5 New Messages
Digest #4597
Messages
Mon Jan 7, 2013 6:08 am (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://rt.com/news/morales-us-
RT
January 7, 2013
Bolivia slams US over 'irrefutable evidence' of meddling
Bolivia has “concrete evidence” that the US is plotting to destabilize the Latin American nation, Minister Juan Ramon Quintana said. Proof of US “harassment” of the Bolivian government will be handed over to President Obama, he added.
The Bolivian government is “scrupulously following” US activity in Bolivia, Minister for the Bolivian Presidency Quintana said in a press conference.
“There is so much evidence to hand over to the President of the USA to say to him: Stop harassing the Bolivian government, stop politically cornering and ambushing us!” Quintana stressed. He added that investigations into drug-trafficking and human rights abuses would reveal a “permanent battle” waged by the US to impede progress in Bolivia.
“In the offensive against the government there are no visible subjects...What we’re seeing are the political machinations of the US Embassy,” which seeks to damage the image of the Bolivian government, Quintana said.
The country's US ambassador was ejected in 2008 after being accused of plotting against the Bolivian government by President Evo Morales. The US quickly followed suit, removing its Bolivian ambassador.
A charge d’affaires now heads the American embassy in La Paz; both nations signed a deal in 2011 that would pave the way for the reinstatement of the ambassadors. However, diplomatic relations between the two countries have yet to be normalized.
...A damning report released by the American government last year ranking Bolivia, along with Venezuela and Burma, as “failing demonstrably during the previous 12 months to adhere to their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements."
President Morales denied the findings, accusing the US of hypocrisy and calling the illicit drugs trade with Latin America the US’ “best business.”
A thorn in the US’ side
Bolivia has been a thorn in the US’ side because of its anti-neoliberal and anti-imperialist policies, pioneered by President Evo Morales; the US also could not permit challenges to its policies in the heart of Latin America, Minister Quintana said in an interview with state radio station El Pueblo.
“What we have been fighting since 2006 and what we will continue to fight is a war against Bolivian progress,” he said, adding that the political objective of the US was to dismantle the “process of rebellion” by any means necessary.
Bolivia is currently led by Evo Morales, the country’s first indigenous leader, who is a close ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. The three leaders...have often been critical of what they criticize as the US overstepping its authority in Latin America.
Ecuadorian President Correa spoke out over the weekend, voicing concerns of a possible CIA plot to remove him in the run-up to governmental elections in February. He cited a report written by a Chilean journalist, which described an alleged US plot to destabilize the region.
------------------------------
http://rt.com/news/ecuado-corr
RT
January 6, 2013
Ecuadorian president warns of possible 'CIA attack' before elections
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has said the CIA may try to kill him prior to upcoming elections. Citing reports of a plot to “destabilize the region,” Correa said the threats were “credible,” given the history of US involvement in Latin America.
Correa alluded to reports by Chilean journalist Patricio Mery Bell, who allegedly passed on information to the Ecuadorian government that President Correa’s life was “under threat” by a CIA plot.
“There are many cases of [the CIA] interfering” in Latin American affairs, Correa said during a campaign tour in the coastal province of Guayas. “These are credible [reports] because this has happened before in Latin America.”
...
Although Correa...warned that agencies such as the CIA often follow their own agenda and maintain links with organizations representing the extreme right in the countries in which they operate.
Bell first voiced his concerns for the safety of President Correa three months ago when he released a report claiming the CIA sought to “destabilize” Ecuador. He said that the threat to Correa’s life would be at its height from January 15 and onwards, as Correa applies to run for another presidential term.
“We will have to be three times more vigilant with President Correa,” Bell said in an interview with publication El Ciudadano. Bell maintained that although he was not a staunch supporter of Correa, it was his duty as a Latin American citizen to warn of the alleged $88-million CIA plot to destabilize the Ecuadorian government.
The journalist believes that this money will be divided amongst extremist anarchist, leftist and hardline conservative groups, in the hopes of discrediting Correas.
Bell claimed in his report that the main motives behind the CIA plot were the closing of the US Manta military base, hailed as a victory for Ecuadorian national sovereignty, and the granting of asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
President Correa...has reduced poverty and increased stability and the overall standard of living in Ecuador during his presidency, winning popularity amongst the country’s poorest as well as the educated middle class.
Correa will run for reelection against six other candidates when campaigning begins on January 15. Ecuadorians will vote for the next president and vice president on Sunday, February 17.
==============================
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==============================
RT
January 7, 2013
Bolivia slams US over 'irrefutable evidence' of meddling
Bolivia has “concrete evidence” that the US is plotting to destabilize the Latin American nation, Minister Juan Ramon Quintana said. Proof of US “harassment” of the Bolivian government will be handed over to President Obama, he added.
The Bolivian government is “scrupulously following” US activity in Bolivia, Minister for the Bolivian Presidency Quintana said in a press conference.
“There is so much evidence to hand over to the President of the USA to say to him: Stop harassing the Bolivian government, stop politically cornering and ambushing us!” Quintana stressed. He added that investigations into drug-trafficking and human rights abuses would reveal a “permanent battle” waged by the US to impede progress in Bolivia.
“In the offensive against the government there are no visible subjects...What we’re seeing are the political machinations of the US Embassy,” which seeks to damage the image of the Bolivian government, Quintana said.
The country's US ambassador was ejected in 2008 after being accused of plotting against the Bolivian government by President Evo Morales. The US quickly followed suit, removing its Bolivian ambassador.
A charge d’affaires now heads the American embassy in La Paz; both nations signed a deal in 2011 that would pave the way for the reinstatement of the ambassadors. However, diplomatic relations between the two countries have yet to be normalized.
...A damning report released by the American government last year ranking Bolivia, along with Venezuela and Burma, as “failing demonstrably during the previous 12 months to adhere to their obligations under international counternarcotics agreements."
President Morales denied the findings, accusing the US of hypocrisy and calling the illicit drugs trade with Latin America the US’ “best business.”
A thorn in the US’ side
Bolivia has been a thorn in the US’ side because of its anti-neoliberal and anti-imperialist policies, pioneered by President Evo Morales; the US also could not permit challenges to its policies in the heart of Latin America, Minister Quintana said in an interview with state radio station El Pueblo.
“What we have been fighting since 2006 and what we will continue to fight is a war against Bolivian progress,” he said, adding that the political objective of the US was to dismantle the “process of rebellion” by any means necessary.
Bolivia is currently led by Evo Morales, the country’s first indigenous leader, who is a close ally of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa. The three leaders...have often been critical of what they criticize as the US overstepping its authority in Latin America.
Ecuadorian President Correa spoke out over the weekend, voicing concerns of a possible CIA plot to remove him in the run-up to governmental elections in February. He cited a report written by a Chilean journalist, which described an alleged US plot to destabilize the region.
------------------------------
http://rt.com/news/ecuado-corr
RT
January 6, 2013
Ecuadorian president warns of possible 'CIA attack' before elections
Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has said the CIA may try to kill him prior to upcoming elections. Citing reports of a plot to “destabilize the region,” Correa said the threats were “credible,” given the history of US involvement in Latin America.
Correa alluded to reports by Chilean journalist Patricio Mery Bell, who allegedly passed on information to the Ecuadorian government that President Correa’s life was “under threat” by a CIA plot.
“There are many cases of [the CIA] interfering” in Latin American affairs, Correa said during a campaign tour in the coastal province of Guayas. “These are credible [reports] because this has happened before in Latin America.”
...
Although Correa...warned that agencies such as the CIA often follow their own agenda and maintain links with organizations representing the extreme right in the countries in which they operate.
Bell first voiced his concerns for the safety of President Correa three months ago when he released a report claiming the CIA sought to “destabilize” Ecuador. He said that the threat to Correa’s life would be at its height from January 15 and onwards, as Correa applies to run for another presidential term.
“We will have to be three times more vigilant with President Correa,” Bell said in an interview with publication El Ciudadano. Bell maintained that although he was not a staunch supporter of Correa, it was his duty as a Latin American citizen to warn of the alleged $88-million CIA plot to destabilize the Ecuadorian government.
The journalist believes that this money will be divided amongst extremist anarchist, leftist and hardline conservative groups, in the hopes of discrediting Correas.
Bell claimed in his report that the main motives behind the CIA plot were the closing of the US Manta military base, hailed as a victory for Ecuadorian national sovereignty, and the granting of asylum to WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
President Correa...has reduced poverty and increased stability and the overall standard of living in Ecuador during his presidency, winning popularity amongst the country’s poorest as well as the educated middle class.
Correa will run for reelection against six other candidates when campaigning begins on January 15. Ecuadorians will vote for the next president and vice president on Sunday, February 17.
==============================
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==============================
Mon Jan 7, 2013 7:38 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.civil.ge/eng/
Civil Georgia
January 7, 2013
93 Georgian Soldiers Wounded in Afghanistan in 2010-2012
Tbilisi: A total of 93 Georgian soldiers have been wounded in 2010-2012 while serving in Afghanistan, according to the Georgian Ministry of Defense.
The information was obtained by the Tbilisi-based Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) from the MoD under the freedom of information act and released on January 4.
The MoD usually does not release information about the incidents in which Georgian soldiers sustain injuries, and the precise number of Georgian servicemen wounded in action in Afghanistan remained unclear until now. The most recently when Civil.ge tried to obtain this information was in November, 2012 but the MoD at the time declined the request.
20 Georgian servicemen were wounded in 2010, when Georgian soldiers were first deployed in Helmand province; 44 more were wounded in following year and 29 soldiers were wounded as of November 26, 2012.
Georgia joined the ISAF mission in November 2009 with the deployment of about 170 soldiers in Kabul. In April, 2010 Georgia increased its contribution by sending a battalion to Helmand province and in October, 2012 Georgia almost doubled its presence in Afghanistan to over 1,560 soldiers after sending one more battalion to Helmand province.
Georgia has lost a total of nineteen soldiers in Afghanistan, eight of them in 2012.
The most recent casualty was last month after the dead body of missing Sergeant Giorgi Kikadze was found in the Musa Qala district of Helmand province on December 29.
PM Bidzina Ivanishvili said after attending a funeral service for Sergeant Kikadze in the town of Rustavi on January 5 that Georgia should continue its participation in the NATO-led operations in Afghanistan.
...
President Saakashvili spent New Year’s Eve with the Georgian troops in Helmand province telling them that their “mission was of historic importance”.
Last month the MoD announced about the plan to increase salaries of the Georgian soldiers serving in Afghanistan starting from January, 2013.
After this announcement, President Saakashvili said while visiting Afghanistan that he was intending to initiate legislative amendments envisaging additional social benefits in a form of pension for the soldiers, who served in Afghanistan, and their families.
------------------------------
http://news.xinhuanet.com/
Xinhua News Agency
January 7, 2013
93 Georgian soldiers wounded in Afghanistan between 2010-2012
TBILISI: Ninety-three Georgian soldiers were wounded during 2010-2012 while serving in Afghanistan, a Tbilisi-based institute has reported.
The information was released last week by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information. The Georgian Defense Ministry previously said 19 soldiers have died in Afghanistan so far.
The South Caucasus country started to contribute troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan in November 2009.
There are now 1,560 Georgian soldiers serving in Afghanistan, making the country the largest non-NATO troop contributor to ISAF.
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili pledged Saturday a continued contribution.
"I want to explain it again to the society that our troops' contribution to global security is of course a source of pride for our country...we should further strengthen our role in this process in the future," he said.
President Mikheil Saakashvili visited Georgian troops in the Afghan province of Helmand on the eve of the New Year.
==============================
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==============================
Civil Georgia
January 7, 2013
93 Georgian Soldiers Wounded in Afghanistan in 2010-2012
Tbilisi: A total of 93 Georgian soldiers have been wounded in 2010-2012 while serving in Afghanistan, according to the Georgian Ministry of Defense.
The information was obtained by the Tbilisi-based Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) from the MoD under the freedom of information act and released on January 4.
The MoD usually does not release information about the incidents in which Georgian soldiers sustain injuries, and the precise number of Georgian servicemen wounded in action in Afghanistan remained unclear until now. The most recently when Civil.ge tried to obtain this information was in November, 2012 but the MoD at the time declined the request.
20 Georgian servicemen were wounded in 2010, when Georgian soldiers were first deployed in Helmand province; 44 more were wounded in following year and 29 soldiers were wounded as of November 26, 2012.
Georgia joined the ISAF mission in November 2009 with the deployment of about 170 soldiers in Kabul. In April, 2010 Georgia increased its contribution by sending a battalion to Helmand province and in October, 2012 Georgia almost doubled its presence in Afghanistan to over 1,560 soldiers after sending one more battalion to Helmand province.
Georgia has lost a total of nineteen soldiers in Afghanistan, eight of them in 2012.
The most recent casualty was last month after the dead body of missing Sergeant Giorgi Kikadze was found in the Musa Qala district of Helmand province on December 29.
PM Bidzina Ivanishvili said after attending a funeral service for Sergeant Kikadze in the town of Rustavi on January 5 that Georgia should continue its participation in the NATO-led operations in Afghanistan.
...
President Saakashvili spent New Year’s Eve with the Georgian troops in Helmand province telling them that their “mission was of historic importance”.
Last month the MoD announced about the plan to increase salaries of the Georgian soldiers serving in Afghanistan starting from January, 2013.
After this announcement, President Saakashvili said while visiting Afghanistan that he was intending to initiate legislative amendments envisaging additional social benefits in a form of pension for the soldiers, who served in Afghanistan, and their families.
------------------------------
http://news.xinhuanet.com/
Xinhua News Agency
January 7, 2013
93 Georgian soldiers wounded in Afghanistan between 2010-2012
TBILISI: Ninety-three Georgian soldiers were wounded during 2010-2012 while serving in Afghanistan, a Tbilisi-based institute has reported.
The information was released last week by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information. The Georgian Defense Ministry previously said 19 soldiers have died in Afghanistan so far.
The South Caucasus country started to contribute troops to the NATO-led International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) in Afghanistan in November 2009.
There are now 1,560 Georgian soldiers serving in Afghanistan, making the country the largest non-NATO troop contributor to ISAF.
Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili pledged Saturday a continued contribution.
"I want to explain it again to the society that our troops' contribution to global security is of course a source of pride for our country...we should further strengthen our role in this process in the future," he said.
President Mikheil Saakashvili visited Georgian troops in the Afghan province of Helmand on the eve of the New Year.
==============================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.co
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stopnato-subscribe@yahoogroups
==============================
Mon Jan 7, 2013 7:38 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://www.defensie.nl/
Ministery of Defence (The Netherlands)
January 7, 2013
Patriots travel in convoy to Eemshaven
Escorted by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, 2 Dutch Patriot units left for the port of Eemshaven near Delfzijl today, to be shipped to Turkey. A total of 150 vehicles and 130 trailers will transport the missile defence materiel via the A50 and the A28 to the seaport. As part of Operation Anatolian Protector, the systems will protect our NATO Ally against Scud missile attacks from Syria.
The military personnel of the Defence Ground-based Air Defence Command started their 300-kilometre road journey at their home base, the ‘Luitenant-generaal Best’ Barracks in Vredepeel. The 2 Patriot air defence systems, including radar stations and launch installations, will move in 6 convoys of 25 vehicles and around 20 trailers each. At the port of Eemshaven, the materiel will be loaded onto a cargo ship and then travel, accompanied by 5 military personnel, to Turkey, where it is expected to arrive on 22 January.
Chief of Defence General Tom Middendorp was there to see the military personnel off. “By baring our teeth, in a military sense”, he said, “we prevent the use of even more violence. It may sound contradictory...”
Tomorrow, some 30 Dutch and 20 German quartermasters will leave from Eindhoven Air Base to make preparations for the mission. The main force of around 270 Dutch military personnel will follow on 21 January.
...
The Netherlands, Germany and the United States will each cover a sector, sending 2 Patriot systems each. The Dutch will be going to Adana, which with 2.1 million inhabitants is the largest city in southern Turkey.
==============================
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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.co
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==============================
Ministery of Defence (The Netherlands)
January 7, 2013
Patriots travel in convoy to Eemshaven
Escorted by the Royal Netherlands Marechaussee, 2 Dutch Patriot units left for the port of Eemshaven near Delfzijl today, to be shipped to Turkey. A total of 150 vehicles and 130 trailers will transport the missile defence materiel via the A50 and the A28 to the seaport. As part of Operation Anatolian Protector, the systems will protect our NATO Ally against Scud missile attacks from Syria.
The military personnel of the Defence Ground-based Air Defence Command started their 300-kilometre road journey at their home base, the ‘Luitenant-generaal Best’ Barracks in Vredepeel. The 2 Patriot air defence systems, including radar stations and launch installations, will move in 6 convoys of 25 vehicles and around 20 trailers each. At the port of Eemshaven, the materiel will be loaded onto a cargo ship and then travel, accompanied by 5 military personnel, to Turkey, where it is expected to arrive on 22 January.
Chief of Defence General Tom Middendorp was there to see the military personnel off. “By baring our teeth, in a military sense”, he said, “we prevent the use of even more violence. It may sound contradictory...”
Tomorrow, some 30 Dutch and 20 German quartermasters will leave from Eindhoven Air Base to make preparations for the mission. The main force of around 270 Dutch military personnel will follow on 21 January.
...
The Netherlands, Germany and the United States will each cover a sector, sending 2 Patriot systems each. The Dutch will be going to Adana, which with 2.1 million inhabitants is the largest city in southern Turkey.
==============================
Stop NATO e-mail list home page with archives and search engine:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
Stop NATO website and articles:
http://rickrozoff.wordpress.co
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==============================
Mon Jan 7, 2013 7:38 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Rick Rozoff" rwrozoff
http://usa.chinadaily.com.cn/o
China Daily
January 7, 2013
Sino-Russian stable relations
Victor Larin*
====
In the extreme instability of the modern world, we all see what is happening in Europe, Africa, South Asia and even North America, stable and strategic relations between Russia and China have a special value. They are important not only for our two countries but also to the world.
In the international arena China is a close friend and partner, at least up until now, especially in the face of, if not a common enemy, a shared aggravator, the US' desire to dominate forever and everywhere. That is the basic approach of the US' policies, which go against the interests of China and Russia.
====
I would like to evaluate the relations between Russia and China in 2012 in the context of the last 10 years and their projection into the future, as well as looking at them through the prism of global problems, on the one hand, and the interests of Russia, on the other.
Sino-Russian bilateral interaction has two solid foundations: The first is the relationship in the sphere of "high politics", that is between the heads of state and top-level officials. The second is cross-border and inter-regional relations.
For two decades the relationship based on the foundation of high politics has continually demonstrated a very high political standard, sometimes to the detriment of practical results. It was a sign of the strength of this foundation that Vladimir Putin visited China soon after he was re-elected as Russian president.
Since the 1990s, Russia and China have successfully coordinated their approaches to key issues concerning the modern world order and major international issues. Russia and China have repeatedly demonstrated that they have similar approaches to addressing the key issues concerning the world order and major international problems, as well as the ability to defend their interests. The two countries hold the same or similar positions on global issues such as the UN Security Council reform, global economic governance, climate change, food security and energy security and addressing regional hot-spot issues including the tension on the Korean Peninsula, the Iranian nuclear issue, Syria and Afghanistan.
Although the "new security architecture", proclaimed by both sides in September 2010 might look fairly abstract to others, it could become a very strong pillar of Russia-China relations in the coming decades. "The higher the level of cooperation between our countries, the calmer our region is," said Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defense minister, during a meeting of an intergovernmental commission on military cooperation. I totally agree with him. In the extreme instability of the modern world, we all see what is happening in Europe, Africa, South Asia and even North America, stable and strategic relations between Russia and China have a special value. They are important not only for our two countries but also to the world.
Experts like to discuss the potential contradictions between Russia and China in Central Asia, but it is clear to me that their common desire is to prevent the United States strengthening its influence in the region, as well as the spread of radical Islam, and this far outweighs the potential for conflict between them.
As for Russia, the "China threat" well-marked in shaping Moscow's policy toward China and bilateral relations, disappears when it comes to international affairs. In the international arena China is a close friend and partner, at least up until now, especially in the face of, if not a common enemy, a shared aggravator, the US' desire to dominate forever and everywhere. That is the basic approach of the US' policies, which go against the interests of China and Russia.
The second foundation of Russia-China cooperation, cross-border and inter-regional relations, have little to do with interstate cooperation at the highest level, but are fueled by the vital interests of the people and businessmen living on both sides of very long border between the two countries.
I think it would be wrong to assess Sino-Russian relations on the basis of economic results only. Although economic relations are certainly important, especially for Russia, they are not the major issue. The major issue for Russia and China today is a peaceful and secure common border, peace and stability in the border regions - the Korean Peninsula and Central Asia - and the development of the peripheral border areas.
The current economic potential of Russia does not permit a fast growth in trade and the development of industrial cooperation. What is important now is to create a favorable legal, political and psychological environment for bilateral relations. We must abandon the pursuit of trade growth figures as almost the sole criterion for the successful development of relations. Nobody sets targets for the assessment of economic relations between China and the US or Japan, yet they are prospering.
Effective cooperation between the two countries can occur in the areas where their national interests coincide - global, regional and national security, regional stability and the development of adjacent areas - not in ephemeral illusions and desires. Pragmatism should be the basis for this cooperation. In the near future if China is faced with some serious challenges, a friendly Russia will help China to stand up to them. Russia, in turn, can secure the security of its eastern borders only with the friendly relations with China, and it needs its consumer, commodity and labor markets.
So the emphasis should be on political and cultural relations, rather than trade growth in order to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding.
While the leaders of the two countries demonstrate a high level of political trust between them, the idea of deep political confidence between two countries and peoples still does not have either a strong administrative and political framework nor broad support among the Russian and Chinese bureaucracies and populations. Distrust toward Beijing itself and its policies in particular are deeply rooted among the Russian political and business elite as well as ordinary people. The idea of a "China threat" is alive. Horror stories about the future of Chinese expansion in Russia are rampant on the Russian Internet and work against strengthening ties. Moreover, Russia still lacks a deep understanding of the role and place of China in its vague plans and amorphous strategies.
Attempts to compare the relationship between China and the US and Russia and the US to Russia and China are counterproductive. All three have their own history, their own specificity, contradictions and future. Although one thing they probably do have in common is their pragmatism. The difference is that mercantile economic interests dominate Sino-US relations, while common national security problems and a similar vision of the present and future world order are the cornerstone of relations between Russia and China.
The contradictions certainly exist. Contradictions, differences in interests, different visions of the issues and problems necessarily present in relations between states. Those who say they do not see any are either hypocrites or excessively naive. Unfortunately, there are serious historical and cultural reasons for strategic mistrust between the two nations. They are considerably more serious than the Chinese migration to Russia, which is still a lot of talk, but which, by and large, is not a significant problem today for Russia. Very deep cultural differences and ways of thinking, as well as historical memories are among the reasons for mistrust. There is no need to turn a blind eye to them, we must accept them, take them into account and seek to overcome them.
I do not anticipate any drastic change in bilateral relations. I'm waiting only for Russia to finally prepare itself to reap the benefits and meet the challenges of China's rise and so most effectively use China's rise in its own interests without compromising the interests of China itself.
State support is needed to create large breakthrough projects, primarily in the area of the Northeast China and Pacific Russia. For example, the construction of high-speed rail lines between Harbin and Ussuriysk and Vladivostok and Khabarovsk, where Ussuriysk will be a pairing point.
Democracy and human rights are of great value, but they cannot be imposed by force on the rest of the world, especially when the West is trying to force its own interpretation of them on others. Especially when the West repeatedly demonstrates a lot of flaws and problems in its own manifestation of this interpretation.
*The author is director of Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences.
==============================
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==============================
China Daily
January 7, 2013
Sino-Russian stable relations
Victor Larin*
====
In the extreme instability of the modern world, we all see what is happening in Europe, Africa, South Asia and even North America, stable and strategic relations between Russia and China have a special value. They are important not only for our two countries but also to the world.
In the international arena China is a close friend and partner, at least up until now, especially in the face of, if not a common enemy, a shared aggravator, the US' desire to dominate forever and everywhere. That is the basic approach of the US' policies, which go against the interests of China and Russia.
====
I would like to evaluate the relations between Russia and China in 2012 in the context of the last 10 years and their projection into the future, as well as looking at them through the prism of global problems, on the one hand, and the interests of Russia, on the other.
Sino-Russian bilateral interaction has two solid foundations: The first is the relationship in the sphere of "high politics", that is between the heads of state and top-level officials. The second is cross-border and inter-regional relations.
For two decades the relationship based on the foundation of high politics has continually demonstrated a very high political standard, sometimes to the detriment of practical results. It was a sign of the strength of this foundation that Vladimir Putin visited China soon after he was re-elected as Russian president.
Since the 1990s, Russia and China have successfully coordinated their approaches to key issues concerning the modern world order and major international issues. Russia and China have repeatedly demonstrated that they have similar approaches to addressing the key issues concerning the world order and major international problems, as well as the ability to defend their interests. The two countries hold the same or similar positions on global issues such as the UN Security Council reform, global economic governance, climate change, food security and energy security and addressing regional hot-spot issues including the tension on the Korean Peninsula, the Iranian nuclear issue, Syria and Afghanistan.
Although the "new security architecture", proclaimed by both sides in September 2010 might look fairly abstract to others, it could become a very strong pillar of Russia-China relations in the coming decades. "The higher the level of cooperation between our countries, the calmer our region is," said Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defense minister, during a meeting of an intergovernmental commission on military cooperation. I totally agree with him. In the extreme instability of the modern world, we all see what is happening in Europe, Africa, South Asia and even North America, stable and strategic relations between Russia and China have a special value. They are important not only for our two countries but also to the world.
Experts like to discuss the potential contradictions between Russia and China in Central Asia, but it is clear to me that their common desire is to prevent the United States strengthening its influence in the region, as well as the spread of radical Islam, and this far outweighs the potential for conflict between them.
As for Russia, the "China threat" well-marked in shaping Moscow's policy toward China and bilateral relations, disappears when it comes to international affairs. In the international arena China is a close friend and partner, at least up until now, especially in the face of, if not a common enemy, a shared aggravator, the US' desire to dominate forever and everywhere. That is the basic approach of the US' policies, which go against the interests of China and Russia.
The second foundation of Russia-China cooperation, cross-border and inter-regional relations, have little to do with interstate cooperation at the highest level, but are fueled by the vital interests of the people and businessmen living on both sides of very long border between the two countries.
I think it would be wrong to assess Sino-Russian relations on the basis of economic results only. Although economic relations are certainly important, especially for Russia, they are not the major issue. The major issue for Russia and China today is a peaceful and secure common border, peace and stability in the border regions - the Korean Peninsula and Central Asia - and the development of the peripheral border areas.
The current economic potential of Russia does not permit a fast growth in trade and the development of industrial cooperation. What is important now is to create a favorable legal, political and psychological environment for bilateral relations. We must abandon the pursuit of trade growth figures as almost the sole criterion for the successful development of relations. Nobody sets targets for the assessment of economic relations between China and the US or Japan, yet they are prospering.
Effective cooperation between the two countries can occur in the areas where their national interests coincide - global, regional and national security, regional stability and the development of adjacent areas - not in ephemeral illusions and desires. Pragmatism should be the basis for this cooperation. In the near future if China is faced with some serious challenges, a friendly Russia will help China to stand up to them. Russia, in turn, can secure the security of its eastern borders only with the friendly relations with China, and it needs its consumer, commodity and labor markets.
So the emphasis should be on political and cultural relations, rather than trade growth in order to create an atmosphere of mutual trust and understanding.
While the leaders of the two countries demonstrate a high level of political trust between them, the idea of deep political confidence between two countries and peoples still does not have either a strong administrative and political framework nor broad support among the Russian and Chinese bureaucracies and populations. Distrust toward Beijing itself and its policies in particular are deeply rooted among the Russian political and business elite as well as ordinary people. The idea of a "China threat" is alive. Horror stories about the future of Chinese expansion in Russia are rampant on the Russian Internet and work against strengthening ties. Moreover, Russia still lacks a deep understanding of the role and place of China in its vague plans and amorphous strategies.
Attempts to compare the relationship between China and the US and Russia and the US to Russia and China are counterproductive. All three have their own history, their own specificity, contradictions and future. Although one thing they probably do have in common is their pragmatism. The difference is that mercantile economic interests dominate Sino-US relations, while common national security problems and a similar vision of the present and future world order are the cornerstone of relations between Russia and China.
The contradictions certainly exist. Contradictions, differences in interests, different visions of the issues and problems necessarily present in relations between states. Those who say they do not see any are either hypocrites or excessively naive. Unfortunately, there are serious historical and cultural reasons for strategic mistrust between the two nations. They are considerably more serious than the Chinese migration to Russia, which is still a lot of talk, but which, by and large, is not a significant problem today for Russia. Very deep cultural differences and ways of thinking, as well as historical memories are among the reasons for mistrust. There is no need to turn a blind eye to them, we must accept them, take them into account and seek to overcome them.
I do not anticipate any drastic change in bilateral relations. I'm waiting only for Russia to finally prepare itself to reap the benefits and meet the challenges of China's rise and so most effectively use China's rise in its own interests without compromising the interests of China itself.
State support is needed to create large breakthrough projects, primarily in the area of the Northeast China and Pacific Russia. For example, the construction of high-speed rail lines between Harbin and Ussuriysk and Vladivostok and Khabarovsk, where Ussuriysk will be a pairing point.
Democracy and human rights are of great value, but they cannot be imposed by force on the rest of the world, especially when the West is trying to force its own interpretation of them on others. Especially when the West repeatedly demonstrates a lot of flaws and problems in its own manifestation of this interpretation.
*The author is director of Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences.
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Mon Jan 7, 2013 7:38 pm (PST) . Posted by:
"Paul" lovingevaforever
NATO Must be stopped immediately. The NATO REGIME is not democratic and
no referendum was held for the Patriot deployment to attack Syria. The REGIME
of David Cameron has well under 30% support and was never properly elected.
The LEADER of the ConDem REGIME supports other REGIMES with arms sales:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/w
British Trade Unions have had enough and toppling the ConDem REGIME is now
the first priority for most trade unions. By striking the RMT Union can stop the
UK and this includes the Royal Navy as RMT controls supplies at the Royal
Fleet Auxillary. The REGIME in the UK is very evil and dissent is punishable
by long prison sentences.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2
Several MI6 agents have been disciplined for speaking out and one was found
in a bidybag in his own bathtub. Apparently his cat closed the body bag.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
Several government figures have been disposed of like Robin Cook who was
against NATO invasion before he was summarily executed on a mountain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R
Please let me know how serious people are about toppling the ConDem REGIME.
no referendum was held for the Patriot deployment to attack Syria. The REGIME
of David Cameron has well under 30% support and was never properly elected.
The LEADER of the ConDem REGIME supports other REGIMES with arms sales:
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/w
British Trade Unions have had enough and toppling the ConDem REGIME is now
the first priority for most trade unions. By striking the RMT Union can stop the
UK and this includes the Royal Navy as RMT controls supplies at the Royal
Fleet Auxillary. The REGIME in the UK is very evil and dissent is punishable
by long prison sentences.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2
Several MI6 agents have been disciplined for speaking out and one was found
in a bidybag in his own bathtub. Apparently his cat closed the body bag.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-
Several government figures have been disposed of like Robin Cook who was
against NATO invasion before he was summarily executed on a mountain.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/R
Please let me know how serious people are about toppling the ConDem REGIME.
