Russia –Turkey Relations Change Balance of Forces in Europe and Middle East/ Российско--турецкие соглашения меняют расстановку сил в Европе и на Ближнем Востоке

4.12.2014, Strategic Culture Foundation http://www.strategic-culture.org (Russia)

Фонд стратегической культуры http://www.fondsk.ru (Россия)

Alexander DONETSKY

The work on Black Sea undersea gas pipeline going around Ukraine started in June 2007 in the wake of gas war with Russia initiated by Kiev. Along with the offshore North Stream in the Baltic Sea the South Stream was to bypass the politically unstable Ukraine to ensure regular supplies to Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary, Croatia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Austria, Greece and Italy. The planned capacity of the $16 billion project was 63 billion cubic meters. The beginning of construction was slated for 2013 but Gasprom changed the plans to hold the kick-off ceremony led by Russian President on December 7, 2012. The offshore section of the pipeline was to be launched in December 2014. Pipes were transported to the Bulgarian city of Varna.

The United States vehemently opposed the project. In July, 2009 Bulgaria left the South Stream in favor of US-backed Nabucco connecting Europe with Azerbaijan and the Iranian South Pars gas field. By the end of 2010 Sofia joined the project again. In January 2011 Günther Oettinger, the EU Commissioner for Energy, called on European states to dissuade

Prospects for Ukraine’s Partition. Warsaw to Waste no Time Rushing to the Party/Варшава боится опоздать к разделу украинского пирога

1.12.2014, Strategic Culture Foundation http://www.strategic-culture.org (Russia)

Фонд стратегической культуры http://www.fondsk.ru (Россия)

Dmitry MININ

The story is getting more confirmations. The rumors launched by Radoslaw Sikorski, the speaker of Polish parliament, who accused Moscow of offering Poland parts of Ukraine, were concocted by Poles themselves with a distinct goal in mind – to feel out the reaction on the idea of Ukraine’s partition. The parliamentary opposition wanted the speaker to resign but lost the vote with only 146 MPs out of 434 to support the motion. Sikorski realized that he jumped the gun and his statements were negatively affecting the government plans, so he changed the tactics. Speaking at Harvard University on November 20 he told listeners that Poland was different from Ukraine because it resolutely stepped on the way of reform to become part of transatlantic structures. What he actually meant was that only Poland could lead Ukraine – the whole of it or divided – in the direction the West wanted it to go. Moscow stood in the way. So the Western military alliance was to go back to the mission it was founded for - the deterrence of Russia.

Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Shetina joined Sikorski making botched statements. In an interview to Gazeta Wyborcza he compared the relationship of Warsaw and Kiev with the relations between European countries and their colonies in Africa. The Minister made comments on the «Normandy Format» (Germany-France-Russia-Ukraine) gas transit resumption talks in Milan. The US and Poland did not like the fact that they were not invited to take part in the event. Summing up the

BRICS, БРИКС/MAIS UMA VITÓRIA DE PUTIN GASODUTO 'RAMO SUL' SERÁ CONSTRUÍDO COM A ÁUSTRIA

30 junho 2014, Правда.Ру, Pravda.ru http://www.pravda.ru (Россия, Rússia)

Nunca foi segredo que o prêmio para quem controle a Ucrânia é a posse da vasta infraestrutura do gasoduto que parte da Rússia e chega à Europa. Mas, dado que todo o gás pertence, em primeiro lugar, à [empresa russa] Gazprom, realmente não importa se Kiev tinha posse do gás que enchiam os dutos que levavam o gás para a Europa; nem se, como é hoje o caso, a Ucrânia seria apenas um duto de transferência do gás totalmente russo, entregue a países europeus, sem que gás algum permanecesse na Ucrânia, hoje destroçada pela guerra civil. 

Afinal de contas, a Ucrânia absolutamente não consegue mais comprar gás russo, porque não tem crédito nem dinheiro para pagar adiantado; mas, se roubar gás destinado à Alemanha e outros países, a Ucrânia estará simplesmente antagonizando seus novos 'melhores amigos' na OTAN, os quais são, todos, clientes da [russa] Gazprom.

Não, o gasoduto que emergiu no papel de estrela principal no conflito na Ucrânia nada tem a ver com a Ucrânia, mas é gasoduto que percorre várias centenas de quilômetros do sul da Ucrânia - o chamado Projeto Ramo Sul [orig.South Stream Project[1]] - que deixa o litoral sul da Crimeia no Mar Negro russo, cruza o Mar Negro e atravessa Bulgária, Sérvia, Hungria, e termina na central de distribuição de gás em Baumgarten, Áustria,[2] de onde partem gasodutos de distribuição para toda a Europa Central, principalmente para a Alemanha.

O projeto, de 2007, foi concebido para não passar pela Ucrânia e servir como alternativa para o agora congelado gasoduto Nabucco apoiado por EUA e Europa; e recolheria o gás do

Timor-Leste/Government unable to champion onshore LNG plant from Greater Sunrise – Mari Alkatiri

Frente Revolucionária do Timor-Leste Independente (FRETILIN)

Media Release, September 23, 2008

(Timor Online http://www.timor-online.blogspot.com/)

The de facto AMP government lead by Xanana Gusmão is showing itself to be totally incapable to provide the legal, technical and economic arguments that can convince the Greater Sunrise joint venture partners that a pipeline to Timor-Leste and an onshore LNG processing plant is the best and most viable option for the field's development, said the former Timorese Prime Minister Dr Alkatiri today.

Dr Alkatiri negotiated both the Timor Sea treaty and the Certain Maritime Arrangements in the Timor Sea (CMATS) Treaty. He was speaking from Dili today after having met with his parliamentary colleagues to discuss recent developments and media reports that the Greater Sunrise joint venture had decided on Darwin as the location for the LNG plant to process the gas from Greater Sunrise.

"I think that the media reports of a site location decision by the Sunrise joint venture are premature. From recent discussions with Woodside's top executives in charge of the project during a recent visit to Dili, I don't believe the investment decision has been made yet. So the media reports are misleading and mischievous. As far as I can gauge, it is just a lot of noise," Dr Alkatiri said.

"But they are uncomfortable about other noise coming from the Timor-Leste side that may lead them to question whether or not this Timor-Leste government knows the ground rules for the legal and technical process which will guide the discussions on which will be the best and most viable option for developing the Greater Sunrise field. I am worried by statements from people like the de facto Prime Minister and his Secretary of State for Natural Resources that it is a matter for the two governments to discuss. This is just wrong," stressed Dr Alkatiri.

In recent media reports following Mr Gusmão's visit to Australia, where this issue was discussed between Mr Gusmão and Australian Prime Minister Rudd, Mr Gusmão is quoted as having said: "This is an issue for negotiation between the two governments", meaning the governments of Timor-Leste and Australia.

"This is wrong because the Treaty documents set out the criteria, the process and the mechanism for joint decision making. The developers of Greater Sunrise will present a proposal to the Sunrise Treaty Commission which will decide whether or not the development plan meets the technical and economic criteria set out by the treaty. Its not for the two government's to negotiated as this de facto government thinks," added Dr Alkatiri.

"Then you add the suspicion arising from the government's signing of hitherto secret agreements with international oil companies who have no legal stake in the Greater Sunrise field. According to the explanation given by the Secretary of State during recent parliamentary hearings, this secret agreement purports to give them rights to market the gas from the field which they do not have, but in fact rests with the downstream contractors. I think we have a very volatile mix that will place in jeopardy Timor-Leste's chances of getting a pipeline and LNG plant on our shores. This is a goal we all share and we support any government that tries to achieve that. But we have an obligation to speak out when we see actions that could jeopardize our chances," Dr Alkatiri stressed.

Dr Alkatiri repeated his offer that FRETILIN have always been ready, willing and able to contribute with their extensive experience in negotiating these resource-related matters, through an appropriate inclusive and consultative body established for this specific purpose.

"That is how we were able to negotiate the outcomes we did during our government against the odds. We included everyone, civil society, opposition in parliament, the president, everyone," he said in closing.

Contact:
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Nilva Guimaraes +670 734 0389