The US Plan for Syria

By: Stewart Brennan

Why does the US continue to insist on regime change in Syria even though they have no right to do so? I mean, we were all brought up in the west to believe that the Democratic process, is the only way to change a government…a democratic process that the American’s claim to embrace and champion. So when the US and Saudi Arabia insist that the Syrian government must go, what they really show is dictatorship and what they really want is a puppet government that will bend to their economic dictates.

To understand why the US government insists on regime change in Syria, we have to step back and look at the entire picture to get to the heart of why the US is pushing for it, or in the event that they don’t get their way with regime change, why they will insist on Balkanizing Syria into two or three states…to do that we need to look at it from an economic perspective, which is really the heart of what drives the American Military policy and everything they are interested in…

The one important tool that powers an economy and drives economics is energy, to be more precise, oil and gas.

The fact that Eurasia and the Middle East holds about 75% of the world’s known oil and gas is no secret. It is also no secret that every American adventure in these regions have been to wrest control of the oil and gas from Independent nations as we saw by the US coup of Mohammed Mosaddeq in Iran in 1953, and by the US Invasion of Iraq in 2003 when Saddam Hussain decided to sell his nations oil in Euro’s…

What we see when an independent nation refuses to go along with the dictates of the US and its European allies, such as Iraq 2003, Libya 2011, and Syria 2011, we see war crimes and the total obliteration of nations by militaristic means either directly as they did to Iraq with an invasion and occupation, covert means as they did to Syria by arming funding and training terrorist to remove the government, or by a combination of the both as they did to Libya…

Iran, Russia, and Syria are independent nations in the heart of the oil rich region, as are Saudi Arabia and the gulf state nations. However, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and Bahrain are already under US control and influence, which is why these nations can get away with the atrocities they have been committing. Any friend of the US economic coalition is pardoned for war crimes and crimes against humanity…witness Israel, Turkey, Ukraine and Saudi Arabia…

The Two Main US Allies in the Destruction of Syria are Saudi Arabia and Turkey, why is that?

Well Saudi Arabia is attached to the hip with the US dollar, and are heavily invested in corporate America. If the US goes down, they go down with them…

Turkey hosts the main oil transit routes from the Caspian Sea basin that is controlled by Western Interests. In other words NATO and the US Military occupy Turkey therefore Erdogan follows whatever he is told by the US government.

Why is Syria Being Targeted?

Through its economic independence from the United States, Syria offers an independent transit route for Iran, Iraq and Russia to bring their oil and gas through to the Mediterranean and into Europe, bypassing US control.

We have to remember that Europe does not have the energy supply it requires to maintain its economic status and therefore has become increasingly dependent on the US to secure its oil and gas. The US in turn requires Europe to continue their economic partnership including buying everything in US dollars, the global reserve currency. Doing so allows the US to retain its economic hegemony around the world…but that hegemony is vulnerable when it comes to energy and who controls it…especially when it is not in US control.

The US government and its European partners are bankrupt and have watched their oil assets dwindle past peak. They no longer have control of their own destiny so they feel that they must plunder and control the oil and gas producing nations around the world to maintain their economic power.

The US failure in Syria is monumental in that the outcome will allow independent economic interests to provide Europe with the energy their economies need down the road. Europe will not need the US anymore…

The cost to the US will be its economic empire and their global reserve currency. Not that the US has any right to control something that does not belong to them, they do not have that right, but they act as if they do…like a bully.

The US Energy War with Russia

The US has threatened Russia in every venture it has tried when it comes to building energy supply lines as we have seen by the US / NATO military stand in Ukraine, Poland, Turkey, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia…and when it comes to building alternate energy supply routes from Russia through Eastern Europe in places like Bulgaria, the US puts the screws to the European Union and forces them to impose sanctions on Russia, citing Russian involvement in Ukraine…all of which are gross US fabrications…

The recent agreement for a direct gas pipeline between Germany and Russia through the Baltic Sea was met by a US economic attack on Germany and indeed further threats on Europe with the influx of Saudi and Turkish backed terrorists hidden amongst the legitimate victims of American Imperial wars…These active terrorist tools are now residing all over Europe just waiting for a phone call to do US / Saudi / Turkish bidding should the European’s continue to move towards an economic partnership with Russia…To the people of the EU, one should look no further than their own backyard and the security they have hired to guard it on the seas and in the air…including the 6 Billion extortionist man named Erdogan…

US Determined to Get Their Way

The US continues to call for regime change in Syria and if they cannot get that then Balkanizing Syria will become the Americans priority because having a government that they can control in Syria or having a balkanized state emerge from Syria under their influence, that lays between Iraq and the Mediterranean sea, would stop the Independent nations, of Iran, Iraq, and Russia from laying pipelines to Europe…the US will maintain its hegemony over the World if they control Syria…plain and simple.

Therefore, the US is NOT an honest broker when it reaches out to Russia as a so called willing partner to end the terrorism in Syria, terrorists that the US armed, trained and funded to overthrow the Syrian government. The American government will never change their position on Syria. The question is, how far will the Americans go to force the issue…a World War?

West looking to ‘reanimate’ Russia's adversary image - Lavrov

 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. (AFP Photo / Aamir Qureshi)

By: Robert Bridge

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/politics/west-russia-lavrov-nato-image-087/

Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov blames the “bloc thinking” of Western countries for failing to adjust to the present realities.

"Unfortunately, the Euro-Atlantic military-political processes are lagging behind the rapidly changing realities,” Lavrov said at the Federation Council on Wednesday. “The political elites of a number of Western countries are still obviously backsliding into bloc thinking."

"Certain politicians wish to reanimate the image of a geopolitical adversary in the person of our country,” the minister said, adding that such scare tactics helps to preserve “a strong military-political bond between the United States and European NATO members."

Although Lavrov did not mention Republican challenger for the White House, Mitt Romney, by name, the comments seem too well-timed to be a mere coincidence.

In March, Romney demonstrated the chasm that separates Democrat and Republican thinking on foreign policy when he called Russia the “number one geopolitical foe” of the United States. The comment recalled antiquated Cold War rhetoric and showed that the so-called Russia-US reset is just one presidential campaign away from irrelevancy.

"Cold War black-and-white thinking looks increasingly absurd against the backdrop of profound and, I would even say, tectonic shifts we are witnessing," Lavrov said.

The Russian minister suggested that the increase in rhetoric being directed at Russia may have a lot to do with the “process of division of power and influence…taking place on the global landscape,” which sees the role of the Asia Pacific region increasing as it becomes a “major driving force of economic development.”

Unfortunately, instead of western leaders looking to the booming eastern economies as a means for escaping from the clutches of a deepening economic recession, they are ratcheting up the rhetoric and spreading fear.

Thus, it should come as no surprise that given the frostiness in relations, the West is unwilling to sign a European security treaty together with Russia.

"Alas, our Western partners are not prepared as yet to accept the logic of implementing an indivisible security principle put forth in fundamental documents from the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Russia-NATO Council," he noted.

Lavrov revealed that despite opposition on the part of some foreign leaders, the Russian initiative “has triggered rather energetic discussions on the possibilities and ways to upgrade the Euro-Atlantic security model.”

The idea of bringing all European territory under one security umbrella was first mentioned in 2008 by former Russia President Dmitry Medvedev.

"I'm convinced that Europe's problems won't be solved until its unity is established, an organic wholeness of all its integral parts, including Russia," Medvedev said.

Indeed, it seems that until Europe frees itself from the scourge of Cold War thinking, an atmosphere of mistrust will dominate the region, with the United States able to manipulate the situation for strategic gain.

The most blatant example of Washington stepping into the void left by the Cold War is witnessed by efforts to build a US missile defense system in Eastern Europe, which threatens to destabilize the balance of forces between the two former Cold War foes. Moscow has even warned that the system threatens to spark another arms race.

Denied participation in the project, Russia insists on receiving guarantees from NATO that the system will not be targeted against its nuclear forces.

"Reliable guarantees based on clear and impartial military-technical and geographic criteria that this system will not be targeted against Russian nuclear deterrent forces are fundamentally important for us," Lavrov stressed.

The minister said it was essential that Moscow is assured that the purpose of the system is to defend against “missile threats emanating from outside of the Euro-Atlantic region, that is, not from Russia."

Lavrov acknowledged that thus far the parties failed to find a solution to this problem, but Russia is willing to continue dialogue.

The minister also mentioned Russia’s concern over NATO’s increased military activity near Russia’s borders.

It is natural that we have questions concerning “increased military activity near Russian borders, the modernization and approaching of NATO's defence infrastructure and more frequent military exercises," Lavrov said.

The purpose of these exercises is unclear, he added.

Finally, on the question of resolving global hotspots, specifically in Syria and Iran, Russia will uphold the principles of the Charter of the United Nations, Lavrov mentioned in his report.

"We will continue to resolutely insist on the supremacy of law in international affairs," Lavrov pledged. "This is how we will move forward in our efforts to address the situation in Syria, the Iranian nuclear program and other crisis situations.”

Tel Aviv is the biggest threat to the US' ' as 7,500 US officials serve Israeli interests

 

Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/09/30/264293/7500-us-officials-serve-israel-interest/

An international lawyer says while the US Intelligence Community (IC) considers Israel the greatest threat to America’s national interests, there are about 7,500 US officials “who do Israel’s bidding,” serving Tel Aviv’s interests with no reservation.

In an article published on Press TV website, Franklin Lamb noted that a study commissioned by the US Intelligence Community earlier this year, has reached the conclusion that the American national interest in fundamentally at odds with that of Zionist Israel.

“It’s … an 82-page analysis [entitled: Preparing For A Post Israel Middle East] that concludes that … Israel is currently the greatest threat to US national interests because its nature and actions prevent normal US relations with Arab and Muslim countries and, to a growing degree, the wider international community,” Lamb added.

The IC-commissioned study clearly stated that Israel is grossly interfering in the internal affairs of the United States through spying and illegal US arms transfers.

“This includes supporting more than 60 ‘front organizations’ and approximately 7,500 US officials who do Israel’s bidding and seek to dominate and intimidate the media and agencies of the US government which should no longer be condoned.”

According to the report, the analyst added, IC believes that Israel leadership, with its increasing support of the 700,000 illegal settlers on the occupied West Bank “is increasing out of touch with the political, military and economic realities of the Middle East.”

The IC report also argued that as a result of Tel Aviv’s current brutal occupationist and belligerent policy, it “cannot be salvaged any more than apartheid South Africa could be.”

“…as American power and influence recedes, the US commitment to belligerent oppressive Israel is becoming impossible to defend or execute given paramount US national interests which include normalizing relations with the 57 Islamic countries.”

Advising the US government to avoid “entangling alliances that alienate much of the world,” the IC noted that instead of getting militarily involved in the Middle East on behalf of Israel, the US should undertake “the repairing relations with Arab and Muslim countries including the drastically curtained use of drone aircraft.”

“US public opinion no longer supports funding and executing widely perceived illegal US wars on Israel’s behalf. This view is increasingly being shared by Europe, Asia and the International public.”

 

Canadian government blindly following Britain: Iran MP



 

Story Source: Press TV

http://www.presstv.ir/detail/2012/09/08/260423/canada-blind-follower-of-britain/

A senior Iranian lawmaker has hit out at Canada for its “hostile” decision to close its embassy in Tehran, saying the Canadian government is “blindly” following Britain.

“The British government certainly seeks to lead its friends to the same path that it had taken. Therefore, this decision was in fact blind acquiescence by the Canadian government,” Chairman of the Majlis (parliament) Committee on National Security and Foreign Policy Alaeddin Boroujerdi told Fars news agency on Friday.

He added that Canada is under the control of Britain and the governor appointed by the British queen, saying that all important decisions are made by the governor in coordination with the queen.

The Iranian legislator emphasized that London has been disappointed with Iran's move to close the British embassy in Tehran.

In November 2011, Iranian lawmakers voted by a large majority to downgrade diplomatic ties with the United Kingdom in response to the UK's decision to impose sanctions on the Central Bank of Iran, over the allegation that Tehran's nuclear energy program may consist of a covert military agenda.

Two days after the decision by Iran’s Majlis, hundreds of Iranian students staged a protest outside the British Embassy in Tehran pulling down the UK flag and demanding the expulsion of the British envoy.

Following the incident, Britain's Foreign Secretary William Hague announced on November 30, 2011, that London is withdrawing its diplomatic staff from Iran and that the Iranian embassy in London will be closed.

Boroujerdi further said that Canada sought to undermine the 16th Summit of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) recently held in Tehran, adding the Canadian government’s decision was also a reaction to the success in holding the summit.

He called on Iran's Foreign Ministry to show a swift and firm reaction to Canada’s move and immediately expel the staff of the Canadian embassy in Tehran.

The 16th NAM Summit wrapped up in the Iranian capital on August 31, with the member states passing a final resolution, which included over 700 clauses.

 

Canada closes Iranian embassy, suspends diplomatic ties

 

Source: Russia Today

http://rt.com/news/canada-suspends-ties-iran-635/

Closing ranks with the US and Israel, Canada has denounced Iran as the biggest threat to global security and said it will expel all of the Islamic Republic’s diplomats from its territory by September 12th.

"Canada views the government of Iran as the most significant threat to global peace and security in the world today," Foreign Minister John Baird said in a statement.

"Under the circumstances, Canada can no longer maintain a diplomatic presence in Iran … Diplomatic relations between Canada and Iran have been suspended," he added.

The Foreign Minister also blasted Iran for its support of Syrian President, Bashar al-Assad, as well as Tehran's controversial nuclear program. The fact that the Canadian government is a staunch ally of Israel has also played a part in the decision to cut ties with Iran.

“The Iranian regime is providing increasing military assistance to the Assad regime; it refuses to comply with UN resolutions pertaining to its nuclear program; it routinely threatens the existence of Israel and engages in racist anti-Semitic rhetoric and incitement to genocide," Baird’s statement claimed.

This statement by the Canadian FM was made during the APEC Summit currently underway in Vladivostok. And political analyst and the director of the Center for Research on Globalization Michel Chossudovsky told RT that it's no coinicidence such a platform was chosen for announcing the move – which, Chossudovsky believes, wasn't really made by Canada at all.

"This decision wasn’t taken in Ottawa, it was taken in Washington," Chossudovsky told RT.

He added that this form of diplomatic pressure may be just the first step of many more to come.

"All acts of mediations and diplomacy and peace-building are being scrapped in favor of a possible military strike on Iran".

Relations with Iran have been strained since former Canadian ambassador, Ken Taylor, helped rescue six Americans from Iran during the hostage crisis in 1980. Ties between the two states took and even bigger hit in 2003, after a freelance photographer with dual Canadian-Iranian citizenship died in custody after being arrested while taking photographs outside a Tehran prison. Following that incident Iran recalled its ambassador. The Islamic Republic also ordered Canada's ambassador to leave the country after trying unsuccessfully to come to an agreement on an exchange of ambassadors for some time.

Canada is certainly not the first country to cut ties with Tehran. The United States hasn't had an embassy in Iran since the 1980 hostage crisis. Britain also recalled its entire diplomatic staff in 2011, following a major attack on its embassy which it claims was sanctioned by the country's ruling elite. After the attack, Britain expelled Iranian diplomats from the UK.

Russia warns 'point of no return' imminent in US missile defense talks

Member of the U.S. Navy stand aboard the USS Higgins, one of 18 American ships deployed globally with Aegis interceptor systems (Reuters / Atef Safadi Pool)

Source: Russia Today
http://rt.com/politics/russia-us-missile-defense-arms-race-iran-406/

The deployment of a US missile defense system in Eastern Europe will demand that Russia takes counteractive measures within the next five years unless an agreement is reached, says Russia’s deputy defense minister.

"When the Americans begin constructing the third stage of their missile defense plans in Europe and the effectiveness of our strategic nuclear forces is jeopardized, serious issues will arise regarding Russia's appropriate reaction,” Deputy Defense Minister Anatoly Antonov said in an interview published in the Wednesday edition of Rossiyskaya Gazeta.

According to the General Staff estimations, this may happen as early as 2017, Antonov added.

Antonov’s comments come as defense experts from 50 different states prepare to gather in the Russian capital on Thursday to discuss the missile defense system, which threatens to derail the fragile Russia-US reset declared between President Medvedev and US President Barack Obama in 2009.

Moscow and Washington have been at loggerheads over the controversial system, which the United States says is necessary to protect Europe from a missile attack from some rogue state, usually described as Iran. Russia, meanwhile, argues that the construction of the system, just miles from the Russian border, will tip the nuclear scales between the two former Cold War foes.

In November, President Dmitry Medvedev warned that a new arms race could break out in the next decade unless Russia and the West agreed to cooperate on missile defense. Despite early assurances that cooperation was forthcoming, the US and NATO have only offered vague promises that the system will not be used to compromise Russia’s nuclear defenses in some hypothetical future situation.

Meanwhile, the deputy minister said the first and second stages of the US adaptive approach to missile defense is also a matter of concern for Russian military planners.

"This is the time the foundation for the modernization of the US missile defense system will be laid,” he said. “Furthermore, no one is saying there will be no fifth, sixth, and seventh stages."

Whatever the final outcome may be, Antonov assured that Russia is prepared for a worse-case scenario.

"Such a scenario is likely and we are preparing for it,” he said. “The Russian president has spoken in detail about the steps that can be taken in response.”

Moscow continues to hold out hope that things will not get that far. Russian defense experts will present their argument at the international conference, where they will demonstrate “the danger of the missile defense system in Europe as proposed by the US," Antonov said.

Activist’s fate puts US-China relations at risk

US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chinese President Hu Jintao attend the opening ceremony of the US-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue at the Diaoyutai Guesthouse in Beijing on May 03, 2012 (AFP Photo / Mark Ralston)

Source: Russia Today
http://rt.com/news/china-dissident-chen-asylum-468/

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s talks to strengthen China-US ties have been marred by a dissident’s predicament. The Chinese activist has sought US asylum, but it remains to be seen if the US will risk damning relations by granting the request.

Recent events involving prominent activist Chen Guangcheng have cast a shadow over Hillary Clinton’s diplomatic visit to China this week. The blind dissident had been granted refuge in the US embassy in Beijing for almost a week, drawing the Chinese government’s ire and the statement that the US overstepped the mark by interfering.

They have demanded a formal apology from the US for harboring Chen.

Chen left the embassy on Wednesday after reportedly being guaranteed the safety of his family by the Chinese government, a decision he later regretted.

“I want to go overseas. I want the US to help me and my family. They helped me before,” he told the Associated Press by phone from a hospital in Beijing on Thursday, stressing that he “did not feel safe” in China. He had been interned in the hospital for the treatment of a leg injury.

An anonymous US official said in response to the appeal that the government was currently re-assessing the needs of Chen and his family.

Contradicting earlier reports, Chen said that Chinese officials had threatened to beat his wife to death if he did not leave the US embassy. He maintained that he had received this information through the US embassy in Beijing.

The US State Department said staff at the American embassy in Beijing had relayed no such information to the activist, nor were they aware of any legal threats against Chen’s wife and children.

Spokesperson Victoria Nuland confirmed that the Chinese government intended to return Chen to his home province of Shandong, where he had been illegally detained and abused by local officials.

Chen fell from favor with local authorities after uncovering cases of forced abortions and sterilizations as part of China’s infamous “one child” policy.

Thus far during the two-day diplomatic talks in Beijing, Hillary Clinton has glossed over the contentious case. She did however open the negotiations, pointing the finger at China’s patchy human rights record.

"All governments have to answer our citizens' aspirations for dignity and the rule of law and that no nation can or should deny those rights," stressed Clinton.

She had previously led the international charge for his release and met with him on Wednesday before diplomatic talks.

The case has threatened to derail the progress of US-Chinese talks, during which Clinton has pushed for the strengthening or economic ties and Chinese support in curbing the nuclear aspirations of Iran and North Korea.

"It is critical that we keep the pressure on Iran to meet its international obligations, negotiate seriously, and prove that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful purposes," she said.

China has previously been a stumbling block in the US’s campaign against Iran’s alleged atomic weapons program. China’s is one of the nation’s number one oil-buyers and has so far turned down US calls to impose sanctions on the country.

Ron Unz, publisher of American Conservative magazine, told RT that a shift in the balance between the two superpowers meant it would be less likely for China to make "concessions" on policy. China is the number one holder of US debt and is less reliant on the US economy, drawing its resources from Australia, Brazil and the Middle East.

“The Chinese economy is growing at an enormous pace and the American economy is not. So it’s perfectly rational for the Chinese leaders to, in effect, accept these pinpricks on America’s side and just realize that in five or 10 years the Chinese’s position will be enormously stronger relative to America than there is today,” said Unz.

He attributed the stance on dissident Chen as indicative of the American government’s refusal to recognize the numerous human rights violations committed at the hands of the US around the world over the last few years

Russia warns NATO about missile shield

Russia's Ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/193067.html

Russia has warned the United States and its NATO allies against plans to extend the deployment of missile defense systems in the north European waters, calling them provocative.

At a Tuesday press conference in Norway, Russia's ambassador to NATO Dmitry Rogozin slammed the alliance's failure to guarantee that American warships equipped with anti-missile systems would not be deployed in the waters of north Europe, AFP reported.

"The very fact of deploying US military missile defense infrastructure in the northern seas is a real provocation with regard to the process of nuclear disarmament," said Rogozin.

Moscow fears that the anti-missile system would undermine its nuclear deterrent, and thus has been seeking legally binding guarantees to check it.

"Why is no one giving guarantees that a US fleet equipped with Aegis interceptor systems won't be deployed in the northern seas?" he added.

The Russian government has long opposed NATO's disputed plan of deploying an anti-missile shield in Europe, arguing that the would-be system in its "back yard” is not to secure Washington's European allies but is effectively aimed at Russia.

"I'm sure that if there were no such plans in reality, then I would have been given a very definite negative answer. I didn't get any firm answer to this question," the Russian envoy pointed out.

Moscow has also called for sharing control of any anti-missile shield, saying the aim of the so-called defense shield is to encircle Russia. Washington refuses to share the responsibility for protecting NATO member states with any third party.

NATO officials estimate that the missile shield project will not be completed before 2018.

Poland agrees to host US airbase

US Ambassador Lee Feinstein (L) and Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klich (R) sign a memorandum of understanding on cooperation of the Polish and US Air Forces on Polish soil in Warsaw on June 13

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/184574.html

Poland and the United States have signed a memorandum of understanding for the establishment of a permanent US military base on Polish soil.

The two NATO allies signed the accord in Warsaw on Monday, according to which the US Air Force will station troops and aircraft in Poland starting in 2013, Reuters reported.

"This memorandum of understanding means that by the end of 2012 we will have in Poland a detachment allowing for the permanent rotation of American military aircraft, both combat and transport aircraft," Polish Defense Minister Bogdan Klich said after the signing ceremony with the US ambassador to Poland, Lee Feinstein.

"From 2013 we plan the regular and periodic presence of aircraft and the training of pilots four times a year," Klich added.

The US Air Force Aviation Detachment will be the first US troops to ever be permanently stationed in the country.

The deal, which was endorsed by US President Barack Obama during his trip to Poland in late May, provides support for an air detachment to train Polish pilots to fly F-16 warplanes and C-130 transport planes.

Twenty US servicemen are also expected to deploy to Poland in 2012 to maintain the aircraft.

During his visit to Warsaw, Obama and Polish leaders also confirmed plans for Poland to host SM-3 interceptors from 2018 under a US missile defense program.

NATO rejects Russian missile proposal

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183607.html

NATO has flatly turned down a Russian proposal on the Western military alliance's plans to deploy a disputed missile system in Eastern Europe.

Moscow has indicated its willingness to drop its opposition to the installation of the missile system if NATO provides legal guarantees that the missiles would not be used against Russia.

"The most promising path towards greater trust is more discussion, more political debate and exchange,” NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen said in an interview with Interfax news agency released on Tuesday, AFP reported.

Rasmussen ruled out “complicated legal formulas which would be difficult to agree on and ratify” between the NATO member states and the Kremlin.

The refusal comes ahead of a meeting of the Russia-NATO Council in Brussels on Wednesday where Russian Defense Minister Anatoly Serdyukov will seek to convince his Western counterparts to sign a legally binding cooperation treaty.

Moscow wants details about the maximum amount and types of interceptor missiles, their speed as well as locations for missiles and radars to be specified in the treaty.

In 2010, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev talked with NATO leaders at a summit in Lisbon, Portugal, in a landmark meeting held to end long-standing hostilities between the two sides.

But the Western bloc rejected Medvedev's idea of dividing the European continent into sectors of military responsibility, insisting the two sides should keep their systems separate.

In his Interfax interview, Rasmussen reiterated that the two sides should not merge their systems.

"The reason is simple -- NATO cannot outsource to non-members collective defense obligations which bind its members," he argued.

Rasmussen, however, stressed that NATO's eastward expansion did not threaten Russia's interests, but on the contrary "the process itself has been beneficial to Euro-Atlantic security, including that of the Russian Federation."

"I can also assure you -- and I have said it publicly on many occasions -- that NATO will never attack Russia and we are convinced that Russia sees the alliance in the same light," he said.

Tensions rise in Turkey election drive

Turkish protesters clash in Hopa with riot police firing a water cannon during a demonstration against Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan on June 2, 2011

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/183109.html

As election campaign has increased the ongoing tension among different political groups in the Turkish society, the incidents in the Black Sea town of Hopa has further ignited the delicate situation.

The clashes between political groups in Hopa on Tuesday left a retired schoolteacher dead and one police officer in a coma.

Instead of ramping down their rhetoric for the June 12 elections, political leaders, to win over voters' emotions, are blaming each other for the Hopa incidents. While some blame the election campaign for the increasing tension in the country, many academic experts say growing intolerance is at the root of the problem, the daily Hurriyet reported Friday.

“We always had structural polarizations in Turkey but this election is extremely important,” said sociologist and political-science theorist Yucel Demirer. “Both the changing of the Turkish Constitution and the Kurdish issue, which needs to be addressed immediately, are critical factors. That's why party leaders are quite tense.”

“Whether they accept it or not, the main opposition Republican People's Party [CHP] is going through a significant change. The pro-Kurdish Peace and Democracy Party [BDP], is also becoming stronger in the eastern provinces. Even if the ruling Justice and Development Party [AKP] wins the election, all these factors are making the ruling party nervous, which increases the tension,” Demirer added.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called the protesters “bandits” while the CHP and MHP blamed the ruling party and Erdogan for the excessive force used by police.

Tensions further rose between the AKP and the BDP during Erdogan's visits to eastern and southeastern provinces where many shopkeepers closed their doors in protest.

According to polls, Erdogan is expected to win more than 50 percent of the votes in the June 12 parliamentary elections.

Georgians call on president to step down

Georgian protesters enter their fifth day of anti- government demonstrations

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/181716.html

In Georgia, thousands of opposition supporters have continued their protests for the fifth consecutive day, demanding the resignation of President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Georgian opposition leader, Nino Burjanadze says that the country's future would be determined on Wednesday, promising to occupy another central square in the capital of Tbilisi after five days of protests, AFP reported.

The supporters of Burjanadze are hoping to enjoy the same success as other countries in the Arab Spring.

Demonstrators have blocked the city's main street near the Parliament chanting anti-government slogans.

Georgians are protesting against the government's failure to improve the living conditions as well as the country's unemployment rate.

The fifth day of protests comes a day before the government's plans to carry out a military parade marking Georgia's Independence Day on Thursday.

The country's former defense minister's arrest helped spark mass protests after he turned against the Georgian president in 2007.

The opposition National Assembly has accused officials of detaining scores of government opponents and seizing hundreds of activists' cars before the rallies.

The Georgian interior ministry, however, said the allegations were "completely untrue."

Georgians call on president to resign

Georgian opposition rallies against incumbent President Mikheil Saakashvili

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/181123.html

Thousands of Georgian protesters have taken to the streets of the capital Tbilisi, calling on President Mikheil Saakashvili to step down.

Protesters led by former Saakashvili ally and parliament speaker Nino Burjanadze marched along Tbilisi and staged their rally at the central Freedom Square.

Georgian police fired rubber bullets at opposition protesters in Tbilisi in an attempt to disperse the demonstrators after they reportedly attacked a car and beat its passengers.

Meanwhile, hundreds of other protesters marched through the Black Sea resort of Batumi, where their demonstration was broken up by police after protesters tried to break into a local television station, AFP reported.

"We are fighting for democracy and against neo-Bolshevism," Burjanadze went on to say.

"We demand Saakashvili's resignation in order to hold democratic elections," she noted.

The opposition has accused Saakashvili of monopolizing power and losing large parts of Georgian territory during the country's brief war with Russia in 2008.

The Saakashvili government is also being blamed for failing to tackle poverty.

"We will fight to the end together with you. It is the final and decisive fight for all of us and we are not going to make any steps back," Burjanadze told the crowd.

The opposition National Assembly also accused the officials of detaining scores of government opponents and seizing hundreds of activists' cars before the rallies.

The Georgian interior ministry, however, said the allegations were "completely untrue."

Russia warns west of new Cold War

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/180571.html

Russia has warned the West of another Cold War if it fails to acknowledge the country's concerns regarding a planned missile system based in Europe.

On Wednesday, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev warned that his country would take “retaliatory measures” if the United States would continue with the construction of the so-called missile defense system, AFP reported.

“We [Russia] would then be talking about developing the offensive potential of our nuclear capabilities; this would be a very bad scenario. It would be a scenario that throws us back into the Cold War era,” the Russian president said during a press conference.

Medvedev warned of an early pull out from the Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), if the deployment of the missile shield would go forward in the absence of Russia.

Moscow's primary concern is that the missile system would be used against Russia rather than countering incoming missiles, as claimed by the US.

"We would like to see missile defense develop under clear rules," said Medvedev.

Moscow has long opposed the deployment of NATO missile facilities, calling it, a security threat.

Despite asking Russia to express its concerns regarding the missile shield at the meeting, NATO has denied Russia's formal role in the operation of the missile plans.

Even though Russia considers the US missile plans as a potential threat to its security, it has agreed to consider NATO's proposal to cooperate on the missile shield but insists that the system should be run jointly. NATO has rejected the Russian proposal.

The START has helped improve relations between Moscow and Washington, but Russia continues to view US missile plans with suspicion.

Russia warns US over missile system

Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/180228.html

Russia has warned that it reserves the right to pull out of the new START arms reduction treaty as the US has not provided guarantees over its missile shield in Europe.

Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Monday that Russia was concerned about the US refusal to provide legally binding guarantees that its missile system would not threaten Russia's security.

"The Americans are insisting on the importance of launching practical cooperation without any preconditions," he was quoted as saying by RIA Novosti.

He added that Russia "cannot start cooperation on specific projects without legal guarantees that a future system will not be directed against our security interests."

"The new START [Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty] may become hostage to the US approach," Ryabkov told lawmakers during parliamentary hearings.

He said that Moscow was disappointed by a negative US reaction to its demand.

Russia, which considers the US missile plans as a potential threat to its security, has agreed to consider NATO's proposal to cooperate on the missile shield, but insisted that the system should be run jointly. NATO has rejected Russia's demand.

A landmark arms control treaty called new START has helped improve relations between Moscow and Washington, but Russia continues to view US missile plans with suspicion.

Russia warns US, Romania over base

Romania has agreed to host US missile interceptors on Romanian territory

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/178355.html

Russia has issued a warning after Romania agreed to host the US missile system site at a Soviet-built base in the country's southern town of Deveselu.

Moscow warned that the deployment of US interceptor missiles on Romanian territory comes without considering the talks between Moscow and Washington on the issue.

Earlier in the week, the US and Romania announced that elements of US missile system would be stationed at the former Romanian airbase of Deveselu.

Russia said that the planned missile system "may pose risks for Russian strategic nuclear deterrence forces in the future," Russia Today reported on Wednesday.

“We regret to say that practical steps on building the European segment of the US global missile defense system are being made regardless of the Russian-US dialogue on missile-defense issues, which was launched under the initiative of President Dmitry Medvedev and President Barack Obama,” the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement.

It said Washington continues to implement “the phased adaptive approach” toward building a segment of the US global missile system in Europe.

Washington announced these plans back on September 17, 2009.

Russia had warned earlier that it would take “adequate measures” if the US and NATO choose to build the European missile system without Moscow's participation.

US Undersecretary of State Ellen Tauscher, however, said on Wednesday that the missile system posed no threat to Russia.

“It is a system that will defend NATO and, if Russia chooses to work with us in a cooperative manner, the system will defend Russia, too," she said.

"We have good relations with Russia. We have just ratified the New START treaty, we are working together on various other issues," she told Romanian lawmakers.

Tauscher is scheduled to meet with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov on Thursday.

Russia was not the only one caught off-guard by the surprise announcement of the US-Romanian decision. Reports say that Romanian officials were also unaware of the decision and the Romanian media kept mum on the issue until President Traian Basescu announced it on Tuesday night.

Russia to suspend gasoline exports

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/177245.html

The Russian Energy Ministry has halted the exports of refined petroleum products for May, 2011, since the country has run out of fuel in some regions.

Since Prime Minister Vladimir Putin suggested that pump prices be restrained in February, the oil situation in Russia has entered a period of crisis, and fuel companies have sought higher prices in other countries, The Moscow Times reports.

"I think that in May we must satisfy our own demand with the help of export cutbacks. As of today we have made an agreement that oil companies will deliver all volumes [of gasoline] to the domestic market," Deputy Energy Minister Sergei Kudryashov said at an emergency meeting with oil companies.

The amount of Russian petrol exported by rail in the first three months of this year rose to be 40 per cent higher than it was in the same period last year, which, in turn, caused the fuel stations in some parts of the country, including St Petersburg, to start running dry.

Officials have reported scenes of "panic" at filling stations in the Tomsk, Belgorod and Voronezh regions in western Russia, which have been hardest hit by gasoline shortage.

Russia is quite well-known for its exports of crude oil, but in terms of refined oil, the country lacks fame.

Russia exported only about three million tons of refined oil products in 2010 -- a fraction of total oil and gas exports, which are mostly made up of unrefined products.

The Energy Ministry said in a statement Thursday that supplies had been restored in the Altai region, but shortages have also been felt in Lipetsk, Kemerovo and Tula, where supplies of high octane gasoline are down to three to five days, the ministry said.

Other affected regions include Novosibirsk and Sakhalin. It has also been reported that some fuel blends had begun to run out in Smolensk on Thursday.

Oil companies have blamed the shortages on government support for car sales, which resulted in a boom of 1.91 million units sold in 2010, up 30 per cent on 2009, and a simultaneous policy of suppressing gasoline retail prices.

Rosneft and LUKoil -- Russia's two largest oil producers -- plan to set up corporate structures for Arctic transit and offshore exploration projects by August 1 as the companies seek to maintain output.

Egypt humanitarian delegation enters Gaza

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/168605.html

Their aim is to enter the beseiged Palestinian terrirtory with as many Egyptian volunteers as possible. This in order to highlight that Egypt's economic blockade of Gaza continues and must end following the fall of the Mubarak regime.

The activists make it to the town of Al Arish, 50 km from the Gaza border, where they're greeted by local leaders who promise they'll supply hundreds of volunteers to show solidarity with the suffering of Gazans. The leaders call for Egypt to revoke its peace treaty with Israel and for former President Husni Mubarak to be prosecuted.

We've arrived in Al Arish to a good welcome. But we did have to pass through about 12 checkpoints and the army tried to persuade us not to come. But now the people here are promising to accompany the convoy to Gaza.

The morning of the planned march to the Gaza border starts with much optimism. But things soon turn nasty. A small group of suspected pro-Mubarak agitators accuse the activists of being spies and even Israelis. They say Egyptians should sort their own problems out before they worry about anybody else. Our crew is forced to stop filming, but soon afterwards we are attacked with shovels and forced to beat a hasty retreat.

Eventually the activists make it to the Gaza border but with severely depleted numbers. Most of the Egyptians have been scared off from joining their protest march to the Rafah border crossing. After 5 hours they are allowed through with one bag of cement. They are the first peace delegation to enter Gaza since the Egyptian revolution.

But their breakthrough is only symbolic. It will take a mass mobilization from the Egyptian people themselves to effect real change.

Airstrikes hit Gaza, casualties reported

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/168403.html

Israeli forces have launched airstrikes on the Gaza Strip, with initial reports indicating there have been casualties.

In the attacks, which occurred late on Saturday night, Israeli fighter jets targeted several sites across Gaza City.

The exact number of casualties is still not clear, a Press TV correspondent in Gaza reported.

However, witnesses say one of the missiles hit a target in the city's Zeitoun district, causing significant damage to a number of houses.

Officials in the Hamas-administered region said they have evacuated all security posts and police stations as more attacks are expected.

Over the past few months, Israel has escalated its ground and air attacks on the blockaded coastal enclave, killing civilians and damaging property.

On February 27, one Palestinian was killed and two others injured when Israeli fighter jets pounded an area east of Gaza City.

A day earlier, missiles from Israeli warplanes hit two sites in the Gaza Strip, injuring at least four people, including a toddler.

WB settlements quadrupled: Report

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/168418.html

The data, released by the bureau on Saturday, indicates that the Israeli regime started over 114 settlement units during the 10-month construction freeze Tel Aviv announced in November 2009, Ha'aretz newspaper reported.

The 114 units, the construction of which began during the so-called freeze have now been completed, as well as over 1,175 other units that started constructing before the partial moratorium, which excluded al-Quds (Jerusalem).

The data also reveals that construction of over 427 housing units has begun since the expiration of the freeze in late September.

The figures released by the Central Bureau of Statistics are, however, based on partial information and do not cover a reportedly dramatic rise in illegal construction in West Bank outposts, which are not officially documented.

It does not include caravans and tents that are often placed in illegal outposts in order to settle in the land, either.

Israel's insistence to resume its West Bank settlement construction projects -- deemed by the international community as illegal -- prompted Palestinian Authority negotiators to walk out a new round of US-sponsored direct talks.

Palestinians have repeatedly voiced concern about Israel's efforts to wipe out the Islamic and Palestinian identity of the occupied territories, East al-Quds in particular, to effectively render the establishment of a future Palestinian state unfeasible.