Posted on 01/01/2006 10:29:43 AM PST by lowbuck
In the 1930s Russia robbed Ukraine of its food supplies. The Kremlin deliberately created a food shortage. Ukrainian grain was collected and stored in grain elevators that were guarded by the Soviet army and secret police units (the NKVD, the predecessor of the KGB) while Ukrainians were starving in the immediate area. The result of the man-made famine of 1932-33 was the death of 7 million people. The famine was instigated by the Russians to break the spirit of the Ukrainians and force them into collectivisation and submission to Moscow. “Let us do it again,” Vladimir Putin, a former officer of the KGB, the Soviet Gestapo, and a worthy successor to Josef Stalin, said today.
The criminals who ruled Russia under the Soviet regime, and who bankrupted not only their own country but the whole of Eastern Europe, are still in charge in Moscow. Today, Russia’s state-run gas company Gazprom has cut gas supplies to Ukraine. The cut is the result of Russia’s unilateral decision to raise the gas price for Ukraine from 50$ to 230$ per 1,000 cubic metres of gas. Ukraine, still recovering from 70 years of Soviet occupation, is unable to pay this price and proposed a compromise of 110$, but Moscow wants to punish Ukraine because its politicians are not submissive enough to the Kremlin. Gazprom charges the Moscow-friendly dictatorship in Belarus (another country run by a former KGB agent) only 47$ per 1,000 cubic metres of gas. Armenia and Georgia are charged 110$, Romania 280$ and the EU on average 240$. According to the Kremlin, nations that want to be free have to pay the price of the free nations.
Last week Andrei Illarionov resigned as Mr Putin’s economic advisor. Mr Illarionov, who never collaborated with the former Communist regime, is an honest man. He accused the Kremlin of using gas as “a weapon.” Last week Ukraine, which depends heavily on Russian gas, tried to find a new gas supplier and approached Turkmenistan. Unfortunately, Turkmenistan is also run by former KGB criminals. Gazprom thwarted the Ukrainian plan by buying Turkmen gas stocks itself, at a price of... 65$ per 1,000 cubic metres.
Ukraine is dependent on Russia for 30% of its gas supplies. Western Europe, however, is dependent for the gas that it buys in Russia on pipelines running through Ukraine. Consequently Gazprom cannot simply cut all supplies to Ukraine. It has reduced the supplies to the pipeline by 15%, which is the percentage of the total volume that is used by Ukraine. If it wants to do so Kiev can tap into the Russian supplies to the West in order to secure its own gas supplies. The Russians have warned the Ukrainians that if they do so, they will be considered to be thieves. Western Europe is concerned, too.
Some EU countries rely heavily on Russian gas. Germany, for example, gets about 30% of its gas supplies from Russia, which makes it as dependent on Russian gas as Ukraine. If Kiev uses the gas for its own needs, to prevent Ukrainians freezing to death through Putin’s actions as they starved to death through the actions of his predecessor Stalin eight decades ago, it is Germany that will be left in the cold. On Wednesday EU gas industry experts will meet in Brussels to discuss the crisis.
It is easy to see what would have happened today if the gas pipeline that the Russians and Germans are planning to build on the Baltic seabed had already been completed. This pipeline, which is to be ready by 2010, will enable the Russians to deliver gas directly to Germany, bypassing all countries in between. It will allow Mr Putin to reassert Russian dominance over the whole of Eastern and Central Europe. It is time that the West sees Putin for what he really is: the new Stalin. If the Baltic pipeline gets built it will mean the end of freedom and democracy in Eastern Europe. Again the West, as it did earlier in Yalta, will have sold out the East to the Russian bear.
Today, January 1, 2006, Russia also takes over the chairmanship of the G8 group of industrial nations for the first time in history. This provides Mr Putin, the executioner of Ukraine, with an opportunity to emphasise Russia’s role in international affairs. Though the Russian economy is peanuts compared to those of the US, Canada, Japan, Germany, France, Britain and Italy, it has been admitted into the club of developed democracies because Russia has enough oil and gas to keep Western Europe supplied for years to come. Some US Senators have argued that Russia should not have been allowed in as a member. What is happening today shows that they are right.
Germany may think they are in the catbird seat with this new pipeline that Schroder setup for a little kickback, but, hey he is a capitalist.
Today Eastern Europe. When does Russia give the squeeze to the West? Maybe when it starts to get real cold here in Germany/EU land the EU might decide to get some backbone and . . . and. . . No I guess backbone and EU is sorta like military and intelligence!
Happy New Year everyone.
The former KGB chief Putin needs to have an accident. He is arming the muzzies and trying to strongarm sovereign nations.
Putin is reneging on a contract that extends until 2009 - Of course Ukraine is in the right.
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Mirror Weekly interviewed PM Yekhanurov.
Excerpts
Now the main thing. Will there be gas in Ukraine since January 1, 2006?
- I believe that the contract will be carried out and the gas will be supplied. But… we will still be conducting nervous negotiations.
- You mean the gas will be supplied despite the unfinished bargaining?
- As a matter of fact there is a contract between Naftogas of Ukraine and Gasprom of Russia on volume and conditions of transit of Russian natural gas through the territory of Ukraine for the period between 2003 and 2013. It is currently in effect. I cannot imagine how a public company bound by contract obligations can refuse to fulfill them. I asked the deputy head of Gasprom, Oleksandr Riazanov, during our negotiations in Moscow on December 19 in the presence of the head of the Russian Cabinet Mikhail Fradkov: “Is the contract effective?” And he said: “Yes.”
- Then why do the Russians say that they will stop contract supplies of gas to Ukraine on January 1, 2006?
- One can always find a reason to make a statement. But in article 14 of this contract it is clearly stated that: “This contract comes in effect on January 1, 2003… It remains effective until 10 am on January 1, 2014.” And one more thing: “During the period between 2005 and 2009 the Customer (Gasprom) will sell annually natural gas at the price of 50 US dollars for 1000 cubic meters, which is not subject to change by the parties, from the gas transportation services of Russian natural gas through the territory of Ukraine to ensure the gas balance of Ukraine.”
So lying russophobic article.
Just one passage.
In the 1930s Russia robbed Ukraine of its food supplies. ==
Russia in 1930? What Russia exsisted in this year?
Other things. Each string is one lie.
Accually the problem is that Ukraine do not want to pay market price and steal gas. They stole today about 18% of europian transit.
but I would love to see the Germans undo this pipeline deal.===
If Gerrmans "undo" pipeline deal then Russia "undo" whole supply of Europe by her gas.
Russia will not allow ukranian stealing anymore. But only North Baltic pipeline which bypass Ukraine may garantee it.
If Europe will live without russian gas then Russia will sell it to asian countries.
LOL You will blackmail them as well?
Hey, maybe Soros will pay for their gas just like he paid for their Orange "Revolution".
If Russia withholds gas that it agreed to provide for $50, then Russia is breaking its word, its contract, and some people would say that Russia is stealing.==
The problem is that they no conract for $50. They just lying about thier own people.
Just test. Let them go to court if they have such conract. They will not. Since they have not it.
Wrong, Russia alone is economically dependant upon the revenues generated by this pipeline. Not the opposite, because the commodity will find it's way to the Ukraine and the rest of Europe. Simple supply and demand.
The key is the pipelines that cross the Ukraine. It will take billions to build new ways to physically get around the Ukraine. New tanker fleets, or a new pipeline around the Ukraine.Good Luck there Puti-pute!
Time to pay up Puti-pute!Terrorize the whole world with your demonic USSR, there has to be a bill due and oweing!
Russia needs to pay for the murders of millions of innocents. I don't think that the bill that's due has even been delivered to Russia.Truely the crippled old man of Europe. You can't terrorize the planet without paying the bill owed to mankind! Now, since you have decided to give Iran nukes to mess with the USA and Europe, that bill needs to be even HIGHER.
And by the way, we know you are selling nukes to the Mad Mullahs in Iran. I've got a few short words for you Puti-pute, "Ohio Class".
They need to tax the Putin/NKVD/KGB about 300% to transit the country of Ukraine. Yup, that's about the right tax bill. 300%
BTW, you are a short little twit of a man!
ping
Welcome to the Resource Wars of the 21st century. Expect more.
The key is the pipelines that cross the Ukraine. It will take billions to build new ways to physically get around the Ukraine. New tanker fleets, or a new pipeline around the Ukraine.Good Luck there Puti-pute!==
Russia can EASILY to postpone few years until NEP will be operational. But Russia will NOT tolerate those ukranian gas thiefs.
And by the way, we know you are selling nukes to the Mad Mullahs in Iran. I've got a few short words for you Puti-pute, "Ohio Class". ==
You know it? Who inform you? Ukranian gas thiefs again?:))))
Could you please explain what kind of blackmail you are refering to ?
I don't see the whole point of the discussion ...
The russians are demanding the world-market price for natural gas from the ukrainians - so what ?
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