In a world of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act, George Orwell

Indignez-vous ! Stéphane Hessel

“Le courage c’est de chercher la vérité et de la dire ; c’est de ne pas subir la loi du mensonge triomphant qui passe, et de ne pas faire écho, de notre âme, de notre bouche et de nos mains aux applaudissements imbéciles et aux huées fanatiques ”.” – Djordje Kuzmanovic




vendredi 31 octobre 2014

Blog Drole jeu d'OTAN (fr)




L'OTAN était à son origine une alliance défensive contre le Pacte de Varsovie. Malheureusement, depuis l'affaire de Kosovo et l’attaque contre la  Libye, l’OTAN  est devenu le cheval de Troie du pouvoir  euro-atlantique, fortement appuyés par  les gouvernements  américains qui veulent englober la Russie dans leur sphère  et faire de la Sibérie un immense marché.  C’est l’OTAN qui a voulu sans cesse s'élargir à l'Est, en piétinant sur les accords avec la Russie des années 90.

Les Américains ont dans cette affaire mené un drôle de jeu pour agacer la Russie car ils citent  qu’une des bases de cette paix à la sauce OTAN en Europe est l'inviolabilité des frontières de l’Ukraine.  Pourtant c’était l’OTAN qui a déchiré la région de Kosovo, en déclenchant des actes d'exactions de la part de la milice UCK, la destruction des maisons et  des assassinats de civils qui continuent à nos jours. Les russes par contre sont intervenus en Crimée pour protéger les biens, les infrastructures, les civils et le peuple d'un million russophone.

Les américains et OTAN ont soutenu au début un gouvernement de coup d’État à Kiev. Il y a la Garde Nationale et les milices ouvertement néo-nazis, appuyées par Svoboda et Pravy Sektor sur le terrain,  qui s’est traduite par des actes d'exactions, assassinats de civils et destruction d’infrastructure dans les parties russophones ukrainiennes. Grâce aux russes, le peuple de Crimée est épargné de ces épouvantables évènements. La Russie n’accepterait jamais de perdre Sébastopol, de le voir tomber dans des mains remplis de haine anti-russe,  épaulé par les dirigeants de Maidan.

Blog post - First they came * lorqu'ils sont venus

First they came for the Socialists, 
and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Socialist.


Then they came for the Trade Unionists, 

and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Trade Unionist.


Then they came for the Jews, 

and I did not speak out—

Because I was not a Jew.


Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.



Martin Niemöller


Lorsque les nazis sont venus chercher les communistes,
je n’ai rien dit,
je n’étais pas communiste.


Lorsqu’ils ont enfermé les sociaux-démocrates,
je n’ai rien dit,
je n’étais pas social-démocrate.


Lorsqu’ils sont venus chercher les syndicalistes,
je n’ai rien dit,
je n’étais pas syndicaliste.


Lorsqu’ils sont venus chercher les juifs,
je n’ai rien dit,
je n’étais pas juif.


Lorsqu’ils sont venus me chercher,
il ne restait plus personne
pour protester. »

mardi 28 octobre 2014

Pause rire


https://twitter.com/RussiaInsider/status/527141392573677568

Blog - Russian submarines in the Arctic - the saga continues (eng)

Russian submarines in the Arctic - the saga continues

Hold the front page, it's no longer submarines in Sweden, but this time a case involving a mystery sub in the Arctic. The topic of Russia and its military 'creeping around' is growing legs. When will this media 'non-news' about subs and Russia get kicked into touch? Here is the title of the Daily Telegraph article by Ali Kefford in question: "Mystery submarine sighting gives clue to Russia's Arctic ambitions".


The article starts with "A chance encounter by scientists adrift on an Arctic ice floe has given the first clues to a new Cold War being played out in in the far north, where Vladimir Putin has made no secret of his ambitions to extend Russian influence."


The article relates the story of Norwegian scientists who spotted an unknown submarine on the 16th of October.  The article states that it a submarine that is an "aging nuclear research vessel".  The writer considers the research vessel as "part of President Putin's plan to send 6000 troops to an area rich in oil and gas".


Submarines Arctic patrols

Interesting turn of words from the writer, "chance encounter", as if it is rare as hens' teeth to see surfacing subs in the Arctic. However, if as the article suggests, it is the "Orenburg", then, it was indeed a" chance encounter", since the Russian sub carries out sensitive missions for the Russian Ministry of Defense's Main Directorate for Deep-Sea Research (GUGI).   Even so, the reality is that it isn't that rare for submarines to turn up in the Arctic; especially US ones and other NATO subs. In fact, just by trawling through the internet, several videos are online, featuring submarines breaking through the ice" in the polar region on exercise:



The article continues by giving the long & lat, (89° 17.5' N, 172° 42.9' W) of the location as well stating that "She has been potentially identified as the Delta class boat Orenburg." 

Maybe the Russians just wanted to have a swim alongside their sub or is it the Russian version of the ice bucket challenge, the sea being the bucket!!!: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQ2oFTuyYck.  The sub in the video is also a Detla class. Another video showing a russian sub in the Arctic: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2wOOrs01kE

Ali Kefford finishes his article off by picking up again on his unnamed senior naval source; (once more a case of citing anonymous sources): "There is almost certainly a US submarine there now," said the source. "And if there isn't one there permanently below the Arctic ice cap, the High North will be on a periodic patrol cycle. The point being made by the unnamed senior naval source is the fact that submarines do in fact patrol and go on exercises in the Arctic, including the US.


Sadly it seems to be journalistic de rigeur now not to bother finding named sources of information or to do some meaningful or measured research on Russia & its interests in the Arctic; scaremongering the readers by using Cold War rhetoric is much easier these days. The journalist did not even provide any information whatsoever over the reasons as to why Russia is keenly involved in the Arctic.
 

 Russia & the Arctic

Let me step in where the Daily Telegraph left off.  Basically, there are two aspects to the Russian involvement in the Arctic.  A huge chunk of the Arctic region is in fact within Russia's maritime borders. Ali Kefford in his article has skipped over this fact by simply omitting to state where the 6000 troops are being sent. Some of these troops have already set foot on Kotelny Island, located in the Novosibirsk Archipelago, one of the first military bases being set up in the Arctic.

The international legal framework that sets maritime borders is called the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). UNCLOS outlines a country's Exclusive Economic Zone, (EEZ),  that can be up to 200 nm from the coast. The Coastal State, in this case, Russia, has the right to exploit natural resources lying in the seabed, under the provisions of Article 56(1)(a). This dry piece of information might not seem of interest to an average hack, yet, is a piece of the puzzle, that was completely missed out,  when referring to as "Putin's plan to send 6000 troops to an area rich in oil and gas".





Sea continental shelf research

What Ali Kefford is also  possibly alluding to is the ongoing scramble to claim Arctic territory, beyond current maritime borders, by the US, Canada, Denmark, Russia and Norway. It is said that that the Arctic accounts for 25% of the world's undiscovered oil & gas resources, as well as other mineral resources such as copper. Potential ownership of such resources boils down to outright legal ownership of various areas of the Arctic shelf boundaries.  Here is the devil in the detail, since UNCLOS also deals with the issue of a continental shelf, as a country can in very limited circumstances, extend its right as a State to exploit it beyond the 200 nm EEZ. The Siberian Shelf, which just happens to be the largest continental shelf on Earth, is a likely hotspot for serious oil & gas exploration. It extends out to 1500 kilometers (930 miles) offshore.



Russia has had its eye on extending its national shelf for decades & to this end they have been busily researching the area. The Russians have lately centered their geological research on the Mendeleyev Ridge. The research vessel "Orenburg" also took part in Arktika-2012, an  expedition along the Mendeleyev Ridge. However, any final decision on ownership will be made by the UN Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf, (CLCS). How dull that Russia is in fact submitting their claims for territorial claims in line with the well-established remit of UNCLOS.  Russia had its first bid rejected by the CLCS back in 2001 and got told to go and do some research.  It is no secret that Canada along with Denmark have equally researched and prepared their bids for territorial claims in the region.

 Economic resources and ownership

The Daily Telegraph article completely misses the point about Russia, (literally personified by Vladimir Putin), and the connection between its existing de facto territorial jurisdiction with its extensive energy resources.  Given both the size of the Siberian Shelf, as well a very long Arctic coastline, it is clear that Russia wants to have a wide security presence in the region.  






Additionally, Russia has drawn up plans in developing further the Northern Sea shipping route as a commercial sea transport corridor. When ice-free, shipping using the route can cut 7000km off of a journey between Rotterdam & Tokyo, compared with using the Suez Canal.  Consequently, Russia sees the need for enhanced oversight over this strategic sea route. Yet as it stands, there are few reliable installations along the coast that could provide the necessary security and also vital Search & Rescue (SAR) infrastructure.



The military dimension


Given that Russia has already important oil & gas assets in the Arctic already sitting within its EEZ, it would be daft not to provide security for them, particularly in the Yamal, Nenets and Kara Sea regions, all located in the Russian EEZ. Yet this is precisely President Putin has set out to do and is continuing to do so.  Russia has been increasing its military presence in the Arctic for a few years, so nothing really newsworthy about deploying 6000 troops to an "area rich in oil and gas". Did the Telegraph journalist actually research the area in question? He only obliquely hinted at it.  Seriously, it is really a non-issue since all of the Russians troops will be actually on Russian land. Back in 2011, the creation of a special Arctic Forces brigade both in Murmansk and Arkhangelsk was proposed by Moscow, however this was put on hold.  The Arctic has been home to Russian submarines for a while - it is called the Northern Fleet and routinely deploys them in the Arctic.

 Currently, Russia is in the process of reopening a number of Soviet era bases in the Arctic such as Kotelny Island and Tiski on the mainland.  As the Russians are strengthening their military presence in their territorial part of the Arctic, so have Canada & the US ramped up its presence as well. Similarly to the Russians, the US produced in February 2014 a strategy roadmap document covering the Arctic. The US Navy principally deploys submarines in the region, as part of its own power projection. Equally NATO can be seen to be muscling on the Arctic region, through its 2014 Norwegian-led Cold Response exercise. "Our ambition is a clear NATO footprint in the north," said State Secretary Roger Ingebrigtsen for the Norwegian Defense Ministry. So the regional power games are about having a physical presence or footprint.



Russia is a significant and key player in Arctic cooperation, and the ongoing reverberations in response to events in Ukraine are being echoed in the Arctic as well, which might deepen the impact on the Russian Arctic footprint. Russia has a dominant role in security & maritime matters in the region, especially within its own maritime borders. Yet pitifully the Daily Telegraph showed a lack of maturity & common sense by refusing to even acknowledge this.
 

References:
 

"Mystery submarine sighting gives clue to Russia's Arctic ambitions", 28 Oct 2014, accessed 28 October 2014, http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/russia/11191777/Mystery-submarine-sighting-gives-clue-to-Russias-Arctic-ambitions.html
 

Who Owns the Arctic? A Stocktaking of Territorial Disputes, The Global Journal, December 21, 2011, accessed 28 Oct 2014, http://theglobaljournal.net/article/view/439/
 

"Russia's Claim in the Arctic and the Vexing Issue of Ridges in UNCLOS," by Mark Benitah, in the American Society of International Law (Nov. 2007).
 

 "Interview with French expert in geopolitics A. Latsa: "The Arctic has never been so important" Route Magazine, 25/03/2013, accessed 28 oct, 2014, http://routemag.com/2013/03/25/interview-with-french-expert-in-geopolitics-a-latsa-the-arctic-has-never-been-so-important/
 

"The United States Navy Arctic Roadmap for 2014 to 2030".
 

"Russia says no need for NATO in Arctic, expands own military presence", The Barents Observer, 22/10/2014, accessed 28 Oct 2014, http://barentsobserver.com/en/security/2014/10/russia-says-no-need-nato-arctic-expands-own-military-presence-22-10
 

Sneak peak at Russia's 'under renovation' Arctic base, RT, 18 September 2014, accessed 28 Oct 2014, http://rt.com/news/188712-arctic-russia-military-base/
 

"Arctic Resources: The fight for the coldest place on Earth heats up," RT, April 15, 2014, accessed 28 Oct, 2014, http://rt.com/news/arctic-reclamation-resources-race-524/.

 


(Cartoon (c) Kevin KAL Kallaugher, The Economist)

lundi 27 octobre 2014

Article video Valdai Discussion Poutine 2014 [eng FR]


http://valdaiclub.com/valdai_club/73300.html


Vladimir Putin Meets with Members of the Valdai International Discussion Club. Transcript of the Final Plenary Session

   

Version en français:

 http://www.medias-presse.info/discours-integral-de-vladimir-poutine-sur-le-nouvel-ordre-du-monde-24-octobre-2014-video-et-texte/17450

 

Experts of the Valdai International Discussion Club focus on whether the global community will develop ground rules for the world politics or whether it is a game without any rules where everyone fend for themselves. Transcript of Vladimir Putin's speech and Q&A session is on http://valdaiclub.com/valdai_club/73300.html

***********************************************************************************************************

Today’s World: Finding Solutions   by
DE VILLEPIN, Dominique

 http://valdaiclub.com/valdai_club/73280.html

 Extract from the  Q&A session:

 VLADIMIR PUTIN (commenting on statements by former Prime Minister of France Dominique de Villepin and former Federal Chancellor of Austria Wolfgang Schuessel): I would like to begin by saying that overall I agree with what both Wolfgang and Dominique have said. I fully support everything they said. However, there are a few things I would like to clarify.

I believe Dominique referred to the Ukrainian crisis as the reason for the deterioration in international relations. Naturally, this crisis is a cause, but this is not the principal cause. The crisis in Ukraine is itself a result of a misbalance in international relations.

I have already said in my address why this is happening, and my colleagues have already mentioned it. I can add to this, if necessary. However, primarily this is the outcome of the misbalance in international relations.

As for the issues mentioned by Wolfgang, we will get back to them: we will talk about the elections, if necessary, and about the supply of energy resources to Ukraine and Europe.

However, I would like to respond to the phrase “Wolfgang is an optimist, while life is harder for pessimists.” I already mentioned the old joke we have about a pessimist and an optimist, but I cannot help telling it again. We have this very old joke about a pessimist and an optimist: a pessimist drinks his cognac and says, “It smells of bedbugs,” while an optimist catches a bedbug, crushes it, then sniffs it and says, “A slight whiff of cognac.”

I would rather be the pessimist who drinks cognac than the optimist who sniffs bedbugs. (Laughter)

Though it does seem that optimists have a better time, our common goal is to live a decent life (without overindulging in alcohol). For this purpose, we need to avoid crises, together handle all challenges and threats and build such relations on the global arena that would help us reach these goals.

Later I will be ready to respond to some of the other things mentioned here. Thank you.

 

 

 

Blog: Liberation et Le Tsar système (fr)








Est-ce que j’ai bien lu ceci?



La revue de presse de Thomas Harms :


« A la Une de la revue de presse l’Ukraine à la veille des élections législatives, dans Le Figaro, le malaise des combattants du Donbass. Et le quotidien d’expliquer que Kiev peine à gérer la reconversion des bataillons avec ces hommes « passés directement des barricades de Maidan à la ligne de front ». Des hommes radicalisés, ultra nationalistes, quasiment incontrôlables. »


A la une ce week-end : Le Tsar système. Enquête sur les réseaux Poutine en France:




La UNE de Libération qui parle de « Le Tsar système ». Est-ce que quelqu’un a vu la couronne de Poutine récemment ? Moi non plus. RFI continue son synthèse avec « « Et pourtant, en France, ils sont encore nombreux ceux qui trouvent des circonstances atténuantes à la Russie ». Et Libération de les classer en 7 familles. »



" Alors que les Ukrainiens élisent leur nouvelle Assemblée, la Russie, engagée auprès des séparatistes, active ses réseaux à l’étranger pour desserrer l’étau des sanctions. Enquête sur ses relais français."
 "  Si certains pays, comme la Hongrie, soutiennent ouvertement Poutine, d’autres sont avant tout conciliants, comme l’Allemagne, premier partenaire économique de la Russie, mais aussi la France, où le «il ne faut pas humilier la Russie» est devenu le mantra derrière lequel se cachent les intérêts les plus divers, qu’ils soient économiques (pétrole, nucléaire, armement) ou politiques."
" Chez beaucoup des amis français du président russe, la fascination pour «l’homme fort» de Moscou est sincère. Elle va de pair avec une certaine idée de la France, une vision de «l’Europe des nations» qui inclut enfin la Russie, et l’espoir d’échapper à l’emprise de Washington ou Bruxelles."
Lu dans l'article - Les trolls du Kremlin au service de la propagande
 Ancien journaliste de l’AFP, De Kochko use de ce titre passé pour dénoncer la «campagne antirusse» des médias français, «à commencer par Libération et le Monde».«Il y a un problème de déontologie journalistique quand d’entrée vous ne prenez qu’une seule source pour dire que les séparatistes prorusses ont abattu l’avion [le Boeing de la Malaysia Airlines qui s’est écrasé en juillet dans l’est de l’Ukraine, ndlr]», assène-t-il par exemple, nous reprochant de «haïr les Russes».


A lire aussi:

Blog comment + article Guess the country [eng]

- being given a bad press,  daubed with a large broad brush!  Spot the mistakes between the comparisions:

"Relevant organizations point to: (Ed's note: which organisations? Draw your own conclusions);

the high level of homophobia;
religious intolerance and xenophobia;
negative trends in war crimes trials before national courts;
enormous gaps in the security sector that the new authorities have no strength or will to tackle; 
he numerous deficiencies in the fight against corruption …

just as in Putin's Russia."

The quote is from this - http://www.todayszaman.com/op-ed_putinization-of-not-only-balkans-but-europe-as-well-by-hajrudin-somun_350420.html
 
 *Hajrudin Somun is the former ambassador of Bosnia and Herzegovina to Turkey.

Blog Hungary’s Orban under the microscope [eng]



Hungary’s Orban under the microscope


Is a US inspired “colour revolution” or so called “ regime change” going to take place in Hungary?


Apparently, those who constantly throw together new ‘colour revolutions’ consider themselves ‘brilliant artists’ and simply cannot stop. 
Vladimir Putin, Valdai Club 2014

The turning point 


There have been a number of moves by the US and the EU underfoot, putting Hungary under the spotlight for its apparent unwillingness to uphold democratic values.  Victor Orban has been the Prime Minister of Hungary 3 times and was re-elected again in April 2014 with a majority of just over 44%.


The alarm bells probably started ringing loudly in the US and the EU when Orban gave a speech on 26 July 2014, where he stated that “And so in this sense the new state that we are constructing in Hungary is an illiberal state, a non-liberal state.”  He did also mention “similarly to the statements I quoted for you earlier, was also categorised as blasphemy by the liberal world. We had to state that a democracy does not necessarily have to be liberal. Just because a state is not liberal, it can still be a democracy.” He also quoted as “The stars of the international analysts today are Singapore, China, India, Russia and Turkey.Nb1

 Orban’s speech focuses on the alterative systems to the US led hegemony on so called democratic values. The EU minister of Norway, Vidar Helgesen recently stated in a twitter that “Hungary is failing the democracy test -- and the international community finally seems to be taking action”.  Nb2
   

The US angle


It has become noticeable that the US administration lately is getting more and hotter under their collar with regards to Victor Orban. Why is this so?  The answer is principally is because of his public recalcitrance towards EU sanctions against Russia. Orban stated back in August that the EU sanctions were like ““shooting oneself in the foot.” Some possible context to why he said this:


  •        Around 80% of Hungary’s natural gas comes from Russia, (via Ukraine);
  •       2.55 billion euros worth of exports to Russia in 2013 alone- (exports potentially slashed);
  •       10 billion euro contract with Russia company to upgrade the Paks nuclear plant, (now potentially in jeopardy);
  •       Heavy involvement with the $40 billion South Stream gas pipeline project, (on hold)



The Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto recently stated that Hungary was losing over $200,000 every due to the EU sanctions against Russia.   Despite this, the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires André Goodfriend publicly voiced in a news conference last week, the fact that Hungary “"stand firm with the EU, with EU sanctions." Nb3 He also criticised the Hungarian government for its involvement with South Stream, as well as the Paks nuclear plant contract. As absurd as it may seems, but this is not the only US official to publicly rebuke Hungary and tell it on how to behave within the EU.  Previously, it was the turn of Victoria Nuland, the Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, back in September.  She lambasted Central Europe leaders, (and also taking a side swipe at  the Hungary government in particular) by saying “"How can you sleep under your NATO Article 5 blanket at night while pushing ‘illiberal democracy' by day; whipping up nationalism; restricting free press; or demonizing civil society?" Nb4


It is now very clear that the US administration is intensely hostile to the South Stream, only because of the source of the gas, Russia and not the route, since Andre Goodfriend said on the 24th of October: "We disagree with that approach, because we think that diversifying sources is what's important,” taking issue with the fact that Hungary is not trying hard enough to diversify its gas sources.  Two days previously, the Hungarian Parliament proposed new legislation on South Stream without the need for the EU’s oversight over this matter. Nb5


Washington and Brussels are furious about the Hungarian government’s moves concerning Russian natural gas imports. Hungary stopped the reverse gas flow to Ukraine, supposedly for “technical reasons”, which left Kiev literally out in the cold, and extremely unhappy.  This happened just a few days after Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller met Hungarian PM Orbán on 22 September in Budapest. No doubt both these events were viewed dimly by both the EU and the US. Nb6


“The presumption that we will fall into the arms of the Russian bear is pure fear-mongering. We are NATO and EU members,” Victor Orban, July 2014


Hungary is in both the EU and in NATO, has committed some troops to the NATO Readiness Action Plan (RAP) in Eastern Europe, and is also upgrading the Papa airbase as a NATO base.  Additionally; there was a controversy that rumbled on in Budapest regarding the sale of T 72 tanks to Ukraine, via the Czech Republic.

Yet, the EU/ USA Mainstream Media Network (MSN) have been spinning their stories on Hungary and Victor Orban ever since he first raised objections to the EU sanctions back in March. 

Orban is quoted by the Huffington Times article, (20/07/14), as being Putin’s “nationalist right wing allies in neighboring Hungary.” The article continues to state that “Orbán has cultivated ties to none other than Vladimir Putin who already seeks effective partition of Ukraine.”  [Ed’s Note: Could this be the same partition that Sikorski, the ex-Polish Foreign Minister mentioned but then later retracted as being untrue?]. Nb7


First came the veiled threats from the US Administration. Victoria Nuland said on  2nd of October:  I ask the same of those who shield crooked officials from prosecution; bypass parliament when convenient; or cut dirty deals that increase their countries’ dependence on one source of energy despite their stated policy of diversification.” Two weeks later, the US administration in mid-October signaled their displeasure by slapping a travel ban on 6 Hungarians officials, citing “Proclamation 7750” on corruption ‘issues’.  Although a Reuters article on the subject deftly turned this reason on its head and gave the reason as being “as a warning to Budapest to reverse policies that threatened to undermine democratic values.

Reportedly, Hungary is the only NATO ally to have been affected by such an US travel ban. The Hungarian government was left perplexed and considers the travel bans as groundless until the reasons are revealed by Washington.  Nb8 Nevertheless, it has caused a stir in Budapest, which was quickly followed up the comments of the U.S. Chargé d’Affaires André Goodfriend, who said that “Hungary should move from guessing who has been banned from entering the United States towards trying to find ways to co-operate with the U.S. in combating corruption.”


EU angle


The EU Norwegian minister, Vidar Helgesen,  allegedly said, “When the Hungarian government is challenging these values it challenges the EU itself.” The EU, who are said to be losing patience too and in October, there were glimpses of this annoyance. The EU Hungarian political scene was muddied when EU MEPs blocked the Hungarian nominee, Tibor Navracsics, for the post of Commissioner of education, culture, youth and citizenship. This was because of Navracsis' doubious record on supporting a "civil society" in Hungary.


The Trans-Carpathian dimension


Victor Orban visited Transcarpathia at the end of September, located in western Ukraine, home to about 162,000 Hungarians.  He gave a speech about Ukrainian relations: “We need a strong neighbor. We hope that there will be peace in your country. We want an open dialogue and are willing to cooperate and support. Our doors are always open for you, we will help to solve the problems that you announce". Yet this provoked a negative response from the US official, André Goodfriend, as he said that Hungary "to understand the sensitivities on the ethnic nationalism question."   This was an oblique reference to Hungary’s interests in Transcarpathia, amongst other regions.


A lot of the Trans Carpathian Hungarians voted for Viktor Yanukovich in the 2010 Ukrainian elections, which doesn’t sit well with the likes of the uber-Ukrainian nationalist groups ‘Svoboda’ or ‘Pravy Sektor’, who unsurprisingly took over some public buildings in the region and proceeded to trash them “Maidan square style”.  The serious threat of Ukrainian nationalism is of extreme concern to the Hungarian minority and consequently they are fearful for their future.


NGOs raided


At the beginning of September, the Hungarian authorities made moves against a number of foreign-back “civil society” NGOs based in Hungary, over alleged financial mismanagement. This triggered a wave of criticism including the Hungarian Civil Liberties Union (HCLU) who released a press statement with the following heading: “The EU Cannot Remain Silent About the Putinization of Hungary Any Longer”. Nb9

Two NGOs were specifically targeted, Ökotárs and Demnet, both connected to Norway NGO Grant, thereby provoking a diplomatic spate with the Norwegian government. Interestingly, Okotars is also the civil society implementing partner in Hungary of the U.S. Agency for International Development, (USAID). A week later, Hungary got a special mention in a speech made by President Obama back in September, where he said: “From Hungary to Egypt, endless regulations and overt intimidation increasingly target civil society.” The only EU and NATO country to be mentioned, along with the likes of Russia, China, Venezuela, Cuba and Burma.


The last word from the US


If that trend continues it may reach a level where the United States can no longer cooperate with Hungary as an ally.” Statement made by André Goodfriend.


The precedent has been recently set in Ukraine, where a democratically elected leader was violently overthrown, simply because he did not fit into the “international community’s democratic values”, by not respecting the wishes of the Maidan “civil society” groups and NGOs in February 2014. Indeed, the Euro-Atlantic bloc, along with the rest of the so called “international community” were so desperate to  bring in Ukraine into their sphere of influence, that they allied themselves with zealot anti-Russian ultra-nationalists and fascists Ukrainian groups. 


Internet Tax Protests


Not long ago, the Hungarian government proposed a new law on taxing the use of the internet, which has resulted in massive protests in Budapest on Sunday. The protest rally organizers of '100,000 against the Internet tax' have called the proposed law “anti-democratic” and also  described the proposals as the move  “… follows a wave of alarming anti-democratic measures by Orban that is pushing Hungary even further adrift from Europe.”


Moreover, protestors have attacked the offices of Orban’s Fidesz ruling party. All of the Western press has heaped criticism on Orban and his government.  Is this the start of a new Maidan in Budapest? 

It has come to my attention that one of the participants in Sunday's event is none other than Andre Goodfriend; was he merely an observer or was there more to his attendance. It seems that on face value, the US administration's signal is crystal  clear. Another noteworthy attendee was the ex Budapest mayor, Budapest Gabor Demszky from the SZDSZ party.  András Bencsik,
chief editor of the newspaper Demokrata, reacted to the event by comparing the rally to Ukraine: “football hooligans and liberals, just like in the case of the Kiyv Maidan”.Nb10

Another Twitter message of support came from none other than the EU  Vice-President of the European Commission Neelie Kroes:



The first shots of an US - Hungarian diplomatic fallout have already rung out in October.  Could the internet tax protest be the catalyst for what ultimately could be a US sponsored regime change, right in the heart of the EU and NATO hegemony?



 References and Notes:


  • Nb1a  http://www.kormany.hu/en/the-prime-minister/the-prime-minister-s-speeches/prime-minister-viktor-orban-s-speech-at-the-25th-balvanyos-summer-free-university-and-student-camp
    “    "This, Ladies and Gentlemen, is the explanation for the fact that the most popular topic in thinking today is trying to understand how systems that are not Western, not liberal, not liberal democracies and perhaps not even democracies, can nevertheless make their nations successful. The stars of the international analysts today are Singapore, China, India, Russia and Turkey.”

    1b -
http://hungary.usembassy.gov/pr_10182014.html
  

Nb 4  http://www.state.gov/p/eur/rls/rm/2014/oct/232444.htm



Nb 6 -  Interestingly, Hungarian officials cited that additional gas supplies were being stored in preparation for winter consumption, as well as for neighboring states to buy. Several days after this was announced, Dusan Bajatovic, the chief executive of Serbia's Srbijagas stated that it was looking to secure supplies from Hungary. Moreover, at that time, gas flow to Serbia was down by 20 percent. Interesting turn of events.

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7b  “He wanted us to become participants in this partition of Ukraine. ... This was one of the first things that Putin said to my prime minister, Donald Tusk, when he visited Moscow,” Sikorski was quoted as saying in a 19 October interview with Politico magazine.

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Nb 9a

9b