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REVENGES OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION

The searches at German and Czech Gazprom subsidiaries that took place in the end of September are seemingly the revenge of the European Commission for South Stream and poor prospects of Nabucco. In reality the EU should have better consolidated partnership with Russia as long as our country has the largest gas deposits in the world — the cleanest kind of fuel.

IS EURO BECOMING «CONTAGEOUS»? Possible scenarios for the euro-crisis

Globalization’s playing an evil joke on the global economics. Troublesome region can hardly be «contained» and put into a financial «quarantine», isolating it from the more or less healthy EU body until the recovery. Such medical analogies are rather popular these days — the former chief economist of the IMF Kenneth Rogoff has recently stated that «euro carry crisis from one country to another like an infection». Besides there already are several patients in Europe and the doctor is in the same ward with them.

FAIRY-TALE ABOUT EUROPE WITHOUT BORDERS TURNED OUT... MERELY A FAIRY-TALE. Yet, it’s not the worst of it

On the 17^th of October EU summit is to take place — primary issue on the agenda of the day is the extension of Schengen zone to the EU freshmen of Bulgaria and Romania. Yet, the latest events have endangered the Schengen extension. Holland and Finland object to that, while all of the EU decisions are made on the consensus grounds.

POST-ELECTION LATVIA: Ambiguity is on the rise

Law on Latvian elections gives voters an opportunity not only to vote according to the ballot papers, but also change the candidates’ numbers in the lists, thus, defining personal rating of politicians. Actual composition of the future Seim factions is the real factor, influencing the further development of parties. In case if Unity happens to be full of nationalists, negotiations with the Harmony Center will hardly be possible.

TRANSDNIESTRIAN ELECTIONS: Russia would be better off keeping a neutral stance

Unification of a de-facto collapsed state is not a one-day affair. Reintegration project will hardly be steady in the long run, if it is ordered top-to-bottom, which the notorious experience of Bosnia and Herzegovina makes an evidence of. Such unification should be grounded upon the wish of a large group of population, if not a majority. At that, such wish is exactly amiss right now — and there’s not a single hint of urge towards consensus in the matter of the future state system of the united state either.

«BARBAROSSA» AND «LEVIATHAN»

A situation emerges, which no one was able to foresee: Israel, the greatest U.S. ally (not only in the regional, but also in a global sense) and owner of nuclear weapons rivals Turkey with its largest NATO corps. At that Alliance must protect its members in case of an armed conflict against the third country.

UKRAINE, TURKMENISTAN AND THE CASPIAN ENERGY PROJECTS

Euro-Commission initiative may be brought to life only by 2017 given the simultaneous accomplishment of three vital projects: Nabucco, Trans-Caspian main and the Turkmen East-West pipeline. Yet, experts should hardly proceed from this date, which will become real only given the most favorable set of circumstances like the successful solution of the Greek debt problems and some spare investment money.

SLOW DEATH OF THE TINIEST SLAVIC NATION IN EUROPE

Lusatian Serbs (also known as Wends) are gradually deceasing in Germany. History has sent this nation the most sever challenges. Today we may hardly talk of a rude attitude of authorities, yet the nation is disappearing from the ethnic map of Europe. Neither Euro-Union, nor the adjacent Slavic states show empathy to the Wends’ destiny.

GEOPOLITICS AND THE TRENDS OF MUSIC INDUSTRY DEVELOPMENT. Part I

Having carefully studied the global music markets we’ll see that a lion’s share of music production — including the lyrics — is recorded and sold in English. Ethnic styles, where the artists perform in the national languages, make up the only exception, yet only confirming the dominion of the Anglo-Saxon culture in the global music industry! It turns out that the major labels and their management have long ago assumed the unequivocal responsibility of geopolitical shaping and censure of the mainstream tastes of different countries. They create the very model of the modern pop-culture and partially the counter-culture in its seeming variety.

GAS DISPUTE: Haven’t Ukrainian authorities messed up their own reasoning?

If Ukraine finds an opportunity to reduce the internal energy consumption, finds a buyer for its gas and waits until the expiration of current contracts, these plans may actually come true. Yet, how does it match the scenario of splitting Naftogaz and placing the production capacities at the bourse?

WHAT IS NAFTOGAZ ELIMINATION FRAUGHT WITH? Gas combinations may turn into major economic losses for Ukraine

Certainly, some minor kamikaze-company (private rather than state) responsible for payment for the Russia gas may be left. Its goal will be the inevitable bankruptcy in the nearest future and renunciation of the contract due to technical reasons. However, there’s a risk that this private company will also be bought by someone, thus, gaining an opportunity to influence the entire Ukrainian gas trade up to the end customers.

GREECE IS STUCK BETWEEN THE WITHDRAWAL FROM EUROZONE AND EXTERNAL ADMINISTRATION

The reports that Greek authorities had signed a contract with lawyer agency Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen and Hamilton LLP largely contributed to the panic sentiments. Company was entrusted with a task of working out acceptable options for restructuring the Greek debt and studying the possible Greek withdrawal from the euro-zone. I.e. official Greece is actually considering the option of leaving euro-zone, which it previously resisted fiercely.

ELIMINATION OF THE EURO-ZONE IS QUITE PROBABLE. Polish Minister of Finance warns of such scenario

Crisis of the euro-zone is the talker today. Careless attitude towards the balance of economic indices brought Greece, Spain and Portugal to the verge of bankruptcy. Their membership in the euro-zone has made the situation dangerous for the entire European Union. The EU donor-states, Germany and France, are willing to accept the burden of aiding their troubled brothers-in-arms, albeit setting forth their own conditions. Is the currency union between such economically various states possible at all and will Europe manage saving the euro and the European Union itself?

THE EU, GERMANY AND GREECE: IS IT THE LAST ACT OF THE FINANCIAL DRAMA?

Public hearings on the suit against the first package of financial aid to Greece are in the FRG Constitutional court on the 7^th of September. It was filed by the CDU/CSU bloc representatives and it claims that giving the loans of this size violates several articles of German constitution at once. The situation is so unequivocal that Chancellor Merkel has cancelled her participation in the Global political forum, which is to be held in Yaroslavl on the 7^th—8^th of September.

REVENGE OF DOLLAR PRIESTS. Deven Sharma, Gaddafi, Strauss-Kahn and the sacred status of American currency

American justice took the S&P in hand. Despite the American renowned freedom of speech, agency fetched itself in a complete isolation. Both private and state structures renounced their contracts with S&P. Los-Angeles authorities have also decided to abandon the services of Standard & Poor’s international rating agency. Major role of Libya in the Strauss-Kahn’s projects for stabilizing the world financial system, based on the «soft» denounce of dollar makes up yet another odd coincidence. Libyan Central Bank decided to conduct an experiment and tie its gold-backed dinar to the new IMF currency.

CHINESE ECONOMIC EXPANSION: Is Ukraine the new North Africa?

After the start of Libyan unrest PRC authorities had to hastily evacuate 35 thousand Chinese workers and engineers. It’d be only natural to assume that China will seek for the alternative markets, sites to places lucrative investments and its own labor force, which — apart from the financial profit — would’ve increased the PRC influence. And it seems that such market was found right in between of Russia and the Euro-Union.

IRAN, LIBYA, LONDON AND THE LEGITIMACY OF CAMERON’S CABINET

Instead of laughing at the audacity of the countries, labeled as the links of «axis of evil» and «outcast lists», we’d better think, where the cynical and deceitful double-standards practice may lead us to. The latter one resembles the situation when «Dr. West» is treating its own cold with aspirin, while the «black-listed» states with the same symptoms are offered to stick with euthanasia.

KOSOVO: KFOR TURNED INTO THE SERVANTS OF ALBANIAN MAFIA

The situation in Kosovo all the more resembles the one in the end 19^th century — the beginning in the 20^th century: sense of lack of future prospects and the increasing tension. Level of GDP per capita in the «Republic of Kosovo» equals the one of Eastern Timor. Pensions make up $60 per month; the unemployment rate exceeds the 50%. Only a third of Kosovo budget comes from reliable sources, one more third comes from the international aid and another third comes from drug smuggling and money-laundering.

TYMOSHENKO’S ARREST: CUI PRODEST?

It is usually recommended to consider all matters according to the ancient Roman principle «Cui prodest», literally «as a benefit to whom?» However, it turns out that in case of Tymoshenko’s arrest it’s easier to find those, to whose disadvantage it is. Number of people, reaping various profits from this act, is nearly impossible to count even in the first approximation.

LONDON: THE END OF THE MYTH. Virus of street riots that struck France and Greece, revealed itself in Britain with a Middle-Asian specificity

It seems that the "hot August" is merely beginning in Britain, but it may have the far-reaching ideological consequences. Mythical image of Britain as a "pole of global aristocracy", embodied by the Windsor dynasty that lays its claims for the global role, as a the oldest civil society, where life obeys the traditional, yet fair rules, may go to oblivion for good. The seamy third-world side with its bleeding social sores shows through the façade of a global financial regulator and the center of attraction for international elites.