Thursday, August 31, 2017

Germany owes Greece EUR300 billion WWII reparations

By Vladimir V. Sytin

Recently, Prokopis Pavlopoulos, President of Greece, has reiterated that Germany must pay reparations of damages done by the Nazi military during the occupation of the Balkan country in World War II. Prokopis Pavlopoulos made this statement when he visited the Greek village of Kommeno where Nazi war criminals executed 317 inhabitants and torched the village on August 16, 1943.

The President of Greece honored the memory of the victims of German fascist terror and stated that “our claims [for the reparations] are legally effective and judicially enforceable”. Overall, Germany owes 300 billion euros to Greece.

During the German occupation, much of Greece was subjected to enormous destruction of its industry (80% of which was destroyed), infrastructure (28% destroyed), ports, roads, railroads and bridges (90%), forests and other natural resources (25%) and loss of civilian life (up to 11.17% of its citizens). Reportedly, the occupying Nazi regime forced Greece to pay the cost of the Nazi occupation in the country, as well as requisitioned raw materials and food for the occupation forces, creating the conditions for the Great Famine during which over 300,000 Greeks died from starvation. In 1942, the Greek Central Bank was forced by the occupying Nazi regime to loan 476 million Reich marks at 0% interest to Nazi Germany to fund its North African campaign.

The Greek newspaper Ekathimerini notes that Germany has repeatedly rejected Greece's claims as it allegedly honored its obligations, including a 115 million deutschmark payment to Athens in 1960.

Tuesday, August 29, 2017

Poroshenko regime, U.S. are no match for Russia's military leviathan

According to analysts, the Ukrainian military dare not attack heroic defenders of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics for fear of the retaliatory strike that could be made by Russia. The Ukrainian army would have long launched a major offensive on the republics if it were not for the deployment of Russian armed forces on borders with Ukraine.

Additionally, Russia conducts ongoing military exercises on its west and south-west borders with Ukraine to prevent any attack against the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. In the meantime, President Vladimir Putin has brought in the bill into the State Duma, Russia's parliament, which will allow Moscow to put air defenses on Byelorussia's borders with Ukraine.

Paul Craig Roberts, chairman of the Institute for Political Economy, wrote that it was Washington that enabled Ukraine's attack on its former provinces with large Russian populations. Some of the crazed neoconservatives erroneously believe Russia is not sufficiently well-armed to respond to U.S. aggression, but the fact of the matter is that Russia's strategic weapons are superior and more powerful than those of the United States.

Critics say Ukraine's attack on the Donbas region is mindless. It shows Washington's puppets, who still sit in Kiev, totally devoid of all intelligence. Even a fool understands that violence creates growing resistance, and the Poroshenko regime has not even the intelligence of fools. In the event of non-fulfillment of the Minsk agreements, Kiev will have to bear a great expenditure on a civil war in Donbas, borrow from international financial institutions and submit to the loss of a part of territory.

Tuesday, August 22, 2017

Russia bars 79 Washington's puppets linked to voting for Montenegro’s NATO membership

By Vladimir V. Sytin

Russian authorities have barred 79 citizens of Montenegro from entering the country in response to recent bans Podgorica placed on 149 Russians traveling to Montenegro. The "undesirable" list reportedly includes prime minister Dusko Markovic, president of the Assembly Ivan Brajovic, the leader of the Democratic Party of Socialists, Milo Djukanovic, and members of Montenegrin parliament, among others. Those placed on the Russian blacklist were selected because of their role in voting for Montenegro’s NATO membership.

Previously, the Montenegrin opposition coalition Democratic Front stated that it would initiate a referendum on the entry of the country into the NATO if a decision about Montenegro’s NATO membership were made by a legislature. According to opposition leader Andrija Mandic, the Western alliance has made the great mistake of sending Montenegro an invitation because NATO member states know that two thirds of Montenegrins are against membership of the country in NATO. He thinks it is especially dangerous for Montenegro that the decision was made by parliament in defiance of the will of citizens.

Incidentally, Serbian authorities stated recently that Serbia would not enter NATO. It is worth recalling that the aggressive Western alliance (essentially the United States) waged the illegal bombing campaign against Serbia in 1999, although the Balkan country posed no threat whatsoever to NATO members. Do you remember "war criminal" Slobodan Milosevic, the Serbian President branded "the butcher of the Balkans," who was compared to Hitler? Mr. Milosevic died in prison, some say murdered, before he was cleared of charges by the International Criminal Tribunal. Unsurprisingly, the Serbian society is full of hatred for the Western alliance.

In fact, the Western alliance is the cover for Washington’s war crimes. Many observers think it can provide no other service.

So, the government of Montenegro should take note that the only sovereign country in the West is the U.S. All the rest are Washington’s vassals. Anyone integrated into the West, be it NATO or the European Union, is subject to U.S. pressure.

Monday, August 21, 2017

Crimean forums offer candid insights into development prospects of peninsula, Russian World

The 11th international festival of Russian and Slavic Culture, which is entitled Great Russian Word, took place at the Livadia Palace in Yalta on June 5-6. Aimed to preserve the Russian language and culture, the format of the event included Pushkin recitations and performances given by folklore groups.

The festival gathered more than 30 foreign delegations, many politicians and political analysts who discussed questions concerning the expansion of the Russian World into all corners of the globe. It was held under the patronage of Valentina Matvienko, Speaker of the Russian Federation Council, who stated that the forum gave politicians, government officials, experts and NGOs a unique opportunity to debate the critical issues and prospects of development of the Russian World, as well as a huge role played by the Russian language and culture in integration processes within the post-Soviet space and throughout the globe on the whole.

In addition, the resort town of Alushta hosted the inaugural international forum Open Crimea on June 11-12. Financed by Russian businessman Alexander Lebedev, the event brought together political scientists, experts and mass media representatives from Britain, Syria, Armenia, Cuba, Germany, France, Italy, Lebanon, the Netherlands and other countries. The forum offered its participants candid insights into development prospects of the peninsula, construction of a bridge across the Kerch Strait, achievements in the field of investments and the banking system.

Friday, August 18, 2017

German top politicians call for return to detente toward Russia

By Vladimir V. Sytin

Recently, two German top politicians have called for resumption of friendly relations with Russia.

Christian Lindner, leader of the liberal Free Democratic Party of Germany, spoke for a change in Berlin's policy with respect to Moscow. According to him, it is necessary to prepare the suggestions that would allow Russian President Vladimir Putin to change the policy without losing face. Mr. Lindner thinks the conflict around the Crimea, which reunited with Russia in March 2014, should be “encapsulated” so that progress can be made on other issues such as a civil war in the Donbas region.

Sahra Wagenknecht, member of the National Committee of the Left Party of Germany, supported the standpoint of the Free Democratic Party. She believes a prompt return to the foreign policy tradition of detente toward Moscow would be quintessential for peace and security in Europe.

Surely you have heard at least one thousand times that Russia invaded Ukraine; yet Washington's puppet still sits in Kiev, according to Paul Craig Roberts, chairman of the Institute for Political Economy. As he wrote, one does not have to have an IQ above 90 to understand that if Russia invaded Ukraine, Ukraine would not still be here.

Wednesday, August 16, 2017

ОРГАНИЗАТОРУ ТЕРРОРИСТИЧЕСКОЙ ГРУППЫ УВЕЛИЧИЛИ СРОК ЛИШЕНИЯ СВОБОДЫ

Верховный суд России принял решение увеличить срок лишения свободы крымскому татарину Руслану Зейтуллаеву с 12 до 15 лет. Зейтуллаев осуждён по обвинению в создании террористической организации и осуществлении террористической деятельности на территории Автономной Республики Крым.

В сентябре прошлого года российский суд признал Руслана Зейтуллаева виновным в участии в террористическом сообществе и осудил его на семь лет лишения свободы. Впоследствии российская прокуратура обжаловала это решение в Верховном суде России, настаивая, чтобы Зейтуллаева признали не участником, а организатором террористической группы.

Tuesday, August 15, 2017

Economic indicators: trade

By Vladimir V. Sytin

The export turnover of Ukrainian goods amounted to $17,242.1 million and the volume of import to $18,572.2 million in January-May, a 25.9% and 28.6% increase respectively from the same period of 2016. The unfavorable foreign trade balance worked out to $1,330.1 million, compared with $745 million in January-May 2016.

Export to the European Union rose by 25.2%, compared with January-May 2016. Within the period under review export to Byelorussia and Russia rose by 44.7% and 33.2% respectively.

According to James Rickards, editor of the Strategic Intelligence newsletter, Russia is the 12th largest economy in the world, is one of the three largest energy producers, has abundant natural resources other than oil, has advanced weapons and space technologies. President Vladimir Putin remains the geopolitical chess master he has always been. His long game involves the accumulation of gold, development of alternative payments systems, and the ultimate demise of the dollar as the dominant global reserve currency. As far as Ukrainian-Russian trade and economic ties are concerned, The New York Times once noted that there has never been a country in world history, which wrecked relations with its main, nation-state, trading partner and prospered from it.

A retail trade turnover increased by 7.3% to 362.6 billion grivnas in Ukraine in January-June, compared with the same period last year. The turnover of enterprises of wholesale trade rose by 1.5% to 857.7 billion grn in January-June, compared with a year-earlier period.

Monday, August 14, 2017

УКРАИНСКИЙ ПИЛОТ СПАС ЖИЗНЬ 121 ПАССАЖИРА, 6 ЧЛЕНОВ ЭКИПАЖА

В сложных погодных условиях украинский пилот Александр Акопов посадил аварийный самолёт в аэропорту Стамбула. Профессиональные действия Александра Акопова, который работает пилотом на рейсах турецкой компании Atlasglobal, спасли жизнь 121 пассажира и шестерых членов экипажа.

Самолёт Airbus A320 компании Atlasglobal, пилотом которого был Александр Акопов, следовал по маршруту Стамбул-Эрджан (Северный Кипр) и на высоте более тысячи метров попал в грозу. Сильный град повредил носовую часть самолёта и стекло в кабине пилотов. Экипаж принял решение срочно вернуться в аэропорт Стамбула. Капитану пришлось сажать самолёт почти вслепую, пытаясь разглядеть взлётно-посадочную полосу через боковую створку кабины. По словам очевидцев, когда Александр Акопов совершил экстремальную посадку, ему аплодировал весь аэропорт, а пилоты других самолётов подходили, чтобы пожать ему руку.

Александр Акопов сказал, что летает уже 30 лет. Ведущие турецкие СМИ написали об украинском пилоте, отметив, что он прошёл лучшую лётную школу Советского Союза, налетав 13 908 часов.

Friday, August 11, 2017

Athens anticipates fresh surge of refugees by winter

According to the Greek Coordination Center for the Management of the Refugee Crisis, every day about 100 refugees from Washington's wars in Iraq, Syria, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya are coming to Greece. Data from the center show that 9,400 people have entered Greece this year alone, compared with 173,450 refugees and migrants who flowed into the country in 2016.

After registration and obtaining documents, many of them are hoping to reach West European countries where they expect to find an earthly paradise with huge social benefits.

At present, more than 62,000 asylum seekers still stay in Greece. Local authorities take great pains to accommodate refugees and migrants in transit centers lest they should scare away rich tourists who would fill Greece's coffers to a great extent. Most of them, 6,237 asylum seekers, have been accommodated on the island of Lesbos and 2,018 on Chios while continental Greece gave refuge to over 47,500 people. The largest makeshift refugee camps were pitched in Athens and nearby districts, as well as on the Greek-Macedonian border near the tiny village of Idomeni.

The Greek migration ministry stated that the influx of migrants stabilized by July with about 2,000 refugee arrivals in May and June. However, Greek authorities anticipate a fresh surge of asylum seekers arriving in the country by winter. Without the influx of funds from the European Union, it would be increasingly difficult for Athens to maintain the unbidden guests who beg for alms, commit theft to survive and raid vegetable farms.

Paul Craig Roberts, chairman of the Institute for Political Economy, wrote that the American state murderous rampage through the Middle East and North Africa was enabled by the Europeans who provided diplomatic and military cover for Washington's war crimes. Today the Europeans are suffering the consequences as they are overrun by refugees.

It is worth noting too that the total budget of the U.S. military/security complex has been estimated at $1.1 trillion, a figure that is 70% of Russia's estimated 2017 GDP. There are 195 countries in the world. Only 14 of them have the GDP larger than the budget of the U.S. military/security complex.

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Three years later, DTEK Energy still endures costs of the coup

By Vladimir V. Sytin

Recently, a Panamax-sized ship has arrived at the commercial seaport Yuzhny in the Odessa region from the South African Republic to supply Pridneprovskaya and Krivoy Rog thermal power plants with 75,000 tons of anthracite. Both plants belong to DTEK Energy B.V.

According to Yuzhny acting director Vitaliy Zhukovskiy, plans are afoot to unload hard coal from six more ships this year. DTEK Energy has contracted to buy 675,000 tons of coal from South African partners by this year-end with the possibility of increasing supplies to one million tons.

The Integrated Power Grid of Ukraine consumes 24 million tons of coal annually, including nine million tons of anthracite. At present, hard coal deposits are located in the Donetsk People's Republic. So DTEK has to import hard coal from far-distant countries in order to bridge its shortage.

The Poroshenko regime wants coal deposits of the Donbas region but cannot get them, despite dispatching the U.S. trained and supplied Ukrainian army. Paul Craig Roberts, chairman of the Institute for Political Economy, wrote that while the Russians were focused on the Sochi Olympic Games, Washington staged a coup in Ukraine, replacing the elected democratic government with a gang of Banderite neo-Nazi thugs whose forebears fought for Hitler in World War II. The United States claimed it had brought the so-called democracy to Ukraine by putting neo-Nazi thugs in control of the government. As assistant secretary of state, neoconservative Victoria Nuland once put it, Washington unleashed on the democratically elected government of Ukraine U.S.-financed NGOs in the amount of $5 billion.

The American analyst pointed out that Washington's thugs immediately began violent attacks on the Russian population in Ukraine. Soviet memorials were destroyed and the Russian language was declared banned from official use.

Instantly, separatist movements began in the Russian-speaking parts of Ukraine that had been administratively attached to this country by Soviet leaders. Crimea, a Russian province since the 1700s, voted overwhelmingly to separate from Ukraine and requested to be reunited with Russia. The same occurred in the Lugansk and Donetsk regions.

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

АРХЕОЛОГИ ОБНАРУЖИЛИ ОСТАНКИ КРАСНОАРМЕЙЦЕВ В ЧЕРКАССКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

Недавно возле села Бучак Каневского района Черкасской области археологи обнаружили останки двух погибших бойцов 206-й стрелковой дивизии Красной армии, чьи тела не были похоронены в своё время. Это подтверждает архивную информацию, что на территории, отведённой под строительство Каневской гидроаккумулирующей электростанции, есть места гибели солдат времён Великой Отечественной войны 1941-1945 годов.

Пока что удалось обследовать сравнительно небольшой участок и опросить только часть очевидцев. Однако археологи собрали много информации о подразделениях, которые там воевали с нацистами.

Поисковикам удалось перезахоронить в Каневе останки 18 героических защитников города, которые погибли в августе 1941 года. Двух из них идентифицировали: один солдат был родом из Полтавской области, а родственники другого давно живут за рубежом. Родственники ещё трёх идентифицированных бойцов согласились похоронить их на родине - в Киевской и Полтавской областях.

В 1941-м и 1943-1944 годах 80% советских пехотинцев были из местных жителей. Об этом свидетельствуют списки потерь.

С 2000 года местные археологи нашли почти четыре тысячи останков солдат обоих воюющих сторон, из них - 200 советских бойцов. Захоронения красноармейцев исследовали, в основном, в Киевской и Черкасской областях.

Tuesday, August 8, 2017

UDP, Donau Touristik seal charter deal

The Ukrainian Danube Shipping Company (UDP) has signed a charter party with the company Donau Touristik of Austria for the commercial lease of the motor ship Volga in 2018. In particular, the cruiser will go on seven-day voyages routing Passau-Budapest-Passau and Passau-Vienna-Passau from mid June to the end of next year. Interestingly, the voyages are designed for bicycle tourists who are expected to follow scenic biking routes in each city while Volga will wait for them, riding at anchor.

The Telegraph notes that the Danube is a fabulously long river. Rising in Germany’s Black Forest, it sloshes eastwards through a total of 10 countries, before flushing into the Black Sea 1,700 miles later. On the way it ticks off a set of cities such as Budapest and Vienna tourists really should get around to visiting one day. Only the Russia's Volga, at 2,300 miles long, beats the Danube as far as European rivers are concerned.

Saturday, August 5, 2017

РОССИЯ БУДЕТ УКРЕПЛЯТЬ ОТНОШЕНИЯ С ВОСТОЧНЫМИ ПАРТНЁРАМИ

В Москве в конце июня был опубликован документ под заголовком "Тезисы по внешней политике и позиционированию России в мире (2017-2024 гг.)". В рубрике "Внешняя политика и безопасность" содержится 28 тезисов.

Это совместный проект Центра стратегических разработок и Российского совета по международным делам. Было проведено 30 интервью с членами этого совета: дипломатами, учёными-международниками, руководителями СМИ и представителями бизнеса. Использовали результаты работы группы учёных Института мировой экономики и международных отношений имени Евгения Примакова.

В частности, в документе отмечено, что Россия сегодня - это одна из самых мощных мировых держав. Страна сумела преодолеть угрозу дезинтеграции и самые тяжёлые политические последствия распада Советского Союза. Россия проводит активную внешнюю политику, последовательно отстаивая свои интересы за рубежом.

Однако отставание в развитии экономики и институтов управления представляет собой более серьёзную угрозу для суверенитета и целостности страны по сравнению с реальными военными угрозами, от которых Россия уже надёжно защищена. Авторы документа считают, что необходимо создать благоприятную международную среду для разрешения подобных проблем. России следует разработать оптимальную формулу получения пользы от глобализации в интересах своего развития, сохраняя при этом простор для широкого внешнеполитического манёвра и защиты своих интересов в сфере безопасности.

Согласно документу, Россия будет укреплять отношения с восточными партнёрами, в частности, с Китаем и Индией. В нём также говорится о том, что во время украинского кризиса Россия воссоединилась с Крымом, решила проблему базирования Черноморского флота и заблокировала членство Украины в НАТО на долгосрочную перспективу.

Friday, August 4, 2017

МУЗЕЙ НАУКИ ОТКРОЕТСЯ В МАТЕРИ ГОРОДОВ РУССКИХ

На Украине планируют открыть Музей науки. Экспозицию разместят в Киеве по адресу: улица Антоновича, 180. Проект осуществляется в рамках государственно-частного партнёрства: инвестор должен отремонтировать и реконструировать помещения, а также создать уникальное образовательное пространство, частью которого будет музей.

Ожидается, что с появлением Музея науки в матери городов русских миллионы детей смогут не только узнать много интересного об окружающем мире, но и получить первый практический опыт научной работы. По словам чиновников Министерства образования и науки Украины, они смогут заниматься в секциях, проводить исследования, эксперименты, а школьники старшего возраста - презентовать собственные научные разработки и внедрять их на практике.

Ориентировочная стоимость проекта составляет 150 миллионов гривен, срок его осуществления - один год. К проектным работам планируют приступить в августе, а с октября начнётся строительство объекта. Образовательное пространство будет иметь несколько зон: экспозиции, посвящённые чудесам химии, физики, космоса и подводного мира, научный театр, зону невесомости, лабиринт и т.д. Кроме того, в музее оборудуют площадки для проведения исследований, детских научных секций и подготовительный центр для педагогов. Базой для нового образовательного пространства станет ученическая научно-исследовательская лаборатория, а также другие наработки Малой академии наук в этой сфере.

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

Turkey hits out at the West over double standards

After arresting German human rights consultant Peter Steudtner in Istanbul, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey accused Germany of espionage and double standards with respect to Ankara. "Westerners want their agents to roam freely in our land while they hurt our people," he said. "Those who say it is the judiciary's business when it comes to the terrorists they harbor in their own country turn things into diplomatic crises when we catch their agents red-handed."

Mr. Erdogan warned Brussels against imposing sanctions. "If you think you can scare Turkey with embargoes, you must first be ready for much bigger consequences," he thundered.

According to the Turkish President, Western countries should not expect Ankara to follow their instructions as before. "The West wants Turkey to bring about their demands no questions asked... I am sorry to say that Turkey no longer exists," he stated.

Recent discussions between EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini and Turkey's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and EU Affairs Minister Omer Celik in Brussels touched on issues including Ankara's EU accession, immigration and Turkey's demands for visa-free travel for its citizens. Previously, Ankara noted that cooperation with Russia and Asian countries is more worthwhile than membership in the EU. In addition, Omer Celik pointed out that Turkey would withdraw from an agreement on immigration if the EU fails to provide visa-free travel.

Paul Craig Roberts, chairman of the Institute for Political Economy, wrote that the American state murderous rampage through the Middle East and North Africa was enabled by the Europeans who provided diplomatic and military cover for Washington’s war crimes. Today the Europeans are suffering the consequences as they are overrun by refugees.

According to many observers, Europeans have become accustomed to their role as hired vassals. They are more likely to enjoy their life enriched by American gratuities than to take risk for humanity.