Russia has a right to their income based in 'past performance' of the Ukraine grivna as if the payments were timely. Tensions between Russia and the Ukraine is the last thing the EU needs. If Russia receives payment on a revalued grivna due to poor payment by the Ukraine it will sustain a loss all because they were generous to the countries west of its gas pipeline during difficult times.
Understandably, Russia should also seek good relations with the Ukraine and the EU, so while they have many rights of protest to receiving deflated prices on their gas deliveries they should also remember how to BEST get along with neighbors.
I wish everyone a lot of luck. We don't need to stir WWIII. I guarantee you that the USA would be busy in its own hemisphere if anyone experiencing hubris in Europe decides they can 'take on' the Russian Bear.
NEGOTIATIONS, Mr. Putin. Definately, heroic negotiations are in order.
Ukrainian PM Tymoshenko says President Yushchenko must resign (click title to entry - thank you)
KIEV, December 20 (RIA Novosti) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko said that President Viktor Yushchenko must resign on Saturday as he is weakening the country's economy on purpose.
"I believe that the country's president who works in the manner 'the worse, the better' and make money on mischief must resign on Saturday together with the head of the National Bank," Tymoshenko said in an interview with the Ukraina television channel.
The prime minister said that she demands the resignation of President Viktor Yushchenko as he and the administration of the National Bank and a number of other commercial banks have been weakening exchange rate of the national currency, hryvna, on purpose.
Ukraine was swept in October by a financial crisis caused by the ongoing global credit crunch. The country's key exporters - the steel and chemical sectors - were hit hardest.
The International Monetary Fund has agreed to lend Ukraine $16.43 billion to stabilize domestic economy. Ukraine has so far received the first $4.5 billion of the loan.
The parliament has passed anti-crisis legislation to help it deal with the situation....
Ukraine’s Hryvnia Jumps 11% as Central Bank Raises Rate to 22% (click here)
By Laura Cochrane
Dec. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Ukraine’s currency jumped as much as 11 percent against the dollar after the second interest-rate increase in two days aimed at halting a plunge the government says would cause defaults on most foreign-currency loans.
The hryvnia climbed the most in seven weeks to as high as 8.0925 per dollar, and was at 8.2750 as of 7:06 p.m. in Kiev, from 9.1 yesterday. The increase came after a 14 percent slide in the previous two days. The central bank raised its benchmark refinancing rate to 22 percent from 18 percent, after increasing it one percentage point yesterday....
As all these 'silly' alliance agreements are signed, the question arises as to their VIABILITY at time of conflict and what exactly defines 'conflict' considering the justificiation Russia had in South Ossetia.
One aspect of the Cheney dialogues with Europe through the Bush State Department was the UNREALISTIC nature of any treaty agreements with nations in Europe. With a war on terrorist networks in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Kashmir and India; there is little reality less obvious than the military expansionism and 'hardware' build-up of Russia while they sat on the sidelines carrying out 'diplomatic' relationships normally pursued by the USA.
Realizing that sovereign nations SHOULD be fighting in unison to end the terrorist networks globally, there is little room for brinkmanship in any hemisphere. If conflict between major powers ever broke out, it would allow chaos and escalation of terrorist elements globally with potential for global anarchy never experienced before in history.
All one has to has to realize is the extremely fast communication that occurs with these networks and their ability to escalate attacks based in religious fervor. It is a dangerous time for the world. Russia rightfully sought global expansionism of its military as the Neocon USA military set its path on aggression rather than alliances and mutual infrastructure to defeat the world's greatest enemy, that of al Qaeda and its offspring.
US, Ukraine, Sign Partnership Charter (click here)
By David Gollust The State Department
19 December 2008
The United States and Ukraine Friday signed what was termed a Charter of Strategic Partnership calling for cooperation in defense, energy, trade and other areas. The United State will set up a diplomatic mission in Ukraine's Crimean region. State Department officials said the terms of the partnership accord are not unlike those of agreements the United States has with many other countries. But the signing comes at a politically-sensitive time, in the aftermath of the Georgia crisis, and officials said it is a signal to Moscow of U.S.-Ukraine solidarity....It will be upto the Obama State Department to renegotiate any and all international agreements based on peace and not aggression. Russia is NOT the enemy, but, more reactionary to 'threats' of war of any nature to protect its interests, people and borders. It his high time the USA, Russia and China have a 'Friendship Pact' with mutual interest in peace and economic prosperity.
A very hopeful sign for 'building' global peace and alliance is a meeting recently between Germany and Russia. I congratulate Chancellor Merkel for her insight. The former Soviet States are still in flux and their leadership has to be scrutinized for issues that might result in sustained damage to long standing desires for peace between major nations. The ambitions of the Georgian President were not beneficial to the outcome of his own people and demonstrates clearly 'immature' ability in leadership. The 'idea' the USA would 'take advantage' of such leadership for some 'idea' of assaulting Russia for its natural resources or potential defense of nations of Europe as if Russia would contribute to that instability is hideous.
Posted on Dec. 19, 2008
By George Friedman
Germany Opposes NATO Membership for Ukraine and Georgia (click here)
From Stratfor
German Chancellor Angela Merkel went to St. Petersburg last week for meetings with Russian President Dmitri Medvedev. The central question on the table was Germany’s position on NATO expansion, particularly with regard to Ukraine and Georgia. Merkel made it clear at a joint press conference that Germany would oppose NATO membership for both of these countries, and that it would even oppose placing the countries on the path to membership. Since NATO operates on the basis of consensus, any member nation can effectively block any candidate from NATO membership....
I suggest there be more Summits with allies and old friends by the new administration topping the agenda of defeating terrorist networks and reversing global warming. It is a well known fact the stresses of a warming planet severely complicates any nation's security. I am confident as those environmental stresses progress every terrorist network will seek to exploit that reality in lack of infrastructure by any nation. Al Qaeda is a vicious network of well educated people looking to defeat freedom. No one should underestimate the abilities of these international criminals including the protective militias of Iraq that seek security for their own people as well.
Lots to do. No time to waste.
FOREIGN POLICY
Dec. 19, 2008 – 3:36 p.m.
Obama to Revive Stalled Nuclear Reduction Talks With Russia (click here)
By Josh Rogin, CQ Staff
President-elect Barack Obama intends to revive stalled talks with Russia on reducing nuclear weapons when he takes office next year, Rep. Ellen O. Tauscher said Friday.
Tauscher, D-Calif., recently returned from leading a congressional delegation to Russia and Eastern Europe. In meetings with the delegation, Russian officials laid out their key negotiating points for a new strategic arms reduction treaty and U.S. lawmakers pledged to work on an agreement before the current treaty expires in December 2009.
“We need to get about the business of negotiating a new treaty; it’s a fundamental priority of both the Congress and the new administration,” said Tauscher, chairwoman of the House Armed Services Strategic Forces subcommittee.
The 1991 START I treaty limited the number of nuclear warheads and delivery systems for the United States and the former Soviet Union and represented a drastic reduction of nuclear weapons on both sides when finally implemented in 2001.
A decade-long effort to implement the follow-on START II treaty failed in 2002, when Russia backed out in response to President Bush’s unilateral decision to scuttle the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty in May of that year.
The negotiations will be arduous, Tauscher said, due to the lack of trust between the two countries and each side’s desire to alter the basic framework of the treaty towards their new perspectives on the 21st century strategic environment.
“After the Russian aggression in Georgia, it’s difficult to get back to business-as-usual, while it’s clear that we have business to do,” she said, adding, “Their position effectively is ‘we don’t believe you and we don’t trust you’.”...
