Over one quarter of the
185,000 people who applied for asylum in the EU in the first quarter of
the year are citizens of Kosovo, according to Eurostat.
Source: Tanjug
This makes them the most numerous category among asylum-seekers, the EU's statistical office said on Thursday.
With almost 49,000 asylum requests, ethnic Albanians rank
above citizens of Syria who have a 16 percent stake in the total number
of asylum applications, followed by people from Afghanistan who occupy
the third place on the list with seven percent of all asylum requests.
The greatest number of asylum requests (40 percent) was filed to
Germany and Hungary (18 percent), while all other EU members received a
considerably fewer number of asylum requests, Eurostat said.
Compared to the first quarter of 2014, the total number of asylum
seekers in 2015 increased by 85 percent, but the growth does not apply
when viewed relative to the last three months of 2014, when EU countries
received around 185,000 asylum seekers.
ST.
PETERSBURG (Sputnik) — The European Union needs to return to its
initial declarations and principles of solidarity and justice as the
path of austerity is counterproductive, Tsipras noted.
"The so-called Greek problem is not a Greek problem, it is a European
problem," Tsipras said, adding that the problem is the Eurozone itself
and its structure.
"The question is, whether the European Union will be able to become a region of development again," Tsipras said.
Athens is currently attempting to negotiate a $270-billion debt
relief terms with its international creditors. Its current bailout
program expires on June 30.
Greece's overall debt stands at about $350 billion, of which $270
billion is owed to the European Commission, the European Central Bank
and the International Monetary Fund.
On Thursday, EU Commissioner on Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre
Moscovici said that the failure to reach an agreement in talks
between Greece and international creditors before the deadline could
lead to catastrophic consequences.
The "blind insistence" on cutting Greek pensions will only worsen the country's already dire financial crisis, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras wrote in a German newspaper commentary on Thursday.
In a guest column for Der Tagesspiegel
newspaper in Berlin, Tsipras also rejected the "myth" that German
taxpayers are paying Greek pensions and wages. He said Greeks, contrary
to the widespread belief in Germany, work longer than Germans.
"The
blind insistence of cuts (in pensions) in a country with a 25 percent
unemployment rate and where half of all the young people are unemployed
will only cause a further worsening of the already dramatic social
situation," Tsipras wrote.
He said that pensions are the only
source of income for countless families in Greece. In Athens on
Wednesday he also rejected pension cuts that creditors are seeking to
unlock aid.
Tsipras also wrote that the state's expenditures for
pensions and social spending were cut by 50 percent between 2010 and
2014. "That makes further cutbacks in this sensitive area impossible."
Tsipras
also challenged perceptions among Germans, a majority of whom now want
Greece to leave the eurozone, about who is paying for Greek wages and
pensions:
"Anyone who claims that German taxpayers are coming up
for the wages and pensions for Greeks is lying," he wrote. "I'm not
denying there are problems...But I'm speaking out here to show why the
'cuts offensive' of the past years has led nowhere."
Tsipras's
leftist government has faced dire warnings that it risks being forced
out of the eurozone and left without support if it fails to strike a
aid-for-reforms deal with creditors.
Hopes of a breakthrough on
Thursday at a meeting of European finance ministers, once seen as a
final chance for an agreement, are looking increasingly dim.Athens must
find a way out of the impasse by the end of June, when it faces a 1.6
billion euro repayment due to the International Monetary Fund,
potentially leaving it bankrupt and on the verge of exiting the
eurozone.
Finance Minister Wolfgang Schaeuble maintained his hard
line against Greece, telling Bild newspaper the question was whether
"Greece fulfils its commitments from the existing program."
Schaeuble
stressed the IMF must continue to take part in the rescue program:
"Without its important contribution, it (the program) doesn't work." Reuters
Commenting
on several incidents involving Hungarian Airforce Saab JAS-39 Gripens
over the past few months, Hungarian Defense Minister Imre Szekeres
stated that the Hungarian air force is in a catastrophic state,
Slovakian newspaper Sme reported.
Last
week, a Hungarian Air Force single-seater Saab JAS-39C Gripen crashed
at Hungary's Kecskemet Airbase during exercises. After suffering a
landing gear failure, the pilot attempted to land the aircraft on its
belly, but lost control after touching the runway, and was forced
to eject. The pilot was injured after his ejection seat failed
to separate from his chute.
Commenting on the incident, and those that had
preceded it in March and May, Szekeres stated that the Hungarian
government "has wasted the money necessary for the purchase of fuel
for combat aircraft, spending it on all kinds of festivities and
celebrations."
Video of the crash of the Gripen JAS 39C at Kecskemet Airbase.
The former defense minister argued that the lack of fuel is the main
cause of the Air Force's catastrophic state, noting that pilots are not
able to be in the air long enough to receive sufficient flight training.
As a result of the shortages, Szekeres estimated that pilots receive
1,000 hours less flight time than necessary. He noted that the pilot
that crashed another Saab Jas 39 at an incident in May had flown only 8
hours this year.
On
May 19, a two-seater Saab Jas 39D crashed upon landing at the Caslav
air base in the Czech Republic during exercises. Both pilots were able
to escape uninjured. That crash was itself preceded by another incident
involving a Saab JAS 39 in March, when a pilot was forced to make an
emergency landing at the airport in the Slovak city of Kosice.
Commenting on the underfunded state of the country's air force,
Hungarian newspaper Magyar Nemzet complained that "although the
Hungarian Air Force has been leasing Swedish JAS 39 Gripen fighter
aircraft for nine years, it hasn't been able to buy bombs and other
weapons for it due to lack of funding."
The JAS-39 multirole fighter serves as Hungary's main fighter
aircraft, with 12 presently. The Air Force had agreed to lease purchase
14 JAS 39 Gripens from Sweden, including 2 dual-seaters and 12
single-seaters, in 2006, at a cost of 13.8 billion forints ($50 million)
apiece. The country also has up to two dozen MiG-29 fighters
in reserve, which it had previously attempted to auction off.
With Greece's relations with its European counterparts at a
low ebb, Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras will head to Russia on
Thursday and meet President Vladimir Putin at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF).
Tsipras' visit comes at a crisis point for Greece, with reforms-for-rescue talks between the country and its international lenders in deadlock.
He is due to meet with Russian President Vladimir
Putin on Friday afternoon, the Greek government said in a statement
Thursday, and ahead of that meeting will make a keynote speech at the
forum.
Tsipras' government has already warned it will not
have the money to pay a debt of 1.5 billion euros to the International
Monetary Fund (IMF) without an agreement, prompting increasing concern
that Greece will default and eventually leave the euro zone.
However on Thursday, Russian Deputy Finance
Minister, Sergei Storchak, said Greece had not asked the Russian Finance
Ministry for financial assistance, Dow Jones reported. The ministry
would not comment on the remarks when contacted by CNBC. The head of the IMF, Christine
Lagarde, said that Greece would be in default at the start of July if it
fails to make a repayment on June 30 because there is no grace period
or possibility to delay, Reuters reported.
"It will be in default, it will be in arrears
vis-a-vis the IMF on July 1, but I hope it is not the case, I really
do," Lagarde told reporters following a meeting with the Luxembourg
finance minister.
Dmitry Azarov | Kommersant Photo | Getty Images
Russia's Central Bank Governor Elvira Nabiullina told CNBC
Russia had considered the implications of such a scenario – for
example, its impact on money flow in Europe – and was worried.
"We do consider that scenario as one of possible
risks which would increase turbulence in the financial markets in the
European market, bearing in mind the fact the European Union is one of
major trading partners, and we are definitely worried by it," she told
CNBC this week.
Voicing the fears of European politicians who are
keen to avoid contagion spreading throughout the euro zone, Nabiullina
said a "Grexit" was a possibility – and Russia too could be affected. Read MoreA key project for Putin
"There is a possibility of this kind of sentiment
becoming stronger, which could reduce the rate of the development of the
recovery of the European economy, and bring down the demand for our
products," she said
There is speculation that talks between the
leaders will focus on the proposed construction of a gas pipeline
through Greece and the country's potential participation in a new BRICS
development bank, set up by Brazil, Russia, India, China and South
Africa with a reserve fund for emergency situations.
Tsipras is travelling to Russia with the Greek
economy minister and alternate finance minister, among others, plus some
business leaders, the Greek government said.
<p>Aiming for 4% inflation: Central Bank of Russia
Governor</p>
<p>Elvira Nabiullina, governor of the Central Bank
of Russia, tells CNBC they are targeting the rate of inflation, rather
than a specific level for the ruble. </p>
Russia invited cash-strapped Greece to participate in the new bank in May.
The Greek and Russian governments' warming relations have not come as a surprise to some Europe-watchers.
"Ever since he became premier, Mr Tsipras has gone
to great lengths to accentuate Greece's cultural and historical ties to
Russia as part of his efforts to reorient Greece's economic and foreign
policies away from conventional euro zone-centric ones," Nicholas
Spiro, managing director of Spiro Sovereign Strategy, told CNBC
Thursday. Read MoreRussia: Time to invest despite sanctions threat?
"He's playing the nationalist card and cosying up
to Russia is part of his brinkmanship with Greece's creditors. This is
music to the ears of Mr Putin who already has good relations with a
number of EU leaders, notably Hungary's, and wants to showcase Russian
influence in Europe," he said.
"All this adds to fears that if Greece exits the euro zone, Russia is waiting in the wings."
Athens
and its three main creditors - the European Commission, the European
Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund are attempting to reach
a new agreement on Greece's debt before the expiry of its current
bailout program on June 30.
LUXEMBOURG
(Sputnik) — A deal between Greece and its international lenders is
vital to maintaining the most important political project — the
eurozone, EU Economic Affairs Commissioner Pierre Moscovici said
Thursday.
"A solution is badly needed. First, for Greece, for the Greek people,
but also for the sake of this important project, this major political
project that is the euro," Moscovici said ahead of the Eurogroup
meeting.
The commissioner added that the sides need to reach an agreement on a
comprehensive set of reforms that would be "ambitious, realistic and
financially sustainable," adding that the solution is not only possible,
but absolutely necessary.
Greece is undergoing a deep economic crisis. Its overall state debt
stands at $350 billion, of which $270 billion is owed to three of its
major international creditors.
The terms of Athens' debt relief is on the agenda of Thursday's
Eurogroup meeting in Luxembourg, where Greece is being represented
by its finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis.
Leader of the Alliance for
the Future of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj was on Wednesday arrested in
Slovenia on a Serbian warrant.
Source: B92, Tanjug
(Beta/AP, file)
He was brought before a court in Kranje in the evening,
and released, but his passport has been taken and he will not be able to
leave Slovenia "until it is clarified whether the warrant is valid,"
his party announced.
According to the same sources, quoted by the media in Pristina, he will appear before a judge on Thursday.
Slovenian State Prosecutor Marinka Jeraj explained that despite the
fact he was released, Haradinaj will have to stay in the country "until
it is clarified whether the warrant is still valid." She could not say
how long the procedure might last.
Earlier in the day,
Slovenian police spokesman Bojan Kos confirmed that "a citizen of
Kosovo" was arrested on a Serbian warrant, without giving the name, and
that he would be brought before the District Court in Kranj. According
to him, this person "will be able to leave Slovenia only in the evening
hours."
Haradinaj earlier in the day spoke for the
Pristina-based Albanian language media outlet Gazeta to say he was "not
arrested," and add that Slovenia's authorities "reacted on an arrest
warrant issued by Serbia in 2006."
However, speaking for another Pristina-based media, Kosova Press, Haradinaj said he was detained at the airport in Ljubljana.
"I have not been arrested, it's just that time is needed for things to
be regulated with the Slovenian system," he said, "laughing and adding
that he missed his flight to Pristina because of the whole situation."
He also revealed his disappointment with the Slovenian authorities, "and compared them with those in Serbia."
"This warrant has been removed from all airports, except this one in
Ljubljana. During my trip I went through several airports and never had
any problems, but Slovenians are the same as Serbs, they are their
brothers," said Haradinaj, noting he would "stay at the airport for a
couple more hours until the complete procedure has been finished."
The Pristina-based daily Koha Ditore cited sources from Haradinaj's
party who said he was arrested on a 2006 Serbian warrant "while
returning from an official visit to Germany."
Haradinaj was
twice tried for war crimes before the Hague Tribunal and both times - in
2008 and 2012 - acquitted of all charges.
Serbia has filed 108 criminal complaints against him.
Leader of the Alliance for
the Future of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj was on Wednesday arrested in
Slovenia on a Serbian warrant.
Source: B92, Tanjug
(Beta/AP, file)
He was brought before a court in Kranje in the evening,
and released, but his passport has been taken and he will not be able to
leave Slovenia "until it is clarified whether the warrant is valid,"
his party announced.
According to the same sources, quoted by the media in Pristina, he will appear before a judge on Thursday.
Slovenian State Prosecutor Marinka Jeraj explained that despite the
fact he was released, Haradinaj will have to stay in the country "until
it is clarified whether the warrant is still valid." She could not say
how long the procedure might last.
Earlier in the day,
Slovenian police spokesman Bojan Kos confirmed that "a citizen of
Kosovo" was arrested on a Serbian warrant, without giving the name, and
that he would be brought before the District Court in Kranj. According
to him, this person "will be able to leave Slovenia only in the evening
hours."
Haradinaj earlier in the day spoke for the
Pristina-based Albanian language media outlet Gazeta to say he was "not
arrested," and add that Slovenia's authorities "reacted on an arrest
warrant issued by Serbia in 2006."
However, speaking for another Pristina-based media, Kosova Press, Haradinaj said he was detained at the airport in Ljubljana.
"I have not been arrested, it's just that time is needed for things to
be regulated with the Slovenian system," he said, "laughing and adding
that he missed his flight to Pristina because of the whole situation."
He also revealed his disappointment with the Slovenian authorities, "and compared them with those in Serbia."
"This warrant has been removed from all airports, except this one in
Ljubljana. During my trip I went through several airports and never had
any problems, but Slovenians are the same as Serbs, they are their
brothers," said Haradinaj, noting he would "stay at the airport for a
couple more hours until the complete procedure has been finished."
The Pristina-based daily Koha Ditore cited sources from Haradinaj's
party who said he was arrested on a 2006 Serbian warrant "while
returning from an official visit to Germany."
Haradinaj was
twice tried for war crimes before the Hague Tribunal and both times - in
2008 and 2012 - acquitted of all charges.
Serbia has filed 108 criminal complaints against him.
Thousands of NATO troops are on the move this month in Poland and the
Baltic states, practicing sea landings, air lifts and assaults. The
massive maneuvers on NATO's eastern flank that began in early June
include the first-ever training by the new, rapid reaction "spearhead"
force, and are NATO's biggest defense boost since the Cold War.
Polish and Baltic state leaders have made it clear that they want to
host large numbers of U.S. and NATO forces as a deterrent in the face of
a resurgent Russia, and are welcoming the thousands of allied troops to
their land and sea test ranges. Polish and Romanian leaders are even
seeking more of a permanent allied military presence ahead of next
year's NATO summit in Warsaw.
"We must know how to defend ourselves. It is our goal to assure a stable order," Polish Foreign Minister Grzegorz Schetyna said.
"In the face of new, real threats, the biggest enhancement since the
Cold War of the alliance's collective defense is taking place," NATO
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told the Polish PAP news agency.
He added that the spearhead exercise means to show that NATO is "ready and capable of facing every challenge and every threat."
East European countries that took pains to shed Moscow's dominance
almost three decades ago have been jittery ever since Russia annexed the
Crimean Peninsula last year and began backing separatists in the deadly
conflict in eastern Ukraine. They have urged NATO to show force as a
deterrent.
In response, all kinds of NATO troops are testing their readiness this
month to react and cooperate in the face of a potential crisis in the
Allied Shield exercise in Poland, the Baltic states and in Romania.
Those nations had significantly downscaled their armies and defense
spending since the Cold War, but now they want to be sure that NATO will
defend them in time of need — especially Poland, with its memories of
failed defense alliances at the start of World War II.
Over 2,000 of the troops taking part in the Noble Jump maneuvers in
southwestern Poland are from the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force
that President Barack Obama and NATO leaders agreed upon at a NATO
summit last fall.
Multi-national drills are also being held at Poland's northwestern range
in Drawsko Pomorskie, along with greatly scaled-up annual BALTOPS
exercises on the Baltic Sea.
BALTOPS this year includes a spectacular amphibious landing of 700
allied troops on a beach in Ustka in northern Poland. Its maneuvers
involve some 60 ships from 17 NATO and partner nations and about 5,000
troops. But for the first time they are taking place without Russia,
whose Kaliningrad military port is on the Baltic.
On Wednesday at BALTOPS, a Polish army amphibian sank while returning to
its ship following the drill. Both crew members were rescued unscathed.
A multi-nation corps in Poland's Baltic port of Szczecin was doubling
its staff to 400 this year to host the spearhead's command.
Underscoring the maneuvers' significance, the Noble Jump exercises are
being visited Wednesday and Thursday by Stoltenberg and NATO's commander
for Europe, Gen. Philip M. Breedlove, as well as Polish Defense
Minister Tomasz Siemoniak and defense ministers from some other NATO
nations.
Albania
is gearing up for local elections, widely viewed as a test of democracy
for the Balkan country in light of efforts to join the European Union.
“More
than the results, the real importance of these elections are the values
of the democracy that should win," parliamentary speaker Ilir Meta told
AFP.
Over 3.3 million people in the southeast Europe republic will go to the polls on Sunday.
According to the latest opinion polls, the ruling Socialist-led coalition would emerge the undisputable winner of the vote.
Prime
Minister Edi Rama has promised that the elections' outcome will give
added momentum to “economic development” in the country.
However,
since the demise of Communism in the country about twenty years ago,
there have never been smooth elections in the country.
Opposition
leader Luzlim Basha, who is also the mayor of the capital Tirana, has
warned supporters to be on look for what he called "fake and rigged”
votes.
Nevertheless, Basha forecast the elections to be a vote "against the ruling majority".
Albania
is one of the poorest countries in Europe. One in seven people in the
country live below the poverty line. Albanians living in Greece, Italy
and other countries are said to have a definitive role in the outcome of
the elections.
Some
400 foreign and 5,000 local observers will be monitoring the vote. The
EU, in particular, will be closely watching the vote.
Albania obtained EU candidate status one year ago.
Hundreds
of US Marines are set to become part of a 25,000 troop NATO military
campaign in the Mediterranean in an unusual move that will see them
deployed on British and other European ships as tensions in Eastern
Europe rise.
NATO
is testing its ability to quickly deploy a Response Force, its highly
ready and technologically advanced multinational force made up of land,
air, maritime and Special Operations Forces, in the face of what it
perceives as Russian aggression. It has already deployed extra forces
in and around the Baltic area, but is now moving to upgrade its presence
in the Mediterranean.
US Marines would normally serve on US ships, however, with its forces
currently heavily committed in the Middle East, it has been forced
to rely on its NATO allies. The marines will initially test the use
of their vertical take-off and landing aircraft, the MV22 Ospreys,
on the Italian aircraft carrier Cavour, as it requires strong flight
decks.
The Osprey is used by the US Marines as it can take off, land and
hover like a helicopter. Once airborne, it can convert to a turboprop
airplane capable of high-speed, high-altitude flight.
US Marines will also operate from British, Spanish, French and Dutch
ships. "They all have ships that could potentially carry an alert force
with Osprey," Brigadier-General Norman Cooling, deputy commander
of Marine Forces Europe and Africa, told The Times.
The UK will be offering its biggest warship, the helicopter carrier
and assault ship HMS Ocean, the Flagship of the Royal Navy. As Britain's
older aircraft carriers have been taken out of service, HMS Ocean is
the only platform the 150 US Marines can use. NATO Rapid Reaction
The decision to deploy troops on European navy ships in the
Mediterranean comes just three months after NATO announced it would set
up six new command posts on its eastern borders and create a
5,000-strong rapid reaction force in an effort to show resolve and
solidarity in the face of what the alliance brands Russian aggression
in Ukraine.
NATO Secretary General, Jens Stoltenberg, said it was "the biggest
reinforcement of our collective defense since the end of the Cold War."
The first operation in the Mediterranean will be Exercise Trident
Juncture 2015, which will take place from 28 September to 06 November
2015, in multiple locations across the Alliance — including Italy,
Portugal and Spain. Over 25,000 troops are expected to train together
and test the NATO Response Force.
Following the NATO summit in Wales, where the allies decided to put
more pressure on Russia, they decided to enhance the NRF in 2014
by creating a "spearhead force" within it, known as the Very High
Readiness Joint Task Force.
Greece’s
Minister of Economy, Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism said that
Greek government is considering whether it could get involved in the
BRICS New Development Bank.
ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) –
The Greek government is considering whether it could get involved
in the BRICS New Development Bank, Greece’s Minister of Economy,
Infrastructure, Shipping and Tourism Giorgos Stathakis told Sputnik
Wednesday.
“We are fully supporting the BRICS initiative, and we are
investigating ways for Greece to get involved in this initiative that
could be beneficial for both sides,” the minister said.
A source in the Greek government told Sputnik in May that Greek Prime
Minister Alexis Tsipras was likely to discuss his country’s membership
of the NDB, with BRICS leaders in St. Petersburg during a June 18-20
economic forum.
The five major developing economies – Brazil, Russia, India, China
and South Africa – bill their venture as an alternative to the
International Monetary Fund (IMF), one of Greece’s three main creditors,
to which Athens owes a $1.7-billion repayment by the end of June.
Leader of the Alliance for
the Future of Kosovo Ramush Haradinaj will be brought before a Slovenian
court at 18:00 hours CET on Wednesday.
Source: B92
(Beta/AP, file)
The Pristina-based website koha.net is reporting that the
former KLA commander was arrested earlier in the day on a 2004 Serbian
warrant.
Slovenian police spokesman Bojan Kos confirmed that "a
citizen of Kosovo" was arrested on a Serbian warrant, without giving the
name, and that he would be brought before the District Court in Kralj.
According to him, this person "will be able to leave Slovenia only in
the evening hours."
Haradinaj earlier in the day spoke for the
Pristina-based Albanian language media outlet Gazeta to say he was "not
arrested," and add that Slovenia's authorities "reacted on an arrest
warrant issued by Serbia in 2006."
However, speaking for another Pristina-based media, Kosova Press, Haradinaj said he was detained at the airport in Ljubljana.
"I have not been arrested, it's just that time is needed for things to
be regulated with the Slovenian system," he said, "laughing and adding
that he missed his flight to Pristina because of the whole situation."
He also revealed his disappointment with the Slovenian authorities, "and compared them with those in Serbia."
"This warrant has been removed from all airports, except this one in
Ljubljana. During my trip I went through several airports and never had
any problems, but Slovenians are the same as Serbs, they are their
brothers," said Haradinaj, noting he would "stay at the airport for a
couple more hours until the complete procedure has been finished."
The Pristina-based daily Koha Ditore cited sources from Haradinaj's
party who said he was arrested on a 2006 Serbian warrant "while
returning from an official visit to Germany."
Haradinaj was
twice tried for war crimes before the Hague Tribunal and both times - in
2008 and 2012 - acquitted of all charges.
Serbia has filed 108 criminal complaints against him.
Sitting close to the sea in Himara, but his eyes, going in depth of Ionian Sea, there at front of Corfu and the Greek islands nearby. And sure, that in the near future, of the Greek - Albanian relationship , will break the traditionally the "bridge of cooperation and friendship". Prime Minister of Albania, Edi Rama, will be the protagonist of a battle, as diplomatic, geopolitical as well as with Greece. Albania does not recognize the border with Greece, while Greece fears games for the "Greater Albania", probably, after 100 years, opened the "Pandora's Box" Between Greece and Albania, for territorial annexation (Greater Albania or Northern Epirus Autonomus Republic)
Many NATO countries reluctant to use force to defend allies against Russia http://pewrsr.ch/1Tai5ab
The
US foreign policy drags the country into a vicious cycle of
interventionism, Ron Paul underscored, referring to the recent Pew
Research poll that indicated that more than over 50 percent of Americans
would not oppose going to war with Russia.
According
to the latest poll conducted by the Pew Research Center, a US
independent fact tank, many NATO countries are reluctant to defend their
allies against Russia with the exception of the United States and
Canada: over 50 percent of Americans and Canadians would not oppose
going to war with Russia.
This trend is really worrisome, according to Dr. Ron Paul, a former
Republican congressman and two-time US presidential candidate, and
Daniel McAdams, Executive Director of the Ron Paul Institute for Peace
and Prosperity.
Americans' readiness to get involved in a direct military
confrontation with Russia could be regarded as a relic of the Cold War,
suggested the experts, warning that the US foreign policy course may
drag the country into a vicious cycle of interventionism that in its
turn would further undermine America's economy and the well-being of its
citizens.
"It really does not solve the problem of what
the countries are to do with NATO. I am afraid NATO is going to be
with us for a long time. I see it as only a tool for our propaganda,"
Dr. Paul noted.
At
the same time, however, the US' opinion of NATO has gone down since
2011, Mr. McAdams remarked, referring to the same Pew Research survey.
Only 49 percent of Americans expressed a favorable opinion of NATO,
down from 54 percent in 2010 and 2011. On the other hand, the number
of those Americans who expressed disapproval of NATO has increased
from 21 percent in 2010 to 31 percent in 2015.
Attitudes are changing gradually, and a lot more Americans do not
believe the government either, despite all the propaganda
from Washington, Ron Paul stated, adding that the Internet is helping
people to question more what the US government is doing.
It
is remarkable though that lots of NATO-member countries expressed their
unwillingness to unleash a war against Russia. Particularly, the
population that is the least enthusiastic to go to war with Russia is
that of Germany. While Angela Merkel is regarded by many as a lap dog
of Washington, the German people are not with her, Mr. McAdams stressed.
While the West is threatening itself with Russia's phantom menace,
there is another figure that shows how "militant" the Russians really
are, the experts noted.
"We [the United States] are spending [on
defense] more than twice as much as the next four countries put
together. And Russia is the fourth. There is a country called Saudi
Arabia that spends [on defense] more money than Russia," Dr. Paul
stressed.
About 2,000 people have marched in Skopje, demanding equal rights for the Albanian minority.
They
also called for the resignation of Prime Minister Nikola Gruevski and
his party's junior coalition partner, the ethnic Albanian DUI.
The country's leaders agreed last week to hold early elections by next April, in an attempt to end months of turmoil.
Former
Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia saw months of civil conflict in 2001
between the security forces and ethnic Albanian rebels.
Mr Gruevski faces wire-tapping and corruption allegations, which he denies.
In
turn, he has accused opposition leader Zoran Zaev of prolonging the
crisis by "rejecting all proposals" in the latest round of EU-mediated
talks between the country's main political leaders. BBC
For
the first time since the Ukraine crisis drove a wedge between the two
countries, officials from the Russian and American navies have met to
discuss how to avoid accidental clashes, incidents which could lead -
unintentionally - to war.
The
crisis in Ukraine has led to the worst rift in US-Russia relations
since the end of the Cold War. As Washington continues to both accuse
Moscow of its involvement in the conflict and reject the Crimean
peninsula’s decision to rejoin the Russian Federation, it has increased
NATO’s presence in border territories.
Russia has repeatedly denied any involvement in fueling the crisis,
and has urged the West to recognize the referendum in which 96%
of Crimea’s voters expressed a desire to rejoin Russia.
Of course, as NATO increases its number of military drills
across Eastern Europe in response to an alleged Russian threat, it also
increases the chances of an unintentional collision, either by aircraft
or at sea. Last November, the think tank European Leadership Network
counted nearly 40 potential flashpoints between Russian and Western
militaries since the conflict began.
Most recently, a collision over the Black Sea between a Russian
fighter jet and a US Air Force reconnaissance aircraft was narrowly
avoided last month. According to US officials, the two aircraft came
within 10 feet of each other.
On Wednesday, both nations took steps to ensure that such accidental
clashes do not occur. A Russian Navy delegation led by Vice-Admiral Oleg
Burtsev met with US counterparts in Naples, Italy on Wednesday. The US
team was led by Rear Admiral John Nowell.
"There was an open, frank and direct discussion…about how we can
better operate in the same bodies of water and avoid miscues, mistakes
or miscalculations," Vice-Admiral James Foggo, deputy commander of US
naval forces in Europe, told reporters. “I think that dialogue was
productive.”
Foggo is currently leading an international exercise in the Baltic
Sea, near the Russian border. Involving 17 NATO allies or partner
nations, the drills will involve 49 ships, 61 aircraft, and 5,600
military personnel.
While this exercise is held annually, this year’s is the largest
ever. NATO says this is in response to an alleged Russian threat
against the Baltic nations. Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania have all
become increasingly paranoid over recent months, fearful of the "little
green men" reportedly seen in Crimea.
"We are here with 49 ships right now and we are operating in areas all over the Baltic Sea," Foggo said, according to Reuters.
While the talks may be a positive step toward avoiding unnecessary
conflict, Western nations could even more accurately ensure peace by not
holding unnecessary and provocative drills along the Russian border.
