10 January 2014 — Strategic Culture Foundation
NATO Trips on Own Lies with U-Turn on ‘Russian Aggressor’
10.01.2015 | 08:34 | Finian CUNNINGHAM
NATO’s civilian figurehead Jens Stoltenberg this week urged Russia to be a partner against terrorism. He was speaking the day after the deadly gun attack on a magazine in Paris where 12 people, including three police officers, were killed by assailants purporting to be affiliated with radical Islamists. … Well, how about that for a screeching U-turn? After all, has it not become NATO policy, since the Ukraine crisis blew up last year, to terminate all security co-operation with Russia in a bid to ostracise the latter? Only a few weeks ago, Stoltenberg and other NATO officials were accusing Russia of being the biggest threat to security in Europe, asserting without evidence that Moscow has aggressive designs on Ukraine, the Baltic states and other eastern European countries.
Hungary: Is Ukraine Style Coup Possible in EU and NATO Member-State?
10.01.2015 | 00:00 | Vladislav GULEVICH
The atmosphere is tense in Budapest. It’s not the first time anti-government protests hit the streets of the capital with people chanting “More Democracy!” and “Orban, Go Away!” The last demonstration took place on January 2. The next one is slated for February 1 – the day of Angela Merkel’s visit. The Victor Orban’s opponents say they want to make the German Chancellor see that Hungarians choose Europe, not Asia (meaning Russia). … The doctrine of Atlanticism prevailing among the ranks of US and European establishment makes the countries of Central and Eastern Europe – Hungary, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria, Serbia and Slovakia – keep away from the Eurasian vector of cooperation even when economic expediency is obvious. These states must align their activities with the goal of US domination in Europe. … Hungary is in for dramatic events to take place pretty soon. Neither the NATO, nor EU membership guarantee the European states from attempts to topple legal governments in case they go beyond the defined limits of political independence.
Scoop News or What Triggers New UN Probe into Dag Hammarskjöld’s Death?
09.01.2015 | 11:29 | Alexander MEZYAEV
On December 31, 2014, the UN General Assembly approved by consensus a Resolution that requested Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to appoint an independent Panel of Experts to examine the new information that has emerged on the tragic death of former UN chief Dag Hammarskjöld. … Dag Hjalmar Agne Carl Hammarskjöldwas Secretary-General of the United Nations from 10 April 1953 until 18 September 1961. The plane carrying the UN Secretary General was shot down over Ndola, Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia) on the night of 17-18 September 1961. 16 men on board perished. In April 1962 a UN investigative panel said it was impossible to make definitive conclusions though the report contained enough facts to establish the truth. For instance, some states, including the United States and Great Britain, did their best to conceal it. … There was enough proof gathered in 1961-1962 to make the conclusion that the Secretary General was killed. … The previous investigative commissions successively ignored or downplayed the testimonyprovided by inconvenient witnesses. … Great Britain has already tried to distort the facts related to the complicity of South African, UK and US special services in the assassination of Hammarskjöld.
?hina – Europe: New Alliance? (II)
09.01.2015 | 00:00 | Pyotr ISKENDEROV
Hungary and Serbia are the main recipients of Chinese investments in Central and Eastern Europe. According to estimates, China has invested a few billions of euros in their economy. As of 2013, China invested €300 million in Poland and €114 million in Romania. … Besides, in late October China took a decision to grant Montenegro a €687 loan to fund its part of the high-speed railway. At the same time, Beijing signed a preliminary agreement with Bosnia and Herzegovina on funding a 62-km highway. The goal is to build an integrated pan-Balkan transport infrastructure. Adding to the Piraeus port upgrade project, the Danube Bridge opening ceremony took place at the time of the China and Central and Eastern European Countries meeting.
?hina – Europe: New Alliance? (I)
08.01.2015 | 09:16 | Pyotr ISKENDEROV
The United States and the EU continue the policy of confrontation with Russia in Europe and the post-Soviet space against the background of China’s growing clout and stronger influence on European affairs. The China’s global contribution is not limited by fast moving consumer goods. Today it leadsthe United States in GDP adjusted for purchasing power parity. The country seeks to play a leading role in such international organizations as BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and bilateral relationships. Soon China may launch an economic stimulus package comparable with the quantitativeeasing program implemented by US Federal Reserve System.
USA, North Korea and Hollywood (II)
07.01.2015 | 16:08 | Alexander VORONTSOV
For North Korea the 2014 was a year of growing tensions, as well as the time of continuous economic growth that the country reached even being under international sanctions. It was also the year when military and political leadership consolidated the ranks thanks to the efforts of young Kim Jong-un. In 2014 a three-year mourning period for the late leader Kim Jong Il, the father of Kim Jong-un, ended. It was also the time of increasing cooperation with friendly states, first of all Russia and China. Perhaps all these things will make the regime’s opponents realize that the hopes for the regime change in North Korea are groundless. Perhaps it will help to revive a substantive dialogue on the problems of the Korean Peninsula.
USA, North Korea and Hollywood (I)
06.01.2015 | 11:40 | Alexander VORONTSOV
2014 was another year of lasting conflict between the Unites States and North Korea. … North Korean political culture has specific features – the national leader is treated with utmost respect as the man who enjoys a special status in the government political structure. The moral values advocated by Confucius presuppose that the supreme leader is the father of the nation and the representative of Heaven among other things. Those who are acquainted with the North Korean cultural and historic traditions are not surprised when an insult is met with a tough response. No doubt, the US is aware of the fact.
Why S&P Attacks Russia’s Credit Rating
05.01.2015 | 00:00 | Ian BLOHM
As the New Year approaches, Standard & Poor’s (S&P) international credit ratings agency revised Russia’s sovereign credit ratings to credit watch negative from negative. It said it could downgrade Russia to the non-investment-grade (speculative-grade bond, or junk bond) as soon as mid-January. Is this assessment based on indicators reflecting the real state of Russian economy? Or is it another politically motivated step taken by the West to disbalance the Russia’s financial system?
Eurasian Economic Union Came into Force
05.01.2015 | 00:00 | Alexander MEZYAEV
As the new year started, the Eurasian Economic Union (the EEU) signed on May 29, 2014 came into force to include Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia and Kirgizia. The EEU boasts the population of 183 million (the seventh largest in the world) and covers over 20 million square kilometers (15% of the earth’s land). The organization is the largest world gas (22% of global output) and oil (14, 6% of global output) producer, the second largest producer of mineral fertilizers (14% of world output), the third largest energy (9% of global output) producer and the fourth largest producer of steel (6% of global production) and coal (6% of global output)… (1) But what really matters is that the Eurasian Union is «a model of a powerful, supranational association capable of becoming one of the poles of the modern world… to play an effective bridge role between Europe and the dynamic Asia-Pacific region»…
Another War in Europe? In Whose Name?
04.01.2015 | 00:00 | Natalia MEDEN
The differences between Steinmeier and Merkel on Russia periodically get into the German media’s radar screen, though it’s hard to grasp the gist of it. Social Democrat Steinmeier is concerned over possible deterioration of economic situation. So what? German Finance Minister Wolfgang Schäuble of the ChristianDemocratic Union of Germanyis also concerned over the anti-Russia sanctions but does not support the idea of lifting or at least easing them. The rhetoric of Social Democrats appears to be a bit less tough but it has no influence on Berlin. There is an impression that Chancellor Merkel and Foreign Minister Steinmeier just put on an act – a badly played amateur performance. It’s not even “a bad cop-good cop” classic game but rather it’s “a bad cop (Merkel) – a not so bad cop (Steinmeier)” version. Such performances lack of taste and depth. Anyway, playing such roles will hardly enhance the German liberals’ credibility.
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The New Dark Age 
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