The White House Stories

The White House Stories

Washington is calling for everyone to go back in time

Washington’s wish to “re-evaluate all relations with Russia” which was voiced by a Deputy Press Secretary of the United States Tony Fratto has already produced a reaction around the world. However this reaction was much different from what the White House was expecting. One of the first countries to respond to the “Cold War” – and this term is being more and more frequently used by political analysts – was South Korea. Pyongyang has halted dismantling its nuclear reactors. Now it intends to look into rebuilding its Yongbyon nuclear reactor following the “United States’ breach of the agreements reached at the six-nation talks aimed at dismantling the nuclear weapons program in Korean peninsula.”

Iran officials also announced they had begun a submarine production line. At the same time the world press conjectured that Russia might veto new sanctions against Iran when this issue is discussed at the U.N. Security Council. In a recent interview with an Arabic newspaper “Al Hayat” Russian minister of foreign affairs Sergey Lavrov confirmed that Moscow stands for resolving the situation surrounding the nuclear program of Tehran solely by politico-diplomatic methods. He also stated that the military training exercises recently performed in Iran have no bearing on the essence of the problem connected with the Iranian nuclear program. Thus, Washington’s attempts to increase the pressure on Iran under the new circumstances might meet strong opposition from Moscow.

Another unpleasant surprise provoked by the US plans to reconsider its relations with Russia is the current situation in Afghanistan. On Tuesday the authorities of this country demanded revision of the conditions under which American and NATO troops operate on its territory.

The reason for this decision was the US-led airstrikes killing 90 Afghan civilians. Now Kabul intends to open negotiations over the “status of force” operating in Afghanistan. In his turn, Russia’s ambassador to Afghanistan made it clear that an agreement over transit of NATO cargoes to Afghanistan through its territory might be halted due to suspension of military cooperation between the alliance and Moscow. “No one having any common sense should expect cooperating with Russia in one part of the world and acting against it in the other part’, – explained the diplomat.

It is unsurprising that Western media has nothing left but to state an obvious breakdown of the global defense system that seemed so solid only a few months ago. Nevertheless, Western politicians continue giving tough statements in relation to Russia. It makes one feel that all the old and deep-hidden fears of Russia have come out simultaneously following the conflict in South Ossetia. Now these fears are hampering even some milder leaders in taking time to think about the consequences of their threats to Russia.

On Tuesday the Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel promised to provide Georgia and Ukraine with a plan of action towards becoming members of NATO. “It is not yet a membership in the alliance but it is a path towards it,” – stated the head of German’s government. In her opinion, both Kiev and Tbilisi should join the bloc. The Chancellor does not mention that this decision will lead to a final breakdown of the EU-Russia relationship and possibly to a total cessation of contact between Russia and NATO as if these developments go without saying.

The main question is whether the “Old Europe” will be able to contain the Eastern European and Baltic countries that want an outright break off between Moscow and the EU at an EU summit taking place in Brussels on September 1st. “We are not talking about sanctions against Russia,” – claimed French minister of foreign affairs Bernar Kushner on Tuesday. However, corporate solidarity and fears of creating a serious split in the EU in regards to “Eastern politics” may tell on Brussels’ plans. Western media is already trying to conjecture what Russia’s response is going to look like: Europe gets 45% of its gas and 30% of its oil from Russia. Analysts predicted earlier that gas dependence may reach a 90% level in the near future.

According to “Financial Times,” Russia is not afraid of the outflow of investors after its military operation in the Caucasus. The newspaper believes that Moscow reached its goals – it strengthened its position of the main player in the world arena of energy routes from the Caspian basin to the Central Asia.

Now the White house is trying unsuccessfully to talk Russia into going back in time when any question regarding a status of unrecognized republics and frozen conflicts was discussed at the UN Security Council. At the same time, it seems that Washington has forgotten that it ruined this once effective international mechanism itself by recognizing Kosovo’s independence without the legal approval of the United Nations. Back then White House considered its position to be completely legitimate.

Meanwhile South Ossetia is counting the countries that might recognize its independence following Russia’s example. Among these countries are China, Cuba, Syria, Serbia and Belorussia. This list is almost certain to increase – there are quite a few nations in the world unhappy with Washington’s double standards in politics.