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Archive for the ‘Battle for Europe’ Category

Sarkozy: Crimea cannot be blamed for joining Russia

Posted by seumasach on February 9, 2015

RT

8th February, 2015

Crimea cannot be blamed for seceding from Ukraine – a country in turmoil – and choosing to join Russia, said former president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy. He also added that Ukraine “is not destined to join the EU.”

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Tsipras charts path forward for Greece as funds at risk

Posted by seumasach on February 8, 2015

If it’s a question of a bridging loan perhaps Russia could oblige

Bloomberg

6th February, 2015

(Bloomberg) — Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will chart a path forward for Greece in parliament on Sunday, two days after the head of the euro-area finance ministers’ group shot down his proposal to avoid being shut off from funding at the end of the month.

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Tsipras sees red (pipeline), accepts Putin invite

Posted by seumasach on February 8, 2015

Neurope

6th February, 2015

ATHENS – The new Greek government’s improved relations with Russia may help the implementation of Gazprom’s planned Turkish Stream pipeline to Europe.

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Kotzias:EU must stop ‘feverish’ anti-Russian steps

Posted by seumasach on February 4, 2015

EU must stop ‘feverish’ anti-Russian steps, think long-term relations – Greek FM

RT

1st February, 2015

The EU should consider long-term relations with Moscow, instead of making feverish anti-Russian moves, new Greek Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias said, adding that his country does not want to give up its historic ties with Moscow.

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Osbourne: Greek governmentt risk to global economy

Posted by seumasach on February 3, 2015

Osbourne is obviously only too aware of the revolutionary implications of a writedown of Greek sovereign debt : it will interfere with the ongoing writedown of private banking debt. It’s a pity that anti-austerity canpaigners don’t show the same awareness and recognise that the entire edifice of Wall Street, City of London finance capital, parasitic and destructive, has to come down if we are to end the downward spiral. Instead they persist with their neo-Keynesian fanatasies and their pretence that there is no systemic crisis. It remains to be see how far Tsipras’ grasp of reality goes and to what extent he can link up with elements within the European political class who recognise that the banking system is bust and has to be put through effective bankruptcy and replaced by a banking system orientated towards developing the real economy. As Obama said

“You cannot keep on squeezing countries that are in the midst of depression,” Obama told CNN.

“At some point, there has to be a growth strategy in order for them to pay off their debts to eliminate some of their deficits,” he added.

 

Greece’s Syriza govt could pose greater risk to global economy than Middle East conflict – Osborn

RT

2nd February, 2015

Greece’s standoff with Eurozone governments and international creditors poses a greater threat to the global economy than conflict in the Middle East, climate change and rising tensions between Russia and the West, UK Chancellor George Osborne says.

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Syriza-led Greek parliament ‘will never ratify TTIP’

Posted by seumasach on February 3, 2015

Euractiv

2nd February, 2015

The newly-elected government in Athens has always been suspicious of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and will use its Parliament majority to sink the EU-US trade pact, claims a former Syriza MEP now turned minister. EurActiv Greece reports.

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Tsipras needs a recovery plan

Posted by seumasach on February 3, 2015

China Daily

3rd February, 2015

The actions of Alexis Tsipras, who heads the new Greek government, have been swifter than most expected, as he bids to deliver on the promises he made to voters in the run-up to the election on Jan 25.

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Tsipras says Greece and Cyprus could be ‘EU bridge to Russia’

Posted by seumasach on February 3, 2015

Euractiv

3rd February, 2015

On a visit to Cyprus on 2 February, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras told his host, Cyprus President Nikos Anastasiades, that the two countries could form a bridge between Europe and Russia, currently estranged over Ukraine.

 

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An examination of how Syriza won in Greece

Posted by seumasach on January 31, 2015

Tarpley’s ignorance of the Russia -Turkey agreement over a gas pipeline to the Greek border is a bit surprising. Chinese investment could play a key role in building a connection between Turkey and central Europe via Greece. Tarpley is probably wrong in supposing that the cancellation of the Piraeus contract is a snub to the Chinese judging by yesterday’s statement by Greek representatives. Given the direction that Tsipras appears to have taken it would indeed be surprising if he sought to alienate the Chinese. The contract can. of course, be renegotiated in terms more sensitive to Greek national interests. Apart from that, a very interesting and informative talk by Tarpley on these startling , new, Greek developments.

21st Century Wire

30th January, 2015

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Greek Ministers meet with Chinese Ambassador for Piraeus Port

Posted by seumasach on January 31, 2015

“During yesterday’s meeting with the Chinese officials, the two Greek Ministers allegedly attempted to appease their concerns, clarifying that the bilateral cooperation will continue. “The two Ministers and the Ambassador agreed to engage in a constructive dialogue to enhance mutual cooperation” the Ministry’s announcement said.”

The cancellation of the Chinese contract for the Piraeus port seemed to contradict Greek interests in turning towards Russia and China as an alternative to the EU. However, this statement seems to have softened the impact and shown an awareness of the importance of Chinese investment in Greek reconstruction.

Greek Reporter

30th January, 2015

A meeting between Greek Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism Minister Giorgos Stathakis, Deputy Maritime Minister Thodoris Dritsas, Chinese Ambassador Zou Xiaoli and a delegation of Chinese diplomatic officials was held yesterday in Athens. The meeting was appointed after Xiaoli’s personal request and is seen as a confirmation of the Chinese Commerce Ministry regarding the newly elected Greek government’s plans to proceed with the interruption of the Piraeus Port privatization, as announced by Stathakis and Productive Reconstruction, Environment and Energy Minister Panagiotis Lafazanis earlier this week. – See more at: http://greece.greekreporter.com/2015/01/30/greek-ministers-meet-with-chinese-ambassador-for-piraeus-port/#sthash.ZQYmAe5k.dpuf

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Alexis Tsipras’ “open letter” to German citizens

Posted by seumasach on January 31, 2015

This is a pretty reasonable statement from Tsipras- he is actually the one putting forward a conservative fiscal agenda while the ECB goes for the madness of QE. The question now is where is the Barnier plan for the sanitation of the European financial system, for the famous “bail-in”? Has it been abandoned under Atlanticist pressure in favor of permanent bail-out through money-printing. Tsipras’ moves so far look like an opportunity for Europe to get back on course after going completely adrift with its recent aberrations on Russia and QE. It’s notable that the Atlanticist press seemed quite relaxed about Tsipras at first, revelling in the discomfiture of the Europeans. A neo-Keynesian reflation via money printing, protecting the pound and dollar, has long been their policy for Europe after all. Syriza could well have been their Trojan horse, but they’re not getting what they hoped for from Tsipras. The plot has suddenly become extraordinarily interesting!

….published on Jan.13 in Handelsblatt, a leading German language business newspaper

Open letter to the German readers: That which you were never told about Greece

 

Syriza

Most of you, dear Handesblatt readers, will have formed a preconception of what this article is about before you actually read it. I am imploring you not to succumb to such preconceptions. Prejudice was never a good guide, especially during periods when an economic crisis reinforces stereotypes and breeds biggotry, nationalism, even violence.

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