Martin whilst on a diplomatic trip to London on the UK's response to the refugee crisis, <a href="https://www.northernsound.ie/news/taoiseach-says-ireland-is-heading-into-a-war-economy-191095">stated</a> that Ireland is heading into a war economy, further pressure on food and fuel over the coming weeks. We are all in this together and there is no going back now. <p>
<p> Sadly, all of this could have been avoided, if America, Europe and Russia found a way to soothe out their differences, but I doubt if any party was really keen. In a <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2019/07/29/theres-no-real-reason-to-sanction-russia-anymore/?sh=74b3a3736484">2019 Forbes article,</a> the view was that here’s no real reason to sanction Russia anymore, other than just hating Russia because it’s run by Vladimir Putin. This opinion came after the Special Counsel investigation was over and the only thing that the US Senator Robert Mueller could find involving Russians that was worth punishing with an actual crime, were these 13 “troll farms” that had no impact on the US election outcome, according to the Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. And whose participants will never see a U.S. court or prison, sanctioning bonds was "passé". Russia, for Wall Street anyway, has been exonerated. The Mueller testimony was a total face plant for the Democrats and anyone looking to link Trump to a villainous Russia. <p>
<p> So why did the Russophobia and hysteria in Europe continued? In the same article, they described that Russia was until 2019 the hottest-performing emerging market. The VanEck ETF was up 26% while No. 2 Brazil was up 18.9% and the MSCI Emerging Markets benchmark was up 9.3%. Since the summer of 2014, Russian oil and gas firms and Russian banks have been sanctioned by the U.S. and to some extent Europe, though Europe did not sanction oil and gas entities. The sanctions were all due to Russian involvement in a separatist movement in East Ukraine. “The conclusion of the Mueller investigation reduces the urgency for the U.S. Congress to impose additional sanctions on Russia,” stated Federico Kaune, head of emerging-markets fixed income at UBS Asset Management. <p>
<p> Thus, if only three years ago relations between the West and Russia seemed to be normalizing, what happened since then that tipped the scales and drove Vladimir Putin so "mad", that he decided to invade Ukraine? Could it be the change of American leadership? There has been a video being circulated on social media, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNgCwoaT9u4">of current US President Joe Biden</a>, "predicting" that if NATO ever expands to the Baltics, there will be war in Europe. <p>
<p> So why didn't he follow his own"predictions"? Many others foresaw that Nato expansion would lead to war. It has long been clear that it would lead to tragedy. "We are now paying the price for the US’s arrogance", as we read in a<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/feb/28/nato-expansion-war-russia-ukraine"> Guardian article</a>. Bill Clinton’s administration had made the decision to push for including some former Warsaw Pact countries into the alliance. The administration would soon propose inviting Poland, the Czech Republic and Hungary to become members, and the US Senate approved adding those countries to the North Atlantic Treaty in 1998. Strobe Talbott, former deputy secretary of state during the Clinton administration, described then the Russian reaction; “Many Russians see Nato as a vestige of the cold war, inherently directed against their country. They point out that they have disbanded the Warsaw Pact, their military alliance, and ask why the West should not do the same.” It was an excellent question, and neither the Clinton administration nor its successors provided even a remotely convincing answer. <p>
<p> And the same sentiment is what I got when I was working as and election observer in Russia. Many of the country's youth were supporting Vladimir Putin, something that we in the West cannot understand. Young people in our countries are usually backing progressive parties that push for liberal reforms, however in Russia they seem to stand behind Putin, who we see as an "oligarch and authoritarian dictator". And that is because not only we do not understand Russia and its society, but rather we push them towards people like Putin. <p>
<p> Vladimir Putin’s rise to power in 1990s came amid the tumultuous years of low-living standards, corruption and unbridled capitalism that benefited a small sector of society following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991; the so called "Oligarchs", that the West so much loaths but is pleased to receive their money. When Putin became Russia’s president in the year 2000 many Russians were happy to see a leader come to power who promised to reconstruct the country economically and politically. Since that first presidential election Putin has certainly overseen Russia’s restoration to the international stage and a sense of <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/putin-generation-russias-loyal-youth/">national pride among many Russians</a>. He went after many of the "oligarchs", making enemies while trying to reform Russia, the way he thought best. <p>
<p> So any wave of sanctions that endangers what Putin has built all these years, do not necessarily "work" on the Russian public opinion, the way we expect them to do. Harming the Russian economy to spite Putin, often helps achieve the opposite. Many of these "Putin's youths" that I spoke with during my stay in Moscow and Kazan in 2018, expressed not only the love for their country, their support for Putin's "reforms", but also a fear, perhaps unfounded, that their country will be again humiliated and mistreated by the West, forced to shrink and become impoverished once more. They are bitter of the way the West is treating their country, when in their words "27 million of their soldiers died suring WW2 to save Europe from fascism. <p>
<p> As I wrote in my 2018 articles, Russia is not a homogenous society, but is rather comprised by many ethnic and religious groups, living in a vast area spanning two continents; Europe and Asia. Thus perhaps, the Western liberal democratic model cannot work for them, since they are so keen to hold their country together and not lose any more territory. Something similar to the Greek paranoic mentality of losing more islands to a NATO ally of theirs, Turkey. A Western model, with all the freedoms that it offers, perhaps is not appropriate at this stage, when the Russian society is transitioning still into a capitalist one, but in a different pace in its regions. So any financial sanctions that the West imposes, could be triggering an even more conservative reflex among its population. But that does not seem to bother Western liberals. In their mind, everyone must abide by Western values, even if they are not suitable for them, or face ridicule and economic sanctions, for daring to challenge the Western economic hegemony. <p>
<p> Because ultimatelly, this is what is all about. Financial interests and poor Ukraine is caught in the middle and pays the ultimate price. Americans do not want a prosperous Russia, nor any other country that they see as a threat. Ideally they want them out of Europe, which they see as their sphere of influence. So how dare the Russians seek closer relations and trade, or to become members of NATO and contribute to the North Atlantic Alliance's security? If in 2019 the Trump administration decided to end sanctions against Russia, but now Biden forced Putin to invade Ukraine- a bad decision and a huge mistake by all means that it may be, but clearly indicates a war between the West and Russia, hidden under the facade of the Russian-Ukrainian war. <p>
<p> With Western companies exiting Russia and talks of Russia of nationalizing them, economic sanctions, trade wars, rise of oil and gas prices due to the halt of imports from Russia, the situation is a fully fledged conflict already. And it has been brewing for years and both sides were preparing for it. While I was visiting Kazan, I was taken to see the "Russian Silicon Valley", a newly built small town complete with apartments and shops at the outskirts of the Tatarstan capital, aimed to act as an alternative to the American hegemony and dominance of the internet; at least in Russia. Or maybe perhaps, prepare the country for a pull-out from the world wide web; sounds familiar? Only a few months before the war in Ukraine, Greece approved new US military bases around the port city of Alexandroupolis in the northern region of Thrace. Propaganda and information wars were already in full swing in both Russian and Western media, for a considerable amount of time, prior to the Russian invasion. <p>
<p> The issue is, why Putin now decided to cut off ties with the West, exit the Council of Europe, turn his country into a pariah and isolated from most of the rest of the world? Did he get pissed off by the Biden administration and decided, "the hell with it, this will never work, I am out"! However this is nothing to celebrate in Europe. A poor, unstable, humiliated and hostile Russia right to our doorstep, is far worse and more dangerous that what we already had. Plus, Ukraine may be sadly partitioned in the aftermath for good and any further EU/NATO expansion eastwards and to the Caucasus, could be permanently put on ice, if a rogue, hostile and desperate Russia wants revenge. <p>
<p> Many Western "analysts" who are so keen comparing the "dictator" Putin to Hitler and how he built up his propaganda prior his invasion of Poland and Czechoslovakia, conveniently forget how the Allied obsession of humilating Germany after WW1, encouraged the Germans to bring someone like Hitler in power. This is also something to learn from, but Westerners prefer only to see the links between Hitler and Putin, not what actually drove their victory and establishment in their countries and so we repeat the same mistakes. <p>
<p> With scores of anti-war Russians leaving Russia to escape to Finland and the Caucasus countries, any hope for maintaining a West-friendly movement within Russia, fades. So how can we expect to have any allies within the country, in order to reconcile sometime in the future? In addition, since some in the West desire to make Putin answer for his "crimes" in the International Criminal Court, they will need a Western friendly movement within Russia to achieve this. We are not dealing with Serbia, which was easier to subdue by war back in the '90s, in order as a condition to their surrender to demand the hand-over of any of their officials to be trialed. Russia has nukes and is better prepared for a conflict with the West. Thus, maintaining some relations with Russia could prove wise in the future. <p>
<p> It is very sad and regretful that Vladimir Putin chose war, in which thousands will die, so that he can make a stand against Western selfishness. His nation will suffer, as well as us Europeans and there is no turning back now. It will take decades for our relations to go back to what they were before, if ever. Europe is determined now to stop its reliance on Russian oil and gas. Who wins from all that? NATO and USA, something that is not good for either Europe or Russia. The first comes totally under America's "umbrella" and influence, is getting militarized and faces years of financial difficulties, in order to transition from relying on Russian energy for too long; only to replace this reliance with one to Iran, Saudi Arabia and Venezuela, themselves often described as authoritarian "regimes". How hypocritical. On the other hand, the US government has <a href="https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/03/11/us-reluctant-to-export-natural-gas-to-europe-amid-climate-concerns">pledged to ramp up liquefied natural gas (LNG) exports</a>, to help cut Europe's reliance on Russian gas. However, progress is slow due to concerns about the impact on climate change.. Seriously? <p>
<p> Russia consequently, becomes isolated and cut off from the West and much of the world that is allied to it. NATO wins members and sees its budget increased, while America and its oil, gas and arms industries are saying "BINGO"..!! They are going to gain big time out of this. Russia is finally out, Nord Stream 2 most likely will be scrapped, Europe will rely on USA for energy, protection and everything really so yes, this is great, thanks Mr Putin! This has been a bad decision, which we are all going to pay with our taxes for decades to come. I plead to all our leaders, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Emmanuel Macron and all the governments of Europe and EU officials, please think this again and stop this war while there is still time! There can be no winners from this and how would you like to be remembered in the future; as the ones who plundged the world into despair and poverty? <p>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-64001911679900263142022-02-28T01:58:00.004+00:002022-02-28T07:05:45.260+00:00Hands off Ukraine please, unless they are helping!! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6QpyRagetjYcXzpbmRSivhBNZDhhliXPScSr1_oMOPUZo4Z8T8GKYwqsUq6CQ_UUxaLuvKw3cQgDvITv2UVjqEpJ402iqsLWehmx_R5-e7FfBDdIe3P8M9zmgd3J1ZmgcpY2K6V-qfvIaIGqBjsBHrIrhISJt2ruddRjeRAjIl-BaXNVKGfBolcM9=s1230" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="757" data-original-width="1230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg6QpyRagetjYcXzpbmRSivhBNZDhhliXPScSr1_oMOPUZo4Z8T8GKYwqsUq6CQ_UUxaLuvKw3cQgDvITv2UVjqEpJ402iqsLWehmx_R5-e7FfBDdIe3P8M9zmgd3J1ZmgcpY2K6V-qfvIaIGqBjsBHrIrhISJt2ruddRjeRAjIl-BaXNVKGfBolcM9=s400"/></a></div><p> I cannot believe that I will have to write yet another article on Ukraine. It has been more than two months since I wrote for this blog, and my hopes were that by now things would have been improved. On February the 24th, Russian President Vladimir Putin, decided to invade Ukraine. We all were hoping he was bluffing, or that common sense would prevail; not this time again sadly. <p>
<p> Condemnations came from the Western countries, and support for Ukraine from all over the world. But really, what was everyone doing for the past 8 years? The war was silently waging since 2014, when a civil war broke out between ethnic Russians or Russian speakers in the east of the country, and the Ukrainian state forces. <p>
<p> One would have thought that during all this time, the so called "powers" that are now involved- Russia, Europe and America, would have sat down and solved the problem; quite the contrary. They all brought their own interests on the table, making a solution almost impossible to reach. And one would have also thought that the United Nations, whose motto is <a href="https://www.un.org/en/">"Peace, Dignity and Equality on a Healthy Planet"</a> and its aim to <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Nations">maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations</a></i> would have done its job and stepped in. <p>
<p> Clearly not. The United Nations has instead become a useless relic of the past. It is a hotbed of quarreling and bitching among the world's self declared "powers" which have established themselves as such after the WW2, to promote and safeguard their own interests. Things have moved on since then, and I believe a UN overhaul is long overdue. These "powers", and I am sorry to say they are not only Russia and China, but also America and its European partners, who afterall were the first to disregard the UN's decision on the war on Iraq, are opting for dishonoring the organisation's initial purpose; which is to <b>safeguard peace and stability, or resolve conflicts.</b><p>
<p> Neither Russia, or America, China and Europe, should ever take it upon themselves to fix things as it suits them. And that is exactly what Putin has tried to do and we can all agree it has been a huge mistake. The need or rather excuse to protect and support the Russian/Russian speaking community in Ukraine, can never justify an invasion, rather requires increased cooperation and collaboration with the Ukrainian government, under the UN's and only supervision. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2GCmN3tp5EgEPfkYK6MSRWA2-U81cnaPXpr1jz40JR9Tnwhu6J3zNAEVy2626g3nOAIhMUGINmoLId18wvURSZD53paNicf02oaZ6b-3NU_oMxCBUqt7jccoebBGXNeUeAat2KzlX5Wzyk-5TbU8m9gr3ariQILAA7zafANlUcra17Hl-44vMwS80=s744" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="744" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj2GCmN3tp5EgEPfkYK6MSRWA2-U81cnaPXpr1jz40JR9Tnwhu6J3zNAEVy2626g3nOAIhMUGINmoLId18wvURSZD53paNicf02oaZ6b-3NU_oMxCBUqt7jccoebBGXNeUeAat2KzlX5Wzyk-5TbU8m9gr3ariQILAA7zafANlUcra17Hl-44vMwS80=s400"/></a></div><p> What should have happened all those 8 years, would be for Russia with some other Western negotiating power, preferably the EU (well that's another Western failure here, the EU remaining only a trading block for ages), to sit with UN officials and agree or break a deal for a ceasefire between the two sides. Ideally one that would leave the territory of Ukraine intact, after the two communities there compromised and were able to live side by side once again. If a deal would be unreachable, then the negotiating sides would examine if more autonomy would satisfy the breakaway regions, a federalization of Ukraine or sadly in the case of unresolvable differences, partition. However after years that neither side managed to agree and compromise, Mr Putin thought that the best way to end this, or hit the nail on the head, was an invasion. <p>
<p> The West on the other hand-especially America, kept chewing and spewing the same bubblegum, bullshit argument about the "freedom of choice" of any country to join NATO! Even if Ukraine is not the right candidate for the alliance, which its very existence is based on Russophobia and the alledged threat from Russia. With millions of ethic Russians loyal to their "motherland" in the East of Ukraine, how does the alliance see them complying with military bases in the country, aiming towards Russia? Plus, this "freedom" is usually accompanied with some billions of worth of US and NATO investments in a new member, so is it really a "free" choice to join NATO, or rather a bribery? <p>
<p> The Western media kept mentioning about how bad the "Finlandization" of Ukraine would be, and that is something to be avoided. Excuse me, but last time checked, Finland was doing brilliantly and if Ukraine came any close to the standards of Finland, it would be a country to be envied. Finland is in the EU, fully integrated but outside of NATO and right next to Russia, which forces it to spend a substantial amount of money, to defend itself from Russia; which in fact hasn't threatened its much smaller neighbour since the end of Cold War. Understandably the large portion of the country's GDP that goes into its own defense, is a burden; but look at Greece, which is in NATO and still has to spend much more than Finland for its defense, to protect itself from another NATO ally, Turkey! Plus compromise a lot in order to keep the balance around Cyprus and the Aegean. Surely, Greece has it much worse than Finland in this aspect whilst in NATO.<p>
<p> In addition, Finland does not have millions of Russian speakers in its territory, that are loyal to Russia. Thus making the comparison between the two countries, rather daft! Ukraine must join the EU, but stay outside of NATO, not just because Putin wants it, but because roughly 20% of its own population will not be happy or complying with such decision. And what use would they be to their country or the alliance after all, which should have been abolished together with its adversary, the Warsaw Pact and replaced by a European defense policy by now. If it wasn't of course for US interests and European lack of unity and initiative; it is cheaper to rely on someone else for your protection, both financially and responsibility wise. <p>
<p> So the Western complexes and financial interests, are coming in clash with the Russian ones- or rather those of a handfull Russian elites, because I doubt that any ordinary citizen of the country will benefit either way, regarding Ukraine's future. The Russian sphere of influence should not necessarily be threatened by Western expansion, if this is not a military one. This is the age of globalization, everyone should be with anyone by now. However, the mistake that the West does, is that it is making EU and NATO membership inseparable, plus antagonizing and frown upon Russia always. All other Russian hysteria on Ukraine being an integral part of Russian identity, the Russian-Ukrainian Patriarchate separation, the loss of territory, the collapse of the Soviet Block and so on, should have been dealt and digested by now by them as a society. Ukraine got its independence, there is no going back. And they have made it clear that they do not wish to have closer relations with the Kremlin, like Belarus does; well at least its leadership. Russia needs to move on beyond all this and become a modern country, however we must understand how recent this transition was for them. <p>
<p> Thus basically the only issue that should remain, is that of the considerable Russian minority and perhaps we should re-examine it, taking into account the sensitivities of all communities in Ukraine. Instead we have a rather childish, immature, bullish and utterly unacceptable Russian stance towards Ukraine, and the excuse is- like a child would say- if America can act this way and disregard our red lines, destroy countries like Yugoslavia, so can we. Which is of course a reflection of a similar Western tone of the past, "nobody will tell us what to do, the hell with the UN's resolution". The result is, and I will use a quote I came across on Twitter recently, "the big buffaloes are about to fight over the swamp, and the little frogs will be caught and squashed in the middle." Putin's behavior indicates either desperation, anger and loss of patience (for whatever reason, even if this is the constant Western refusal to compromise too), or simply loss of political skills. And in a leader of a country such as Russia, this is dangerous. <p>
<p> Wouldn't it preferable if everyone understood that we are better when we collaborate and work together, independently of where we are financially, politically, historically, or how developed our political and social system is. What is Putin actually hoping to achieve in Ukraine, overthrow the government and establish a new pro-Russian puppet one? Absorb the country or parts of it back into Russia, or maybe forbid it from joining NATO? Perhaps just punish it for daring to "flirt" with the West? Either way, did he really expect that Europe and America would just stay passive and did he for once concider the consequences for ordinary Russians, Ukrainians and Europeans? I guess not. <p>
<p> He is allegedly trying to stop the expansion of NATO, but by invading he is justifying the very existence of this alliance and have kickstarted a debate in neutral EU nations like Sweden and Finland, of potentially joining themselves. The image of Russia to the world has been tarnished as an aggressor, they very thing he accuses the West to be. Never mind potentially its economy will be also badly affected. Europe and America have been announcing wave upon wave of sanctions and measures against Russia, himself and his close circle of officials. I guess the richer Russian officials won't mind them much, but the sanctions could hit the ordinary citizens of his country, and in the Russian relatiation and all consequencequences that will follow, we all are going to pay for this financially. But ultimately, this could contribute to his final defeat at home. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9GVJ4mOZT1FTvmK9fkbyHdYByH3rCezXwh0AHJI3q3Vfem7Vnjtn45kLnzynezLSpGy4XqnJ8KsDT2XjICM_BVKYINwNnOTQEwcSqU5npRWAMuKqpVyp4Ds6TqxGpd6biENqwHhIc-35y24an6LyWbv-fnF88SWj8ByPbZojdS-WvY36EY69OsAUH=s900" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9GVJ4mOZT1FTvmK9fkbyHdYByH3rCezXwh0AHJI3q3Vfem7Vnjtn45kLnzynezLSpGy4XqnJ8KsDT2XjICM_BVKYINwNnOTQEwcSqU5npRWAMuKqpVyp4Ds6TqxGpd6biENqwHhIc-35y24an6LyWbv-fnF88SWj8ByPbZojdS-WvY36EY69OsAUH=s400"/></a></div><p> Marches in support of Ukraine have been staged in many European countries, never mind the anti-war ones in Russia itself. It seems that the Russians are finally emerging and standing up en-masse, against Putin's policies. What years of anti-West propaganda hasn't done, it could be achieved by his own very mistake. And here is where Europe must play it smart. For years the West adopted a blantantly anti-Russian hysteria, because it did not approve of Putin and his policies. The result was providing his establishment with arguments, on why Russia needed a "strong man", to stand up to the West and restore their country's reputation and place in the world. The West's hysteria and complex towards Russia, in fact strengthened his grip on the country as his popularity soared with each West-Russia confrontation. <p>
<p> Obviously this is not the way to go. I am very pleased to see, European and Western officials, finally abandoning their habbit of bashing Russia as a country for the acts of its leadership and reaching out directly to its citizens with encouraging messages. We need to keep doing this, plus if possible, limit the effects of the sanctions for the ordinary citizens, that are as opposed to this war as any of us in Europe. Not one European or American citizen had to face harsh sanctions, even though they protested against the wars our governments have went ahead with after all. If we make the Russians suffer another harsh punishment and humiliation, we may achieve getting rid of Putin, but whoever comes after may be as bad for Europe. Be careful. Russia is never going to go away from our doorstep. <p>
<p> In the end, what will all this madness and death worth to anyone I wonder? A massaging of our chauvinism, our nationalistic pride, sense of moral, social and financial supperiority over the other maybe? What continent will we leave to the future generations, one of divisions and high military expenditures, just to prove a point and maintain our beloved "spheres of influence" ? The only ones who have gained from all this, are the war mongers on each side; NATO got a huge boost, military spending is going up on both sides; thanks Mr Putin! And who is going to be paying for all this I wonder. The rest of us luckily only with our taxes, but the Ukrainians with their own blood and lives. Shame on you all!! <i>Russia</i>, please <b>GET OUT</b> from Ukraine now, <i>America</i> please <b>STAY OUT</b> from Ukraine with your missiles, <i>Europe</i> please <b>SUPPORT</b> Ukraine financially to cope with this and all of you back off and let the United Nations take over and do what they were supposed to do in the first place, bring peace. <p>
<b>I would like to offer my deepest sympathy and condolences to the people of Ukraine, plus all the victims of this senseless war, either Ukrainian, Russian or Russian speaking. I am so sorry!! <i></i></b>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-17014790755548283802021-12-05T22:32:00.000+00:002021-12-05T22:32:34.361+00:00Europe must be wise and prevent an all-out war in Ukraine.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzP0I8cfTLWrygSVfrhyphenhyphenbYCRJQYfZk57JqH8Irk14ffpb-lWInhqEbIAM-rewXC4S4II4OclbDYioEx5PrKqkkJ3YqDVps89W0tq0LAI1tAF8MJMqT2POF3236HJn_l9qXIuMhcy2wsAo/s1200/4000.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzP0I8cfTLWrygSVfrhyphenhyphenbYCRJQYfZk57JqH8Irk14ffpb-lWInhqEbIAM-rewXC4S4II4OclbDYioEx5PrKqkkJ3YqDVps89W0tq0LAI1tAF8MJMqT2POF3236HJn_l9qXIuMhcy2wsAo/s320/4000.jpg"/></a></div><p> <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59533689"><i>US President Joe Biden and Russia's Vladimir Putin will speak via video call on Tuesday (07/12/2021)</a>, the White House says, amid mounting tensions over Ukraine. It comes after Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the US had evidence that Russia had made plans for a "large scale" attack on Ukraine. But he added it was unclear if Mr Putin had made a final decision to invade. Russia has denied any such intention, and accused Ukraine of executing its own troop build-up</i>. <p>
<p> The conflict in Ukraine is not recent. In fact, it has been going on for more than 7 years now, mounting to a loss of life in the thousands; around <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_War">13,200 people were killed in the conflict</a>, about 3,350 of them civilians, as of today. It is evident that this war won't stop, unless there is a decisive action, or the will by all sides involved to end it. So if the Russians have indeed plans to terminate it by invading, it will be Pyrrhic Victory for everyone no doubt. <p>
<p> I have written many articles on Ukraine in the past, so I will try not to repeat myself. I feel for the Ukrainian people, because their land is a territory that is being "pissed on by the big dogs of the world", in order to mark their territory and sphere of influence. Who are these dogs? In one hand is Russia of course and USA on the other, with Europe being America's little poodle, siding always with its big brother or master. To me both sides are on the wrong, and Ukraine's population pays the price. <p>
<p> As I have already mentioned previously, the West ignores that Ukraine's population is (before Crimea's annexation) <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine">17.3% ethnically Russian</a>. So if the West thinks that integrating Ukraine it is institutions would be easy, while being constantly hostile to Russia is deluding itself. Unless of course it uses Ukraine to annoy and black-mail Russia, but has no real interest in including the country in its own sphere of influence. <p>
<p> The one point in which the Russians are right, is that Ukraine must never join NATO, even if it wants to. If it does, the USA will no doubt install missiles and military bases in its territory, and that understandably is something that Russia wishes to avoid. Except naturally, if by a miracle the US and Russia ever become friends and allies, something that could have happened, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/nov/04/ex-nato-head-says-putin-wanted-to-join-alliance-early-on-in-his-rule">if NATO accepted Russia as a member when Putin himself, in the early days of his Presidency, allegedly wanted.</a> If that outcome ever took place, it would save Europe a lot of trouble and headache, but I guess what would be the need for NATO then, plus how would USA and Russia would cooperate, if they both saw themselves as leaders or equal partners of the block? <p>
<p>If Ukraine wishes closer ties with the West, an EU membership should suffice. But is this something that Russia really wants and is willing to allow? We have many examples of countries being technically neutral, whilst in the EU; Austria, Finland, Ireland and Sweden. So I really do not understand Ukraine's or the EU's insistence on the country joining NATO as well, if this aspiration is something that will ultimatelly split Ukraine, politically or territorially because of Russian objection and fear. <p>
<p> With around 7 million ethnic Russians approximatelly in the country- that is equal or more than the Baltic states population in the EU, how does the West or Ukraine itself, envisage its military participation against a potential conflict with Russia for example? But once in the EU, the Russian minority could act as a link between the two blocks, if the Russians of Ukraine are allowed to be voted as MEPs in the European Parliament. They could help mending relations, assist the West better understand Russia and vice versa, and kickstart a new chapter in the European-Russian relations, something that we all need, especially Ukraine right now. Plus, this could act as the carrot, which will entice Russia to allow Ukraine into the EU. <p>
<p> Naturally, if Ukraine wants to join either institutions (NATO and EU), Russia cannot really stop it. But it can sabotage it with from within, as it does and that is something that just needs to be accepted no matter how wrong it is. The West has its own legacy of meddling and intervention (the Greek Junta back in the'70s for example, supported by the USA), so how can it point the finger towards the Russians now and expect them to just back off? Instead, we should try and reach the root of what drives the Russian leadership to such actions. What Russia most likely and conveniently takes into consideration,<i>is the 1990 conversation was limited to discussion about unified Germany’s status in NATO. There was no promise or even a discussion about countries like Poland and Hungary. <p>
<p>Part of the persisting confusion stems from that fact that what was said at the time sounds pretty clear in retrospect. On January 31, 1990, West German Foreign Minister Hans-Dietrich Genscher declared, “What NATO must do is state unequivocally that whatever happens in the Warsaw Pact, there will be no expansion of NATO territory eastwards, that is to say, closer to the borders of the Soviet Union.” In February, Baker then told Gorbachev in Moscow that “there would be no extension of NATO’s jurisdiction for forces of NATO one inch to the east.” Gorbachev then stated “any extension of the zone of NATO is unacceptable.” Baker replied, “I agree.” <p>
<p>However, U.S. officials backed away from these statements during the negotiations that followed, and the discussions focused on what troops and infrastructure would be allowed in the former East Germany, not whether a unified Germany would be a full member of NATO. Even Gorbachev agreed later that the entire discussion was about Germany and the terms of unification, not about the rest of Europe</i>. (<a href="https://warontherocks.com/2019/11/promises-made-promises-broken-what-yeltsin-was-told-about-nato-in-1993-and-why-it-matters-2/">From Jim Goldgeier</a>) The Russian hardliners though who back Putin, empowered by the West's humiliation efforts of Russia and lack of credence towards their country, prefer to react negatively towards any aspiration of their former territories-now independent democracies, to join the West. <p>
<p> In other words, because the US and Russia do not trust or understand each other, countries caught in the middle of their aspired "spheres of influence" suffer and will continue to suffer. Consequently, we get accusations and counter accusation by both sides, threats and propaganda, thus if God forbid this escalates into a full-on conflict between NATO and Russia, I cannot see any winners. Europe notably will pay a high price, especially these nations which are already in NATO; they will have no option but to take side and participate, while others such as Sweden and Ireland, will once more stay neutral and watch us as we destroy each other. The impact won't be equal either in the aftermath, as the rich "powers" of Europe will be able to recover faster, while small NATO members, especially those to the East, will either be obliterated or financially cripled for decades to come. <p>
<p> Therefore, this is not just about Ukraine any more. After 7 years with no solution in sight, and with increasing military presence, the whole stability of Europe is at stake. I urge both the Russian and the American leadership, as well that of the EU and Europe, to be cautious and reasonable. Solutions that have not been considered until now, must be taken into account in order to solve the stalemate once and for all. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfveatKFdng5_-KjaubwGSL9P9e7NU97bFPoZImvyXjVO_KxVpdYQevrxtIcXyAeD4eYU0pDkcXDKhaYAzL0w5R2N76YHZxU0Z8DCIRe5YgJ6po8SGZLxTVkKySZMdPw2BukFDBsEQas/s608/20210417_eum959.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="320" data-original-height="587" data-original-width="608" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigfveatKFdng5_-KjaubwGSL9P9e7NU97bFPoZImvyXjVO_KxVpdYQevrxtIcXyAeD4eYU0pDkcXDKhaYAzL0w5R2N76YHZxU0Z8DCIRe5YgJ6po8SGZLxTVkKySZMdPw2BukFDBsEQas/s320/20210417_eum959.png"/></a></div><p> A new pact between the West and Russia should happen, a renewed approach and compromise, if not a serious effort for permanent reconciliation and peace. Firstly, the West must accept that Crimea has been permanently lost to Russia. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russo-Ukrainian_War">A poll of the Crimean public in Russian-annexed Crimea</a> was taken by the Ukrainian branch of Germany's biggest market research organization, GfK, on 16–22 January 2015. According to its results: "Eighty-two percent of those polled said they fully supported Crimea's inclusion in Russia, and another 11 percent expressed partial support. Only 4 percent spoke out against it. The West always rejects elections and referendums in Russian territories, but this was conducted by a German organization. <p>
<p> Understandably, Ukrainians oppose this and plead to the West to never recognise Crimea's annexation, nor any further loss of territory. But we have been through this many times before, not just in Ukraine but other territories, when the West refuses to recognise an outcome that Russia approves and vice versa, so we end up in stalemates that last decades and hinder any progress and prospetity in those regions. The West was happy to let Yugoslavia fall apart, its fragmentation to mini states and territories that can never become stable and prosperous without European financial support or EU membership. It activelly took part to the complete disintegration of Yugoslavia in order to guarantee peace near Europe's borders and generally in the continent, however now it stands stubbornly firm against any loss of territory in Ukraine. <p>
<p> Russia won't change under Putin, we know this. Especially since the US insists like a child to keep reminding them that they lost and treat them as the losers. The more the West treats Russia as the enemy because of Putin, the more Putin or someone like him-once he eventually is forced to withdraw from the country's leadership (he will not live forever) will be a villain to the West and try to sabotage any plans for European expansion to the East. The solution either we like it or not, lies solely in colaboration and cooperation, or even reconciliation. <p>
<p> Depending the extend of the damage this conflict has done to Ukraine, we must consider the partition of the country, or its restructuring and reformation to a more federal political entity like Spain or the UK. If the Russian minority cannot remain citizens of their country, without retaliation by the Ukrainian majority, then we must accept partition like Kosovo and Serbia. Or sadly even the redrawing of the borders between Russia and Ukraine. If their differences can be solved by greater autonomy for the Russian majority teritories, then a Spanish/British model could work (assuming that "Spain" or the "United Kingdom" work); besides, aren't we all in Europe heading for a federal model? However they can never be part of Ukraine again, unless not only the country, but the West itself restore their relations with Russia.They will keep acting as Russian pawns indefinitely, to sabotage Ukrainian entry into Western institutions. <p>
<p> Of course, there are no guarrantees that even if Ukrainians accept the above radical and unpopular for them solutions, Russia will cooperate and let the country join the West. It is then when European and American diplomacy and change of attitude towards Russia must happen, to assure that Ukraine's entry into the EU can be of benefit to Russia, via the Russian ethnic minority, should they of course wish to stay Ukrainian citizens. NATO expansion won't happen and will not be a requirement for EU expansion in the future and potential Eastern European members. Unless of course Russia and the USA solve their differences and missunderstandings. Anything is better than an invasion or war. We should not let WW2 mentality and its aftermath, poison our future. <p>
<p> We have gone through a financial crisis and recently a pandemic, both which left European citizens tired, economically strained, angry and prone to euroscepticism. A war between NATO and Russia, or further sanctions and counter sanctions, instability in Ukraine will destroy all the progress we have made and test us even more, but not everyone equally. Some will be able to cope, others to stay neutral, few may gain but ultimately, nobody will remain the same. I believe the Russian citizens do not really want another generalized war, so Putin may find himself at odds with his own voters too, if the reason is Ukraine for their own suffering. So, leaders of Europe, Russia and America, can you please take into consideration that your citizens want no more wars, but peace and stability? I for one, have no interest in any country's supremacy,or to maintain the Cold War mentality and politics. What I wish is for Europe to be a united, peaceful and prosperous continent for everyone in it. <p>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-64204505098511293942021-10-20T07:49:00.000+01:002021-10-20T07:49:20.592+01:00Europe does not have only a migrant, but an ideological crisis.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZXd7CectNaq3M1YiVlumDMDbAx7xk6VITlc8K6VU-8u8cty8vBQ-sYeSuhHCwmdgEQ6ApzVzC3If2V9fJqpkEQ7WMLNTtI2EsKRYtp_5aqv06XFy2AIcU_-WSNh_6bJ2nMsOezHLP_o/s1280/20210904_eup503.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3ZXd7CectNaq3M1YiVlumDMDbAx7xk6VITlc8K6VU-8u8cty8vBQ-sYeSuhHCwmdgEQ6ApzVzC3If2V9fJqpkEQ7WMLNTtI2EsKRYtp_5aqv06XFy2AIcU_-WSNh_6bJ2nMsOezHLP_o/s400/20210904_eup503.jpg"/></a></div><p> For the past few months, Europe is faced with yet another refugee crisis. This time though, the entry point is not the usual Mediterranean route, but the borders between Belarus, Poland and Lithuania. According to many EU sources, Belarus' president <a href="https://euobserver.com/migration/153075">Alexander Lukashenko</a> has been shuffling people to the border, in retaliation for EU sanctions, an act qualified by the EU as a hybrid war. <p>
<p> Lithuania’s parliament passed legislation to speed up deportations of those crossing the border illegally. Critics say this might violate their human rights, but the government and lawmakers dismiss that. “This is an extreme situation,” Interior Minister Agne Bilotaite said. “This is not a normal migration, it is not a normal migration path. It is a hybrid war against us, so the response must be adequate.” <p>
<p>Frontex, the EU’s border agency, has pledged to bolster its support “due to the growing migratory pressure at the border with Belarus.” New sections of barbed wire fence were erected this month, with plans to invest 41 million euros to reinforce the entire 678-kilometer border with Belarus. Lithuanian Prime Minister Ingrida Simonyte said that by encouraging the flow of migrants, Lukashenko is seeking to pressure her country’s infrastructure and politics. “The organized mass immigration is revenge,” she told <a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-africa-business-lifestyle-europe-92d38ceabf97e160180e8526008297e0">The Associated Press</a>. <p>
<p>In <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2021/10/01/in-lithuania-anti-migrant-rhetoric-hardens-as-europe-awaits-brussels-next-move">a Facebook post published in Arabic, Kurdish and English</a> Lithuania’s foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis, promised that his country would grant asylum to “virtually no one”. Three months later, and it seems Landsbergis has been true to his word. A total of 2,800 people have claimed asylum in the Baltic state until mid August since neighbouring Belarus opened its borders and so far, not a single person has been granted the protection. The grandson of the main architect of an independent Lithuania, Vytautas Landsbergis, Landsbergis has branded migrants coming from Belarus as criminals. <p>
<p> However the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-58947167">BBC reports </a>different kind of stories. A Polish lawyer has launched a plan to provide support for migrants crossing into the country illegally via Belarus. Kamil Syller is appealing to locals living near the border to switch on a green light to signal that they can provide migrants with food and shelter. Speaking to the Polish newspaper, Wyborcza, Mr Syller said that migrants calling at these homes could count on receiving a meal, a change of clothes, first aid and the chance to charge their phones. He also criticised the Polish government's stance on the issue. <p>
<p>"The authorities of our country, enacting draconian regulations that will soon come into force and will legalise push-back, have calculated the death of refugees in them," he said. "We, the inhabitants of the borderland, who see human drama and suffering, do not have to calculate. "We must remain human." <p>
<p> Despite such stories of compassion, the overall attitude of Europe towards this crisis is obviously different than the one which affected Greece, Italy and Spain. Is this is a sign that Europe has had simply enough and has grown passive and indifferent to such pleas, right at its borders? Maybe the continent's inhabitants are turning a blind eye to the humanitarian emergency that unfolds in this region, because it is closer to home, near the rich and dominant Northern Europe. We haven't seen any "Refugees Welcome" campaigns on social media, or in the streets in cities across Europe. <p>
<p> Perhaps it has to do with the narrative in which this "crisis" is told; "revenge by immigration", a "hybrid war," because we all know that Belarus and Russia who are deemed responsible for this refugee influx, are our adversaries. However, Europe opted to offer Turkey and Erdogan billions of euros, in order to make sure that he kept them away from Europe, yet despite thousands reaching Greece's islands every year, Turkey is still our ally and friend. I wonder if this has anything to do with the Turks doing the West's and NATO's dirty work in Ukraine and the Middle East. Hypocricy is very annoying. <p>
<p> No NGO has condemned the Baltic states, or Poland for adopting a strict "stay out" policy. If such statements were made so blatantly by any Greek, Italian or Spanish official though, it would be another matter. It is obvious that any of the so called "refugee crises" are anything but and they become a tool which can be indeed weaponised, either by Belarus, Russia, or Turkey, Libya, Tunisia and Algeria, in order to blackmail Europe or receive funds from it. <p>
<p> Or as many others believe, weaken Europe from within and help to give power to nationalistic, euroskeptic political parties, which will in turn postpone or scrap any plans to create a functioning, fully democratic European union. Those who have such plans, could be less than the obvious, or anyone that would lose out from an increasing European assertiveness, from East or West, ally or foe. Of course we can not forget the "enemy from within", those European elites that prefer a fragmented Europe of nations, always at each other's throats, bickering and easily manipulated to promote their own financial or political interests. <p>
<p> On the other hand, we must not ignore the ideological strife that our continent has been engaging, since the ancient times. It is something that heavily influences our stance to immigration, thus of course the policies that we chose to adopt. Ever since the ancient Greeks expanded their territories through the conquests of Alexander the Great, thus coming into contact with peoples of other races, religions and cultures, the same debate always takes place and funnily, the very same arguments are being used for or against each point of view. <p>
<p> One of the Hellenistic philosophies which was founded by Zeno of Citium many centuries ago, was Stoicism. In an expanding Greek world, spanning from South Italy all the way to India, comprised by many ethnic groups and religions, the Greeks that were used to live in the relative small societies of their city-states, were forced to not only coexist with this mosaic of peoples, but often to accept a new way with which they were governed, into a centralized imperial or royal authority. This seismic change, forced the thinkers of that time to reconcider a person's place and role in the world. <p>
<p> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism">A distinctive feature of Stoicism is its cosmopolitanism;</a> according to the Stoics, all people are manifestations of the one universal spirit and should live in brotherly love and readily help one another. In the Discourses, Epictetus comments on man's relationship with the world: "Each human being is primarily a citizen of his own commonwealth; but he is also a member of the great city of gods and men, whereof the city political is only a copy." This sentiment echoes that of Diogenes of Sinope, who said, "I am not an Athenian or a Corinthian, but a citizen of the world." They held that external differences, such as rank and wealth, are of no importance in social relationships. Instead, they advocated the brotherhood of humanity and the natural equality of all human beings. Stoicism became the most influential school of the Greco-Roman world. <p>
<p> The teachings and human experiences and conclusions of the people of that era, can be echoed until today. The Greco-Roman philosophers, inevitably influenced the collective mentality of all nations that were part of their world, which in turn contributed to the Western civilization. Christianity for example, although it was conceived in Roman Judea, was clearly inspired by the earlier Greco-Roman teachings. Apart from religious movements, political or ideological ones such as communism or socialism, can also find their roots in the ideas described by the Stoics: all are equal,we are one. <p>
<p> Nevertheless, history never stays the same. While Europeans accepted Christianity and themselves established their own empires, they did not always maintained the Stoic philosophical mind, nor the Christian ethos. Wars, colonization, invasions, empires, ethnic cleansing, holocausts, slavery and religious fundamentalism, have all tarnished our continent's history with blood, injustice and resentment. Throught those turbulent times, which inspired but also were driven by clashing ideologies, political and religious dogmas, interests and ethnic and racial tensions both within and outside of Europe, our continent has gone in full circles numerous times. Perhaps it will again, and we are witnessing the transitional period. <p>
<p> This can be witnessed brilliantly today. A post war Europe was left humiliated, destroyed and in need of rebirth. Then some brilliant minds came up with the idea of a united Europe, in order to avoid the same carnage again on European soil. They were the EU's founding fathers, like Robert Schuman, Altiero Spinelli and Konrad Adenauer. Fast forward a few decades and euroskepticism, born out of the same forces that brought Europe to its knees, fuelled by the mistakes of our elites, economic instability and an increased wave of immigration into Europe, is seeking every opportunity to tip the scales towards the other side once more. <p>
<p> What does all this have to do with immigration and refugees? Apparently, a lot. For example, while it was their own economic interests that the British elites were trying to secure by achieving Brexit, the people were convinced to vote for it, partially because of their concerns on immigration. The same tacticts are used by many Central and Eastern European EU members like Poland. While their elites are only seeking to protect their own stakes, the people are duped to support them, by using the "national interest" or "identity" carrot, which after of centuries of being used and abused, it is indeed deeply ingrained into everyone's mentality. <p>
<p> Europe's populace was always forced to accept one identity or the other, one religion over its adversary, and the same goes with languages, ideologies, ruling elites and even lifestyle. In every age, our leaders drove our collective way of thinking, or culture, according to their ever changing needs, which often are coming after a destructive development, such a war, enslavement, or expansion. In other cases, the driving force was simply their pocketsand lust for more power. <p>
<p> That is why some European nations of Western Europe find it easier to accept non-Europeans as citizens of their own country, because their rulers had to convince them to accept such case, in order to achieve control over vast areas of land, comprised by numerous ethnicities. Later on when they needed "guest workers" to fill jobs in their factories, they had to come up with the "all one, all equal" stoic idea of multiculturalism again, in order to avoid a backclash. Contrary, nations further to the East, that were threatened more often by cultures from outside of Europe, never been colonizers in their recent history, find it harder to adapt or adopt multiculturalism. Because they never had the need for it. Their rulers chose another system to deal with their workforce demands; communism. <p>
<p> The reality is, that both ideologies, nationalism and liberalism or cosmopolitanism, are purposely avoiding to view their flaws and the lies they have been built upon. They are simply ideas, born out of the human intellect. Firstly, the notion of a national identity is in fact flawed. We all know that Europe has always been a melting pot, it just in the past, we did not have people from as far as Oceania or Latin America reaching our shores. Our continent's population mixed and adopted new customs, religions even language, as the borders changed over the centuries. No one can claim pure heritage. The national idendity was always forged in schools, churches or parliaments and palaces. <p>
<p> Through all this mixing and killing and enemy subduing, or border changing, new nations emerged, that did not exist before. Others dissapeared and were absorbed into larger empires. The Thracians, Illyrians, Skythians, Goths, Avars, Celts etc, they were all eventually slavicized, romanized, germanized, hellenized and so on. Everything as a result of migration, invasions and occupation or colonization. That cannot easily be erased from people's psyche, and not just in Europe. Even those nations who themselves were colonized by Europeans, eventually sought to get rid of their rulers and in most cases, deport as many of them they could, back to their lands. <p>
<p> And perhaps if this process continues, new nations and ethnic groups will continue to appear in the a future Europe. And that is what the nationalists fear. Loss of territory, their way of life, identity and culture. And if you look at it from this angle, they are right. The EU's motto is "United in Diversity". We have a created a political, social and economic forum, that all our cultures should be celebrated and respected. So the thought of large numbers of people arriving in Europe, ultimatelly altering its demographics, worries many Europeans that until recently, were living in homogenous, family oriented, conservative societies. We got to admit, Europe is a socially conservative continent still, despite its industrial and economic advances. <p>
<p> And to be honest, if any liberal or leftist thinks that immigration does not come with its challenges, whether they be social, economic or political, he or she is simply daydreaming. Because it does, take it from an immigrant. The solution won't come by denying it, but rather by acknowledging it and trying to find ways to deal with the problem and make the best out of it. However to achieve that, we need to get rid off our self-imposed limitations. <p>
<p> Firstly we need to stop feeling guilty about the past, not matter how some groups would like to remind Europe of its mistakes. If the tables were turned, I believe that others would commit similar omissions. We must study and learn from our history so we never repeat its dark pages, review the errors but do not let them become an impediment to free speech or expressing an opinion openly, unless of course it is offensive. We cannot be forced to solve the world's problems, without the collaboration of all other wealthy regions of the world. <p>
<p> We also must admit, that our ideologies are simply that; an idea. They are not binding and they are constantly shifting according to the needs of a society or its leaders. Thus since when we decided, that upholding a stance based on an idea which often someone had thousands years ago, can still be applied as a panacea to every problem we are faced today? Are we sure that we can create this utopic egalitarian, prosperous and multicultural free society, something which has failed in USA? After more than 200 years of history and they still struggle to offer their African American compatriots equal opportunities and prospects. Can Europe succeed where America has failed? We cannot stop bickering about finances on European level, we smear each other with stereotypes when things get tough and we are acting on a "each to its own" mentality when it comes EU policies, that are often torpedoed by national vetoes. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATYF-kqjbja62n_yeIItHRUWGoRiK2veDgUyGaDDTmbgOkL7va512vXcdQaCNFHPMOngmSv6qnc4v4O_bZwQceaoXjQdr4YHBin15A9YdeR_N8s97Rkue_vVlt6i7g5Exm0QW0AqbLG0/s640/240966126_4420730771303870_8341078215349826463_n.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="492" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhATYF-kqjbja62n_yeIItHRUWGoRiK2veDgUyGaDDTmbgOkL7va512vXcdQaCNFHPMOngmSv6qnc4v4O_bZwQceaoXjQdr4YHBin15A9YdeR_N8s97Rkue_vVlt6i7g5Exm0QW0AqbLG0/s400/240966126_4420730771303870_8341078215349826463_n.jpg"/></a></div><p> And why should we accept unwanted and uninvited immigrants anyway. We are not discussing people from war torn countries like Syria, they must be accepted and helped. But not all that are coming are from Syria. We have people who cross the borders of Greece, running through remote villages during the night, stealing crops and animals from the local farmers to feed, forcing the locals to sleep with riffles ready by their doors. In my recent trip to villages located at the Greek-Bulgarian borders, I have heard stories from family friends who live in the region, of often encounters with illegal migrants running through their fields at night, on the way to Europe. Sometimes they try to help them, others they have to repel them as they are becoming too bold out of their desperation. No media will report such stories of course. But imagine if you are sleeping during the night and you hear your door's handle twisting and someone is trying to break into your house, located in a remote village, how desperate you will become for a solution to this problem? <p>
<p> These migrants are coming from places as far as Africa, Bangladesh, Iran and Pakistan. Last time checked, these are not war torn regions, but often very poor. So why can't we help their countries instead, by investing and creating jobs there, but we opt for trying to accomodate an ever increasing number of them, by monopolizing jobs and economic growth in Europe and a few other rich regions of the world. This is the real reason for the extreme global inequality and the solution does not come by creating more jobs in wealthy countries, to absord all the poor that our constant competition with others for an ever greater GDP oriented economic growth has created. So because we are unwilling to change our financial mentality and capitalist neoliberal ideology, we are creating a new problem, which due to our guilt of our past actions and mistakes, no one is ready to discuss it openly and find a solution.<p>
<p> No. Not all of these are refugees, they are economic migrants and should be dealt as such, knowing that not everyone can enter. We could be fair to them if we really wished and attracted them legally by establishing work permit embassies in their own regions,so that they can find jobs in Europe via a legal route. Instead, we tolerate criminal gangs smuggling human beings, which often have to pay thousands to cross into Europe, if they make it of course. We chose to tolerate our adversaries to use these desperate people as a weapon, to blackmail us in order for us to bow to their demands. <p>
<p> Why must we opt for sacrificing our own identity which was forged over centuries or even millenia, in the name of economic growth; or even worse, a largely flawed version of multiculturalism based on exploitation, lack of integration for migrant communities, lack of debate and a democratic process among the native population, which often is branded too easily as "racists" "fascists" and so on, if they raise any concern against a large scale immigration. In a democracy, either you like it or not, all voices or opinions must be heard and are valid, apart those that are intentionally offensive or inflammatory. Your aim as a liberal, leftist or a migrant sympathizer is not to deprive a debate to those who have a different opinion than you, but to make sure you have enough arguments to convince those who are unsure and become a majority. <p>
<p> If what you value of course is democracy. What we witness is a lack of decisive action by our leaders, because different political or social groups, NGOs and vested financial interests prefer to play the sympathy card and force our societies to give access to thousands of illegal migrants. What will happen to them once they get access to Europe, does not concern them of course. Will they be exploited, find work, achieve their dream goals, or will be forced to live in a ghetto, cut off from our society and lacking of opportunities? There is simply a limit of people that Europe can accomodate, before people start voting for populist right-wing parties, endagering the open border, free societies that we have achieved over the past 70 years. <p>
<p> And yes, national identity, heritage, culture, history and religion, still play a large role in the minds and hearts of most Europeans. These issues may leave some of us less bothered, but you cannot force them out of people, or you become the fascist that you so much hate. The true solution lies somewhere in the middle. Nationalists must be taught and understand that immigration has always been an integral part of humanity, and if one thinks that it can be stopped is fooling himself. It can though be managed, or it could lead to populism and extremism. We have seen this before in our continent. They must grasp the benefits of foreign workers, who with their contributions pay for the generous European social security policies, something that other wealthy countries like USA and Japan lack. <p>
<p> They can be inspired and encouraged to embrace migrants, by experience their culture and engange in a constructive intercultural dialogue, but that can never happen, if the migrants live isolated in a ghetto and the natives fear them. Thus, a gradual immigration flow, smaller in numbers and managed by a coprehensive policy, is what Europe needs. Temporary, seasonal work contracts could be a more common option, and we should not be afraid to say "no more" if we are finding hard to cope, or we simply have no room for any more foreign workers. <p>
<p> Personally I adore all of Europe's nations, thus I respect their culture and wish to see them preserved and passed on to the next generations. Every language, dialect, food, dance, costume, music, beverage, tradition, not just of Europe but of all nations, are important and worth safeguarding. To me, they are flowers in a garden, and how boring a garden would be if it was to lose any of its flowers, or it was not maintained properly. What would be the reason to travel, something that I love doing, if not to get to know a new culture, language or taste a new food. Thus, although my nature is cosmopolitan, I totally understand why some people are so attached to their heritage and I empathize with them. If I was to ignore their concerns, it would be insulting the least, if not arrogant. <p>
<p> I have made my ideological choice, which is always finding a common ground. I am a cosmopolitan who loves and enjoys other people's traditions, and wishes to compromise with all sides of an argument, in order to reach consensus. I just love humanity and marvel its achievements. Perhaps Europe must do the same, and find a way to please the different views and ideologies of its citizens, as well as the national sensitivities of its member states, in order to move forward united and in peace, potentially even achieving what others have failed to do; that egalitarian, prosperous utopia I mentioned earlier. <p>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-67313245150428222842021-08-18T21:50:00.005+01:002021-08-18T21:50:43.205+01:00The West's 20 year old Afghan fiasco!<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yzsMEZSSygdBGLhzdatUd2xIlvoKT3yGq3RqtjWwkilJyxl92kx9ILeou5tgdpqq0yiQIrC_n_LgQ6hnm9QHDbXu04WPqgyhuJbFmgyqZBC_C-rcfr048I2YUcWA0X2q1URTSD5PHVs/s1240/210508-afghanistan-mb-1919.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="827" data-original-width="1240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5yzsMEZSSygdBGLhzdatUd2xIlvoKT3yGq3RqtjWwkilJyxl92kx9ILeou5tgdpqq0yiQIrC_n_LgQ6hnm9QHDbXu04WPqgyhuJbFmgyqZBC_C-rcfr048I2YUcWA0X2q1URTSD5PHVs/s400/210508-afghanistan-mb-1919.jpg"/></a></div><p> After 20 years of military presence, the US and the remaining of its allies are finally pulling out of Afghanistan. Do they leave behind a democratic, free and modern country? Not at all. On the contrary, the Asian nation returns right where it all started: with the Taliban in power. Scenes that are reminiscent of the quick US retreat from Vietnam a few decades back, are flooding our news feeds and social media pages. <p>
<p> One cannot stop himself from feeling cheated, enraged or disappointed. Some others perhaps justified. What was the purpose of such long and costly operation, with a total cost of over <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/hanktucker/2021/08/16/the-war-in-afghanistan-cost-america-300-million-per-day-for-20-years-with-big-bills-yet-to-come/?sh=1b37434a7f8d">2 trillion dollars, plus 2,500 U.S. military deaths in Afghanistan, and nearly 4,000 more U.S. civilian contractors dead?</a> In addition, an estimated 69,000 Afghan military police, 47,000 civilians killed, 51,000 dead opposition fighters, plus finally, the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/middle-east-business-afghanistan-43d8f53b35e80ec18c130cd683e1a38f">over 1000 NATO soldiers' deaths</a>. <p>
<p>And it doesn't stop here. The <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/hanktucker/2021/08/16/the-war-in-afghanistan-cost-america-300-million-per-day-for-20-years-with-big-bills-yet-to-come/?sh=1b37434a7f8d">cost so far to care for 20,000 U.S. casualties</a> has been $300 billion, with another half-trillion or so expected to come. I can imagine this outcome must be particularly deflating for the war veterans, the families of those who lost their lives or got maimed for a more "democratic" Afghanistan. How can anyone justify this war, as being worthy and successful, especially for the Afghan people and those who fought on the ground. The funny thing is, that there are still those that call for help for Afghanistan or its people and defend Western involvement in the country. <p>
<p> NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, <a href="https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/opinions_186040.htm">stated recently</a>: "NATO Allies and partners went into Afghanistan after 9/11 to prevent the country from serving as a safe haven for international terrorists to attack us. In the last two decades, there have been no terrorist attacks on Allied soil organised from Afghanistan. Those now taking power have the responsibility to ensure that international terrorists do not regain a foothold." But those who are taking power now, ARE the international terrorists or so you told us before. What happened now, what terms you negotiated and from lions, they became lambs willing to negotiate with their former enemies, or listen to their demands all of a sudden? <p>
<p> <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2021/08/17/taliban-announce-general-amnesty-urging-people-to-return-to-routine-life">Josep Borrell, the EU's top diplomat</a>, says the bloc will have to speak to the Taliban as it has "won the war", in order to avoid a "humanitarian and migratory disaster". He denied that this amounts to recognition of the Islamist group. <a href="https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/en/press-room/20210816IPR10102/afghanistan-safety-of-afghan-women-and-girls-must-be-fundamental-eu-priority">Evelyn Regner, the Chair of the European Parliament’s committee </a>on women’s rights and gender equality said:“We must not turn a blind eye to a humanitarian crisis which will specifically affect women and girls in Afghanistan. All EU member states must work together to ensure the safe passage out of the country for anyone in danger. All further negotiations must guarantee the safety and well-being of Afghan women and girls.” <p>
<p> The above statements show an utter lack of touch with the reality, by the European officials. I mean calling for "safe passage" for anyone in danger, especially Afghan women is ridiculous. The country has a population of about 40 million people, roughly half of them are women and all of them are equally "in danger" by the Taliban regime. How exactly are we going to provide "safe passage" to all of them? How do we decide which female resident is more deserving than the other to be saved, from the Taliban? Do we evacuate all the women from Afghanistan? <p>
<p> And if we "speak" with the "winners" of this 20 year old war, then it is exactly a recognition of their legitimate rule and of themselves as the new caretakers of the country. Why is this so hard to swallow and admit? If it was indeed a "victory", or rather an agreed and long debated hand-over from the West, back to the old leaders of this country, a regime that may I remind you that the US supported before against the Russian influence and expansion in the region. <p>
<p> Just watch any of the old Hollywood "Rambo" movies, to see Sylvester Stalone fighting side by side with the "freedom fighters", the Taliban, against the Soviet oppressors. The ultimate American marine and super-hero, protecting and empowering the region's underdog, against a hostile super-power. Fast forward a couple of decades, and from "freedom fighters" the Taliban became America's No 1 enemy and a terrorist group. But you see, when you nurture dragons to fight for you against your enemies, make sure you do not get burned by their fire when they become too big to handle. <p>
<p> That was never in America's plans, when they were engaging in full cold war with the Soviets.But what tells us that this time, as they hastily are abandoning the Afghans to their own fate again, that we will not have this regime gaining confidence by their apparent victory, thus becoming even more boastfull and troublesome for the West some time in the future? After "milking" Afghanistan's resources, or using it as a stepping stone to pormote Western/US interests in the region for the past two decades, it now became apparent that the costs surpass the benefits and the Americans decided to get out. <p>
<p> But has anyone understood why we went there in the first place, if not to make sure that Afghanistan never sees the rule of Taliban, or any such group again, thus making it a stable, democratic, "free" country which will never pose any threat to anyone, especially to us in the West? So to witness now the handing over of the state, back to the same "regime" we once supported and then tried to allegedly destroy, is farcical. I will not indulge any conspiracy theories about 9/11 in this article. But if the world's No 1 "superpower", plus all its allies which amount to the globe's top military force ever to come together, could not uproot the Taliban, a group of poppy growers, uneducated religious radicals (as we are left to believe) while not even having anywhere close to their disposal of the finances, resources in arms equipment and trained personnel as their adversaries, then this war was futile and a waste. Or someone is simply lying to us. <p>
<p> Perhaps of course, the West's aim was never to punish the Taliban for the 9/11 attacks, as they could have striked hard a few targets, killed a number of them and their leader Osama Bin Laden and leave the country to its own devices much earlier. The real reason for such operation may be lost in the pages of history. But we are all going to be burdened, one way or another, for the "trigger happy" attitude of the USA leadership. <p>
<p> In the past, President George W. Bush, has claimed that <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2006/02/01/world/americas/01iht-state.html">"America is addicted to oil"</a>. I would add also, addicted to war and arms sales, conflict and destabilizing countries, or whole regions. And Europe as an ever willing accomplice, obviously to serve its own interests, even if it is just to receive US financial aid or a post colonial complex of superiority and entitlement, is not only involved, but called to deal with the messy aftermath. <p>
<p> Just as I mentioned above, just watch any US blockbuster movie and you will realize, that American mentality and public opinion is heavily influenced or brainwashed, to be accustomed to war and violence. Many of such films are funded by the military or the US arms industries, plus their actors have military background, themselves or their parents. The highest selling movies are those with war scenes, mafia, corruption, police shoot-outs, presidential assassination attempts, military, explosions, alien invasions, combat scenes, fire, destruction and death. One can find out a lot about weapons and their use, you often feel you are being trained to combat and how to handle guns and riffles in those movie scenes. <p>
<p> It is no wonder then that the US is a highly militarized nation, that somehow, thinks itself as the world's leader and policeman. The reality for other countries though is, that not all of them want to play by one nation's rules. Not because of resistance necessarily, but because they simply do not have the same culture or way of viewing things. It will be much easier if we all agreed to disagree, yet despite our different viewpoints, we could all cooperate and work for the betterment of all humanity. And if indeed the Western way is the best way forward, it does not have to be imposed onto other cultures by force: nobody likes to be bombed into submission to change his point of view. <p>
<p> Thus sadly, the No 1 US export is war and violence, instability and financial bullying: and it doesn't deserve this type of fame. It has so much more to give to humanity, if they only could see it. Whether the country with the most billionaires in the globe, would put its wealth for the betterment of its own citizens first, then perhaps those of other nations, it could could act as a greater role model for smaller countries to aspire. And of course, it would have so much positive impact in the world, plus eager followers across. <p>
<p> Clearly, first the American, then the European leadership and citizens alike, must rethink their input in this world and the relationship between them. The current US President, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/aug/17/joe-biden-speech-afghanistan-analysis">Joe Biden who promised that “America is back”</a> after the retreat of the Trump years has embraced his predecessor’s policy of quitting Afghanistan and, critics argue, Trump’s “America first” worldview. Some US allies have suggested Biden’s decision renews questions over the United States as a dependable partner. Biden declared that “the buck stops with me” but pointed the finger elsewhere, including at Afghans he said were unwilling to fight. So where does this leave Europe and its own aspirations to be a world player, or its partnership with the US? <p>
<p> If the Afghan people allowed a small group of <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/why-the-afghan-army-folded-to-the-taliban/a-58889507">around 80,000 men</a>, to take over a country of 40 million people so fast, plus of course what Biden said is true, then what type of help can Europe be pledging to Afghanistan and the region? Money? <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9905093/Former-Afghan-President-Ashraf-Ghani-fled-169MILLION-cash-stuffed-helicopter.html">Former Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled</a> with $169MILLION in his cash-stuffed helicopter and has been given asylum in Dubai on 'humanitarian grounds'. Military assistance? The Americans just pulled out, the Afghans have given up: can we go and save the day by ourselves? Or perhaps by accepting hundreds of thousands, even millions of Afghan refugees? <p>
<p> Europe and <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Security_Assistance_Force">many other nations from across the world</a>, allied to the USA, have offered their support and help, lost soldiers and were part of the two decades long occupation of Afghanistan. Will all of these countries, around 40 in number, become also part in the current situation and help in the expected refugee crisis, by willing to accept fleeing Afghan civilians? Will there be a global humanitarian effort, especially by those nations that assisted USA during the past 20 years in the region, or will the refugees be tossed from border to border until they reach Europe? <p>
<p> Our continent has been struggling since 2015 with another refugee crisis, from the Syrian (and not only) conflict, which tested the unity of the EU itself. It turned into a decisive no matter how indirect factor for Brexit and we still haven't managed to deal completely with the aftermath. Another refugee crisis may be the last drop in the glass, for the EU's cohesion. We know that there are plenty of willing countries, which weaponise the refugees to push for their own interests and agenda: Iran, Turkey and lately even <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/belarus-using-refugees-weapon-must-face-more-eu-sanctions-lithuania-says-2021-07-12/">Belarus</a>. It is not a matter of if but when. What will be our resolve? <p>
<p> Ultimatelly, I think there is a lesson to be learned by the West's defeat in Afghanistan. First, that if you start wars and destabilize regions, you will always have to deal with such mess in the aftermath. We do not have to save the world, especially those who do not want to save themselves or change their ways. And the one way that will definitely not assist this change, is by bombing or invading them. Additionally, others do not have to be like us, nor accept our values in order to collaborate and trade with them. We do not condemn the Saudis for their record of women's rights, but we chose to scold the Taliban. We keep quiet about the lack of LGBT visibility and rights in Japan, but for Russia we opt for an utter hysteria. Different rules and approach, for different nations. How much more hypocritical can the West get? <p>
<p> On the contrary, early indications suggested that China — potentially supported by Russia, Pakistan and some other governments — would adopt a very different approach, according to diplomats and experts. <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/7ceb9e3b-bd6e-43fe-bb86-80353249e6ac">Beijing was unlikely to deploy military force,</a> seeking instead to use diplomatic and economic inducements to coax the Taliban on to a path of peaceful reconstruction. And that is how you win the world, by offering financial assistance, pouring billions into their economy despite their political or social views and beliefs. So once you establish good relations and get them hooked on your money, then you can manipulate them into becoming your staunch allies and supporters, or promoting your own values onto the dependant country. America on the contrary choses to allow its arms industries to profit, to the detriment of its own citizens, yet with short term benefits for the rest of the nation and a plan for the day after. <p>
<p> We must grasp this opportunity, both the US and Europe, to reflect and outline a roadmap for the future. To reimage our relationship and that with the rest of the world. It's ok to step back for while and take stock, than losing our way while we strive always to not lose control and the leadership spot. The world is not comprised only be Western nations and why should it be. We are all on this planet together, there is no need for a "boss," that is such an immature and childish approach. The US can be excused for being a relative new nation for this demeanor, but what excuse does Europe have, with all the centuries of influencing and inspiring the planet? <p> The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-19306947671394694802021-06-14T01:27:00.000+01:002021-06-14T01:27:23.945+01:00Europe needs a reality check on immigration... and everything! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlZ_B_bzupDMVzr9oM6_IOWBVfEDLig172WZyZWplXOwdrrvE5O12jafsTM458hA8bnOGhXCpYBmoHAN3GXEXnT7PlfGwYtmgP2vVUDud3z81Dcx2mEZUVxc16CByHEXVPtiHWuXMaZY/s1024/aa73a4c3905e40fecc1ed8cef78944fc61b457e8.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="681" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOlZ_B_bzupDMVzr9oM6_IOWBVfEDLig172WZyZWplXOwdrrvE5O12jafsTM458hA8bnOGhXCpYBmoHAN3GXEXnT7PlfGwYtmgP2vVUDud3z81Dcx2mEZUVxc16CByHEXVPtiHWuXMaZY/s400/aa73a4c3905e40fecc1ed8cef78944fc61b457e8.jpeg"/></a></div><p> There have been questions surrounding the morality of Greece’s use of sound cannons (long range acoustic devices- LRADs) against migrants recently at Greece’s border with Turkey, which have been brought up both by the EU and by various rights groups. <p>
<p> “This is an odd way to protect your borders. This is nothing that has been funded by the European Commission. And I do hope that this is in line with fundamental rights – but that of course has to be clarified,” EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said of the issue,<a href="https://greekreporter.com/2021/06/10/greece-defends-use-sound-cannons-deter-migrants/"> in a Brussels meeting with the Greek Minister of Migration and Asylum, Notis Mitarakis</a>. <p>
<p> So, let me get this straight. The EU, many of Greece's partners and numerous Western NGOs (the legality of some of the latter is questionable, as their legitimacy to dictate a sovereign state what to do with its own borders and affairs), are concerned about Greece's efforts to protect its own borders. The same Europe that is not willing to help Greece and tackle this "crisis", which has been going on since 2015. That is 6 years already, and all the EU is doing, is handing out cash to maintain the overcrowded refugee camps in Greece. <p>
<p> The same Europe that refuses to agree and take in more refugees from Greece, equally distributing them among its member states. The same Europe with infantile foreign policy and influence in the world, so that it cannot effectively lobby and convince its partners and allied nations, to take in more refugees. This is not Greece's only problem, nor Turkeys, or Europe's, but a global one. So why there isn't there an appropriate response? <p>
<p> This is the same Europe, that insists on keeping Switzerland in the Schengen Agreement, although this country is repeatingly causing problems with the freedom of movement of EU citizens, an agreement which it was keen to sign, until the EU started expanding to the East. If the block decides to go ahead with the accession of more countries, will Switzerland vote in favor in the next referendum on the expansion of Schengen? This is the same Europe, that allows three of its member states (France, Denmark and the Netherlands) to unfairly keep blocking the accession in the free movement zone of another three members (Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania), in fear of the influx of migrants from these countries, or refugees passing through them. <p>
<p> This is the same Europe that <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/refugee-crisis-eu-pays-eu3bn-turkey-exchange-help-dealing-european-migration-a6753861.html">has paid Turkey 3 billion euros</a> since 2015, in order to convince the country to keep the refugees there, with a renewed promise of EU membership. Something of course that it knows that will never uphold, as it does really want Turkey as a member state. While perhaps it could spend the same amount, in facilitating the processing and distribution of these people, throughout Europe and its close partners. <p>
<p> The same Europe that allows Denmark to export the problem, since recently it passed <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jun/03/denmark-passes-law-to-let-it-relocate-asylum-seekers-outside-europe">a law enabling it to process asylum seekers outside Europe</a>. The new bill will allow Denmark to move refugees from Danish soil to asylum centres in a partner country for case reviews and possibly their protection in that country. Rwanda is one of the concidered receiving nations. Denmark, one of the richest nations of the block, apparently finds it difficult to deal with the refugees in its own borders, while Greece, an indepted nation and one of the poorest, is expected by some to become Europe's dumping ground for the unwanted migrants and refugees. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCVGjwV5lJoZl5vKqJMM4MLnwWSGqkJ07hWZWfaNF-Zy7w1r2Fu63ceJPVkB2WDqm8LIGLP5Vr0Phnbz2NVmTintoyb1r-PAby2lSIna54x5RMbP1sMFruTy9UDSQySxhGJHZ1G-UiXM/s700/1566103-20210507_DailyMap_migration_crisis.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCVGjwV5lJoZl5vKqJMM4MLnwWSGqkJ07hWZWfaNF-Zy7w1r2Fu63ceJPVkB2WDqm8LIGLP5Vr0Phnbz2NVmTintoyb1r-PAby2lSIna54x5RMbP1sMFruTy9UDSQySxhGJHZ1G-UiXM/s400/1566103-20210507_DailyMap_migration_crisis.png"/></a></div><p> This is the Europe that is too slow to abandon the unfair <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dublin_Regulation">Dublin III Regulation</a>. A creation of the '90s and the aftermath of the war in Yugoslavia and elsewhere, it stubbornly remained in place until today, although it has been slightly changed, with every new European country joining. It dictates that the first member state where finger prints are stored or an asylum claim is lodged, is responsible for a person's asylum claim. Basically turning the refugee crisis, a Greek, Maltese, Cypriot, Italian and Spanish problem, while the rich northern European nations, can wash their hands on the issue. <p>
<p> Thus the wealthy EU states, in many cases former colonial powers, while they are so keen to keep the humanitarian agenda part of EU's strategy, to satisfy their guilt complex of their own actions and racism of the past, they are unhappy that Greece which has been struggling with this issue for 6 years among other things (bailing out the German and French banks, Turkey's aggression, eurozone crisis etc) is doing what it can to protect Europe's borders. <p>
<p> But they are not unhappy that human beings are being used as a bargaining chip by Turkey, to blackmail the EU for more cash or an accession to the club. They are not botherd by the fact that many of these people are not actuall refugees, but economic migrants, seeking a better life in Europe. However to achieve their goal, they are falling victims of exploitation by smugglers that for a hefty payment, will try and assist the migrants to cross into Europe. And if things go wrong and people drown, so be it. The more Europe tolerates this kind of illegal immigration, the more it will keep happening. Once people from poor countries know that they can be successful in their pursue of their dream life in Europe, such practices will never stop. <p>
<p> "No human is illegal," claim many Western liberals, "let them all in". But "in" where, just in Greece, Spain and Italy? How do they see this unfolding, since in reality Europe has had enough and is clearly not willing to accept any more migrants. One of the main reasons that the UK has left the EU, was the immigration issue. Many Eastern/Central European states (Hungary, Poland, the Baltics etc), shamelessly refuse to assist and accomodate more refugees/migrants and Europe is struggling to keep the Far-Right from gaining (even more) power and getting elected as government in many of European states. I think that the European Liberals need a reality check on the situation, in order not to lose the plot entirely. <p>
<p> "We fight populism and fascism," many that have adopted this "ideology" claim, however they forget or fail to see that the "fascists" they are fighting, do not wear uniform and swastikas anymore. They are the ordinary people that are tired of the neo-liberal agenda that the EU and most European governments have adopted, they are their family members, colleagues and their friends, who lost their jobs in the process and take their frustration out on the migrants. Because when it is hard to make ends meet, when you struggle financially and your family, education and career prospects seem to be hard to accomplish, you really do not want to see billions spent, in keeping away, or allowing in and accomodating hundrends of thousands of citizens of poorer nations from far away. <p>
<p> While most of the West's progressives view them as "tin foil hat wearers", "populists" and uneducated, they forget one thing: they can vote, they have the right to do so in a functioning democracy. And when you ignore them, they will keep casting their ballots in favor of so called "populist parties". <p>
<p> Thus, the solution of "letting everybody in", to show a facade of humanitarianism and progressive mentality to the world, just to atone themselves for the attrocities that Europeans committed upon their fellow humans in the past, either on European soil in the numerous bloody wars, or one of their colonies, does not really make sense in the long term. You cannot force this view on the majority, and it is clear that Europe deep down is a conservative, nationalistic continent still. The EPP's (European People's Party) dominance in the European Parliament confirms that. <p>
<p> The bulk of Europeans, are attached and identify with their region or nation first, while fewer as European or citizens of the world. If we try to push for the "erosion" of their identity (as they see it) too fast and too far, soon the European project and dream itself will be in jeopardy, if the EU loses another member or the voters increasingly opt out for a Far-Right political party in a substantial number of EU member states. I for one, would not want to risk the reversal of the freedom of movement in our continent, just to satisfy the pretentious notion of humanitarian self righteousness of the European elites. <p>
<p> If they really need to solve the issue, they should seriously consider other options. In a discussion with a Tunisian migrant in Ireland in the past, he expressed his contempt towards Europeans. He asked me if I was a European myself before he expressed his opinion.I replied with a "yes" obviously, since Europe is part of my identity. However I hinted my sympathy for countries like his and that helped him to open up. He described how European and Western companies are settling in his country to exploit its resources, yet only Europeans can take high-paid jobs in them and the Tunisian locals, can only get those that pay less.<p>
<p> I agreed with him about the unfair way that globalisation is designed and operating. Europe and America are still dominating and exploiting the World's poorer nations, often burdening them with debt still deriving from the colonial era. As we have seen in the Greek treatment by Europe during the eurozone crisis, debt can also be passed from the banks, to the weakest economies of the Western world. America is the base of all major Financial Rating Agencies in the West, making of course the criteria for financial evaluation or a region or country, utterly biased. The AngloSaxon and Protestant ethos and mentality prevails and decides which country is being ranked better and favored, making it easier for nations with similar values with that of the US, to avail themselves favorable loan terms. <p>
<p> There is little doubt that European nations, are scrabbling for those terms from the US government or agencies. "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanticism">Atlanticism</a>", is the political ideology that many Europeans and Americans are adopting, to describe the unbreakable reliance and allegiance of Europe towards the US in just about everything: military, finance, politics and influence in the world. However, a toxic example of this "royalty," is the case of Denmark.<p>
<p> The country's secret service helped the US spy on European politicians including German Chancellor Angela Merkel from 2012 to 2014, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-57302806">Danish media revelaved recently.</a> The Defence Intelligence Service (FE) collaborated with the US National Security Agency (NSA) to gather information, according to Danish public service broadcaster DR. Intelligence was allegedly collected on other officials from Germany, France, Sweden and Norway. One has to only wonder, what did the Danes got back in exchange: a blind eye for money laundering Russian dirty money into the West, via the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danske_Bank_money_laundering_scandal">Danske Bank scandal</a>?Better treatment and image in the US and European media? Favorable ratings of their economy from the US based rating agencies perhaps? Or maybe being untouchable from the IMF and the Western loan sharks, or from any criticism for exporting and off-loading their refugee problem onto Africa? <p>
<p> If the US encourages unfair competition among EU member states, how much can we expect a true "union" among European countries, since its progress can always be controlled, manipulated and influenced by America? Furthermore, if the Americans are having this approach towards their "allies", imagine what they do to those who they stand in the way of the Atlanticists' world dominance. <p>
<p> There is a fairer world to be had, if Europe realized that it will be for its own benefit too. Why can't the West invest in poorer countries, rather have them hooked on aid? If we build factories in Bangladesh, do we really must pay the local workers just a few cents per hour as the labour market there requires, instead of a higher salary. It will still be profitable for Western companies, as they will pay them less comparing with European employees, but higher than the pennies which they receive right now. Hasn't the capitalist system had enough of human exploitation yet? <p>
<p>Could we source their educated youths and have them working in their own country, but in Western companies, with equal pay as the European and American counterparts, that move there to seek employment opportunities? Perhaps this will encourage them to stay back home, instead getting on a boat to reach European shores, with all the headache that brings for Europeans. <p>
<p> If we continue exploiting their natural resources for as little as possible, destabilize their countries with coups, civil wars in order to establish a favorable regime that will cooperate with the Atlanticists, then how do we really expect this "refugee crisis", or "humanitarian emergency" to ever end, since we are the ones causing it? Why the West must dominate and dictate everyone else on their affairs, and to so so, it creates and promotes this self image of righteousness and correctness on human rights that all must aspire to and follow, which clearly is a facade, or at least seriously flawed. <p>
<p> First you topple an unfavored "regime" in a country, then you establish a "democratic" one of your own preference, in order to have another puppet state and government, willing to grant you all the favors. Naturally, there will be a mess in the whole process, with thousands displaced or dead. Because often, that is what all these efforts to promote "democracy" across the world are about. A democratic regime is easier to manipulate, than an authoritarian. All you have to do is to get a hold of the nation's media, to brainwash the public opinion, then let the voters cast their ballot based on their misplaced, utterly confused opinion. We have seen in the case of Rupert Murdoch, how easy this is, if you got the money. And the West does. <p>
<p> Obviously we then sanction and condemn anyone like Russia and China, who are copying us and are doing exactly the same thing, in regions of their own interests. This world would be a better place, if all the aforementioned "powers", would stop competing they way they do, and realize that everyone would benefit if they started cooperating. The smaller states get crushed by their power games and personally, I do not give a damn about who wins this tug-of-war. As long I do not see the IMF ravaging countries, people having to pay the debt created by those gamblers in Wall Street, or human dignity being diminished in boats trying to cross the Mediterranean. <p>
<p> To conclude, not all is lost for the Atlanticists. Under the Biden Administration's leadership in the US, <a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/11/biden-and-g-7-leaders-will-endorse-a-global-minimum-corporate-tax.html">the G-7 group of nations have publicly endorsed</a> a global minimum corporate tax of at least 15% last Friday, one piece of a broader agreement to update international tax laws for a globalized, digital economy. The leaders also announced a plan to replace Digital Services Taxes, which targeted the biggest American tech companies, with a new tax plan linked to the places where multinationals are actually doing business, rather than where they are headquartered. For the Biden administration, the Global Minimum Tax plan represents a concrete step towards its goal of creating what it calls a “foreign policy for the middle class.” <p>
<p> If this plan is endorsed and not sabotaged by European tax havens like Ireland and the Netherlands, it could be a step forward for a fairer world, or least the Western part of it. It remains to be seen if this "fairness" trickles down to all the globe, or the interests of a few spoiled and favored by the current system nations like Ireland, <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/business/global-tax-rate-ireland-could-lose-2bn-a-year-under-proposed-reforms-says-donohoe-1.4585661">which could lose €2bn a year under the proposed reforms-a fifth of its corporate tax revenue</a>, prevail. <p>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-68157257683332292102021-03-30T16:16:00.003+01:002021-03-30T22:19:37.814+01:00FIN: my new gothic novel is published on Amazon! <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvHIG0CuNgtSHcgYoEe6R5B77AIxZmhqUrc1htBZyHAzBTZYpZdPskotiGpLHy05pk4papn3DLp0-5wDFwHuvY0fQS_-Z9RUo3rW6TwM7DvexdkMlG-mQUsasAek3TK2JHCJ-r4qAPVY/s1592/9FD5D520-F196-453A-8E2B-D1F7FD3CDA81.jpeg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1592" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHvHIG0CuNgtSHcgYoEe6R5B77AIxZmhqUrc1htBZyHAzBTZYpZdPskotiGpLHy05pk4papn3DLp0-5wDFwHuvY0fQS_-Z9RUo3rW6TwM7DvexdkMlG-mQUsasAek3TK2JHCJ-r4qAPVY/s400/9FD5D520-F196-453A-8E2BD1F7FD3CDA81.jpeg"/></a></div>
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<p> <b>Summary:</b> Doug Kelly is mentally and emotionally drained. Grieving and desperate, he accidentally overdoses in a cheap hotel room in Boston. As he lies on the bed, naked and slowly drying, he is visited by a dark entity that forces him to evaluate his time on earth.Together they pick over Doug’s life, and the dark entity slowly reveals the universe’s secrets, utterly altering Doug’s beliefs and outlook. Doug must come to terms with his mistakes, vices and his darkness. But above all, he must learn to let go of his pain and guilt.If Doug can shine a light on the many things that weigh down his conscience, will he be given a second chance at life, or is this painful process just atonement in preparation for the afterlife?<p>
The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-63733467098397123302021-03-13T03:35:00.002+00:002021-03-14T12:50:26.602+00:00Πότε θα ξεπεράσει η Ελλάδα την διχόνια του εμφυλίου? <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1tG7mm9aM4VYlPY9ZoW_KwHP3pDl7UCu4vlG_7FTawYB1qh7jrmPZDUle2f0WY02AxAtt_ANBhHOG3ErvdjTALcy_3HMwpyQSjNf6fF2iihkg9hytOQcUOVuMK-QCEFLrsfheBV77N4/s900/pano_17n.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX1tG7mm9aM4VYlPY9ZoW_KwHP3pDl7UCu4vlG_7FTawYB1qh7jrmPZDUle2f0WY02AxAtt_ANBhHOG3ErvdjTALcy_3HMwpyQSjNf6fF2iihkg9hytOQcUOVuMK-QCEFLrsfheBV77N4/s400/pano_17n.jpg"/></a></div><p> Αποφάσισα να γράψω μετά από πολύ καιρό, ένα άρθρο στην μητρική μου, τα ελληνικά. Και δεν θα το γράψω με το γνωστό μου δημοσιογραφικό μου ύφος, αλλά στο στυλ που περνά στον μέσο Έλληνα, γραφικό και λαϊκιστικό. Και αυτό γιατί τις τελευταίες δύο εβδομάδες, η Ελλάδα και ο λαός της, έχει βαλθεί να μας τρελλάνει όλους με τις ανοησίες της. <p>
<p> Έγινα μάρτυρας του κάτι ανήκουστου, το να παρελάβνουν νεολαίες της αριστεράς υπέρ του Κουφοντίνα σε Αθήνα και Θεσσαλονίκη. Του Κουφοντίνα... Και να κρατάνε πανώ υπεράσπισής του, που να αναγράφει το υπέρτατο "Γεννήθηκα 17 Νοέμβρη". Που προφανώς είναι εμπνευσμένο από του βιβλίο του δολοφόνου, που όπως και ο Χίτλερ έγραψε μέσα στην μεγαλομανία του το "Ο Αγών" μου, για να δικαιολογήσει και να εξηγήσει τα φονικά που έκανε, έτσι και ο νέος "ήρωας" της αριστεράς ένιωσε πως έπρεπε να μάθουμε γιατί σκότωνε και έκλεβε ανθρώπους. Εμετός!!! <p>
<p> Πορείες για τα δικαιώματα όλων των πολιτών, το "κράτος δικαίου" και άλλες τέτοιες μπούρδες που ξεφούρνισαν τα αριστερά κομματόσκυλα στα νεαρά και ανώριμα μυαλά, έγιναν οι απαράδεκτες αιτιολογήσεις για αυτή την ύστατη πατατιά του Σύριζα και της αντιπολίτευσης. Γιατί ποτέ μου ώς δημοκράτης δεν θα μπορέσω να καταλάβω, το γιατί ένας καταδικασμένος δολοφόνος σε 11 φορές ισόβια κάθειρξη, πρέπει να έχει επιλογή σε ποια φυλακή θα εκτίσει την ποινή του ή όχι, και επειδή η προηγούμενη κυβέρνηση του Σύριζα το έδωσε το δικαίωμα να κόβει βολτούλες στην Αθήνα, ενώ τώρα η Νέα Δημοκρατία αναιρεί την απόφαση αυτή, ξαφνικά πρέπει η Ελλάδα να διχαστεί στο όνομα ενός τρομοκράτη. <p>
<p> Ποιό κράτος δικαίου και κουραφέξαλλα χρυσά μου, αυτή είναι καθαρά μια πολιτικοποιημένη απόφαση, που διογκώνει η Ελληνική αριστερά για να ρίξει τον Μητσοτάκη. Που έχει και αυτός ράματα για την γούνα του, αλλά αυτά θα τα πούμε παρακάτω. Είναι ντροπή για ένα δημοκρατικό έθνος, να ηρωοποιεί κάποιον που πολέμησε την δημοκρατία, και ενώ αυτός δίκασε, εκτέλεσε τα θύματα του αγνοώντας το "κράτος δικαίου" και τα δικαιώματα τους για μια δίκαιη δίκη, τώρα επικαλείται ότι στέρησε σε άλλους. <p>
<p> Και δεν υποφέρει και σε μια φυλακή όπως του Γκουαντάναμο ο Κουφοντινας, με συγχωρείτε. Έχει εκδόσει 3 βιβλία ώς τώρα με επιτυχία μάλιστα. Πείτε μου σε ποιο κράτος που θεωρείται μή δημοκρατικό, μπορεί ένας "πολιτικός κρατούμενος"- όπως αυτοαποκαλείται, που πολέμησε το κράτος και το κράτος δικαίου να εκδίδει ελεύθερα 3 επιτυχημένα βιβλία, εξιστορώντας τον αγώνα του ενάντια στο καθεστώς και το ίδιο το κράτος. Θα γινόταν αυτό σε Κίνα ή Ρωσία? <p>
<p> Αυτό και μόνο αποδυκνείει, άσχετα με το τί μπούρδες ξεστομίζουν μερικοί ακρο-αριστεροί, το ότι η Ελληνική δημοκρατία δεν είναι σαν αυτή που συχνά σας παρουσιάζουν. Αν αυτό δεν ισχύει, τότε η άλλη εκδοχή να είναι πως ο Κουφοντίνας που θέλουν να τον κάνουν ήρωα τώρα και αντι-καθεστωτικό, δεν είναι και τόσο αυτό που πλασσάρουν. Αν το κράτος ανέχεται τις απεργείες πείνας ώς μέσο εκβιασμού-γιατί αυτό είναι, και όλα τα άλλα τερτίπια του, τότε ίσως έχει διασυνδέσεις μέσα στην ίδια την κυβέρνηση και το πολιτικό καθεστώς της χώρας. Το γεγονός ότι η 17 Νοέμβρη εξαρθρώθηκε μόλις δύο χρόνια από τους Ολυμπιακούς αγώνες το 2004 ώς δια θαύματος, νομίζω χτυπάει καμπανάκι. Ξυπνάτε. Και εσείς θέλετε να τον κάνετε τον εγχώριο Τσε Γκεβάρα, και θα τον φοράτε σε μπλουζάκι t-shirt αύριο μεθαύριο, η θα πίνετε καφέ από κούπα με την μούρη του επάνω, νομίζοντας πως κάνετε αντίσταση στο κατεστημένο. <p>
<p> Αν νομίζει πως τα δικαιώματα του καταπατώνται, μπορει κάλλιστα να προσφύγει στην δικαιοσύνη. Το κράτος του έδωσε μια δίκαιη δίκη, κάτι που αυτός δεν πρόσφερε στα θύματά του, και έχει μια "ικανότατη" δικηγόρο, που μας έχει αφήσει άναυδους με άσειστα επιχειρήματα. Όπως αυτό που ισχυρίζεται που όποιος τον αποκαλεί δολοφόνο, τον προσβάλλει. Ε αφού έχει σκοτώσει 11 ανθρώπους χρυσή μου, πώς να τον αποκαλέσω, καντηλανάφτη? Και θα ήθελα να ξέρω αν αύριο ο Μιχαλολιάκος ή ο Ρουπακιάς κάνουν απεργία πείνας για τον άλφα ή βήτα λόγο, απαιτώντας από το κράτος διαφορετική μεταχείρηση επειδή έδειξαν καλή διαγωγή (αν θέλουμε πιστεύουμε τι διαγωγή έχουν όλοι τους μέσα στην φυλακή), εκεί θα σκίσουν τα καλσόν τους οι αριστεροί και θα τους ενοχλήσει το στριγκάκι, τρέχοντας σε πορείες για το "κρατος δικαίου" και σε υπεράσπιση τους? Έλεος λίγο. <p>
<p> Σαν να μην μας έφταναν όλα αυτά, έχουμε και τον Νόμο της Κεραμέως-Χρυσοχοϊδη που ενόχλησε, καθώς και τον ξυλοδαρμό νέου σε πλατεία της Νέας Σμύρνης από μονάδες των ΜΑΤ. Φυσικά όλα για τον προαναφερόμενο νόμο γίνονται αν δεν καταλάβατε. Γιατί μέχρι τώρα είχαν το πάνω χέρι μέσα στα ελληνικά πανεπιστήμια ορισμένοι, και με τον νέο νόμο ξεβρακώνονται και χάνουν το δικαίωμα να αλωνίζουν. Όχι πως ιδανικά η αστυνομία θα έπρεπε να έχει την οποιαδήποτε θέση μέσα στα πανεπιστήμια. Και ναι, όντως η νέα αυτή πραγματικότητα είναι προβληματική, και θα επιφέρει ίσως νέα προβλήματα στο μέλλον. Αλλα συγνώμη κιόλας, κάτι έπρεπε να γίνει με τα ελληνικά πανεπιστήμια. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8cfyYUknbpL65VVjsbjd_dafQuKwERuxK1aLYE9cPI6QEjhdaKNSJQvYmh6g7WmeDRmMRPgrEihwQ_n6_N4ptSsPDa-fR3hpjONqRT8z4-CNopC3Z6PZ4BztmLYx5VzsSo-DLtf5n8I/s1100/1100_53c372cf-30bc-41d3-a512-431bcfc65e61.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="1100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY8cfyYUknbpL65VVjsbjd_dafQuKwERuxK1aLYE9cPI6QEjhdaKNSJQvYmh6g7WmeDRmMRPgrEihwQ_n6_N4ptSsPDa-fR3hpjONqRT8z4-CNopC3Z6PZ4BztmLYx5VzsSo-DLtf5n8I/s400/1100_53c372cf-30bc-41d3-a512-431bcfc65e61.jpg"/></a></div><p> Για πολλά χρόνια τα εκπαιδευτικά ιδρύματα της Ελλάδας δρούσαν ώς ιδρύματα εγκεφαλόπλισης της νεολαίας της χώρας. Σπουδαστές έμπαιναν στις σχολές, και αντί για κατάρτιση πολλές φορές ταλιμπανιζόνταν σε κόμματα και παρατάξεις, που αντιμάχονται με λύσσα το ένα το άλλο από την εποχή του εμφυλίου και του Πολυτεχνείου. Και συνεχίζουν με αυτήν την νοοτροπία, για το υπόλοιπο της ζωής τους. Οργανώσεις φοιτητο-συνδικαλιστών, δεν νοούν να καταλάβουν πως οι καιροί έχουν αλλάξει, και επιμένουν να κρατήσουν τα πανεπιστήμια όμηρους των ιδεολογιών τους. Γιατί αν δεν στρατολογήσουν νέα εγκεφαλοπλυμμένα, κομματοποιημένα στρατιωτάκια, ποιός θα είναι ο λόγος της ύπαρξης τους. Η ιδέα του απλώς να τελειώσουν τις σπουδές τους φυσικά, δεν τους έχει περάσει από το μυαλό. Όχι η Ελλάδα δεν χρειάζεται καταρτισμένους επιστήμονες, που να διαπρέπουν στα πανεπιστήμια της χώρας, αλλα θα πρέπει να φεύγουν στο εξωτερικό, να συνεισφέρουν σε άλλες χώρες τις γνώσεις που αποκόμισαν από το Ελληνικό κράτος. <p>
<p> Και ούτε λόγος για τα πανεπιστήμια της χώρας να γίνουν περισσότερο διεθνώς αναγνωρισμένα, αφού πρώτα φυσικά συμμαζευτούν, καθαριστούν, ώστε να ελκύσουν και περισσότερους ξένους φοιτητές. Μα είναι δωρεάν θα μου πείτε, γιατί το ελληνικό κράτος να πληρώνει για πολίτες άλλων χωρών για να σπουδάζουν στην χώρα μας? Και αν πληρώνουν? Αυτό δεν θα είναι ένα έξτρα εισόδημα για την χώρα? Στην Τσεχια παραδείγματος χάρην, υπάρχουν δωρεάν πανεπιστήμια, που προσφέρουν σπουδές στους ξένους χώρις χρέωση αν μπορούν να μιλούν την γλώσσα της χώρας, αλλιώς τους χρεώνουν 1000 ευρώ για το πρόγραμμα των σπουδών τους. Άλλα, χρεώνουν ξένους σπουδαστές ακριβότερα δίδακτρα. <p>
<p> Αν τα ελληνικά πανεπιστήμια θα πρέπει να εκμοντερνιστούν, να έχουν περισσότερους πόρους για έρευνα, αίθουσες και προγράμματα, το να προσελκύσουν ξένους σπουδαστές είναι η μόνη λύση. Οι Έλληνες πολίτες θα μπορούν να σπουδάζουν ακόμη δωρεάν, αλλά οι διεθνής σπουδαστές θα έχουν την δυνατότητα να καταβάλλουν ένα άλφα ποσό για τις σπουδές τους, συνεισφέροντας και στην οικονομία της χώρας, και στους πόρους του πανεπιστημίου, που για να πούμε την αλήθεια είναι αναγκαίοι. Δεν είναι τυχαίο πως τα περισσότερα μεγάλα Ευρωπαϊκά πανεπιστήμια έχουν μπει δυναμικά σε αυτήν την αγορά, και όσο περισσότερους ξένους σπουδαστές έχουν, τόσο και η οικονομία της χώρας ενισχύεται και η δυνατότητα των πανεπιστήμια να επενδύσουν σε επιστημονική έρευνα μεγαλώνει. Εμείς τα προτιμούμε να μοιάζουν με κομμουνιστικά γκούλαγκ κτίρια, ή μουτζουρωμένα με τον καημό του κάθε επίδοξου Γκεβάρα. <p>
<p> Γιατί στην Ελλάδα φυσικά είμαστε και υπεράνω χρημάτων, αλλά και διεθνών διακρίσεων και προσέλκυσης ξένων ταλέντων. Έτσι, γιατί τα πανεπιστήμια μας πρέπει να υποθάλπουν μια ζωή τους διάφορους δεξιούς ή αριστερούς "μπαχαλάκηδες", για να καταστρέφουν την περιουσία του Έλληνα φορολογούμενου, θαρρείς και είναι το πανεπιστήμιο δικό τους τσιφλίκι. Και η καγκουριά αυτών των ατόμων δεν σταματά μόνο μέσα στα πανεπιστήμια, αλλά συνεχίζει και έξω. Πόσες φορές δεν είδα τα "έργα" των ακρο-αριστερών οργανώσεων σε Αθήνα-Θεσσαλονίκη, που με κόκκινη μπογιά γράφουν τα "αντικαθεστωτικά" τους συνθήματα στο προαύλιο του Λευκού Πύργου, ή της Ακαδημίας των Αθηνών. Θαρρείς και έπεισαν ποτέ κάποιον με τις μπούρδες που γράφουν. Και γιατί ο Έλληνας φορολογούμενος θα πρέπει παντα να πληρώνει για να καθαρίζει ο δήμος την καγκουριά τους, η εγώ να βλέπω στο κάθε πάρκο συνθήματα συμπαράστασης στον κάθε μαλάκα αντικαθεστωτικό αναρχικό, που την έχει δει Τσε Γκεβαρα, που μια σφαλιάρα την θέλουν να στρώσουν χαρακτήρα μερικοί.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvDbLniq9icvvMpda22tUBA3Zk63g-6FxN2GPqDxAXOMOUqxhpqN2ySGaLFuw1ILtUvUkiiOGU297eIFAvl2c-zo4V06n8-UQdcdEH8bANs96ymHpwmzW_UibWB23XhYGdQPaEc0bRhE/s700/5189001.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvDbLniq9icvvMpda22tUBA3Zk63g-6FxN2GPqDxAXOMOUqxhpqN2ySGaLFuw1ILtUvUkiiOGU297eIFAvl2c-zo4V06n8-UQdcdEH8bANs96ymHpwmzW_UibWB23XhYGdQPaEc0bRhE/s400/5189001.jpg"/></a></div><p> Και εδώ ερχόμαστε στο θέμα της βίας των ΜΑΤ, που συγκλόνισε την ελληνική γνώμη......Για ακόμα μια φορά. Μα καλά είστε ηλίθιοι? Τα ΜΑΤ δέρνουν κόσμο από την δεκαετία του ΄60, επί ΠΑΣΟΚ (του παλιού του ορθόδοξου), Νέας Δημοκρατίας, αλλά και του ίδιου του Σύριζα που πλάκωνε συνταξιούχους για τις περικοπές συντάξεων, και έριχνε δακρυγόνα κατά των συλλατηρίων για την Συμφωνία των Πρεσπών. Αλλά εκείνο φυσικά ήταν ξύλο αριστερόστροφο, σας το σβούριζαν από τα αριστερά το γκλομπ οπότε δεν πειράζει. Και φυσικά η βία των ΜΑΤ είναι απαράδεκτη και ένα θέμα που θα πρέπει να αντιμετωπιστεί. Και σαφώς η Ελληνική αστυνομία η ίδια, όπως και τα πανεπιστήμια, θα πρέπει να μεταρρυθμιστεί και οι υπεύθυνοι για την όποια βιαιότητα να τιμωρούνται. Αλλά το να ντύνεστε με τα χρώματα πολέμου, και να ξεσπάτε με "βία στην βία" των μπαχαλάκηδων, είναι όσο φασιστικό όσο τα ΜΑΤ τα ίδια. Το να κάνετε μερικοί μια ειρηνική διαδήλωση, πορεία ή και έναν συμβολικό αλλά ειρηνικό εγκλωβισμό ενός αστυνομικού τμήματος, ώς ένδειξη διαμαρτυρίας, δεν σας πέρασε από το μυαλό ποτέ, πρέπει να χάψετε την προπαγάνδα των μίντια και των αντικαθεστωτικών, και να βγείτε στους δρόμους υποστηριζοντας τον Κουφοντίνα, σπάζοντας, ριμάζοντας και λιντσάροντας αστυνομικούς... Ωραία δημοκρατία. Ώριμη. <p>
<p> Και σαφώς ο Έλληνας πολίτης έχει δικαίωμα στην διαδήλωση και την απεργία, αλλά δεν έχω δει μια στα τόσα χρόνια, για τον εκμοντερνισμό των πανεπιστημίων, ή κατά τις αγοράς τόσων οπλικών συστημάτων από το ΝΑΤΟ, σε βάρος της ελληνικής οικονομίας, παιδείας και υγείας. Μια πορεία για την εξυγείανση και εκμοντερνισμό του δημοσίου (όχι γιατί το θέλετε μπάχαλο για να βάζετε την χοντροκώλα κοράκλα σας με βίζμα), την ψηφιοποίηση των ελληνικών δημόσιων φορέων, την δημιουργία πάρκων, την μετατροπή πολλών αναξιοποίητων ιστορικών χώρων σε μουσεία ή χώρους αναψυχής (Ακρόπολη Θεσσαλονίκης, Ανάκτορο Τατοϊου), την δημιουργία νέων νοσοκομείων και χώρους εκπαίδευσης, την μετατροπή και εκμοντερνισμό της ελληνικής οικονομίας σε Ευρωπαϊκή. Όχι φυσικά γιατί να το κανετε κάτι τέτοιο, πορείες μόνο αν σας κόψουν συντάξεις και τα μισθά, ή σας παρακινήσουν αριστερές οργανώσεις. <p>
<p> Και θα επανέλθω και πάλι στον Νόμο της Κεραμέως-Χρυσοχοϊδη. Ιδανικά όχι, στα πανεπιστήμια δεν θα έπρεπε να υπάρχουν ΜΑΤ, ούτε καν αστυνομία. Αλλά δυστυχώς, για να αλλάξει η ελληνική εκπαίδευση και να ξεριζωθούν οι μπαχαλάκηδες από μέσα, δεν υπάρχει πρός το παρών άλλη λύση. Προσωρινά, είναι αναγκαίο κακό. Και όσο το γρηγορότερο αλλάξει η νοοτροπία που υπάρχει στο σύστημα εκπαίδευσης της χώρας, τόσο το συντομότερο θα μπορέσουμε να ξαναέχουμε πανεπιστήμια χωρίς εξτρεμιστικές φοιτητικές και πολιτικές οργανώσεις, και φυσικά χωρίς ΜΑΤ και αστυνόμευση. Γιατί δεν κάνουν μόνο κακό στα πανεπιστήμια αυτοί, αλλά και όταν βγούνε σαν πολίτες και ψηφοφόροι στην κοινωνία, συνεχίζουν με την μαλακία που τους δέρνει και έχουν μάθει στις φοιτητικές οργανώσεις, και ψηφίζουν ότι να'ναι. <p>
<p> Ο Έλληνας είναι πολύ ανώριμο πολιτικό όν, και έχει κολλήσει στον εμφύλιο και τον διχασμό που προκάλεσε. Και οι φοιτητικές οργανώσεις, συνεχίζουν και υποθάλπουν την νοοτροπία αυτή. Έχετε δει ένα σοβαρό πολιτικό διάλογο στην ελληνική τηλεόραση? Ένα εποικοδομητικό ντιμπεϊτ, που να καταλάβεις τι θελουν να πουν, και χωρίς να το γυρίζουμε και πάλι στο τι έκανε η δεξιά ή αριστερά στο παρελθόν. Ξεκολλάτε λέμε. Έχουμε εκπομπές με την κάθε θείτσα να πουλάει χαλιά και καδένες, τον κάθε "ασταδιαλα" "αναλυτή" του ελληνικού ποδοσφαίρου να βωμολοχεί, τον καθε γραφικό κεντρώο επίδοξο πολιτικό, ή τον ακροδεξιό, λαϊκιστή, χριστιανοταλιμπάν αρχαιολάτρη να προωθεί τις ανοησίες του (και γίνονται μετά και βουλευτές αυτοί, υπάρχουν άτομα που τους ψηφίζουν επειδή τους βλέπουν στην τηλεόραση), και κλαίγονται οι αριστεροί που δεν υπάρχει σοβαρή, δημοκρατική και αμερόληπτη ελληνική τηλεόραση.<p>
<p> Ε μα χρυσά μου, εσείς το κεφάλαιο επιμένετε ακόμα να το πολεμάτε με απεργίες πείνας, καταλήψεις, πορείες και μπάχαλο, τι στο διάολο κυβέρνηση ο Σύριζα έγινε, όλοι τα παιδιά σας τα σπουδάζετε εξωτερικό, λίγο χρήμα για να ιδρύσετε ένα κανάλι που να εκφράζει και τις δικές σας πολιτικές θέσεις δεν μπορείτε να διαθέσετε? Να γλιτώσουμε και εμείς κομματάκι απο τις πορείες σας για τους απεργούς πείνας. Να τα λέτε και εσείς εκεί, να ξεθυμαίνετε στον αέρα. Τι σας φταίει ο Αλαφούζος στην τελική, μπιζνεσμαν είναι και κάνει την δουλειά του, προωθώντας τα συμφέροντα του (και των δικών του) με τα χρήματα του. Κανετε και εσείς το ίδιο. <p>
<p> Έχω βαρεθεί το πολιτικό ξεκατίνισμα που περνάει ως αντιπολίτευση στην Ελλάδα. Όχι το "ζαβό" ο Τσίπρας, ο "Μπαρουφάκης" και τώρα έχουμε τον "Κούλη". Μια ζωή πολιτική χαμηλού επιπέδου, ισάξιου των "Παρατράγουδων" της Ανίτας Πάνια. Στην τελική αν εσείς ψηφίζετε ζαβά και κούληδες, τί λέει αυτό για το δικό σας νοητικό επίπεδο ως ψηφοφόροι? Σας πείραξε ο Τσίπρας, λυσσάξατε που δεν έσκισε τα μνημόνια όπως σας έταξε, που σαφώς σας είπε ψέματα γιατί ξέρει πόσο ηλίθιοι είστε και τα χάφτετε αυτά. Αφού οι προηγούμενοι πήγαν και υπέγραψαν και έκαναν συμφωνίες με τους "εταίρους", περιμένατε σοβαρά ο Τσίπρας να πάει με τσαμπουκά σε 27 αρχηγούς κρατών και να τους πεί "στα μούτρα σας δεν πληρώνω?" <p>
<p> Και είδαμε και τις ξιπασιές των κεντρο-δεξιών τότε, που απο μίσος κατά των "κομμουνιστών", αντί να υποστηρίζουν λίγο την κυβέρνηση που στην τελική εκλέχθηκε δημοκρατικά από την πλειοψηφία του ελληνικού λαού, πηγαιναν και δήλωναν "βάστα γερά Γερούν", για εκείνο το φαστιστίδιο καθίκι, τον Ολλανδό υπουργό οικονομικών. Δηλαδή λίγη τσίπα και εθνικό σεβασμό δεν έχουν μερικοί, γιατί απο κόμπλεξ θέλουν να το παίξουν προοδευτικοί "μενουμεευρωπάκηδες".. Εμείς που μένουμε Ευρώπη στην κυριολεξία, τέτοια έλληψη σεβασμού προς την χώρα μας και τα συμφέροντα της δεν την αποκτήσαμε. <p>
<p> Θυμώνει που λέτε το ελληνικό προλεταριάτο που και καλά προδώθηκε από τον Τσίπρα και δεν έσκισε τα μνημόνια, του θυμώνουν και οι δεξιοί γιατί "πούλησε" την Μακεδονία με την Συμφωνία των Πρεσπών (το γεγονός πως το όνομα στην ουσία "δώθηκε" επί των δεξιών της Νέας Δημοκρατίας και Σαμαρά-Μητσοτάκη, το ξεχνούν φυσικά) και τον κανουν "τζους" και βγάζουν Μητσοτάκη που είναι καράμπαμπαμ καθεστωτικός, για τιμωρία. Και τώρα τους πλακώνει όλους με τα ΜΑΤ και τσιρίζουν και διαμαρτύρονται για τον χειρότερο πρωθυπουργό της χώρας, κατι που έλεγαν και για τον Τσίπρα μέχρι να τον στείλουν. Όταν ψηφίζατε την δεξιά επειδή δεν σας έκανε τα χατίρια που σας έταξε ο "σύντροφος" όμως, περιμένατε κάτι άλλο? Η μήπως σας έπεισαν τα ξεκατινιάσματα των οπαδών της Νέας Δημοκρατίας, για το πουκάμισο του Βαρουφάκη, την γραβάτα του Τσίπρα και την εμφάνιση του Φίλη? Που βασικά γύρισαν μπούμερανγκ τώρα, γιατι όλοι ασχολούμαστε με την "υπερκομψη" Μάρεβα και το στήθος βελέντζα του Μητσοτάκη. Όταν κάνετε πολιτική και αντιπολίτευση του κώλου, είτε είστε δεξιοί, είτε αριστεροί, αυτά να τα περιμένετε αγαπητοί.<p>
<p> Θα σοβαρευτείτε ποτέ και να αρχίσετε για μια φορά, αντί να γκρινιάζετε και να εστιάζετε την προσοχή σας σε ότι σας πλασάρουν να κανάλια, τα τρολ στα σόσιαλ μίντια, οι κομματικές φοιτητικές οργανώσεις, σε κάτι θετικό που κάνει η κάθε κυβέρνηση για μια φορά. Παραδείγματος χάρη, μπορει ο κάθε προοδευτικός να συμφωνήσει πως το Σύμφωνο Συμβίωσης που κατάφερε ο Σύριζα να περάσει στην χώρα μας, είναι ένα βήμα προς την σωστή κατεύθυνση για την χώρα? Όλη η Δυτική Ευρώπη έχει παρόμοια νομοθεσία, και η Ελλάδα ως κράτος μέλος της ΕΕ, όφειλε να ακολουθήσει. Η Νέα Δημοκρατία ως τώρα δεν κατάφερε κάτι παρόμοιο, παρ'όλο που είναι καθεστωτική και φιλο-Ευρωπαϊκή. Οπότε μπορείτε να καταπιείτε πως ο Σύριζα πέτυχε έστω σε ένα πράγμα, ή η αφοσίωση σας στην παράταξη σας σας εμποδίζει?<p>
<p> Παρομοίως οι αριστεροί, μπορείτε να χάψετε πως ο Δένδιας είναι καλός υπουργός εξωτερικών, και η κινήσεις του στο να συνάψει στενές σχέσεις με χώρες της Μέσης Ανατολής και την Ινδία, ώς απάντηση των Τουρκικών προκλήσεων και την αδιαφορία ή αδράνεια της Δύσης, είναι κάτι πολύ θετικό για την χώρα μας και την εδραίωση των συμφερόντων της στην Ανατολική Μεσόγειο? Ή μήπως προτιμάτε να επικεντρώνεστε στο ξύλο που τρώνε οι μπαχαλακηδες απο τα ΜΑΤ και μόνο, ως την αντιπολίτευση σας κατά της αντίπαλης παράταξης από την δική σας? <p>
<p> Έχουμε μείνει στον εμφύλιο πόλεμο, και ο διχασμός και η πόλωση της ελληνικής κοινωνίας, είναι ένα μεγάλο εμπόδιο στο να προχωρήσει μπροστά και σωστά η χώρα. Δεν ψηφίζουμε ρε γαμώτο σύμφωνα με αυτά που πίστευε ή ψήφιζε ο παππούς μας, άλλες εποχές και οι ανάγκες των καιρών του, και άλλες οι δικές μας. Στην κυριολεξία επικρατεί μίσος ταξικό, φανατισμός, μπαχαλάκηδες και παραπληροφόρηση, δημαγωγία και λαϊκισμός στην ελληνική κοινωνία. Σίγουρα καποιοι τα υποκινούν και επωφελούνται. Εμείς γιατί τους αφήνουμε? Καταλαβαίνω πως το ξέσπασμα και η βία ίσως να είναι τρόπος εκτόνωσης των μέτρων κατά του κορωνοϊού, και φυσικά μετά απο 10 χρόνια λιτότητας και κακής διαχείρησης τα νεύρα του κοσμάκη που βλέπει τις επιχειρήσεις και το βιός του να χάνεται, να έχουν τσιτώσει. <p>
<p> Η βία και ο τυφλός δικομματισμός δεν δικαιολογείται όμως, και στην τελική αν επιθυμείτε να το παίξετε αντικαθεστωτικοί, στις επόμενες εκλογές ψηφίστε μικρά, καινούρια προοδευτικά κόμματα, ώς απάντηση σε αυτά του "καθεστώτος". Το να καταστρέφετε δημόσια περιουσία που εσείς πληρώνετε στην τελική ,να οργανώνετε πορείες για τρομοκράτες-εχθρούς του κράτους, ή να ρίχνετε την ψήφο σας αντιδραστικά στην αντίθετη καθεστωτική παράταξη, δεν σας εξυπηρετεί, παρά μόνο αυτούς που επωφελούντα από το μπάχαλο και την διχόνια. Στην τελική αν δεν σας εμπνέουν τα υπάρχοντα κόμματα, δημιουργείστε καινούρια, δικά σας. Σας αγαπώ.<p>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-3924921867085842992021-02-08T01:47:00.004+00:002021-02-08T08:31:56.622+00:00Can Navalny reform Russia to what Europe wants?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzdVvWqw5HAuw4_bYy9BJi1d0lB7NJ9FWYtwJAff-fBPMdxPniUO6t3M3vko0XZh92YmljP3Y5t8HXJ_3bNFTMat20yDtSblf7d5fDpigfrMLzY5NsRVe0KRPmGM3RmojOm-1RfX8sus/s1340/river.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="874" data-original-width="1340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKzdVvWqw5HAuw4_bYy9BJi1d0lB7NJ9FWYtwJAff-fBPMdxPniUO6t3M3vko0XZh92YmljP3Y5t8HXJ_3bNFTMat20yDtSblf7d5fDpigfrMLzY5NsRVe0KRPmGM3RmojOm-1RfX8sus/s400/river.jpg"/></a></div><p> The past few weeks, we have seen more tensions rising and pressure mounting from Europe towards Russia, following the arrest of the West's revered "Putin Critic," Alexei Navalny. European governments together with EU officials and politicians rushed to condemn the move, while mass protests errupted across the Russian Federation, in support for the country's opposition leader.<p>
<p> Obviously, it was a major mistake and a bad move from the Russian authorities, to arrest a politician and anyone who speaks out against corruption, or is a political figure in the country. It undermines the legitimacy of the government, exposes its weakness and fear, desperation or simply annoyance of the ruling elites towards the actions of an elected representative of the country's voters. That of course in a Western styled democracy, but we often forget that the Russian Federation is not one of them.<p>
<p> The country is not entirely European but Eurasian, and its democratization and Westernization is very recent and fragile, just as many of EU's former Soviet states like Poland or Hungary. If these two countries are having trouble keeping up with the rest of Europe whilst in the EU, what chances does Russia have, in becoming a succesful, fully fledged Western democracy? Especially when to do so, they will have to abide with Western conditions and values, which may or may not be compatible with theirs. Besides, even our democracies are not without major flaws and are we sure that the Russians really want or should become like the rest of us. <p>
<p> Many of the country's Western critics, refer to it as an "authoritarian cleptocracy," and partially they are right. However, they fail to confess Europe's role in the unjustice committed upon the ordinary Russian citizens. If the country is run by a bunch of corrupt oligarchs, who according to Western analysts, steal the wealth from the country as they obstruct democracy, then why this stolen wealth is ending up in European banks and the assets of those oligarchs which are escaping the country, are ending up in Western institutions as they fund Western political parties and leaders. Surely if Europe and America really wanted to help the ordinary Russian people, they would refuse to do business with the country's oligarchs or accept funds from them.<p>
<p> For instance, the <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Danske_Bank_money_laundering_scandal">Danske Bank scandal</a> was hushed and given so little attention by Western media, because it involved large amount of funds from the family of the Russian President Vladimir Putin (his cousin Igor Putin) and the Russian security service (FSB). The initial claims by a whistleblower, were not properly looked into and hence did not catch enough attention, by the Danish bank's branch in Tallinn. The result, was the greatest money laundering scandal in Europe and potentially the world, yet it was hastily burried ad forgotten. <p>
<p> In addition, we really must examine <a href="https://mycountryeurope.com/opinions/alexei-navalny-fake-champion-russian-democracy/">the background of the Western "hero" Alexei Navalny</a>. In reality, the title of main opposition party in Russia, undoubtedly goes to the social-liberal <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yabloko">Yabloko</a>. Anti-government protesters have often rallied around this party, so it is not unusual to see the Yabloko’s flag during protests. It was the only non-system party which managed to secure multiple seats in Moscow’s 2019 local election, despite the standard electoral fraud that often occurs in the country's elections.<p>
<p>Navalny himself was, in the early days, involved with Yabloko. However, he was expelled in 2007 for his far-right views. That same year, he co-founded a new political movement called "<a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russia_of_the_Future">The People's Party</a>", which allied itself with two other ethnic nationalist groups called Movement Against Illegal Immigration and Great Russia. All these groups were characterised not only by their zealous nationalism but also by a generalised unsatisfaction with Putin’s leadership, which was considered “too weak”.<p>
<p> Besides, Navalny expressed his support for Russian presence in Ukraine, notably stating that “Russia should strive for the integration of Belarus and Ukraine” and claiming that they are a part of Russia and form only one country together. While he criticised Russia’s policy in Ukraine – because it was led by Vladimir Putin’s government – he has been remarkably silent about his criticism on the annexation of Crimea in itself. When asked about possibly returning it to Ukraine if he was ever to lead Russia, he confirmed that his government would not start such a procedure.<p>
<p> When it comes to the Caucasus, his stance towards the region is even more questionable. He supported Russia in its war against Georgia in 2008, going as far as calling for all Georgians to be expelled from Russia. If we take all the above into account, it is evident that the West's support for him is simply down to "my enemy's enemy, is my friend" approach and mentality. In an effort to oust Putin, America and its European allies are becoming desperate and they stand behind anyone who is only seemingly filling the role of someone who can promote their interests, no matter of his background and intentions. Even if this person is surely a populist himself. But Europe must be careful, otherwise instead of democratizing Russia, it would well destabilize it and that could be a far more dangerous situation. <p>
<p> Imagine if Europe has right next to its border a large, unstable country, in what worse reality could its eastern regions end up. And all this, to serve American interests, or secure German ones. Is it any coincidence, that Navalny got poisoned towards the end of Trump's term and decided to return to Russia almost at the same time as Biden's inauguration, kickstarting massive protests and civil unrest in the country. Is it also a correlation that the <a href="https://www.cleanenergywire.org/factsheets/gas-pipeline-nord-stream-2-links-germany-russia-splits-europe">Nord Stream 2 debate and squabble </a>between US and Europe-notably Germany, has been heating up in recent months. In mid-2020, the US threatened a second round of sanctions. They were meant as a “clear warning” to companies that aiding the project would not be tolerated by Washington. “Get out now, or risk the consequences,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said. One investor, German energy company Uniper, subsequently said that the US threat increased the likelihood of “a delay or even non-completion of the pipeline. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKe2QA3VfRqKybcSxlfmP9QXpST8TQHrnskEJLj_cjRsOX_VQriwNQASjHEY3tJOR-wELUJMsMbtiYgVv5i5Cj0N4UPLFjECNcqPJ9-sei49a4Vq9JOfyyaWLVLOc8F2wUkQ85SxesFrA/s800/4TSR27GS4FCYN7UCYWKGWPTRQA.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="564" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKe2QA3VfRqKybcSxlfmP9QXpST8TQHrnskEJLj_cjRsOX_VQriwNQASjHEY3tJOR-wELUJMsMbtiYgVv5i5Cj0N4UPLFjECNcqPJ9-sei49a4Vq9JOfyyaWLVLOc8F2wUkQ85SxesFrA/s400/4TSR27GS4FCYN7UCYWKGWPTRQA.jpg"/></a></div><p> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poisoning_of_Alexei_Navalny">Navalny's poisoning</a>, sounded slightly peculiar and suspicious from the beginning. Apparently he was poisoned with the novichok nerve agent and he blamed the Russian President Vladimir Putin for it. He is not the only one of course, as many other prominent Russians, especially those critical of the Kremlin, have suffered poisoning attacks in the last two decades. The point is why would Vladimir Putin himself, so obviously try to eliminate his critics with the very same substance over and over again, something that will clearly incriminate him. Could it be that poisoning is used by many of Russia's oligarchs and political elites, and we are in fact witnessing an internal struggle for dominance, which extends and includes external powers and players. <p>
<p> Especially when Navalny's actions, were not always aiming Putin directly, but everyone in his government and not only. Many of Russia's oligarchs and ruling elites were also targeted by both Navalny and even Putin's government itself. The former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, launched an anti-corruption council and plan to tackle the "rampant" problem, which has become "commonplace and characterises the life of the Russian society," according to him. The irony is, that it was Navalny that exposed many corruption allegations against Medvedev, and potentially resulted to the resignation from his position. However the West insists on blaming solely Putin, for all the poisoning that many Russian opposition figures are suffering. And if Navalny's life is in danger, why return to Russia knowing that he will be jailed, or worse now that he is caught, yet conveniently the American leadership has changed. Could it be that there is a desperate effort for destabilization and derailing further European and Russian dialogue and approach, or simply joined economic ventures? <p>
<p> The real reason has obviously nothing to do with helping the Russian people getting rid of a corrupt oligarch or assisting the democratization of the country. The West-notably America has interests in Eastern Europe which they want to promote, even to the expence of ordinary Russian, European and American citizens. Putin and his government or "regime" as they often portray it, although doubtlessly rife with elitism, corruption, nepotism and lack of transparency, is standing in the way. They are asserting the interests of their country or indeed their very own-dressed as national ones, and are strengthening Russia's position in the region and the globe. Western countries do not wish to see this happening; a strong assertive Russia is undesired and feared, rather they prefer a weakened country, cooperative or even submissive to Western interests. Thus they do anything to "cut the head of the snake." In other words, to bring Putin and his government down. <p>
<p>Something that they shamelessly do not agree to do for the equally problematic Turkey and Erdogan, as it would hurt Germany's interests in this case. Additionally, Europe should be very careful when it joins any US led campaigns for the democratization of selected countries. In the past, it wholeheartedly threw its support behind the US efforts to promote democracy in Myanmar, only for later the country's most revered by the West leader, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/nov/23/aung-san-suu-kyi-fall-from-grace-myanmar">Aung San Suu Kyi</a> to go from a democracy champion and Nobel Prize winner, to a shamed head of a regime that has excused a genocide, jailed journalists and locked up critics. <p>
<p> In Venezuela too, we witnessed another Western failure. After trying to meddle with the country's internal affairs and establish a democratic government, Europe backed the US and stood behind Maduro's opponent Juan Guaido. The European Parliament, initially recognized the latter as the legitimate Venezuelan self-declared interim president and as de facto head of state only two years ago. But by January 2021, <a href="https://www.voanews.com/europe/eu-states-no-longer-recognize-guaido-venezuelas-interim-president">EU States no Longer recognized Guaido as Venezuela's Interim President</a>. The move comes as no suprise, as <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/20191202-venezuela-opposition-juan-guaido-nicolas-maduro-corruption-first-justice-popular-will-new-time">Guaido himself rocked by explosive corruption claims</a> within his ranks for the past two years. <p>
<p> This should ring bells to all of us in Europe, as to the real reasons for keen "democratization" efforts to all of the America's adversaries or regions of interests. Especially when the West itself has an appalling record of dealing with its own whistleblowers- if that is how we chose to see Navalny. Julian Assange, Edward Snowden and Chelsea Manning, revealed many faults in the American democratic system, and we are all aware of how they were treated. Which means that if anyone uncovers government corruption and secrets is consequently charged, trialed and forced to seek asylum in.... Russia!<p>
<p> One thing that the Russians in fact must learn from the West and Europe, is how to deal with dissidents and "populists" as the European establishment often labels those who seek to expose its systemic flaws. In the West we do not jail or poison them, we just ignore, slander and silence them by simply discrediting them as demagogues. Many of the parties that are anti-systemic in Europe, even if partially or substantially focus on real problems that the ordinary Europeans are faced with, are just being ridiculed and categorized in the same groups as radical and extremist right or left-wing parties. If that fails, then it is very hard for them to get funds from the establishment, thus they fail to gain popularity so they utlimately dismantle. However it is certain that similar parties favoured by the West in competing countries, will always find funds to continue their struggle. <p>
<p> I am not convinced that Europe is adopting the best approach when comes to Russia. Although ideally, I would love to see the country closer to the rest of Europe and with a similar, political system. We use democracy and the failings of others in it in order to intervene and manipulate their internal affairs, however we often overlook our own shortcomings. The struggle between the two blocks is purely economic and political, with a facade of righteousness from both sides. If Europe truly wants a democratic Russia, then why doesn't it throw itself wholeheartedly behind the Yabloko party, rather a populist and opportunist like Navalny. Why it does not mind accepting Russian dirty money in its banks, yet it cries of "Russian meddling" in Western democracies. Why Europe is succumbing to US demands and pressure, to scrap a closer EU-Russian energy cooperation or sabotage any dialogue to conciliate tentions between the two. Clearly the Americans are not that interested in promoting a "greener EU", by weaning the block's reliance to Russian fossil fuel, since they are the only country denouncing and leaving the Paris Agreement.<p>
<p>I would rather support dialogue, even if this means a prolonged and coordinated effort to soothe out any differences between Europe and Russia, that either they like it or not, they are bound to each other by history, borders, politics, trade, often conflicting ideologies, culture and warfare. However these discussions should not be influenced or derailed by any external party, whether this be USA or China. Right now Europe is seeking to expand its influence eastwards, entering former Russian dominated territories. To gain leverage, it relies on American support but ultimatelly, it only complicates things as the US adds its own interets in the equation. At some stage Europe must understand that it cannot perpetually expand eastwards, it just lost a key member in the west-the UK and it failed to integrate 3 others: Norway, Iceland and Switzerland.<p>
<p> Russia on the other hand must accept the changes that occured since the '90s, resulting to the fact that many of its former republics, now wish to align themselves with Europe. That need not be a disaster for the Russians, if they are not cut off entirely from the market of both their former territories and that of Europe. Something that the Americans and their Atlanticist European allies want, and is the cause of such dangerous powergames. Nations located between Europe and Russia should be able to decide their own future, but that must not be an "either you are with us or against us" arrangement. In fact they could act as a bridge which brings the two major European players (EU and Russia) closer, however that is viewed as unacceptable development still, in many powerful circles on both sides of the Atlantic. <p>
<p> And as result, Europe and Russia continue to drift apart, and no Navalny could ever bridge the gap or transform Russia to something that Europe could ever work with.<p> The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-24994492094535156822021-02-03T14:39:00.000+00:002021-02-03T14:42:22.343+00:00People's protests and government fiascos in Covid struck Europe.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPR7sl-P3tGXPXU_FDHZy28I8MBcTYx59gtd8sAGcjbWvUypfUcsAj2gJqE93GQIF6pMaypRvUNMnpQP2Ni8kXnBEnf0spfZFrvWVZIDx4TsDz4Aghe6xQdJdNsvOamnqa95g4HsE0r8/s1200/5143.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtPR7sl-P3tGXPXU_FDHZy28I8MBcTYx59gtd8sAGcjbWvUypfUcsAj2gJqE93GQIF6pMaypRvUNMnpQP2Ni8kXnBEnf0spfZFrvWVZIDx4TsDz4Aghe6xQdJdNsvOamnqa95g4HsE0r8/s400/5143.jpg"/></a></div><p> As the winter season progresses, it is evident that there will be no easy way out of the Covid-19 crisis, or the government imposed lockdowns. Any hope people had with the arrival of the vaccines, are slowly being <a href="https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/dr-tony-holohan-issues-big-23424602">dashed by officials</a>. Most of us had envisaged that after a year of sacrifices, our efforts would pay off and we could enjoy better times past the upcoming summer of 2021. <p>
<p> However, this will not be the case. With many new virus variants, delays in the vaccine administration, increasing numbers in new cases and deaths across Europe, never mind the financial and political interests involved in the process, we could well be in this crisis for the duration of the current year. <p>
<p> Yet people across the continent are getting tired. During the past few days only, numerous anti-lockdown protests took place all over Europe. In <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2021/01/31/we-ve-had-enough-in-france-spain-and-denmark-anti-lockdown-protests-continue">France, Denmark, Spain and the UK</a>, <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2021/02/01/it-s-not-right-what-s-going-on-anti-lockdown-protests-continue-in-belgium-austria-and-slov">Austria, Belgium, the Netherlands and Slovenia</a>, but also <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/31/hundreds-arrested-at-anti-lockdown-protests-in-brussels-budapest-and-vienna">Hungary and Poland</a> too, large numbers of people take to the streets, against Covid restrictions. And it is understandable.<p>
<p>The mainstream media and our national governments, as well as the EU institutions have a great share of blame for the situation. First of all, they have been unnecessarily bombarding the public, with constant and often contradicting information or data about the virus, in an effort to gain more exposure, readership and airtime. This inevitably became-deliberately or not, nothing more of a scare tactic, in effort to convince citizens to abide by the new policies. Secondly, many government officials, members of the royal families or ministers from various states, have themselves been caught breaking the rules. Instead of course trying to lead by their example. <p>
<p> European governments have often adopted peculiar legislations, in their efforts to tackle the pandemic. For example allowing one industry to remain open, while another ordered to shut, to safeguard public health. This created animosity among tradesmen and their employees. Many lost their jobs, others had to close their businesses as they are no longer profitable. Additionally, opening and closing the economy, giving into pressure from retailers or businesses from one hand and health officials from the other, created further confusion and frustration. <p>
<p> Still our governments have proven how ineffective they are, even when they are asked to deal with a virus that kills just over 2% of those infected and of course among people who are actually tested. Imagine what would happen if we had to deal with a far deadlier disease. While they were able to solve the banking and eurozone crisis in months, by using public money to bailout the banks instead of let's say strengthening our healthcare system, they now have granted all control to medical experts and advisers. <p>
<p> It is evident now where their priorities should be placed. For years we were encouraged to not expect free public health services, but to seek and settle with paying for private ones. Where are the private health insurance policy companies that many of us bought into, to save us and help Europe-one of the most affluent regions of the world, cope with this pandemic? We need hospitals and more healthcare workers, better paid and equipped. But obviously now this comes a little too late. We allowed public healthcare to become inefficient, in order for private companies to get richer with our money. Which is naturally of little use to anyone during this pandemic. To my knowledge, those with a private health insurance policy, do not get a ICU bed faster. <p>
<p> Then we had the vaccine fiasco, the first available coming from Russia. The Western countries went into a propaganda frenzy, doing anything they could to discredit the Russian scientific community, just because they do not like their country's leadership. Thus, we wasted months until we managed to produce a very similar one in Europe and the US. But of course, even then we could not agree to just get on with it. Germany and the US got into a dispute under former President Trump, who allegedly <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/germany-and-us-wrestle-over-coronavirus-vaccine/a-52777990">attempted to entice a German lab</a> to develop a vaccine exclusively for the US, according to a German newspaper. Further delays were ensued. <p>
<p> Coincidentally, it was after Trump's defeat that the US multinational pharmaceutical company Pfizer, decided to release the vaccine it created. Does this justify <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-presidential-elections/trump-alleges-covid-vaccine-was-delayed-to-defeat-him-in-elections/articleshow/79156597.cms">Trump's Twitter rants</a> who alleged that the Covid vaccine was delayed to defeat him in elections? Even if it is exaggerated, or one of his desperate attempts to remain in power, it was indeed after the US elections when not only Pfizer, but many other Western pharmaceutical companies that announced they came into agreement with the EU or national governments, to begin the distribution of their vaccine, during the first few weeks of 2021. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQPx7VeoqqWksg7Olpi9DWFNUTRmDR5ApNmb_rhH-NVi57oLf08tOPT_R5eLqX9-gr0J9yeCLBNuTKesPU6nTPGVJuhtucFyBSbjVVXo5E4TNoPmev4U14jkQ7TIzeI7kqWxlCxrsOBs/s1200/7000.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUQPx7VeoqqWksg7Olpi9DWFNUTRmDR5ApNmb_rhH-NVi57oLf08tOPT_R5eLqX9-gr0J9yeCLBNuTKesPU6nTPGVJuhtucFyBSbjVVXo5E4TNoPmev4U14jkQ7TIzeI7kqWxlCxrsOBs/s400/7000.jpg"/></a></div><p> But even after all this, we witnessed yet another fiasco,with the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-52380823">AstraZeneca scandal and controversy</a>. Its vaccine was approved for use in the EU on 29 January. The block signed a deal for 300 million doses in August, while the UK ordered 100 million doses and signed its deal in May. But supply problems have been announced by AstraZeneca, which blamed manufacturing problems on one plant in Belgium and another in the Netherlands. Reports suggested deliveries to the EU would be reduced to 31 million - a cut of 60% - in the first quarter of 2021. <p>
<p> This prompted criticism from the EU which claimed that it should not receive fewer doses just because the UK signed a contract earlier. It additionally accused Britain for "vaccine nationalism". AstraZeneca said the fact that EU contracts were signed later left less time to resolve problems in the EU supply chain. However the move backfired on the EU, <a href="https://www.thejournal.ie/timeline-eu-vaccine-northern-ireland-protocol-article-16-5341455-Feb2021/">as itself then faced criticism </a>after its plans to prevent Northern Ireland from being used as a back door to funnel Covid-19 vaccines into the UK. <p>
<p> The controversy began when the European Commission looked set to override the Northern Ireland protocol, part of the Brexit withdrawal deal which allows for free movement of goods from the EU into Northern Ireland, preventing a hard border. The block had signalled its intention to trigger Article 16 of the protocol, to temporarily place export controls on the movement of vaccines amid an ongoing row with AstraZeneca. But this prompted a united front of condemnation both from the Irish and British governments, which in fairness worked tirelessly to avoid a hard border between the Republic and the North, during the Brexit negotiations. The fallout gave also <a href="https://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/uk-accepts-brussels-made-a-mistake-over-ni-coronavirus-vaccine-controls-1073197.html">N. Ireland's DUP leader Ms Foster,</a> the chance to urge the UK prime minister to tear up and replace the protocol, which is designed to allow the free movement of goods from the EU into Northern Ireland and prevent a hard border. <p>
<p> After all this, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-55747623">Hungary became the first EU nation </a>to finally approve the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, as the country's prime minister has said the only way the country can satisfy the demand for vaccination, given the "frustratingly" slow delivery of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, is by buying from Russia and China. Way to go Europe and USA, while for months you sought to outdo your competitors, either national, political, regional, or commercial, the rest of the world just gets on with the vaccinations as best they can.<p>
<p> Today, 5 months after the Russian vaccine has been available and in circulation, <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/russia-sputnik-v-coronavirus-vaccine-breakthrough-leverage/">Europe is finally concidering</a> it as a solution. It only took EU member states and the block in general, all this time to swallow the reality and come around, that in this pandemic there is no room for nationalism, politics and financial interests. While the rest of us are being told to stay at home, fined if we break the rules, mocked as tin foiled hatters if we disapprove and object to the lockdowns, see our businesses fail and our salaries reduced, our leaders think fit to play their power games, or give in to the financial interests of big pharmaceutical companies. <p>
<p> The solution is simple. Do whatever you can to secure as many vaccine doses from Western or Russian and other companies, and distribute them as soon as possible-preferably by mid-Spring, to the high risk groups and front line workers. Then allow the population to return to some sort of normality until September, when according to the EU itself, the block is aiming to have 70% of the block's population vaccinated and end this pandemic. We are not dealing with the most deadly virus we have ever encountered as a species, and if this is a test of what is to come with climate change at some stage in the future, we are most certainly in big trouble. If humanity fails to cooperate, but insists on placing petty disputes before our collective wellbeing, then the next pandemic will deffinitelly be far worse than this one. <p>
The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-41107280424163474422021-01-18T08:02:00.001+00:002021-01-18T08:04:42.286+00:00A great month for Western democracy, January 2021.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoeWb0J5k3YMJ52cL3rYTiFsTPWHb30U-7hqnaHjA7YB1XqYm1GUVVoSc97hCdnRy8YRC-VhKwcfIWjSe4Z66dO00BTv_96NmNB8PITpIpDqb4ZYCA_Ysujy_dIEhA4batcOX4l59aVk/s310/063_1294933579.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPoeWb0J5k3YMJ52cL3rYTiFsTPWHb30U-7hqnaHjA7YB1XqYm1GUVVoSc97hCdnRy8YRC-VhKwcfIWjSe4Z66dO00BTv_96NmNB8PITpIpDqb4ZYCA_Ysujy_dIEhA4batcOX4l59aVk/s400/063_1294933579.jpg"/></a></div><p> January the first month of the new year, and we already have plenty of developments in the Western democratic front. First of all, in the "poster-child" and self declared beacon of the free world, we witnessed something which can be classified as embarassing, laughable and worrying at the same time.
<p> On the 6th of January, a mob of supporters of U.S. President Donald Trump in an attempt to overturn his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2021_storming_of_the_United_States_Capitol">stormed the U.S. Capitol</a>, aiming to prevent the formalization of President-elect Joe Biden's election victory.These rioters occupied, vandalized, and looted parts of the building for several hours, resulting in five deaths. <p>
<p> The storming of the Capitol was described by many as treason, insurrection, domestic terrorism, and an effort by Trump to carry out a coup d'état. The incident was a result of a number of actions by President Trump and his supporters, to keep him in power for at least another term. Trump announced plans for a rally before the January 6 vote count to continue his challenge to the validity of several states' election results. On December 18, he wrote on Twitter; "Big protest in D.C. on January 6th. Be there, will be wild!" And sure it was. <p>
<p> President Trump was ardent that he was robbed of victory without any credible evidence to support that belief. Despite assurances from his own departments of Justice and Homeland Security that no serious fraud occurred, <a href="https://eu.usatoday.com/in-depth/news/politics/elections/2021/01/06/trumps-failed-efforts-overturn-election-numbers/4130307001/">Trump has raged against the election result</a> and mounted a relentless campaign to reverse Biden's victory.<p>
<p> From vote recounts to Twitter rants, <a href="https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/in-recorded-call-trump-pressures-georgia-official-to-find-votes-to-overturn-election/">presuring a top election official in a phonecall</a>, to “find” enough votes to overturn his defeat, plus numerous lawsuits that followed, one could only wonder why he would not just let go. Even if we for one moment accept that all his claims were true, he could not actually prove anything. Every effort failed to justify his cause. The decent thing would be to admit defeat, step down and fight another day if he felt that he still had the American public's support. His actions, not only hinder any chance of him returning to American politics, but polarized and divided American society, damaged his party plus the image and reputation of his country abroad, as a democratic state. <p>
<p> As Europe was watching with disbelief, America was mocked by countries that itself had heavily criticised for the lack of democratic values, such as Belarus. Its President Alexander Lukashenko, in a meeting with International Ice Hockey Federation president Rene Fasel, for talks amid calls to move the world championship following mass protests against him, compared his country with the United States. “In our country, protesters and other dissatisfied people don’t storm government agencies and capitols,” <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2021/01/12/belarus-alexander-lukashenko-mocks-u-s-over-capitol-violence">Lukashenko said</a>. “We have a completely normal situation from the perspective of the development of democratic processes.”<p>
<p> As we have only a few days left until the inauguration of Biden, one can only hope that this saga will come to an end, although it is doubtful that we heard the last of Trump. For him to be so desperate to cling onto power, he either had plans for America that did not want to be interrupted, feared as he had something to hide, or there are many powerful circles that desire a different America and backed him. No matter what, he managed to gain many devoted supporters and that ensures or indicates an inevitable change of course for U.S. politics. Even if the Democrats try to mend the damage done by Trump, they too will have to compromise, appeasing or winning back some of his voters, in order to stay in power. So Europe must be prepared for such development, in case. <p>
<p> Besides, our continent had its own fair share of political drama and instability. In just one week, three EU members had their governments imploding and resigning. Italy, the Netherland and Estonia are without a government effectively. All leaderships collapsed due to corruption, infighting, mismanaging and how they dealth the corona virus pandemic. The problem is, that in all three countries, far-right and euroskeptic parties are lurking, gaining influence, ready to pounce and grasp power. And if they do, Europe will have even a more difficult time to stay united, if it doesn't lose another member.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBz9BA9oal5CKyu0RAj3P4-qW3xKYFGETkmX_fqz3kw7RNSE0CI0hh1O-1gmFCNNh15F52LP4yXb3ZLVF6gmbzaY7EXcgBzIgVqNJSJ7VfFcc_bs2PEdUV-LXvRqukDytNmpFxIKcHU4/s700/https___d1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net_production_4b30c8c6-3e2a-44af-a273-0729fa7225bc.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="394" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMBz9BA9oal5CKyu0RAj3P4-qW3xKYFGETkmX_fqz3kw7RNSE0CI0hh1O-1gmFCNNh15F52LP4yXb3ZLVF6gmbzaY7EXcgBzIgVqNJSJ7VfFcc_bs2PEdUV-LXvRqukDytNmpFxIKcHU4/s400/https___d1e00ek4ebabms.cloudfront.net_production_4b30c8c6-3e2a-44af-a273-0729fa7225bc.jpg"/></a></div><p> <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20210113-italy-s-government-plunged-into-crisis-as-former-pm-renzi-pulls-support">Italy's former premier Matteo Renzi said on Wednesday</a> he was pulling his party's ministers from the cabinet, effectively leaving the ruling coalition without a majority in parliament. Renzi, who heads the tiny Italia Viva party, had long threatened to quit the government, complaining about Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's plans over how to spend billions of euros promised by the European Union to relaunch the economy.<p>
<p> The country has been viewed as the "Sick Man of Europe" for years, with stagnant economic growth, rising poverty,emigration, political instability and euroskepticism. Since the last eurozone economic crisis, Italy has been engulfed in a bitter infighting over reforms,numerous goverment collapses, elections, coalitions, technocratic administrations, clashes with its EU partners over the block's budget. They just don't seem to get a grip and keep it together, or face the reality.<p>
<p> Italy, as all other former European powers, have not got over their former grandeur, influence and wealth. They fail to admit that they now need each other, as the world has dramatically changed since the time of European dominance. Many want things to remain as they are and they avoid reforms at all cost. Others wish for things to go back to what they were-like Britain, and left the EU altogether. Italy refuses to accept that its economy has been so integrated with that of other countries, that it cannot continue the way it has for decades. Reforms are painful but necessary. <p>
<p> They distanced themselves from Greece ten years ago, leaving it at the mercy of Germany and its allies, in an effort to avoid the same fate. "Italy is too big to fail", many economists were claiming back then, thus the Italian economy and politics were allowed to continue their antics for another decade. Now since the Covid-19 pandemic is threatening Europe with another financial crisis, in Italy the knives are out again, in order to safeguard vested interests in the country, to the detriment of the ordinary Italian and European citizens.<p>
<p> The country's rulers must understand and make a decision that they cannot have their cake and eat it. They willingly joined the eurozone and they are one of the founding states of the EU. To avoid reforms is daft at this stage. If Greece was forced to privatize, sell out and reform, so can Italy. Having said that, it remains to be seen if the Greek painful path will bear fruits, or it merely turned it into a <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/why-greece-is-germanys-de-facto-colony/">German de-facto colony</a>, something that both France and Italy refuse to accept for themselves. But then why didn't they stand by Greece, forming a block that could stop and counter-balance the German hegemony in Europe? They do not want to see their national companies and assets, being taken over by foreign-notably German buyers, yet they were happy to see the Greeks ones suffer this fate. What goes around comes around as they say. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbthhEUsz0ZnTcBgfrEUyER0yXwDQFRLNil5aKgKZgZyvkJtuHUPWPy0XYSEnLWyv95PvrG0_JJAXgO4tpRRim4fm9LVUtZow_IZJNMHw9B-8m9X8DKyf8FUCmMD9096LVRpf0sWdCqgU/s620/image.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="330" data-original-width="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbthhEUsz0ZnTcBgfrEUyER0yXwDQFRLNil5aKgKZgZyvkJtuHUPWPy0XYSEnLWyv95PvrG0_JJAXgO4tpRRim4fm9LVUtZow_IZJNMHw9B-8m9X8DKyf8FUCmMD9096LVRpf0sWdCqgU/s400/image.jpg"/></a></div><p> In a twisted turn of events, Italy's recent nemesis-the Netherlands, also saw its own government collapsed, <a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/2021/0115/1190006-netherlands-politics/">over a child benefits scandal</a>. Thousands of parents were wrongly accused by Dutch authorities of fraudulently claiming child allowance, with many of them forced to pay back large amounts of money and ending up in financial ruin. The fact that some parents were targeted for investigation by tax officials because they had dual nationality also underscored long-standing criticisms of systemic racism in the Netherlands. <p>
<p> Well, we ought to remember how Jeroen Dijsselbloem, the Dutch former Minister of Finance and Eurogroup President, treated Greece, <a href="https://www.ekathimerini.com/168090/article/ekathimerini/business/euro-area-pushes-greece-to-open-books-as-aid-talks-resume">by demanding the country to open its financial books and records for inspection.</a> Perhaps the Dutch should have primarily sticked inspecting their own books all these years, to avoid this embarrassment. If they equally focused on what was happening in their own country and national authorities, perhaps they could have coped on earlier and avoided this fiasco. But no, to them it is always the Southern EU states that need to get their taxation system in check, they dance and listen to music and drink wine while the hard working Dutch have to always pay for the tax evading Southerners. Clearly we can see that themselves are not so perfect and spotless after all. <p>
<p> This is a poor way to distract your public from your own faults dear Dutch government, by pointing out the faults of others. Again, what goes around comes around. When the Greeks were crying for mercy, their European "partners" threw them to the arms of the IMF to save their own economies.They accused them of not paying taxes, bothered by Greek farmers not declaring all their incomes, while they did not mind rich Greek companies tax evading by relocating their headquarters in countries like the Netherlands. They also accused them of retiring too early, but of course they forgot how generous is their own social welfare systems, offering benefits for life. <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1102&langId=en&intPageId=4425#:~:text=Unemployment%20benefits%20are%20granted%20for,Benefits%20Fund%20%28the%20CAPAC%29.&text=The%20duration%20of%20the%20payment,is%2C%20in%20principle%2C%20unlimited.">Belgium's chomage technique</a>, which not only is much higher than Greece's, but in principle unlimited, was never a cause of concern for the Germans and Dutch. Nor, the institutionalization of a part of Ireland's population, by keeping them permanently as welfare receipients, never mind the Scandinavian generocity in benefits. <p>
<p> And the Dutch scandal gets even more sinister, if we think that it is just a revelation of the reality in the country's government mentality, not a mistake or mishap. Because then, it indicates the fascist, racist nature of their policies and explains their contemptuous attitude towards Greece, Italy and Spain. They treat their migrant communities like second class citizens, when they present themselves as a very liberal nation, open and progressive society, ready to condemn others for their human rights abuses. If Greece pushes back a boat loaded with immigrants in the Aegean, they will be the first to criticise, as well and scorn Poland and Hungary for refusing to take them in. At least the Hungarians, although I strongly disagree and despise their attitude on this issue, are honest about it. Hypocrisy however is revolting.<p>
<p> The Netherlands to be fair, is not the only country that struggles with immigration. The whole of Europe does. But then we should stop pretending or keeping up the appearances and do something about it. Work collectively,by establishing a pan-European immigration policy which aims to attract the right immigrants, regarding their numbers, skills, educational background, countries of origin and length of stay. In this way, we can avoid the embarassing double standards, when we allow migrant families to settle in an EU member, offer them citizenship, only to treat them in this horrid manner, in an effort to stigmatize them and make them leave, or discourage others from coming. Yet, our national governments insist on keeping all policies and decisions ultimately to themselves, creating a messy, patchy mosaic or laws and regulations, detached from another state's.<p>
<p> The third country to become without government last week, was Estonia. Like many of the former USSR states and Central/Eastern European nations that joined the EU in 2004, Estonia enjoyed for over a decade an impressive economic boom. Yet, similarly to many others of this region, it can not easily escape its past, proving that democracy and capitalism in these countries are still fragile and vulnerable. In addition, it also indicates that for the EU periphery, like in the case of Greece and Ireland, economic prosperity or political stability are not guaranteed and secured for the long term. Thus, we need to collectively work on maintaining and promoting them, though this can only happen with a more active role of the EU institutions, something that all local, national elites dislike; they obviously want to hold on to power and influence over our national resources for themselves. <p>
<p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/13/estonian-government-collapses-over-corruption-investigation">Estonia’s Prime Minister Jüri Ratas has ultimatelly resigned</a>, after police and prosecutors launched an investigation into an alleged corruption scandal involving his left-leaning Centre party related to a impropriety, over the €39 million Porto Franco property development. Ratas just so happens to be in a power-sharing agreement, with the conservative Fatherland party and the Eurosceptic right-wing Conservative People’s Party of Estonia. And like most parties with populist ambition, they are opportunistic and seek to get in power by revealing or underlining government scandals. <a href="https://www.rt.com/op-ed/512691-european-democracy-dutch-estonian-italian/">Thus, Ratas had no option but to resign, hoping the storm passes and regroup for the next election,</a> in order to stop another Euroskeptic party edging closer to power. <p>
<p> To conclude and sum-up all of the above: We in the West must understand that democarcy can never be taken for granted. Even in the richest and strongest countries, things can easily be overturned. Therefore, we must always remain alert. Economies and political systems are constantly being in flux, thus any period of prosperity must be accompanied with preparations, investments and reforms, in order to deal with the eventual and inevitable downturn. Corruption and systemic faults exist in all countries, it is just some of them manage to deal with or cover them with their wealth, government cover-ups and media PR. The poorer a nation is, the more citizen corruption it experiences, due to the fact that its people do what it comes natural in such circumstances; struggle to survive.<p>
<p> For the European rich nations then to go an blatanly slander and scapegoat them, while themselves are enjoying different standards as they exploit their resources, is the worse kind of corruption itself. Inequality among members of a "union", renders it as non democratic, thus unworthy. In addition, we need to have an open debate on immigration and reform the relevant laws. It is clear that the approach that we adopted until now does not work. Out of complex of our colonial past, we allowed too many migrants in Europe, but then when we do not want them, we do something even worse to these communities: we treat them as second class citizens, we scapegoat and label them as lazy and corrupt scroungers, seeking to abuse Europe's generous welfare system. But by these actions, we risk allowing the Far-Right to gain more power, destabilizing our continent and societies, threatening what we have worked and built so far in Europe.<p>
<p> Us Europeans are all in this together, meaning that our societies and economies are largely integrated. So any kind of infighting only makes matters worse and ultimately, it must come to a decision. We either start cooperating as a group of nations, preferably by upholding the vision we all have already agreed to adopt, or we revise and reverse back to what we had before, with all the good and bad of a divided continent, always at each other's throats, with peace and prosperity only enjoyed periodically by most. <p> The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-63371308105500551152021-01-10T14:44:00.001+00:002021-01-10T14:44:29.467+00:00Adieu Royaume-Uni. Et au revoir?<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbzY9Krj-uPoHjXCn8yV6emdatO1NX-gcl1r9UnuYKV7fZcG5gDduEQvKqgpAo9lShvtPOGHZ3Zo34cvEEZcIUxtcvWz0Sz343rOxB1qt6IQcnVADRLyeFT3qBSO1zzMvAz5XaNyv0xg/s800/Brexit-2021.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="511" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbzY9Krj-uPoHjXCn8yV6emdatO1NX-gcl1r9UnuYKV7fZcG5gDduEQvKqgpAo9lShvtPOGHZ3Zo34cvEEZcIUxtcvWz0Sz343rOxB1qt6IQcnVADRLyeFT3qBSO1zzMvAz5XaNyv0xg/s400/Brexit-2021.jpg"/></a></div><p>Well, it finally has happened. After four gruelling years of negotiations, debates and a nation divided, the United Kingdom has finally left the European Union. It took back control of its borders and fate as it always wanted, and left the Brussels based "gravy-train" of corruption, red-tape and unelected bureaucrats.<p>
<p>They can now see their sovereignty returned to them and be masters of their own fate and course in history; or can they? For the months prior the Brexit deadline and during the last minute negotiations between the EU and the UK to avoid a no-deal, we witnessed the humiliation of Britain in diplomatic and economic fronts, not their government's grandeur. Now if these sacrifices were necessary in order to reach the desired level of Great Britishness again, remains to be seen.<p>
<p> One of the most obvious losses if it materializes, will be Scotland. Together with Northern Ireland, it voted to remain in the EU, while England and Wales opted to leave. Since then, <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/nicola-sturgeon-independence-is-scotland-s-only-route-to-rejoining-eu-1.4448241">the Scottish government proposed a compromise</a>. That would have meant the UK leaving the EU but staying in the single market, yet that compromise offer was rejected by the UK government, which wanted then, and still does now, a more distant relationship with the EU.<p>
<p> Nicola Sturgeon, the First Minister of Scotland, penned <a href="https://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/nicola-sturgeon-independence-is-scotland-s-only-route-to-rejoining-eu-1.4448241">an article published in the Irish Times</a>, just after New Year's Day 2021, stressing her nation's plea again, pointing out that the only route for Scotland rejoining the EU is indepence. "For too long successive UK governments have taken Scotland in the wrong direction, culminating in Brexit and the introduction of legislation that had threatened to break international law and which still undermines the Scottish parliament. It’s no wonder so many people in Scotland have had enough. We are committed to a legal, constitutional route to becoming an independent state. As an independent member of the EU, Scotland would be a partner and a bridge-builder – not just a bridge to building a stronger economy and fairer society, but a bridge to aid understanding between the EU and UK," she said. <p>
<p> Should Sturgeon convinces her nation to follow her aspirations, the United Kingdom will be no more, at least as we know it.If the EU accepts Scotland and politics over break-away regions don't come to the fore, aka the Catalonian issue, then the UK just lost a vital region and its access to a significant part of the North Atlantic/North Sea. Thus, Great Britain just got smaller.<p>
<p> Then there is the Northern Ireland issue, another region that ideally would like to stay in the EU. After the EU-UK negotiations, this British territory is practically remaining in the EU, <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/explainers-54195827">all but in name</a>. It stays in the single market, since the UK and EU have agreed to keep an all-but-invisible border without checkpoints, between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Northern Ireland will continue to follow many of the EU's rules, meaning that lorries can continue to drive across the border without having to be inspected. However, some new checks will be needed on certain goods arriving into Northern Ireland from the rest of the UK instead. Food products will need to be checked to ensure they comply with EU standards. Brussels-run officials will be able to supervise checks on trade that is happening within the UK's borders, despite <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/brexit-eu-officials-stationed-northern-23138543">Boris Johnson insisting</a> there'd be no border down the Irish Sea.<p>
<p>In addition, the Irish government has announced that it will fund Erasmus scheme for Northern Irish students, since <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/ireland-fund-erasmus-northern-irish-students/">Boris Johnson had said</a> the UK would no longer participate in the exchange program. Irish Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris told the national broadcaster RTÉ, “the cost is relatively low, but it’s not a cost, it’s an investment,” adding the estimated expenses would be around €2 million per year. In other words, the Irish government is stepping in where the British one has failed or disdained to act decisively, ensuring further opportunities and chances for the Northern Irish youths. If that is not something that may turn the tide in the future for Irish unification, or the drifting of the region away from the UK core, then what is. The Northern Irish students, which represent their nation's future, hopefully will never forget who stepped in for their rights and interests. <p>
<p> But Northern Ireland and Scotland are not the only regions that are opting to retain their ties with the EU. <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/31/world/europe/gibraltar-brexit-uk-spain.html">A last-minute agreement between negotiators from Spain, Britain and Gibraltar,</a> allows passport-free travel between Gibraltar and Spain. As part of the deal, the European agency Frontex will monitor sea and air arrivals in the British enclave. People arriving from Britain will need to go through passport control, as they did until now. Fearing border checks that could leave it isolated economically, Gibraltar wanted control-free access to the Spanish mainland, similar to those enjoyed between the European countries that are part of the Schengen area. The borderless area's requirements, will be adopted by Gibraltar with Spain as the responsible member for the application of Schengen rules. The Spanish authorities also insisted on maintaining the interdependency with Gibraltar, since many of its citizens work there and cross the border daily. <p>
<p> But even the City of London, the country's economic heart and powerhouse, will not be spared by the new reality. <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/analysis-and-features/city-of-london-brexit-financial-b1784497.html">On the first trading day of 2021</a>, the fourth of January, billions of euros of business left the UK for the European Union. Some €5bn of trading in shares ranging from French banks to German car companies departed London and reappeared in financial centres in mainland Europe such as Paris and Amsterdam. A pan-European exchange where EU equities are traded, saw virtually all the trading business flip from its London platform to its Paris base.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxg08tj7xPe-fyAgZ7ysBNHtzkFy4qVaXBGstC97N61yrnFrx4iq1WA3z4BjR5lMZaJhQORtLY5IPSA4x0JZaBnN-xFRvA8c04l76fYMs0WkYfy1EzUXh8XiIGJn-vHlXjg-KsPCitNY/s512/unnamed.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="288" data-original-width="512" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqxg08tj7xPe-fyAgZ7ysBNHtzkFy4qVaXBGstC97N61yrnFrx4iq1WA3z4BjR5lMZaJhQORtLY5IPSA4x0JZaBnN-xFRvA8c04l76fYMs0WkYfy1EzUXh8XiIGJn-vHlXjg-KsPCitNY/s400/unnamed.jpg"/></a></div><p> Naturally such shifts were expected and they won't be perpetuating for ever. At some stage in the future when the dust settles, things will normalize again and we will have a clearer picture on the new EU-UK relationship after Brexit. Yet while the rest of Europe will go on without one of its oldest members, the British people will be the ones that will pay the highest price. What has been signed by their government hasn't been explained to them in its totality and there are many grey areas. They will gradually have to reajust to the new reality and hope for the promised better deals with other blocks and countries, which their government promised them. <p>
<p> Hopefully in the end, things won't be as gloomy as predicted by many for Britain. A number of other European countries are outside the EU and the Single Market, like Serbia for example. They are managing and progressing, despite the slower pace and limited number of opportunities. Besides, the UK is not Serbia. It has more resources, overseas territories, wealth, partnership with the US and the Commonwealth and it is located within a stable, prosperous region of Europe, unlike Serbia. The question is, why restrict yourself by abandoning what you have negotiated and worked for the past five decades, as it serves the interests of your country's elites. <p>
<p> Because that's what really is Brexit about. In fact, that is the driving force of every political reality and development in Europe. Some powerful and rich groups from within or outside our continent benefit from a shake-up, thus they lobby, corrupt or campaign in order to achieve what they want. They use and manipulate public opinion, taking advantage of our democratic system and freedom of press, in order to employ our societies in making decisions that suits them. And we are falling for their lies, just as the British people did regarding Brexit. <p>
<p>The ordinary UK citizen will see little benefit from it, quite the opposite in fact. Prices of goods will rise, travel and trade will become more complicated, opportunities to study and work in another European country will be limited or awkward to achieve. And all the promises of wealth "trickling down" from the new reality will remain just that: promises. We should be wise enough by now, not to fall for such false claims. When did any of the benefits and privileges we granted to the big multinationals, have trickled down to the rest of us? <p>
<p> By tapping into the lower classes' fear of foreigners, nationalism, financial worries and ignorance on how the EU works, the British elites have managed to convince them to vote for something that will ultimatelly be detrimental to their future. As if British politics and society do not suffer from corruption, bureaucracy, lobbying, favoritism and nepotism, they have nevertheless projected those negative qualities to other countries and the EU institutions, perhaps in a desperate attempt to cover their own shortcomings and faults. <p>
<p> And that is why, although it pains me to see one of the oldest members leaving the club, partially I am pleased that Britain has voted for Brexit. For decades they were unhappy and utterly contemptuous towards their partners and the EU, opted out of many of its regulations and blocked an equal amount too. I believe that Brexit will shine a light on the truth, the British citizens will realize their government intentions and satisfy their curiosity of being outside the EU. If they ever decide to return as full members, they will do so consciously and with a better knowledge or information. And this will be beneficial for everyone. <p>
<p> In addition, Brexit will be good for the rest of Europe too. And not just regarding the aforementioned financial terms, or the fact that the EU lost one of the main obstacles for further integration. Similar euroscepticism like in Britain, can be found across the block. The UK can act as an unfortunate example of what is to come, if others want to follow suit. It can finally teach our governments on the importance of informing their citizens of the benefits of EU membership, and clarifying on how it really works. Until now, they were claiming all of the achievements as their own, while they were charging the mistakes onto the EU or other member states. <p>
<p> Besides, our governments were primarily self serving. That is another reason why Britain left. There is no true solidarity among them, just vested interests. For example we witnessed on how Europe is treating Greece over its problems with Turkey, or how Germany and France pushed Greece under the rails, sacrificing it to the IMF, in order to save their own banks and affairs. And I would not exclude the possibility of rich EU and non-EU states allowing, or even encouraging Britain to leave, in order to benefit themselves again. Let Brexit be a stark reminder to our governing elites, that if this selfish demeanor continues, more citizens will be disillusioned and fed up with the constant inequality, infighting, bullying and slandering that exists within the European politics and circles. And the EU institutions are not the ones that should get the blame, rather our own national governments. <p>
<p> The EU is not responsible when a member state is voting against the interests of another, or when the richer and most powerful countries, are sidelining and exploiting the poorer ones, the periphery of EU. The blame should be applied entirely on those governments. However, if they do not change their course of action in the EU, the sentiment among the populace will become even more sour than it already is. Consequently they will turn against European integration overall, not the national governments. They will naturally want to disolve this union, if their needs are not met and witness the inequality that exists among the members. Thus, Europe in its totality will lose out, for the errors and short-sighted decisions of our national politicians. <p>
<p>To conclude, the battle for Britain to remain in the EU is sadly lost. Let everyone take stock of the situation, study the outcome, learn from the mistakes that took place which lead to this new reality. Every government in Europe should ponder on the future of the EU and their desired role in it. Because if they do not change course, instead of an example to avoid, Britain will become an example to follow, when a country must save itself from an unworkable situation. As for Britain, I truly wish to see it as a member soon again, fully committed to Europe and working to change it for the better from within. <p>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-71119715121195167032020-12-14T01:48:00.001+00:002020-12-14T08:24:59.616+00:00European Dis-Union of financial interests and back-stabbing. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yYj6fwkVq6svovi5r5XuV4sHrLrp4B-2ygA6Z25OTYM2UKxP5HuhJHBWrSxf2qDkgnwU2Y2qTc8nZ1edATGs1PoPwPqupNPkw9z_zoMH6szJ0_0WvsGjksC0y9JK0ERQ6kZQcG-_ukY/s960/59358_cache_1500x3000_Analog_medium_725600_464632_1962019_1563366451600.jpg"
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</div>
<p>
For a year now, we have been waiting for a break-through, a decisive action
from the EU in support towards two of its members; Greece and Cyprus. Their
territorial integrity has been challenged by the neighboring Turkey, however
their European and Western partners, have been more than reluctant to stand by
them, effectively.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
Postponement after postponement, the block's leaders initally resolved to
reach an agreement last Thursday, December the 10th, during the last EU
Council meeting. The block concluded on
<a
href="https://www.dw.com/en/eu-leaders-back-sanctions-on-turkey-over-gas-drilling/a-55900747"
>the first steps towards more comprehensive sanctions against Turkey</a
>
over Ankara's unauthorized gas drilling off the coast of Greece and Cyprus.
Sadly, for the moment the sanctions are targeting individuals and companies,
rather Turkey's leadership, economy and administration. Further actions have
been delayed once more until March 2021, with the excuse of waiting the new US
leadership to resume office. As if America should be dictating EU policy and
mediate in Europe's internal affairs indefinitely.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
It basically came down to Merkel's goverment insistence, together with a
<a
href="https://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/merkel-and-borissov-blocked-eu-sanctions-against-turkey-at-summit-sources/"
>Bulgarian veto, which joined Germany's positions</a
>. During the debates and negotiations, Spain, Italy and Malta were also
against any severe sanctions towards Turkey, although not as vocal. Perhaps
because they knew that Germany will block any move that would hurt Turkish,
and consequently German interests. Hungary was not a suprise also, as their
support for Erdogan's government, plus their aversion of more refugees
reaching Europe, made their move predictable.
</p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a
href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8lWoK2XFpKgGWY4FvZZC6A5KQMrNaIPaZV3680_zt6zZjmCj-YfCetOmAJ330-HKBj8dYVU7wZXzAl3w_psMBnaaYLbrwjmvncQB2QMJwlxOKxFkqXNtxJfOsMgHPz5g_cql7gb3Aeg/s800/merkel-800x450.jpg"
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</div>
<p>
The disgraceful German attitude towards Greece, can be explained by the
country's vested financial interests in Turkey. In addition, the 4 million
strong Turkish community in Germany, has undoubtedly locked the two countries
into a solid partnership. Bulgaria's Prime Minister, Boyko Borissov, has also
a close relationship with Erdogan, so his government's objections were to be
expected. However, he did not make his intentions clear earlier. Perhaps he
used his veto as a carrot to lure Erdogan, in exchange for certain favors.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
Particularly disapointing were the other "Club Med"nations' lack of support
towards the Greek and Cypriot positions. Understandably they have their own
economic interests in Turkey, as their banks and industries are entwined with
the Turkish ones. However, since they decided to turn their backs to Greece,
they should not complain the next time the Northern European countries, or the
Frugals and the Hanseatic League, accuse them and all the South EU countries
for being the problematic ones in the block.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
The South is divided, that is why it is weak and easily manipulated by Germany
and its satelites. The Spanish and Italian authorities, obviously prefer to
serve their short-term plans and interests, rather than forming a united front
within the EU, to counterpart the increasing German hegemony in Europe. It
will come around and bite them on the backside, soon enough mind you. The
Covid-19 crisis is not finished yet, so Europe's economy could face harsh
times ahead. It would be interesting to see who will be blamed again for being
corrupt and lazy, and will be asked to pay the price.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
The only serious and helpful to Greece consequences that Turkey faced, came
from the other side of the Atlantic. The US administration finally and despite
Trump's objections, proceeded with sanctioning Erdogan's government by
<a
href="https://foreignpolicy.com/2020/12/10/trump-sanction-turkey-s400-russia-f35/"
>kicking Turkey out of the F-35 fighter jet program</a
>. Even though the American actions were not necessarily a result of US
support towards Greece, rather a punishment of Turkey for purchasing Russian
S-400 air defense system in July 2019. Still, it was a welcomed move and a
relief for the Greeks, to see the Turks without the latest US made aircrafts.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
The reluctance of the West to punish Turkey, can be summed up by
<a
href="https://www.ekathimerini.com/260126/article/ekathimerini/news/nato-chief-calls-for-positive-approaches-on-turkey"
>NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg's statement</a
>, prior to the EU Summit last Thursday. Mr Stoltenberg stressed that the
bloc’s leaders must not to forget the country’s importance to the
transatlantic alliance and the West at large. “We need to make sure that we
realize the importance of Turkey as part of NATO and also as part of the
Western family,” he said.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
I wonder then, since the West is so keen in keeping Turkey in its circles no
matter what, why isn't the country in the EU yet. In fact, why aren't both
Norway and Turkey members of the block, since Mr Stoltenberg is so keen in
keeping the Turks part of the West. Norway can mediate for Turkey to join the
EU and Schengen Area once it does, plus accept its workers, just like Germany.
It could also help finance the costs of Turkish integration into the EU, thus
cementing the country's place in the Western sphere. Instead, the Norwegians
are happy to cherry pick their engagement and involvement with Europe, as they
are lecturing us about who should stay in the Western family.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
It is what the Turks want after all. Greece and Cyprus are paying the price
for the decades long debate in Europe, if it should accept Turkey as a full
member. Erdogan is blackmailing the EU by constantly attacking Greece, or
weaponising and using the refugees. And the Europeans are just standing by and
watch indecisively, as the Turkish President is being persistent in his
demands.
</p>
<p></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
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<p>
<a
href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/11/21/erdogan-calls-on-eu-for-dialogue-says-turkeys-future-in-europe"
>Erdogan has repeatedly called on the European Union for dialogue</a
>, warning the bloc not to become a “tool for enmities” during escalating
tensions over the Eastern Mediterranean. “We expect the EU to keep its
promises, not to discriminate against us. We don’t see ourselves elsewhere but
in Europe. We envisage building our future together with Europe,” he stated in
a video address to his party congress, in the end of last November.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
After the EU Council meeting,
<a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/world/2020/1211/1183840-turkey-sanctions/"
>he stated that the sanctions imposed were unlawful and biased</a
>. "There are a lot of rights that should be given to Turkey by the EU
countries from visa liberalisation to the customs exemption. I hope this
process will be finalised in a fair manner," he said. It is what Turkey wants,
since 1987 when it applied for EU membership. But Europe has dragged the
debate and negotiations for too long, so the Turks grow impatient.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
Greece and Cyprus are caught in this conflict and held as hostages, to
increase the pressure which Erdogan places on the European leadership, for
Turkey to be accepted and integrated further into European institutions.
However, in reality Europeans do not desire Turkey in the EU. The public
opinion is staunchly against it in its majority, plus it will require major
effort, reforms and funds, to digest a large member state such as Turkey.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
Consequently, Greece must overspend in order to fend off Turkish threats, as
the West gets richer by the constant supply of arms to either the Greeks or
the Turks themselves. It is clear that the situation is not only the two
nations' fault, but also the result of European and American hypocricy and
double standards.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
First they lure Turkey into the Western "family" of nations, to prevent it
from ending up as a Russian ally,or a regional power of its own. They offer it
partial access to the European market, just enough to keep it hooked, as they
benefit from the country's resources and strategic location. But they do
whatever it is in their power, not to accept it as a full member, because it
would hurt their economy and they would face a back-clash by their own voters
back home.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
Greece is being treated in a similar way. It is forced to bear a great deal of
the burden to protect Europe's outer borders, plus become the punching bag of
Turkish desperation and aggression, in order to blackmail the Europeans to
fulfill their promises. Thus, it is being forced to buy weapons it does not
need, so that it can cope with Turkey's threats. Yet it is being mocked as it
overspends and it is being forced to become Europe's debt colony, or dumping
ground as an outcome.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
Additionally, when Europe decides to stand up to Russia by quickly applying
economic sanctions against it, something that it refuses to do against the
Turks, Greece must follow suit, even if it hurts its economy. We cannot export
to Russia our own goods, plus we need their tourism. Not only Europe stops us
from trading with a country that we have traditionally good relations with,
but it does not compensate us when we lose out as we join their power games,
nor it supports us when we need their help agaist our neighbour, Turkey.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
The EU is far from being a block of solidarity. In fact it makes the very
meaning of the word an utter joke, when it uses it to celebrate its successes.
Germany monopolizes the EU and is pushing its own agenda, which is often doing
nothing. Others like Poland and Hungary recently, have taken the whole of the
EU as a hostage, when they blocked the much laboured and debated COVID
recovery fund, that would benefit all during the current pandemic emergency.
In order to blackmail the rest of the members, they thought fit to delay its
approval to serve their own interests. Something that the Dutch and the
"Frugals" have also done before them.
</p>
<p></p>
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<p>
It is time for Europe to make up its mind on what it wants out of Turkey, and
stick by this decision. If it wants to appease America and keep Turkey close
and in Western ranks, then it is the US that must pay up for the Turkish
integration into the EU. Alternatively, Europe could part ways with American
interests in the region, or its own for that matter, and allow Turkey to go it
alone or with Russia, whatever the cost. But it will then be clear that the
Turks can stop dreaming about EU membership once and for all. Greece should
not be paying the price of this situation indefinitely.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
<a
href="https://www.reuters.com/article/turkey-eu-erdogan/turkeys-erdogan-says-any-eu-sanctions-would-not-have-big-impact-idUSKBN28J17A"
>
Prior the EU Council meeting, Erdogan went on to shrug off any potential EU
and US measures</a
>. “Any sanctions decision that can be taken against Turkey do not concern us
much. On the eastern Mediterranean, we will continue to protect whatever our
rights there are,” he stated. If he sticks to his words, then it is clear that
Europeans are just kicking the bucket further down to spring, and by then the
Turks will make an utter joke of the EU and its so called solidarity.
</p>
<p></p>
<p>
Erdogan has openly insulted the French President Emmanuel Macron, that does
not seem to bother France's European partners.He keeps defying the EU and the
US by continuing sending Turkish ships to drill in Cypriot waters or violate
the Greek ones, but still European countries are concerned about their banks
or investments in Turkey. One country has taken the whole block of countries
as hostage and has proven that it can force it to back down or postpone any
decisions, solely on their own financial interests. But that will utlimately
prove to be detrimental to any EU global diplomatic aspirations, that it may
have for the future as an emerging power.
</p>
<p></p>
The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-33179922548967313792020-12-01T18:41:00.000+00:002020-12-01T18:41:45.743+00:00How can the US Presidential Election result, potentially affect Europe's future.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ntzruhQIRa-WgIhfdiIli-wX_NEZm3kRBi8ra2sawDnhPE6lv2iKOwccx1pKd2voDNQRh9xb0G4M2mhSGgYOpkb2JIrHA6u5muYPhkF-vRs8deTT1MDVGffudcQ5hnXFzDL3x5fQmJQ/s1440/1440x810_cmsv2_014abc74-9ee9-5fef-b1e4-95b33ccd88dc-5098316.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="810" data-original-width="1440" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ntzruhQIRa-WgIhfdiIli-wX_NEZm3kRBi8ra2sawDnhPE6lv2iKOwccx1pKd2voDNQRh9xb0G4M2mhSGgYOpkb2JIrHA6u5muYPhkF-vRs8deTT1MDVGffudcQ5hnXFzDL3x5fQmJQ/s400/1440x810_cmsv2_014abc74-9ee9-5fef-b1e4-95b33ccd88dc-5098316.jpg"/></a></div><p>At last we managed to see the end of the US Presidential Election 2020 saga, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2020/dec/01/us-election-results-2020-joe-biden-defeats-donald-trump-to-win-presidency">with Joe Biden finaly securing his victory over Donald Trump</a>. And while many in Europe were highly interested in the outcome, primarily siding with Biden, I was largely uninterested. One reason is of course, that during the past few years, the American electoral campaigns have become similar to a reality show, shameful, catty and spiteful. Plus the fact that I never considered myself an Atlanticist, rather a pro-European. <p>
<p> But do not get me wrong, it is not that I do not appreciate the importance of the outcome, or who will preside over USA and his government's relations with Europe. It is simply that I would ideally prefered a more independent and united Europe, plus a multipolar world. Something that hardcore Atlanticists reject as they view of the utmost importance, the dominance of the Western alliance between North America and Western Europe over other competing regions. In other words, they want to keep the current balance or power and status quo intact, to protect their interests, which are not shared by everyone on the planet. <p>
<p>However, the European supporters of this long-standing alliance, forget that ultimatelly a US President will promote the affairs of his or her own country first. So no matter who gets elected, Europe will have to adjust to their demands or requests. The German Chancellor Angela Merkel, rushed to congratulate President Elect Joe Biden in early November, stating that <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/angela-merkel-joe-biden-europe-will-take-more-responsibility/">Europe is ready to take more responsibility</a>.
<p>Thus, I wonder if the European Atlanticists really comprehend what this means. For some time now, the US-and rightly so, demanded more European military spending under the NATO frame, plus further engagement in it. However, public opinion in most countries, apart in those who are located on the borders of Europe like Greece, were firmly against it. So why are they cheering for Biden? It is clear that he will seek to restore US-EU relations, with a significant focus on their military alliance. <p>
<p> In Ireland where I live, the traditional "underline the Irish roots of the new US President" hype settled once more, as the news of Biden's victory emerged. The President Elect, has Irish ancestry and like many before him, which gave such joy to the country's public. However, although Ireland enjoys so many benefits from US favoritism and investments, I wonder if they will be happy to pick up the tab on further military expenditure, or must countries such as Greece appease the American presure on this matter again. As Ireland and other states like Sweden or Austria are outside NATO, they get all the benefits from the Europe-USA alliance and stability or "protection" that it provides, yet they are managing to escape the obligations. It is brilliant when others have to pay for your security of course.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihpweWc8XbViVdVeYWW9JUauf4QV-bzaOl5kBsxpnmQkEF_0Sg5_vKByLCks7nOO7DWfKPTV0_IUMdGmPP-2ypuq07vVpCMYY8cjlB_HJhO3iCCS4fsep8JJPDt_fEgbnm8apL8dPxcY/s1320/GettyImages-462904218-1320x831.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="831" data-original-width="1320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiihpweWc8XbViVdVeYWW9JUauf4QV-bzaOl5kBsxpnmQkEF_0Sg5_vKByLCks7nOO7DWfKPTV0_IUMdGmPP-2ypuq07vVpCMYY8cjlB_HJhO3iCCS4fsep8JJPDt_fEgbnm8apL8dPxcY/s400/GettyImages-462904218-1320x831.jpg"/></a></div><p> Still, military expenditure is only one issue that will require reconfiguration after the Trump presidency. The EU-US trade wars, the Paris Agreement, or the Iran Nuclear deal are matters that also must be addressed. During the erratic Trump administration, many achievements that Europe and the US accomplished together, were scrapped. That bewildered European leaders, as they witnessed their most trusted and loyal ally, not only abandoning them on their own, but also turning against them. So understandably, many wished for the normalization of the relations between the two sides. But has anyone questioned what this will mean for the future of Europe? <p>
<p> With previous US governments, Europe was relying on American protection and investements, like a child or adolescent requires constant guidance and provisions from its parents. But I wonder if the Atlanticists ever considered what Europe had to relinquish in order to enter into an agreement with its Atlantic partners, or what our continent had to compromise in order to convince the Americans to pay for its protection. And from whom by the way, or how do American investments and companies, influence social policies in Europe? <p>
<p>Under Trump, we saw a more self-centered US, with slogans like "make America great again". However, we also witnessed the polarization of the American society, as it naturally happens in any attempt to change the course of a country's policies. Never before a US President came under such ridicule, criticism and controversy as Trump did, dividing the US public opinion. But with a good reason too.<p>
<p>While his supporters were happy to see someone from outside their country's establishment ranks leading them, they ignored that Trump is not one of them either. He is a billionaire businessman, who although does not have a considerable political background, it is doubtful if his priorities were to serve the interests of the ordinary Americans. But rather of those elites which he represented, that were different to the ones who ruled the country for so long. In other words, he saw an opportunity and grabbed it, yet the fault lies on the US establishment's lap; if they did not ignore the public's plea or needs for many years, voters would not desperatelly turn away from them. <p>
<p> All the American establishment resulted in doing once it lost, was to ridicule and mock Donald Trump with every opportunity. Naturally this cemented the support of many for him, as themselves were also branded as "biggots". That kind of simplistic stereotypicality is often not working though, as it brings the opposite results. It was in fact unnerving and amusing at the sametime to watch, the daily sinking of the US politics into a farce and comedy. And Trump was basking in the attention he was receiving.<p>
<p>One had only to follow him on Twitter, to realize that we are not dealing with a politician. Sometimes I wonder if his son, or some teenager was posting the tweets, yet that made him more appealing to some US voters. That daily dose of direct communication from their President without the political jargon, false promises or academic grandiose, is perhaps what they seek or need. Trump is not the idiot that the American elites portray him to be. He is a self-serving and self-centered narcissist yes, but underestimating him and his supporters is what brought him into power; almost twice. <p>
<p>It is clear now that the USA and the Biden administration, need to keep the lessons that they hopefully learned for the past four years. They will have to try and mend their country, which means that most likely, some of Trump's legacy will have to linger, in order to appease his voters and unite the American society. Something that of course Europe must take into account too, if they expect an instant and absolute U-turn in EU-US relations.<p>
<p>Understandably, the European elites are wishing for a quick return to "business as usual". In some matters like climate and the Iran deal it is indeed crucial and necessary. Not just Europe but the world needs a more engaged and compliant USA in those issues, since they are imperative for humanity's future and the stability in the Middle East. However there are other topics involved. Europe often expects America's cooperation and support when dealing with China or Russia, and vice versa. Something that in certain cases does more harm than good.<p>
<p>By constantly trying to keep Russian interests out of Europe and the country subordinate to Western affairs, we are pushing them right to the arms of China, thus strengthening our "opponents" instead of weakening them. For that reason, Vladimir Putin's government was favoring Trump, as Biden represents the establishment and they are not too keen on Russia's influence in our continent. Trump was an outsider, a businessman that cares little for decades old politics and status. He just wanted to make sure that his supporters were happy, while his partners had their financial interests served. Something that was suitable for Russian attempts to expand theirs further to the West and elsewhere.<p>
<p>As for China, the Atlanticists believe that a US-EU alliance, has better chances in standing firm against the increasing Chinese assertiveness, and force them to back down. You see, the battle is purely based on our elites' interests, or who will maintain the lion's share in everything; energy, trade and resources. Until recently, the West monopolised most of the forementioned, so understandably it doesn't want to lose its priviledges with no fight or negotiations. <p>
<p> However, it was the Western expansion with its political and financial ideologies prevailing, that triggered globalization, so how can we now be so fearful of the challenges and changes that it brings. When all our industries were escaping to China to benefit from the country's cheaper labour, we still refrained from protectionism as it would clash with what we were preaching at the time; open and globalized economy, free market etc. The benefits would apparently "trickle down" to the rest of us and we would all enjoy affordable goods, "made in China".<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ObwhjD1ZuRixjyCzselhN6e9Y6Z-gpMB8pRuvCH8Vyf7fhKOikRgNjRjPCGGbWgBaQ46dHm3nTAFygTqXR8RMpcWJsNru8KYrRMBKR55aJ4k5cR810cqE2gpWenGje0eaUMpeIVDXqY/s800/shutterstock_1054603664-1-800x450.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2ObwhjD1ZuRixjyCzselhN6e9Y6Z-gpMB8pRuvCH8Vyf7fhKOikRgNjRjPCGGbWgBaQ46dHm3nTAFygTqXR8RMpcWJsNru8KYrRMBKR55aJ4k5cR810cqE2gpWenGje0eaUMpeIVDXqY/s400/shutterstock_1054603664-1-800x450.jpg"/></a></div><p> The same practice continues to this day, with other emerging economies entering the competition for wealth and resources. As they should really, because the more they remain poor and the world unequal, we will have to constantly be dealing with refugees, migration, conflict, poverty and instability around the globe. However, can we treat all of them the same way we do China and Russia in the future? Can we afford to engage in never-ending conflict with every country or block, which wishes to challenge Western hegemony and compete with it and at what cost?<p>
<p>Instead of let's say a US-China "trade war" in which Europe must take sides, and hopefully it does not develop into a real military confrontation, we could maintain the bilateral agreements with numerous parties, that we have in place now. Plus, rather of a costly discord,we could all just invest those billions that could be potentially lost, into developing new industries, greener or otherwise. This in contrast to lets say, allowing them to leave for countries with cheaper workforce, offer them insentives to stay and develop in Europe.<p>
<p>If we resolve in siding with the US in an effort to secure their dominance around the globe, hoping for a favorable treatment, we could end up carrying the can for any failure that may ensure and find ourselves engaging in conflicts that offer us little benefits. In addition, if we are forced to sit down and negotiate with any other party as result of such "wars", with lets-say China or whoever else, we may have to compromise or sacrifice a lot in order to get what we want. Or more accurately what America wants. And we have already done so, to entice US companies to invest in Europe. <p>
<p>To achieve American investments, European governments had often to completely reform their societies, sacrificing social security and worker's rights. If we end up doing the same with China, which of their demands we will have to adopt? It could be wiser to start investing money in Europe, instead of saving banks and repeatedly requiring to attract investments from others, while we side with one party solely, which it has proven to have doubts on their future position in the world and its relationship with Europe. As someone else has already stated, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/nov/08/donald-trump-trumpism-republicans-democrats">Trump may have gone, but "Trumpism" could be here to stay</a>, at least for a while. So where does this leave the future EU-US relations? <p>
<p>No matter how long-standing our relationship is, we should not be returning to what we had previously. If the US wants more responsibilities from our part, then Europe should grant them this wish and finally grow up; initially militarily, which will translate politically too. If we do not rely on others for our "protection", then we can have a more independent foreign policy, that sometimes could be close and adjacent to that of America, in other occasions not so much. For too long we looked to the US to fix our own problems, because we do not trust other EU members, thus becoming their subordinate.<p>
<p> So in this matter, the Biden administration may not prove to be what everyone expects in Europe. Instead of blowing our horns out of joy, we should wait to see what it may unfold. Trump may have left us alone, but this is not necessary all bad. We should have grasped the opportunity to forge ahead towards our own future, instead of waiting for America's decision on their internal affairs or future path, while we are unable to agree on our own unanimously.<p>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-58976176734696051962020-11-19T22:24:00.003+00:002020-11-19T23:35:54.709+00:00It is time for Greece to leave NATO, since it fails to secure its interests. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2FUwCO44OAQkTj2WVgkTC5m6YI5NzXbUMoeTU7Bc4ZJXJaqktR04UL8T-L8JUK9TC6-rtc97g-5W9OZd9SPAYSfwrTA8lah3z9hUmRQz0e8W0gnDPcXlOvkzFdlKgfg6p3hcGiqo29U/s400/5qOgp86g_400x400.png" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV2FUwCO44OAQkTj2WVgkTC5m6YI5NzXbUMoeTU7Bc4ZJXJaqktR04UL8T-L8JUK9TC6-rtc97g-5W9OZd9SPAYSfwrTA8lah3z9hUmRQz0e8W0gnDPcXlOvkzFdlKgfg6p3hcGiqo29U/s400/5qOgp86g_400x400.png"/></a></div><p> As the EU has postponed to make any decision on Turkey's aggression towards two of its members, Greece and Cyprus, until later this year, it is evident that coming into an agreement won't be easy. Witnessing how Poland and Hungary, joined by Slovenia has recently vetoed the <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2020/11/18/morawiecki-and-orban-step-up-attacks-on-eu-over-rule-of-law-debate-on-eve-of-summit">EU's €750bn coronavirus recovery plan</a> because cash payments to member states would be conditional on their respect for rule of law, it is highly unlikely that there will be any agreement on Turkey. Many EU members have vested interests in the country, notably Germany, but also Italy, Spain, Malta and the Netherlands. Since national vetoes still apply, then we should not hold our breath for a united European front towards Turkish aggression.<p>
<p> Not able to get any support by its EU "allies" but also from USA, as the latter is embattled in its own problems with Trump and the recent presidential election outcome, Greece resorted in what it knows best: going on a arms shopping spree, to convince its "partners" to help it. Since Cyprus only got its 33 year arms embargo by the US, lifted last September, Greece has until now been spending on weaponry to protect both nations. Ten years ago though, it was scolded by the rest of Europe for "overspending" and getting the eurozone into trouble, even though it was German submarines that it spent its money on.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ujIsp-nHRXo4ikrAwBEl6UnWNMDHuyIs7yOqf9-p5-w1R2LG3sW09IPbNs_7rUCxDHoQ1K7dQWG4ktQEELFVZ0Gc16mC7ihw4_GSGMX9uzb2i_484-u0FvhPdq25uOzBb9dK118pcRk/s1338/Greece-confirms-intent-to-buy-French-Rafale-fighters.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="891" data-original-width="1338" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ujIsp-nHRXo4ikrAwBEl6UnWNMDHuyIs7yOqf9-p5-w1R2LG3sW09IPbNs_7rUCxDHoQ1K7dQWG4ktQEELFVZ0Gc16mC7ihw4_GSGMX9uzb2i_484-u0FvhPdq25uOzBb9dK118pcRk/s400/Greece-confirms-intent-to-buy-French-Rafale-fighters.jpg"/></a></div><p>So for the past couple of months,Greece was been negotiating with it's Western "allies", and agreed to buy 18 Rafale aircrafts from France, 6 new and 12 used, at the price of 2 billion euro. It also reached an agreement with the US, to buy <a href="https://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/greece-applies-to-us-to-buy-2-dozen-f-35-jets-160124">24 F-35 fighters </a>at the approximate price of another 2 billion euro. Finally, it is negotiating with France, Germany and the US again, to get 4 new frigate ships. The price of these will vary from over <a href="https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2019/11/mmsc-for-hellenic-navy-no-the-cost-is-not-e-2-billion-it-is-double-the-amount/">4 billion euro if Greece buys them from USA</a>, or somewhere between 3,5 to 6 billion euro if it decides to buy them from France or Germany. We are discussing about anything between 7 to 10 billion euro, just for 42 new aircrafts and 4 new frigate ships, after only buying two more <a href="https://www.defenseworld.net/news/25648/Greece_to_Buy_2_FTI_frigates_from_France#.X7baVIj7TIU">from France last year</a>, at the price of close to 2 billion. <p>
<p>One of course can put the blame on Greece alone, for spending money while its national dept stands at 370 billion euro, as of 2020. By 2024 it is projected to grow to <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/270409/national-debt-of-greece/">375 billion</a>. But on the other hand, how do Greece's "allies" really help the very country they scolded for overspending, by racing to sell it billion euro worth of weaponry? They could instead, sanction Turkey, expell it from NATO or the EU Customs Union Agreement. But that would not place billions into their coffers, would it?<p>
<p> So it is a wonder why is Greece still in NATO, since it has to protect itself from its own "allies". Frozing its membership, leaving or paying less into the alliance's budget, could save it billions in fact. And it is not unthinkable. In the past both Greece and France were on the verge of leaving. In 1964, due to the Cyprus crisis, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withdrawal_from_NATO#France">Greece withdrew military units from NATO forces</a> in the Southern Mediterranean, over threats of invasion of Cyprus by fellow NATO member Turkey. Later in 1974 due to the invasion of Cyprus by Turkish forces, Greece withdrew from NATO military command. The country did not withdraw entirely from the organisation however, but became significantly less active.<p>
<P>In 1980, the Greek foreign minister Konstantinos Mitsotakis made remarks about the situation where he could see Greece fully withdrawing from the organisation. However, later "diplomatic pressure" from the United States led to Greece fully re-integrating with the alliance. One can only imagine what this pressure was, most likelly it resembled bullying and threats to favor Turkey further. Greece must finally understand that it does not need the West as much, rather the other way around. It has a very geostrategic location, which other powers such as Russia and China, would fight over to establish bases or get access to.<p>
<p> In addition, there are other markets to buy cheaper weaponry from, if we really have to. The West is not the only arms seller on this planet, nor it has a monopoly on this trade. Turkey itself resolved in buying Russian S-400 misiles, angering but also sending a warning and a cautioning message to the US; and their bluff worked. The Americans ideally do not want Turkey to fall into Russian arms, thus they are now overly tolerant about their treatment of Greece, a NATO member and ally. The West naturally does not want either Greece or Turkey to break away from its circle of influence and thus it gives us an advantage, instead of a disadvantage.If the Turks can bluff, why not the Greeks who they have to constantly act like subordinates and beggars for support by Europe and the USA?<p>
<p>Even France froze its NATO membership in the past. In 1966 due to souring relations between Washington and Paris because of the refusal to integrate France's nuclear deterrent with other North Atlantic powers, or accept any collective form of control over its armed forces, the French <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Withdrawal_from_NATO#France">president Charles de Gaulle downgraded France's membership in NATO</a> and withdrew France from the U.S.-led military command to pursue an independent defense system. However, the twenty-year rule prevented France from completely leaving NATO altogether. One consequence of this withdrawal was the movement of NATO's Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe from Rocquencourt (in France) to the city of Mons in Belgium.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUiITCKIt03xFa74v11oy1-AXp6A3J1VJnDV-3MG-awTBq9pMMJUjLtaaJSTelYLYxsswe_Tu9usC45Bib17vfrNmxOJKzElwuTbG1G_CuPyotHe6toSqm7D-B6FjC9siessgn95n3QM/s934/DD-COMPOSITE-NATO-TABLE.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; clear: left; float: left;"><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="750" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOUiITCKIt03xFa74v11oy1-AXp6A3J1VJnDV-3MG-awTBq9pMMJUjLtaaJSTelYLYxsswe_Tu9usC45Bib17vfrNmxOJKzElwuTbG1G_CuPyotHe6toSqm7D-B6FjC9siessgn95n3QM/s400/DD-COMPOSITE-NATO-TABLE.jpg"/></a></div><p>Greece needs to wake up and stand up for itself, instead of constantly play the "good pupil" to the Western Powers. It is one of the few nations of NATO, that fullfils its contribution requirement to the alliance, that of 2% of its GDP. Only the US, Britain, Poland and Estonia are meeting the same criteria. All other NATO members, including Turkey, the much richer Germany, France, the Netherlands, Norway or Luxembourg, fall short. So it is in fact NATO that will lose out substantially, if Greece freezes it membership, spends less like the Germans, or actually finds the courage and leave.<p>
<p> NATO countries should come into a coclusion about what they should do about Turkey and soon. Same as the EU. If they continue serving their own interests in the region or simply their finances, then they will have no right accusing Greece of overspending, when the next eurozone crisis-which is only a matter of time, happens. Like the last time, it will throw the block into another blame game of who will pay the bill, just as 10 years ago. Resulting of course, to the peripheral countries seeing their next generation bearing the burden and being slandered in order to bully them into submission.<p>
<p> Even Europe's favorite former <a href="https://www.ekathimerini.com/259287/article/ekathimerini/news/obama-criticizes-german-french-insistence-on-austerity-during-greek-debt-crisis">US President Barack Obama, in his recent published memoirs criticized Berlin but also Paris</a>, for insisting on fiscal austerity during the years of Greece’s financial crisis. “I noticed that they rarely mentioned that German and French banks were some of Greece’s biggest lenders, or that much of Greeks’ accumulated debt had been racked up buying German and French exports – facts that might have made clear to voters why saving the Greeks from default amounted to saving their own banks and industries”. <p>
<p>“Maybe they worried that such an admission would turn voter attention away from failures of successive Greek governments and toward the failures of those German or French officials charged with supervising bank lending practices,” as Obama wrote. That statement makes it clear that Europe owes an apology to Greece for its treatment 10 years ago. Numerous Greek thinkers like me, that were fighting for some compassion and understanding when trying to explain to our European "partners" that it is very unfair for us to bear the whole debt of the eurozone, were met with derogatory remarks, like "learn to pay your taxes," when they have never lived in Greece obviously.<p>
<p>While Ireland that was also forced to enter an EU/IMF bailout, was not humiliated in the same way as Greece, despite having numerous shortcomings in its own economy and not only a "banking structural problem" as many were left to believe. I live in this country and when comparing it to Greece, I do not see much difference between the two, apart from the tax regime and the ease that one can open a company in Ireland, something that is required in an economy that relies solely on foreign multinationals.Something the Greece recently also adopted.<p>
<p> To conclude, as a Greek I cannot support my country's NATO membership any longer, and I am increasingly becoming skeptical about the future of EU. Although ideally I would be all for a European federation of some sort, with a single economy and currency, when I witness how members of the block treat each other, I cannot condone to my nation's treatment by its partners. If this situation continues, I would rather revert the EU into EEA or a free trade block, similar to that of Switzerland's relations with the EU, rather than insisting on a "dream" of European unity, when there is none, or shared equally by everyone on board. <p>
<p> Europe should have offered its full and unconditional support to Greece and Cyprus by now, however they chose to preserve their own interests in Turkey, the Balkans and the East Mediterranean. Offering masks during the Covid-19 pandemic and celebrating "European Solidarity", makes a mockery of the very notion of the word solidarity; it is childish and petty, sorry.<p>
The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-43913332760657164102020-11-03T22:11:00.002+00:002020-11-03T22:16:20.903+00:00Europe must abandon its complexes on migration and integration to debate openly on these issues.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsqVTT7TJp_1WjRn86rhyqwQjUDnmu59qJpSTYutGekR9RTV8ep7_2Gvu5flB0l9YdwH9AqMQYxnH98aU7YqL8V3SI_tPS9F9HDdk2NZk4HNW4dq8TVt9dZPUmuH8kUeCfCj5M8XwUaA/s500/00158d63-500.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="281" data-original-width="500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsqVTT7TJp_1WjRn86rhyqwQjUDnmu59qJpSTYutGekR9RTV8ep7_2Gvu5flB0l9YdwH9AqMQYxnH98aU7YqL8V3SI_tPS9F9HDdk2NZk4HNW4dq8TVt9dZPUmuH8kUeCfCj5M8XwUaA/s400/00158d63-500.jpg"/></a></div><p> Ever since the killing of the French teacher Samuel Paty in a Paris suburb on October the 16th, France-and potentially Europe has entered another circle of violence and bloodshed. Samuel was targeted by a teenage muslim refugee of Chechen descent, for simply trying to teach people like him, freedom of speech and ultimately, that of thought.The 47 year old teacher, has repeatedly shown numerous Charlie Hebdo cartoon images of Muhammad in his class, in an effort to convince his students to accept and understand the French mentality and culture of satirical cartoons. <p>
<p>Paty was brutally beheaded outside the school he was teaching and his killer was shot dead by the French police. Consequently, France has found itself once again at the epicenter of an ongoing debate in Europe: immigration, integration, refugees and Islam. Following the teacher's death,the Minister of the Interior Gérald Darmanin ordered that the Grande Mosque de Pantin,just our of Paris, was to be closed for six months. The mosque, has published videos inciting against Samuel Paty. Government buildings were projected with some of the Muhammad cartoon images, in defiance and tribute to Paty. <p>
<p> But as expected, this was only the beginning. Many muslim majority nations around the globe protested against France and its President, angered by the cartoons. Even more so, with their relations already strained after their Eastern Mediterranean fall-out, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has questioned Macron's mental health, calling for a boycott of french goods. Soon after another terrorist attack took place in the country almost two weeks since Paty's murder, this time in Nice. An additional three victims were killed in Notre-Dame de Nice, the city's Roman Catholic Basilica by a Tunisian migrant. Also, a security guard at a French consulate in Saudi Arabia was wounded by a man with a knife.<p>
<p> The French admitted that they are fighting a war against an enemy that is both inside and outside, as Minister Damarnin <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Nice_stabbing">stated</a> recently. Naturally, the country has already deported over 200 suspected islamists, most of them who were already in jail. As a response to Turkey's provocations, France has just announced that it will ban the Turkish nationalist group "Grey Wolves" from the country.<p>
<p> As I was writing this piece, another islamist terror attack has hit Europe, this time in Vienna; leaving another four people dead there and a city in fear as most of the attackers are still on the run. Obviously the this was not a "lone-wolf" act, but a coordinated and planned crime. It only remains to be seen if it is the last, or others will follow across our continent. Britain is on red alert however, according the <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-54799377">latest news</a>. <p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFGjMs5LyJtkl_Zr5kUtkcCVPIIHvLWpGPkhkDCs1uT3hu8b2GItx-Tx2OmA0Qa8DAqhQzespVVTcnxVBkCz1IZ4dAwbJDYHrAjiUEdFuu_Y3HAeMmHIWZ6FUQ07h_GTYgMiUMW9GcF4/s364/Charlie_Hebdo_Tout_est_pardonn%25C3%25A9.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" height="400" data-original-height="364" data-original-width="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGFGjMs5LyJtkl_Zr5kUtkcCVPIIHvLWpGPkhkDCs1uT3hu8b2GItx-Tx2OmA0Qa8DAqhQzespVVTcnxVBkCz1IZ4dAwbJDYHrAjiUEdFuu_Y3HAeMmHIWZ6FUQ07h_GTYgMiUMW9GcF4/s400/Charlie_Hebdo_Tout_est_pardonn%25C3%25A9.jpg"/></a></div>
<p> It is about time Europe decided how to act and crack down on islamists for good. For the past 14 years, over 300 Europeans have been killed by radicals and ISIS sympathisers and the increasing trend looks set becoming a commonality. If we count how many have also been killed by counter attacks by nationalists and far-right extremists, then we have a toxic, vengeful mix and circle of death. This needs to stop. <p>
<p> It is a very sensitive matter of course, when it comes to religion, ethnicity and race. We are feeling uncomfortable discussing such issues, in fear of offending our minorities or being branded as racists or communists. We should not. Our continent has become multicultural and it is not something new. In the affluent parts of Europe, this process has started since the '50s. In fact, avoiding an open discussing lead us to where we are right now.<p>
<p> For many years we allowed our capitals to grow migrant ghettos, unable to either point out the problem or make a serious effort integrating these communities. In addition, we failed to form a well coordinated immigration policy in the EU, with each member state trying to control its own laws on the matter. Due to old colonial ties, a complex of "what we have done to other countries" or pure negligence, we gave residence rights to more people than our changing economies could accomodate.<p>
<p>Once most of our industries left to relocate in Asia, we did not need as many workers any more for our factories. But for years we found it difficult to reform the laws that allowed and enticed migrants to enter Europe, or change the type of worker we needed to attract and match our working force needs. The result was a poor class of predominantly migrant background of low skilled individuals, that did not feel welcomed or wanted anymore in their adopted countries. Additionally, many of our native poorer social groups, felt left out and their needs not addressed, because of an increasing social gap and inequality in our continent. <p>
<p> The above groups became "the enemy from within". Angry and dissatisfied young people of migrant background, not sure where they belong and similarly another type of youth, that of native European ancestry with few opportunities to education and employment. Both easily radicalizedby either nationalist extremist groups, or islamists and ISIS supporters.<p>
<p> Although the majority of muslims in Europe are peaceful, one cannot ignore the growing threat of radical islam. To tackle the latter and make sure it does not harm the relations with the entire muslim community in our continent, governments and local authorities must be mobilized. We need finally a plan to integrate as many of our immigrants and establish a common immigration policy. We share outer borders and we have abolised our internal ones. Such matters should begin being tackled collectively. Why for example must we import more workers for a new factory in Austria, while we have many unemployed, homegrown, second generation migrants living in Brussels or Paris.<p>
<p> Many will argue that these people will refuse to move because they are here "to milk the generous European social security system". But have we given them the chance and even more importantly, the educational background and skills to do so? They are after all, EU citizens and they should be able to move around as freely within the block, as the rest of us.Instead of marginalize and institutionalize them, perhaps we could start teaching them languages and the mentality of belonging in this continent. <p>
<p> Secondly, the migrant communities themselves, must learn to not only isolate, but discourage and hand over to authorities all suspects for a potential terror attack, or radicals. Just condemning after the did is done, does not do much to solve the problem. Islamists hurt them as much as the rest of the European society and we should all unite against any form or terror, homegrown or imported.<p>
<p> As for the newly arrived extremists, such as the case of the Tunisian man who killed three people in Nice, we will have to impose tougher Europe wide immigration laws. Radicals can enter from any point in our continent and can easily be connected to other like-minded people from across the block. Trying to control who enters Europe and who stays out, has nothing to do with racism, but security.Not everyone has the best intentions and why should they be allowed in after all.Plus, we cannot offer employment or the dream-life to everyone on this planet. We should rather promote stability and wealth across the globe, so potential migrants can achieve their full potential at home. <p>
<p> But to reach this goal, we also need to tackle another impediment. That of our own complex of past actions during the Holocaust and WW2, or the colonial era. Many crimes were committed by Europeans, against others of their kin and people native to the lands they colonized alike, in those times. Trying to atone ourselves by adopting too flexible laws on immigration, lack of debate and avoiding to address our integration issues, plus failing to admit that some of our policies are not working, only causes further anger, frustration and divisions among the people who inhabit our continent.<p>
<p>We have to realize that if it wasn’t Europeans colonizing the globe, it would be someone else. We should of course acknowledge the mistakes and the atrocities but also take into account that not only Europe used slavery and not the whole of Europe either. And despite all, Europe shaped most of the modern world with its expansionism. Many nations from Oceania, Asia, the Americas and Africa owe a big part of who they are today to European colonialism. The wealth-not just the financial but the cultural, architectural, artistic etc, that Europe enjoys today would not be possible without colonialism.<p>
<p>Europe would be poorer without it and thus the rest of the world too. In addition, there are two sides in this coin. Those were different times, shaped by different cultures and mentality. Must we hold accountable the ancient Romans and Greeks for having slaves too, or the Arabs and Ottomans or Vikings who had European slaves? A practice of the past must not poison our current relations with the world. Time to rid off our guilt and complex and move on, with more awareness and knowledge. That does not imply forgetting. <p>
<p> Immigration should stop being a taboo. Deportation of those who fail or refuse to integrate too. Perhaps others are more deserving and suitable to be given a chance to contribute to our societies and are being left out. Issues of race, religion or ethnicity should also cease to be impermissible. Why our very nature, which is rich and diverse, should be something that we are ashamed of discussing?<p>
<i>I would like to offer my sincere condolences to all victims of the latest attrocities, especially to those close to Samuel Paty. A teacher's role is to challenge his pupil's minds, train them for free thinking; not just to provide them with "chewed" digestible knowledge which they will have to memorize. In that aspect, France and Europe lost a good teacher, someone that I would like to have in a class teaching my kids. Rest in Peace. </i>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-89577374640617958362020-10-20T08:01:00.000+01:002020-10-20T08:01:02.464+01:00Europe's East Mediterranean Fiasco. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VU_Q0Jz2PEAPTqNCDig4gCD59hDlpFtyA2JfcUNDs4Ml1HQdv6SFNrq_YTMobL5L6WWX9izHT6xz9_ZAf0OYv7LvsmrYiDs89oHZRSRg1dn7nXxQ75jFu-cUEnchBWlxMH1r0zLXsk4/s700/turkey_map1.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="334" data-original-width="700" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-VU_Q0Jz2PEAPTqNCDig4gCD59hDlpFtyA2JfcUNDs4Ml1HQdv6SFNrq_YTMobL5L6WWX9izHT6xz9_ZAf0OYv7LvsmrYiDs89oHZRSRg1dn7nXxQ75jFu-cUEnchBWlxMH1r0zLXsk4/s400/turkey_map1.jpg"/></a></div>
<p>In a post on <a href="https://greekherald.com.au/news/greece/turkey-claims-jurisdiction-over-half-aegean-new-provocati/">Twitter</a>, Turkey’s Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoglu, announced last Sunday that Turkey has expanded its search and rescue area of responsibility to cover the “Blue Homeland,” a doctrine which aspires to give Turkey control over the waters of the eastern Aegean and the northern Mediterranean.<p>
<p>In the map posted by Mr Karaismailoglu, half of the Aegean Sea- which is Greek and thus EU waters apparently, is assigned to Turkey's "Blue Homeland".That alone should have caused an uproar in the EU and Greece's European partners, but in reality after Germany's request, any decision on sanctions or action against Turkey, has been delayed until December.<p>
<p>Which of course means that Greece and Cyprus will have to just get used to Turkish ships violating their waters, while their European counterparts.. Are trying to achieve what exactly? The more they show disunity and reluctance in decisively dealing with Erdogan's government, the more he is going to test Greece and Europe to get what he wants.He will push it as far as he can, to challenge the EU.<p>
<p> Turkey has been signaling its intentions for some time now, yet Europe is unable to make up its mind on how to deal with its growing aggression and confidence. The involvement of Turkish troops in Northern Syria, Libya, the support towards Azerbaijan in its ongoing war against Armenia, never mind its treatment of Greece and Cyprus, should worry Europe. But for now, Germany remains calm and eager to appease Erdogan.<p>
<p>It is understandable that many EU countries have interests in Turkey and not just Germany; Italy, Malta, Spain, the Netherlands too, have agreements with the Turks. However if they do not act towards Turkey in the same way they acted against Belarus and Russia over Lukashenko and Navalny's poisoning, any efforts of the EU achieving credibility as a world player and political power, will be laughable. What use the EU will have, if it cannot protect its own member states from a third country, even on purely financial terms. <p>
<p> Recently Greece has signed some very successful agreements for gas exploration in the region with Israel and Cyprus. It also saw some billion worth investement from Microsoft. They are all in jeopardy if Greece enters into a war or conflict with Turkey, so it begs the question: does Europe really wants to see a prosperous and stable Greece and Southern Balkan region?<p>
<p> Right now the block is bound together by primarily financial agreements, with any effort for a single foreign policy and a bigger role in the world affairs, being blocked by national governments and their interests. Who can take seriously the EU then, if it mainly shoots its arrows towards Russia and China, which are foremost a threat to the American hegemony.<p>
<p>The only country which tried to bring some attention to its cause, was of course Cyprus. The tiny island nation took a stand and blocked sanctions against Belarus, if the same was not in consideration for Turkey. In the early October EU Summit however, it compromised and conceded to pressure from its partners, to give up its veto. We can only imagine what promises or threats its EU peers made, in order for Cyprus to agree. <p>
<p> Perhaps the recent decision by its government to give up its "golden passport" scheme, in which Cypriot- thus EU passport and effectively citizenship could be sold to millionaires from around the world in exchange of a hefty lump-sum, is a clue. The EU had its sight on this scheme for some time now, so most likely Cyprus had to give it up in exchange of something that is yet to be revealed.<p>
<p>Because Cyprus is not the only EU member state that adopted such practices. Malta and Bulgaria have the same scheme in place and although they have had similar criticism, they are yet to be compliant to the block's pressure, even it would be the right thing to do; a widespread EU ban on citizenship trade. <p>
<p>The island nation had it tough from Turkey since the '70s. Recently though, since Israel and Cyprus signed gas exploration deals, the Turks have been doing everything to harass and sabotage the Cypriot efforts. The aim of course is to pressure its leadership to accept co-exploration, or face permanent partition of the island.<p>
<p>In the recent election in the so called "Republic of Northern Cyprus", the Turkish Cypriot hardliner-<a href="https://www.dw.com/en/turkish-cypriot-hardliner-ousts-incumbent-president-in-northern-cyprus-vote/a-55314270">Ersin Tatar</a>, a nationalist who favors stronger ties with Turkey, scored a surprise victory.The ousting of the pro-unification incumbent president Mustafa Akinci, is a clear statement of Turkey's bluff or intentions.<p>
<p> When the EU accepted the Cypriot Republic as a member, it very well knew what it was getting into. And although many would like to blame the Greek Cypriots for rejecting the disputed Annan Plan, which aimed to unify the country, they ignore the obvious failings of the proposals that the plan included.<p>
<p> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Cypriot_Annan_Plan_referendums">In the plan</a>, Turkey was granted rights to interfere with the treaty between Egypt and the Republic of Cyprus on the Delimitation of the Exclusive Economic Zone. Cyprus' rights to its Continental Shelf in the south would have also been answerable to Turkey, which was also granted the right of stationing Turkish troops on the island of Cyprus perpetually, again making full independence impossible.<p>
<p>The Ethnic groups in Cyprus are Greek 77%, Turkish 18%, other 5% of the population. The Annan plan equated the representation of the two major ethnic groups in the proposed Senate and in the Supreme Court giving 50-50 representation to the two communities. The majority becomes a minority in important decision centres.<p>
<p> The above are only a few reasons why the Greek Cypriots rejected such humiliating agreement, not to mention that they British bases on the island were never discussed, nor any compensation for property lost to the Turkish settlers. In fact, all of them would be granted citizenship or residence rights leading to citizenship. Those settlers opting to return to Turkey would be compensated by Cyprus and Greek Cypriots. Even though Turkey systematically brought in the settlers to alter the demography of the island, it had no responsibility for their repatriation.<p>
<p>It becomes obvious that this plan was drafted in order to humiliate the Greek Cypriots, or to make sure they rejected it. Given the fact that if the Cyprus dispute was resolved, it could potentially pave the way for a Turkish entry in the EU, or at least signal the removal of a major obstacle, it is no wonder that such preposterous demands were made in it.<p>
<p>In other words, the interests of big powers and players in the region, decided the future of the island, its relationship with Turkey, its place in the EU, the Turkish relations with the block and so on. Who is paying the price for vested national interests in the region? Once again, the Greeks and the Cypriots, the EU's periphery and the whole of East Mediterranean and South Balkans.<p>
<p>With a Turkey so volatile, desperate and angry at Europe's rejection, false promises and delays in what it promised or agreed (we can only speculate what Europe discussed with the Turks over the refugee crisis, the ongoing EU membership bid etc), Greece, Cyprus and the whole region can never find peace and without it, no prosperity or stability. Who will be paying for this in the long term? The European tax payer of course.<p>
<p>If Greece and Cyprus require constant help with their finances, or "overspend" in buying German, Dutch, French, Italian, British and US weaponry, then no one can expect to see his taxes spent in investing in green industries in the region, as the EU aims for the future. Unless of course these plans are drafted only for the core EU members, not the peripheral ones.<p>
<p> Europe must come into a decision about Turkey and soon. The more it lingers in order to save and serve its financial interests in the country, the more harm it is done in the region. Either sanction the Turks into conformity, kick them out of NATO, or negotiate their real demands behind their stance; Erdogan must want something promissed badly to repeatedly blackmail the EU. Since Europeans do nothing, this will continue to the detriment of East Mediterranean, Cyprus and Greece.<p>
<p>Non action is not an option and European leaders know it,yet are afraid of dealing with the aftermath and concequences. Which is of course, another European fiasco in its efforts of a single foreign policy and influence in-nevermind the world, but primarily its own doorstep.<p>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-19261940280297980592020-09-24T01:41:00.001+01:002020-09-24T08:13:57.373+01:00Europe should learn how to decide without national vetoes.<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHnbJ0yEYfqk_OptJDTQ3VwzeDP4kXq_3Q7JDeD15t5OUglULzxDNLghirjvz4S8zpwZvJ1M1k-RTXdUK2LGAtbNzdG6FR-iHQLNG1BVak1WrgHikPvz5x3pvh5ixdEyctqqzMVOSsVw/s1200/5000.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihHnbJ0yEYfqk_OptJDTQ3VwzeDP4kXq_3Q7JDeD15t5OUglULzxDNLghirjvz4S8zpwZvJ1M1k-RTXdUK2LGAtbNzdG6FR-iHQLNG1BVak1WrgHikPvz5x3pvh5ixdEyctqqzMVOSsVw/s400/5000.jpg"/></a></div><p>At a recent debate in the Dutch Parliament about the gruellingly debated EU corona virus recovery fund, the country's Prime Minister <a href="https://euobserver.com/opinion/149470">Mark Rutte</a> openly asked "can you make a budget via an intergovernmental agreement, or can you found an EU without Hungary and Poland?"<p>
<p>That is an understanable expression of frustration, given the recent developments in the two countries. Both Hungary and Poland, are showing total disregard of European values, using only the block's funds for their leaders to stay in power. Either they like it or not, they resemble more of a Soviet republic than a Western one, although it is Europe that funds them.<p>
<p>However apart the fact that technically the EU has not such powers to expell any member state as Rutte hinted, what can it do bring these countries in line with its values?<p>
<p>To be frank, not much aside from limiting access to finances or potentially restricting voting rights in the EU Council. For example, <a href="https://euobserver.com/opinion/149470">the Article 7</a> procedure can lead to member states losing their right to vote in the Council.<p>
<p>But determining that a member state is in breach with EU fundamental values, requires EU countries to agree unanimously. Something that will be difficult to achieve, while having two member states breaking lines with the block's values simultaneously.<p>
<p>Not to mention, that if we go down this road of expelling countries out of the EU, where do we draw the line? In the past, many called for Greece's expulsion due to the eurozone crisis and its handling by the Syriza government. Then others argued, that Germany should leave, as it is the one dominating the block to the detriment of others.<p>
<p>Recently many were angered by Cyprus' veto on the proposed sanctions against the Belarusian leadership and the Lukashenko regime. They also called for its punishment and expulsion. If we insist on kicking out members when they aparently behave "un-European", then we will end up with a union with no members at all.<p>
<p>Previously even the Netherlands itself have blocked decisions, rejected treaties or stirred the waters in the block, by trying to promote its own interests. In fact, there isn't a single country in the EU that hasn't used its veto, broke laws and treaties they signed, was fined by the EU Commission or was not ready at the time they joined the block or the Eurozone.<p>
<p>That is the sad reality about Poland and Hungary too. Just like the introduction of the euro in some countries like Greece, their entry in the EU was a political decision rather a confirmation of their readiness. In just 15 years, they went from Soviet satelite states, straight into the West's arms.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk52w_YM92w0IFBBt3AjfIDR2Gzcn2epCj7dTtjyBYF_NP_CSi-a1042oVGnGZMhglspfbI4Vpl7lPAjBye5zrkyxSX2-k7iSlFkSDqzv2KCoqAlQeNlrt_tqARCUXE98ZbQyymLYZyls/s445/4051.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center; "><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="445" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk52w_YM92w0IFBBt3AjfIDR2Gzcn2epCj7dTtjyBYF_NP_CSi-a1042oVGnGZMhglspfbI4Vpl7lPAjBye5zrkyxSX2-k7iSlFkSDqzv2KCoqAlQeNlrt_tqARCUXE98ZbQyymLYZyls/s400/4051.jpg"/></a></div> <p>Yet it is now evident that while they were keeen to reap the financial advantages to rebuilt their nations and distance themselves from their former communist rulers, socially and politically they were not ready to withstand the changes and challenges. Becoming a stable and sucessful capitalist and most importantly, a liberal and multicultural society, took some of the more progressive countries of Europe, more than 31 years to achieve.<p>
<p>How can we expect the Polish society to reach the same level in less than a generation? No matter how outraging and disappointing is, to watch these two very promising European countries sliding backwards to what they were running from, we got to admit that European integration is a process.<p>
<p>It has its hick-ups and disputes, disasters and victories. Each country progress as an EU member and a society at its own pace. In addition, since democracy is our political system of choice, by default we have chosen the most difficult road to govern ourselves and our supranational institutions. It may offer choice and fairness, but it is harder to achieve a desired goal or unanimity.<p>
<p>As of recently, <a href="https://www.euractiv.com/section/economy-jobs/news/eu-wants-end-to-member-state-veto-on-tax/">taxation and foreign affairs</a> are the last bastions of EU law-making that still require a unanimous vote by member states. That can become frustrating in many cases, when like in the case of Belarus the EU failed to reach an agreement because of Cyprus, or when discussing tax harmonisation across the block, something the is strongly opposed by Ireland.<p>
<p>That is having a serious impact both on the reputation of the EU abroad, as it can never be seen as a reliable mediator with a robust foreign policy. Nor of course can it achieve further economic integration in the eurozone, without harmonization of its taxation.<p>
<p>Yet, if we ever decide to remove any unanimity in the EU decision making, there will be countries that will veto the removal of the national vetoes and they won't be necessarily Poland, Hungary or Ireland. The big nations of EU like Germany or France, also like their independent foreign policy and influence in the world, so it is doubtful they will easily concede their interests.<p>
<p>Therefore, we are going in circles. We cannot bypass impasses like the Poland-Hungary veto on a potential enactement of the Article 7 procedure, because we still think individually according to our national interests, which of course suits everyone but when we need to act and reform the EU.<p>
<p> If only EU member states truly committed to each other, apart from their shared financial interests. If every country acted like France, initiating support for Greece against Turkish aggression, then states like Cyprus would not have to veto another decision in order to draw attention onto its own problems.<p>
<p> Because Cyprus' actions, do not come as result of its support for the Lukashenko regime in Belarus, rather the reluctance of most EU states to adopt a decisive hard line against Turkey. As a last resort and in an attempt to twist the arm of its partners, Cyprus had no choice but to act selfishly.<p>
<p>All this could be avoided if Europeans realized that maintaining the veto advantage is a sign of mistrust, immaturity (in European political integration terms), lack of unity but most importantly understanding. If I need to have a veto, to force my interests or point of view onto my partners, with which my economy is so entwined that if I fail they suffer the consequences too, then clearly there is something wrong or incomplete in this agreement.<p>
<p>To fix this, it will need something more than talks of "kicking out" members, blaming others for the faults in the eurozone, sidelining and gaining advantage via financial malpractices which assist tax avoidance in other EU countries, or accusing third nations of meddling when you are happy to receive financial support by them; undermining of course the partnership with other member states you agreed by joining the EU.<p>
<p>I am afraid the only way to sort the EU is by establishing a moral compass firstly within the block, then try to inspire or encourage third countries to adopt it. Europe seems too keen on telling how others should behave, yet among its own members we observe an absolute cacophony of interests that naturally do not inspire others to follow its example, nor respect the EU as a whole and take it seriously.<p>
<p>Although it is the nature of democracy to have conflicting ideas and interests, colliding against each other in order to form a consensus, a veto is a sign of weak foundations. An incomplete design, that cries selfishness or indifference not only by the member state that breaks the rules or uses it, but often by its partners that have a complete lack of undestanding or respect of its point of view.<p>
<p>In other words, if the EU wants to have a robust and legitimate democracy and effectiveness on decision making, it better stop looking like the UN and start resembling increasingly the USA or any other federal state. If it insists to remain under the UN arrangement, then this is a sign that its members are not always allies or partners in a "union", but often competitors and enemies just like the US is to China or Russia in the UN. Only these countries do not share a currency or a single market, which if they collapsed they would ruin all in it.<p>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-39353515961419486452020-09-09T07:50:00.003+01:002020-09-09T07:50:43.599+01:00A new Belarus for a future Europe. <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnAh0KnHdMzO-jYDLeUgfiNY6aYx4Y0nmIG0QlCUOrPpcExAEhBTQWbwHz8bCXNHtqFtEyuXbikNRhMQSJdlnW2Tz4tPFwvrv5-KTm70SfK_4omEEkVdouqAPccgbdrggJmfi8oLnXoI/s800/Belarus-opposition-march-800x450.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="800" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhnAh0KnHdMzO-jYDLeUgfiNY6aYx4Y0nmIG0QlCUOrPpcExAEhBTQWbwHz8bCXNHtqFtEyuXbikNRhMQSJdlnW2Tz4tPFwvrv5-KTm70SfK_4omEEkVdouqAPccgbdrggJmfi8oLnXoI/s400/Belarus-opposition-march-800x450.jpg"/></a></div><p>Even during a pandemic, political developments haven't stopped in Europe. Some of them particularly have the potent of altering our continent's future image and balance. Since the outcome of the early August presidential election in Belarus, the country has been engulfed by protests and social unrest.<p>
<p>After the aparent "victory" of Alexander Lukashenko by approximatelly 80% of the votes, Belarusians have had enough. Their leader has been in power since 1994 and although he "won" the elections, he has lost the country.<p>
<p>The reasons for the country's citizens' response maybe complex and varied, but no one can deny their disaproval and wish for change. The protesters now march for new fair elections, Lukashenko to resign and a recount of election result.<p>
<p>After tolerating for a long time bad financial policies, authoritarianism, nepotism and corruption plus electroral fraud, the country decided that it is time to turn a page in its history.<p>
<p>Their neighbors in Russia have the same ruling President and elite for a similar amount of time, but either the West likes it or not and although his popularity is dwindling, the Russians are not as willing to rid of Putin just yet. We haven't seen such massive countrywide protests in Russia yet, to try and overthrow him.<p>
<p>The Belarusians though clearly had enough. The unrest started peacefully as demonstrations, but it wasn't long before it turned violent with currently 5 people reported dead, numerous others missing, hundrends injured and thousands arrested.<p>
<p>On 1 September, in a statement by the human rights experts of the United Nations, more than 450 documented cases of torture and ill-treatment of detainees were mentioned, including sexual abuse and rape of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_Belarusian_protests">women and children</a>.<p>
<p>During this time, Europe has been observing and being vocal about the developments in Belarus, openly condemning Lukashenko and his supporters. However as usual, it is slow to take decisive actions. Sadly, it doesn't have the power to do much, but monitor closely. <p>
<p>The EU and Belarus never had strong ties. The country under Lukashenko decided to remain in Russia's sphere of influence, becoming one of the founding members of the Eurasian Economic Union established in 2014, together with Russia and Kazakhstan.<p>
<p>There have been even indications by Lukashenko that he was been presurised by Putin to accept further intregration of the two countries, literally merging Belarus into Russia. That was stated as recently as in early 2020. This could be another reason why Lukashenko is being rejected by his own people now, or there could be additional motives behind the protests.<p>
<p>Lukashenko claimed that the riots are staged by the West, to weaken Russia and its sphere of influence. He warned that if the uprisisng is successful in Belarus, Russia will be next. However, just before the election, <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/putin-russian-forces-ready-enter-belarus-protests-200827102415846.html">Belarus arrested 32 private Russian military contractors</a> on charges of planning to stage riots.<p>
<p>The incident was downplaid by Putin later on, yet we cannot exclude any possibility that the protests are orchestrated or used by either Russia and the West, in order to change or maintain the status quo in the region.<p>
<p>No matter what version of truth we choose, our concern should lie with the Belarusian people and their struggle to stabilise their country as it hopefully transits towards democracy.<p>
<p>But what could Europe do? If it sanctions the country's economy, it will only hurt the ordinary people that it tries to help. Wether the EU insists on such measures, then these must be applied solely against Lukashenko and his inner circle, plus anyone responsible for whichever kind of violence and human rights violations.<p>
<p>Even so, Lukashenko will not feel the pressure, as his assets and interests lie in Russia. The EU needs the colaboration of the UN, to monitor the situation and prevent further chaos or worsening of human rights violations. For the time being, that is the only help it can provide to Belarus, together with offering refuge to escaping opposition leaders, or financing their efforts and networks.<p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoj2nNI_YzC-ScDwHg0kDl8SS8O7gvl1l21lz8EuEfzdkoWHxlNVrWRBzUiodP8BG3wb6BcqqrYZ2EBVbKGqdmfVJjm5GdtWL4ZhyZ1lDHYjWTp6jkipUkt_kL9c4w_yHSyIvwXmuU90/s650/arton9568.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" width="400" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="650" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLoj2nNI_YzC-ScDwHg0kDl8SS8O7gvl1l21lz8EuEfzdkoWHxlNVrWRBzUiodP8BG3wb6BcqqrYZ2EBVbKGqdmfVJjm5GdtWL4ZhyZ1lDHYjWTp6jkipUkt_kL9c4w_yHSyIvwXmuU90/s400/arton9568.jpg"/></a></div><p>But what of the future of Belarus and its relationship with the rest of Europe? Many suggest that the country should come closer to the EU. But in reality that can prove very diffucult. Belarus' population, includes roughly 8.3 % ethnic Russians. Around 70% of its households are Russian speaking, with only 30% of its citizens speaking Belarusian at home.<p>
<p>If Ukraine is having problems in moving decisively towards the West and becoming more integrated in the European institutions, what chances does Belarus have in achieving such goal? For the time being, it would be wise to focus on the democratization of the country and removing Lukashenko from power.<p>
<p>If the Belarusian Democracy Movement, as the protests are referred to, is successful and force Lukashenko to step down, then Europe and Russia must be willing to negotiate the new status in the region, but not only in Belarus. Since Russia fears and protests at any Western expansion to the East, then Ukraine and Belarus could become buffer zones and bridges between the two realms.<p>
<p>But that will mean no NATO membership for either of them, with the EU and Russia hopefully being able to put their differences aside, becoming engaged and collaborators in both nations, stabilizing Eastern Europe for good. That will naturally prove very tricky, given the anti-Russian sentiment deep rooted in Eastern EU member states, plus Russia's view of them. Ultimatelly though, it should be up to Ukrainians and Belarusians to deside where their future lies.<p>
<p>The real danger is that the movement is compromised and betrayed by Europe, the US, Russia and the UN, to maintaining the status quo and avoid rocking the boat too much to serve individual nations' interests. Or maybe prevent the risk of another civil war and a Ukraine-like situation. Then the sacrifices of the Belarusian people will be for nothing and all parties will be to blame.<p>
<p>It is time for Russia, the US and the EU or its indivisual states, to stop promoting their affairs in the region and start thinking collectively. The stability and prosperity of Europe benefits everyone, especially the countries in the EU and Russia. It will be wise to abandon the stand-off and find solutions that will actually be lasting. Europe in particular, will gain hugely by a democratic Belarus, but Russia has nothing to lose if it maintains its close ties with the country, while bettering its relations with the EU.<p>
<p>The Belarusian, European, Ukrainian and Russian people deserve a better future together, either as good neighbors or partners. Let us not destroy it due to our inability to see past Cold War crimes and mistakes. Belarus, the best of luck, hopefully a brighter future awaits you.<p>
The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-55254574325047685072020-08-17T01:33:00.000+01:002020-08-17T09:20:37.538+01:00NATO has become "brain-dead", but the EU is risking the same fate.<p> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIJr6URH5t3ESD9VOECVrWHpC8OALrUAvre_dj2kbyOdG3WeYzIxmKKAUVFYY5ZAgQkhCLL-wBwQ_EV6s6V_lZTwF2YOMOsknr3A4krpWXNB3MFqljrbbARwnx2upzfto4SW5tottKZc/s800/2020-07-23T121026Z_1632682486_RC20ZH9ZHR17_RTRMADP_3_TURKEY-GREECE-SHIP-800x533.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="800" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinIJr6URH5t3ESD9VOECVrWHpC8OALrUAvre_dj2kbyOdG3WeYzIxmKKAUVFYY5ZAgQkhCLL-wBwQ_EV6s6V_lZTwF2YOMOsknr3A4krpWXNB3MFqljrbbARwnx2upzfto4SW5tottKZc/w328-h218/2020-07-23T121026Z_1632682486_RC20ZH9ZHR17_RTRMADP_3_TURKEY-GREECE-SHIP-800x533.jpg" width="328" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">credits: gcaptain.com<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>While Europe is focusing on Covid-19 and the Belarus election result is currently dominating the news, another region of our continent is heating up again. The Eastern Mediterranean is critically volatile, with Greece and Turkey at loggerheads once more.</p><p>And albeit Europeans perhaps are so used to these two bickering and their squabbles are not worth mentioning any longer, this time things are different. </p><p>If Europe ever wants to prove itself as competent or willing to deal with crises and become a world player, well it would make sense to start from its own backyard. </p><p>Our elites are more than happy to sanction Russia for invading Ukraine and Georgia, or Belarus' Lukashenko regime nowadays, however when it comes to Turkey they look after their own interests.</p><p>That constitutes any talk or ambition of a common European foreign policy or influence in the globe's affairs as a joke. For the past year and a half, Turkey has been harassing two EU members, Greece and Cyprus, over their intentions of exploring potential gas and oil reserves in their waters.</p><p>In addition, both nations have signed a gas pipe agreement with Israel, cementing their influence in the East Mediterranean region. That naturally annoyed Turkey, which felt left out and wanted a piece of the action. </p><p>Faced with internal problems with a crumbling economy and dwindling lira, the Turks are so desperate to freeload on their neighbors' potential, or if not that then at least not let them develop their economy and get an upper hand in the region.</p><p>That is simply bulling, of the kind that a thug nation would practice towards other competing countries. Yet the worse part is, that Europe tolerates it. </p><p>Greece's EU partners repeatedly scorned it for lack of financial development, reforms and the state of its economy in the past. But, when it tries to utilize its own resources, Europe is not being outraged when Turkey interferes with its efforts, plus in addition Greece has to spend billions in military equipment to protect itself from its "ally" in NATO.</p><p>Naturally, this constitutes NATO as a useless alliance for Greece, that not only helps it, but actually being detrimental to its economy. Even the French President Emmanuel Macron stated that NATO is recently "brain-dead," so it is doubtful that this alliance is of any benefit for the Balkan nation. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhbsPhsIK5QcOxwcxxxA9MMsa-2iWIPee_AXLAC4QtCUowwYUakbCabHxJlyuln9GWJHvEs6IMX6ctTmYRqFfM0goZyXL0lPVMulPWuQje9c7i8qyyx2DKX8ka-lRc-ad70krUId9yTY/s1300/thumbnail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1300" data-original-width="768" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMhbsPhsIK5QcOxwcxxxA9MMsa-2iWIPee_AXLAC4QtCUowwYUakbCabHxJlyuln9GWJHvEs6IMX6ctTmYRqFfM0goZyXL0lPVMulPWuQje9c7i8qyyx2DKX8ka-lRc-ad70krUId9yTY/s640/thumbnail.jpg" /></a></div>Greece's other hope for support, the EU is also being too soft on Erdogan's regime. <div><br /></div><div>Numerous times in the past, the block simply "condemned" Turkish aggression and actions, but this is as far as it went, words and reprimands with sanctions only towards two private Turkish petroleum company owners. <p></p><p>Of course the EU is of yet only an economic block, wanting to play the global power and influence the world, but even on solely financial terms, its stance does not make sense. </p><p>One would think that European powers do not really want a strong and prosperous Greece, playing the role of a regional power in the Balkans, rather an unstable, easy to manipulate state. </p><p>The country has become a <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/why-greece-is-germanys-de-facto-colony/" target="_blank">de facto German colony </a> since the last Eurozone crisis, where it was called to bailout the zone's banks and became hostage to internal German politics, rather than its own. </p><p>That puts in question Germany's true intentions in the region. Of all Greece's EU partners, only France showed full support and sent ships in East Mediterranean, angering Ankara even further. </p><p>In last Friday's EU minister's meeting, the block again showed support towards Greece and condemned Turkey's actions, by doing nothing; no sanctions but another joined statement and a view to monitor the situation "closely" with a potential decision to be made later in <a href="https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage_en/84103/Video%20conference%20of%20Foreign%20Affairs%20Ministers:%20Main%20outcomes" target="_blank">August in Berlin</a>. </p><p>This fiasco has been going on for too long and at some stage Europe needs to decide what to do with Turkey, or define its future relationship with it. Understandably there are a lot of financial interests involved from all sides, as many EU member states have close ties with Turkey, especially Germany.</p><p>However, if they do not help Greece again this time, they will have to drag the country for ever financially. Stability-whether this is political or economic- in a region brings prosperity. If a country has to spend constantly billions to fend off a hostile nation, then it can never fully reach its potential. </p><p>To make matters worse in Greece's case, the competitor is an ally in NATO and none of the other members of this alliance have been able, or willing to decisively mediate and solve this dispute for good.</p><p>Perhaps it suits them to sell their billion euro worth of arms to both Greece and Turkey and while these two bicker, their partners get richer. Or in the case of the EU, its members' financial interests in Turkey, prevent them from voting for sanctions towards the country, which could seriously hurt their pockets. </p><p>There is no way around this I am afraid. If Turkey is not put in its place, it will just continue to intimidate two EU members and that makes a mockery of the so called "solidarity" of the block. If Europe cannot protect its own states, how on earth can it convince others to listen to it and take it seriously, or ask it to mediate in other conflicts. </p><p>In addition, if its periphery is in constant threat and danger, it will never recover economically and that is a bad thing even if the EU decides to remain a solely a trade block. If that is the case, then we better leave any effort of a single foreign policy aside and allow Greece to seek allies elsewhere, that are more decisive and willing. </p><p>Right now the country is tied by its alliance with NATO and an increasingly assertive EU that sees itself, or at least tries to do so, as a potential global player. Greece's membership to these two institutions limit it from forming alliances with Russia, China or other Middle Eastern regional powers, hostile to Turkey.</p><p>So unless Europe wishes to remain only a trade organisation and allow its states to independently forge alliances with anyone they wish, Greece has no other option but to seek its partners' assistance.</p><p>If they decide not to stick by it, or veto any decision that will be of any benefit to Greece just to serve their interests in the region and Turkey, then the Greek government will have no option but to do the same in other matters that may arise, which are harmful to its partners. Or block any new members like Albania with considerable Turkish influence from joining EU, thus adding further obstacles to any potential Turkish sanctions.</p><p>That is not a sign of a healthy union, if countries veto decisions solely on financial interests or vindictiveness and not moral obligations and ethics. I personally do not wish to be part of such institution, I would rather just have a trade block for the economic benefits of it, but be free to form military alliances with anyone powerful and willing enough to support my country in any predicament. </p><p>The solution of course would be a single foreign policy and a common EU army, that would defend decisively all the block's outer borders from Finland to Greece and from Cyprus to Portugal. But that has been stopped until now by unwilling member states which want the economic advantages of the block, but do not want to risk further political integration.</p><p>If the EU and its states continue hesitating and backstabbing each other on key security issues, then soon enough the block will remain together solely on finances, however as we have seen until now, they are a cause of arguments too.</p><p>Europeans cannot agree on the union's budget, blaming and slandering each other as lazy tax-evaders or Nazi and tax havens, for about every 10 years when the economy goes from boom to bust. In every crisis the knives are out and while we all know what it needs to be done in order to streamline decision making in the block, especially in the Eurozone, we are reluctant to accept it. </p><p>It won't be long, when the citizens of another nation fall for yet a new push by a populist or nationalist Eurosceptic party for a referendum on the country's EU membership. If it is successful and a second member leaves the block, that will be the end of it. </p><p>Since all the citizens see is bickering and arguing over the budget and who will pay the bill, plus governments being untruthful to their voters and never revealing the true benefits of EU membership and try to blame the euro or other member states for their country's struggling finances, then there is a toxic mix put in place. </p><p>The EU needs to offer other benefits to its member states, apart from trade and a periodic prosperity. If we are going to stick together, we will have to start committing to this project and to each other in all aspects and since the US is preoccupied with itself lately, security is a field that we should be focusing on; starting from the Eastern Mediterranean. </p></div>The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3355841764781815815.post-15946407028778141392020-08-05T20:34:00.000+01:002020-08-05T20:34:56.131+01:00Quo Vadis Europa?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZrtpNWT8F89_BTHMWX9fNSiHOH5cOMTK_jE6UfTDyTEfFei1EDy6-lc87N3gYVCIhN_XsY6PmRTkndxco8D2EtHw8bt7Zi3RTjxLv0hSckYhceUhVlQq8O6_YSBZ9PZP-TVUwob0flU/s1600/future_europe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="https://www.eurodiaconia.org/2019/05/weekly-editorial-together-we-can-shape-the-future-of-europe/#:~:text=Looking%20around%20you,%20what%20do%20you%20think%20is%20the%20most" border="0" data-original-height="835" data-original-width="1257" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMZrtpNWT8F89_BTHMWX9fNSiHOH5cOMTK_jE6UfTDyTEfFei1EDy6-lc87N3gYVCIhN_XsY6PmRTkndxco8D2EtHw8bt7Zi3RTjxLv0hSckYhceUhVlQq8O6_YSBZ9PZP-TVUwob0flU/s320/future_europe.jpg" title="Eurodiaconia.org" width="320" /></a></div>
For the past decade Europe has shown an incredible resilience to consecutive waves of crises. After the Eurozone one, came the refugee and the Syria crisis, then Brexit and now we face a global pandemic, which unquestionably has tested our unity once again.<br />
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And while it is easy to focus on the numerous fiascos, the nationalist drama, the chauvinist attitudes of various member states, the loss of appetite for further integration or expansion, the EU is becoming slowly but surely, more functioning and united, albeit the many tantrums and under the belt accusations, sidelining and smearing campaigns, or the sliding towards authoritarianism of some members.<br />
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And that is because, mainly the two driving forced of the block, France and Germany, have finally realized that if the block fragments further, it will be bad for everyone on the continent. The French President in particular Emmanuel Macron has long called for "More Europe" and tried to reform his own country, despite the numerous protests that erupted. He has managed to convince the German Chancellor about a U-turn on corona bonds, was one of the few European politicians that openly called for a European army and even tried to re-approach Russia. No wonder he faced a backlash back home.<br />
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However there many issues that need to be worked on, in order for Europe to fulfil its potential and not only financial ones. And they exist in every member state.<br />
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If we look towards the Central and Eastern Europe, we got a number of countries sliding backwards to what they tried to escape from in the past, authoritarianism. The most disappointing of them is Poland, which not only turned euro-skeptic from being a very enthusiastic member, but both on a national or local level, it trashes core European values nowadays.<br />
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The establishment of LGBT free zones in some of its municipalities resemble with first steps to fascism, plus in addition it plans to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, scrapping the protection from domestic violence for many individuals.<br />
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As a society, they have a long way to go in order to mature and accept that LGBT individuals can be an asset to any country, as they often are highly creative, educated and since they do not have the burden of child bearing, they can contribute massively in their society.<br />
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Blocking them from expressing their sexuality openly, can only force them to flee to another country, where they can have their unions recognized and be themselves. Who will lose out? The Polish society of course, but they cannot see this just yet, blinded by religious conservative fundamentalism.<br />
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The EU rightly decided to withhold funds towards Polish towns that abide by these laws, however their elites found another trick: enter US Army bases and their cash, fleeing from Germany. It is peculiar to see that Poland is so fixated to erase its Soviet past and have a clean break from Russia, that is keen in becoming another power's lap-dog, this time America's.<br />
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Naturally the US under Trump, is not a beacon of freedom anymore, whilst itself in a crisis within, both financially and socially. They are more than happy to befriend Poland, although the country increasingly resembles Russia, which the Americans despise; or do they?<br />
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The Germans on the other hand, protest on local level on the US army withdrawal, obviously miffed about the loss of income and revenue from the American troops. It is hard to wean from decades of cash injections, however it is time to grow up as a nation and a continent. Have they ever really thought on what do they have to give back to USA, for its "protection" and cash handouts?<br />
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Besides, this move is a clear evidence of a change of a status quo: Germany and America are drifting apart, and the US is trying to punish or black mail the Germans on their "disobedience" and lack of willingness to contribute more to NATO's budget. Yet, the German leadership does not seem that bothered, as of now.<br />
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They are happy to fill the US gap, on the Greek-Turkish negotiations over the Aegean dispute, acting as a deal broker between the two rivals, which are apparently NATO allies. The two nations have been at odds over the potential oil exploration in the Aegean, with the Turks openly and without shame, challenging Greece's AOZ.<br />
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While the rest of Europe only watches, finally Germany decided to calm things down. If Turkey was Russia and Greece Ukraine, no doubt Europe would be up in arms, however for Greece different rules apply. Understandably Germany has huge interests in Turkey, just as USA does. But what does this say about the validity of NATO, if two of its members are constantly on the brink of war?<br />
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Instead of sanctioning Turkey as they do Russia, Europe leaves Greece and Cyprus to deal with Mr Erdogan's antics by themselves. France only offered its support, with the "kind" offer of two frigates ships that Greece must buy, in order to gain France's support. Talking about friends with benefits eh?<br />
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Elsewhere in Europe, we got Hungary and its ongoing clash with the EU. Happy to get the funds, forget about the obligations. Make no mistake, the country together with Poland and the Czech Republic, will do a Sweden and avoid euro membership for as long as they can. But that is not all that is troublesome with Hungary.<br />
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The country's attitude to freedom of the press worries and bothers the rest of Europe and rightly so. If the state is able to mute what it is being written and controls the press, then how can anyone criticize the government and any of its politicians. Things such as these happen only in Russia right? Wrong. Europe has its own troubles with press freedom and it gets worse.<br />
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The firing of Szabolcs Dull, the editor-in-chief of Hungary’s biggest independent news website, Index, in the beginning of July has political interference written all over it, according to <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/07/24/hungary-editors-sacking-blow-press-freedom">Human Rights Watch. </a>Hungary slides, <a href="http://www.sloveniatimes.com/commissioner-contacts-slovenian-authorities-over-media-freedom">Slovenia</a> too as well as Malta, and Greece is not doing better either.<br />
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The Greek public is increasingly relying on social media and blogs for its information, being fed up with mainstream politics and media. But then they are seriously exposed to propaganda and misinformation with worrying results. Increase of hate crimes and racism is being noted, as numerous blogs fuel xenophobia.<br />
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We are used to blame the Far-Right, or our favorite scapegoat the Russians for all the misinformation campaigns, however we never look towards the Western part of our shores. The British made this mistake and let the likes of Rupert Murdoch pour bile against the EU for decades, with the obvious result of Brexit.<br />
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They are still blaming the Russians, yet they ignore the media mogul's role in their national disaster, or that of the election of Donald Trump in their close allies, the USA. Murdoch's media outlets actively contributed to both outcomes, but the British elites were either unwilling or powerless to stop him and provide counter information.<br />
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Perhaps they allowed him to achieve what they wanted for them, or they were so fearful of meddling with the country's press and appear or be accused by his newspapers of acting like Orban and Hungary, that they preferred to let a foreigner decide the future of the country. Either way, we are witnessing the two extremes in Europe when it comes to press freedom; either total control by the state, or by a media mogul through uncontrolled media liberty.<br />
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However one cannot blame the likes of Murdoch, without point a few fingers to the collective European governments, who systematically misrepresented to their citizens what the EU is doing for them and how it works.<br />
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For decades the "Frugal Nations" of four or five, presented themselves together with Germany and whilst hiding behind Britain, as the ones who are milked by the corrupt and lazy South. The truth is far from it and if we dig further, we will see that they are the ones actually milking the periphery of EU states.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJKbIoJGN4Wu4NpA8ihHnvp2Bvx8TeuDGbt5_rZESzIROrzyqachNcLr4osgg_mswQDIO7B7M_ULsd45_H1otVcTD9oRIgAYFqyZau81DQvR7Cxtl0j62il6uZ2lehJGcdpJLUwsJxzA/s1600/110280502_3243312325712393_8124772934918902954_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="881" data-original-width="960" height="293" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFJKbIoJGN4Wu4NpA8ihHnvp2Bvx8TeuDGbt5_rZESzIROrzyqachNcLr4osgg_mswQDIO7B7M_ULsd45_H1otVcTD9oRIgAYFqyZau81DQvR7Cxtl0j62il6uZ2lehJGcdpJLUwsJxzA/s320/110280502_3243312325712393_8124772934918902954_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
As seen by this graph, the Frugal nations, together with those annoying cherry-pickers of the North and Switzerland, are the biggest beneficiaries from the Single Market.<br />
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No wonder the latter do not want to join the EU completely, as they will have to contribute more, thus lessen their benefits, plus of course the Frugals wish to keep things as they are and avoid further integration.<br />
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If the EU or the euro-zone become federal, thus allowing debt mutualisation in the block, they will not only lose the advantage they enjoy in the Single Market, but their top ratings from the financial agencies, thus weakening their borrowing capacity.<br />
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It is easier to blame and portray the peripheral states as lazy and corrupt, and offload the euro-zone's debt on them, while they can borrow with cheaper rates when they lend to the indebted South at a higher rate, thus making a profit out of their "partners". Does anyone still fall for their bluff and believe their nonsense in Europe? Well only if they are intellectually challenged.<br />
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In addition, many face the rise of the Far-Right in their own countries, so to appease their voters and keep the Right-wingers at bay, they put all the blame on other EU nations, for everything that is wrong in the block.<br />
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I cannot recall Europe being worried about the rise of the Greek Golden Dawn party as much, when it came to prominence after the harsh bail-out Greece had to accept by it partners and the Troika. Yet now the Frugals turn their internal political problems, intoEuropean ones. Not that the South or the Eastern countries, do not need necessary reforms and modernization.<br />
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But the whole of the EU needs it and that includes the Netherlands or every of Frugal nations. They can start by admitting to their citizens how much they gain from their EU membership in cash figures, not only stating how much they pay. And if they could scrap their tax haven status, see the Netherlands, then that will also be a very welcome bonus.<br />
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Regarding the South, I can only speak for Greece as I have never lived in another country apart from my native and Ireland. Greece has changed massively since I was growing up in the '80s and I moved to Ireland in 2004. It is not what it used to be, so to keep using it as a scapegoat and excuse for all that is wrong in the EU is unfair and outrageous.<br />
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Yes, it still has work to do, but usually its European partners demand more selling of its resources as a condition for any appraisal, not much concern exists on how it tackles its bureaucracy and red tape. So one could wonder on what are Greece's European partner's true intentions.<br />
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Even when they were threatening Greece to be kicked out of the euro and the negotiations about its bail-out were in full, heated mode, France and Germany tried to sell arms to Greece, albeit it being bankrupted.<br />
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They accused it of lying about its figures and statistics to enter the euro-zone, while it is something that all member states do and it is highly unlikely that the EU Commission was not aware of it. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wksm50r_phI&fbclid=IwAR0Tw_SoDCOOvXKzylmERuim82yGfAnO_K4_e5WbbUOxJW_mayTrNq7VxGU">Ireland cooked its books</a> for example in 2015 and presented to Brussels that its economy grew by 30% because of tax evasion practices.<br />
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Its GDP per capita surged and debt fell dramatically. The Commission accepted those figures but warned them that they would have to become net contributors to the EU budget and why would reject the Irish numbers, as it would bring more money into the block's cashiers. However as the Irish economy relies on false numbers, those who will pick up the bill again, are the Irish tax payers and if things go wrong, the European tax payers in the case of Ireland needing another bail-out in the future.<br />
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Yet, only Greece was shamed by Europe for doing what Ireland repeatedly does and understandably all other EU member states, with the blessings of the EU Commission and other financial institutions.<br />
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It is not a lie to say that the Greek elites waste or mismanage the money they receive from the EU, as a compensation and to balance the trade deficit that Greece suffers from its participation in the Single Market, as shown in the above table.<br />
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But it is also true that a lot of this cash, end up back in European banks in the forms of debt repayments, or Europe's companies especially those who sell arms and their governments. So if European tax payers want Greece to come clean about its misuse of funds, they have often no other place to look, from their own political and financial elites for explanations.<br />
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No wonder then, when the Greeks tried to get rid of the two establishment parties at the heist of the euro-zone crisis, PASOK and the New Democracy, it was the EU and the big European powers that threatened the Greeks not to vote for Syriza but to continue voting for the politicians who apparently lied about the country's finances.<br />
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And we got to admit, that if we wish to prohibit governments from abusing EU funds, then we need a EU body that will invest and distribute them directly in the regions or sectors needed, something that most nations reject as it will mean closer integration and a Federal Europe. Especially the citizens from richer countries. Few are ready for such development in our continent, although the movement is growing.<br />
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To conclude, unless the above issues are properly addressed and dealt with, together with numerous others that I would like to at some stage include, Europe will never reach its potential or overcome its impasse. It will be condemned in going in circles; for how long, depends from all of us. Our media and governments may sell us one side of the picture, it is however up to us to inform and educate ourselves and make appropriate decisions about our- shared hopefully-future. The Eblana European Democratic Movementhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04246556855771957829noreply@blogger.com0