Turning points: Syria and the Russian diplomacy. Stalingrad syndrome.
“Damascus is the “Stalingrad” of Russian diplomacy. After years of geopolitical withdrawal, Moscow has chosen Syria as a way to revive its image of power in the world. “Not one step back” is the Kremlin’s new strategy, as it was for the Red Army along the banks of the Volga river during World War II. To be more convincing, the Kremlin has simultaneously flexed its muscles by supplying sophisticated […]
The exhibition consists of memorabilia related in various ways to the Prince, from the collection of the National Museum in Krakow. 
Józef Antoni Poniatowski was born on 7 May 1763 in Vienna to Andrzej Poniatowski and Teresa Kinsky. Bound for a military career, he eventually received the rank of General and became the Marshal of France; he was later announced as the Minister of War and Head of the Army of Warsaw County. On 19 October 1813, while covering the retreat of Napoleon’s forces during the Battle of Leipzig, Prince Józef was killed. His body, pulled out of water after five days, was brought back to Warsaw and buried in the Church of the Holy Cross a year later. His final interment took place on 23 July 1817 in St. Leonard’s Crypt at Wawel Cathedral.
The Prince was a singular character, famous for his military talents and outstanding courage, but also for his adventurous, even extravagant lifestyle, which contributed to his legend when illustrated in numerous works of high and popular art.
As a young man, he was a favourite with the Warsaw ladies, who gave him the nickname of Pepi.
With Poland being progressively partitioned during his uncle’s reign, the young Poniatowski ultimately fought in the anti-Tsarist Kosciuszko Insurrection of 1794.
After Poland had been wiped from the map, he joined forces with Napoleon, who in 1807 created the so-called Duchy of Warsaw, supposedly the kernel of a resurgent Poland.
However, the 1812 campaign, which Bonaparte dubbed his “second Polish war,” ended in disaster, and Poniatowski fell the following year at the Battle of Leipzig.
Legend recounts that the prince spurred his horse into the currents of the River Elster after refusing to surrender, a scene that duly became a staple subject for 19th century Polish painters.
The most common depiction of Prince Józef presents him in a military uniform decorated with medals and a sash across his chest. On the portrait donated to the National Museum’s collection by Adam Wolański in 1906, he is wearing the “great” uniform of the Division Commander, the sash of the Order of the White Eagle, and the star of the Legion of Honour, which he received in 1809. In the same year, Poniatowski was awarded with the highest Polish military decoration – The Grand Cross of the Virtuti Militari Order.
For over a century, he remained the only Pole decorated with such a prestigious medal. The star to the Grand Ribbon of the Virtuti Militari Order is the most precious element of our exhibition.
After the Prince’s death, the star was allegedly brought to Poland by his valet. His heirs then sold it to Henryk Stecki, who presented it as a gift to Emeryk Hutten-Czapski in 1873. The decoration was eventually incorporated into the National Museum’s collection, together with other donations from Hutten-Czapski. In 2006, the unique relic experienced another turn in its history, when it was stolen from an exhibition in Warsaw. Thought to be lost forever, the missing order was eventually found in the Ukraine and re-joined the national collection in 2008.
The exhibition runs at the central branch of the Historical Museum of the City of Krakow until 11 November.
From National Museum in Krakow site
APEC, Bali’s seven points.
9 Oct 2013 Seven highlighted points have been agreed upon during the entire series of meetings held for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in 2013, by the 21th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting in Nusa Dua, Bali. 
“We have just concluded the 21st APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting which I chaired. I am pleased to say that our summit went successfully and was indeed very productive. In the course of two days, we discussed thoroughly the central theme of APEC 2013: Resilient Asia-Pacific, Engine of Global Growth. After our intensive deliberations, we agreed on a number of strategic points. Let me now highlight seven of them,” stated the Indonesian President, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, at the Bali Nusa Dua Convention Centre (BNDCC), on Tuesday (8/10).
First, the APEC Leaders agreed to redouble efforts to attain the Bogor Goals by 2020. APEC Leaders shared a view that all economies must continue to gain from APEC. In line with this commitment, APEC Leaders have also agreed to take further steps to empower, attract and open opportunities for all stakeholders, to participate in APEC.
Second, APEC Leaders agreed to increase intra-APEC trade, or intra-regional trade in Asia-Pacific, including trade facilitation, capacity building, and the functioning of multilateral trading system. The multilateral trading system is recognition that the promotion of intra-regional trade cooperation in Asia and the Pacific brings concrete benefits to APEC economies. “In this regard, we have agreed on a declaration which supports the multilateral trading system. We have also agreed to ensure the success of the upcoming 9th WTO Ministerial Conference in Bali, in December 2013,” President Yudhoyono explained.
Third, APEC Leaders agreed to expedite people-to-people connectivity. In this regard, the strategic landscape for connectivity through the development of and investment in infrastructure. Connectivity may help reduce production and transportation cost, strengthen the regional supply chain, and improve the regional business climate. At the same time, infrastructure development and connectivity will create more jobs and ensure job security.
Fourth, APEC Leaders reaffirmed their commitments to the attainment of strong, balanced, sustainable and inclusive global growth. To this end, APEC Leaders agreed to facilitate Small, Middle, and Micro Enterprises (SMMEs), youth, and female entrepreneurs. SMMEs are the backbone of the economy.
Fifth, bearing in mind resource scarcity, APEC Leaders agreed to establish regional collaboration in order to improve food, energy and water security. This effort was aimed at addressing challenges to population growth and the adverse impacts of climate change. “At this Bali summit, we began to look at this matter in a holistic manner,” said President Yudhoyono.
Sixth, APEC Leaders have agreed to ensure synergy in APEC and complement each others multilateral and regional processes, such as the East Asia Summit and G20. This is essential because the world is marked by multiple architectures of economic partnerships.
Seventh, APEC Leaders agreed upon close cooperation with the business sector through ABAC to accomplish free and open trade and investment. Collaboration will result in a win-win situation, in particular at the time when the global economy has yet to fully recover.
“Now that we have all these agreements and commitments, we must show the world that APEC will continue to play a significant role in global economy. I believe that all APEC economies will share responsibility to live up to these commitments,” he added.
The People’s Republic of China (PRC) has officially accepted the chairmanship of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2014.
Chinese Xi Jinping called for improved connectivity under the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation mechanism as part of efforts to promote economic integration and renewed his call to establish an Asian investment bank to finance infrastructure construction.
Connectivity is vital to the Asia-Pacific region, which covers 21 economies and is home to a population of 2.8 billion, the president said.
“China is keen to explore and develop investment and financing channels for infrastructure construction,” he add.
Wei Jianguo, secretary-general of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, a government think tank, said that promoting connectivity can help rebalance industrial structures and upgrade growth patterns among APEC economies.
For developing economies in the region, a priority is to shift export-oriented economies into ones that depend more on “domestic power”, he explained.
“It is crucial to improve coordination and information sharing among top-level government officials, as well as strengthen coordination on macroeconomic policies and jointly promote regional development,” he added.
According to the International Monetary Fund, APEC members account for 54 percent of global GDP. Their economies, as a whole, are expected to grow 6.3 percent in 2013 and 6.6 percent in 2014.
Nusa Dua, APEC 2013 – October 8, 2013.
Миграция, Риск хрустальной ночи в России.
8 Oct 2013Уважаемые оппозиционные политики и общественные деятели, в том числе Алексей Навальный как лидер, недавно облеченный доверием сотен тысяч москвичей! Обращаюсь к вам с просьбой, не личной, а общественно важной. 
Как гражданин Российской Федерации я обеспокоен происходящим в столице моей Родины и жду от вас коллективного заявления с жестким требованием к власти — о недопустимости “народных зачисток“, “антимигрантских рейдов” и любых постыдных и опасных “акций” на националистической почве.
Скатыванию России к хрустальной ночи и третьему рейху надо сопротивляться, и кто возглавит это сопротивление, если не вы? Уверен, многие москвичи и другие жители страны вас поддержат, поскольку хотят свободно и счастливо жить в европейской стране, а не прозябать в фашистском задворке мира.
Националистический угар в Москве стремительно переходит рамки разумного, перерастает в психоз и провокации, дальнейшее развитие событий непредсказуемо, и это важно остановить именно сейчас.
С уважением и надеждой на вашу любовь к России, дальновидность и разум.
Blog – Ayder Muzhdabaev – Айдер Муждабаев – Facebook –
Central Asia, The Chinese Silk Road.
7 Oct 2013 China has spent more than $50bn in the past three months on energy and infrastructure deals in central Asia as Beijing seeks to establish a “new Silk Road” through the region. 
Chinese outbound investment totalled just over $100bn in the third quarter of 2013 with around half of that sum spent in the central Asian states visited by the Chinese president Xi Jinping on an official tour last month.
Xi visited Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan in September and signed sizable business deals with all four countries. The pattern of spending confirms that Chinese foreign investment flows are largely determined by the political leadership…
China has come under criticism for engaging in modern-day “colonialism” for its extensive energy and infrastructure investments and soft loans in Africa over the past decade. Beijing has also been accused of propping up repressive regimes in the continent. But others have pointed out that attitudes to China among many ordinary Africans are often more positive than attitudes towards Western states.
China’s largest financial agreements over the third quarter were related to energy infrastructure projects. In Kazakhstan China signed 22 agreements worth a combined total of $30bn. This included a $5bn deal for the China National Petroleum Corporation to acquire an 8 per cent stake in the Kashagan Oil & Gas field.
In Uzbekistan China signed 31 deals worth $15.5bn. The two countries agreed to build another oil pipeline, taking the total to four. And China is already funding the construction of an Uzbek-Chinese cross-border railway line. China concluded $7.6bn worth of deals in Turkmenistan, including the construction of a new pipeline. In Kyrgyzstan China signed eight agreements worth $5bn, the largest of which was a $1.4bn loan to build a new gas pipeline.
China also signed 36 co-operation agreements with an aggregate value of $1.5bn with Belarus. This included a soft loan from China’s state-owned development bank, Exim, to construct Belarus’s first nuclear power plant.
Full Article – The Independent. October 3rd, 2013.
Russia’s Energy Dominance in Danger.
6 Oct 2013“The U.S. is overtaking Russia as the world’s largest producer of oil and natural gas, a startling shift that is reshaping markets and eroding the clout of traditional energy-rich nations. 
A Wall Street Journal analysis of global data shows that the U.S. is on track to pass Russia as the world’s largest producer of oil and gas combined this year—if it hasn’t already…
The U.S. produced the equivalent of about 22 million barrels a day of oil, natural gas and related fuels in July, according to figures from the EIA and the International Energy Agency. Neither agency has data for Russia’s gas output this year, but Moscow’s forecast for 2013 oil-and-gas production works out to about 21.8 million barrels a day.
U.S. imports of natural gas and crude oil have fallen 32% and 15%, respectively, in the past five years, narrowing the U.S. trade deficit…
The U.S. last year tapped more natural gas than Russia for the first time since 1982, according to data from the International Energy Agency…
The U.S. is also catching up in the race to pump crude. Russia produced an average of 10.8 million barrels of oil and related fuel a day in the first half of this year. That was about 900,000 barrels a day more than the U.S.—but down from a gap of three million barrels a day a few years ago, according to the IEA…
The amount of crude from two of the hottest plays in the U.S.—the Bakken oil field in North Dakota and the Eagle Ford shale formation in South Texas—continues to rise rapidly, while Russian output has increased modestly over the past three years.
The Russian government predicts oil output will remain flat through 2016, while natural gas ticks up 3%. The shift has raised concerns in Moscow that U.S. crude supplies will crowd out Russia’s oil exports.
Russian Academy of Sciences’ Energy Research Institute has forecast that Russian oil exports could fall 25% to 30% after 2015, reducing gross domestic product more than $100 billion…
Saudi Arabia remains the world’s largest supplier of crude oil and related liquids… ”
Full Article – WSJ – October 2, 2013.
Russia. Glonass also for satellites.
5 Oct 2013The Russian Defense Ministry is planning to use the country’s Glonass global positioning and navigation satellite network to operate other satellites in orbit. 
“Glonass will be used extensively in the future to control spacecraft,” said Sergei Berezhnoi, an aide to the head of the Titov Space Control Center, Russia’s main satellite control center.
According to the official, the Glonass system will also render automated assistance in the search for “missing” satellites with which operators on the ground have lost contact.
“In addition, this system could be used to help fix satellite glitches without the involvement of ground control facilities,” he added.
Glonass (Global Navigation Satellite System), which was officially launched in 1993, is Russia’s answer to the US Global Positioning System (GPS). It provides real-time positioning and speed data for surface, sea and airborne objects with an accuracy of one meter.
The Glonass system requires at least 18 operational satellites for continuous navigation services across the entire territory of Russia and 24 satellites to provide navigation services worldwide.
A group of 29 Glonass satellites is currently in orbit: 24 are currently in operation, three are spares, one is in maintenance, and one is in test flight phase, according to Russia’s space agency, Roscosmos.
By 2020, Russia plans to have 30 Glonass-M and new-generation Glonass-K satellites in orbit, including six in reserve, Roscosmos has said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin called on the members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to join Glonass.
“This system has the capability to provide considerable benefits in the economic sphere, since it reduces cargo transportation costs on all transportation systems, and it definitely increases the safety of all types of transportation,” Putin said at a session of leaders of CIS member states in December 2012.
From Ria Novosti
«Большевики в России окончательно проиграли. Через несколько лет я расскажу своим повзрослевшим русским племянникам о трагедии обстрела Белого дома и разгона последнего Верховного Совета. Как свидетель, считаю это своим долгом, особенно когда новые единые учебники истории расскажут официальную и удобную власти правду… 
Сколько у меня воспоминаний… о первой российской постсоветской республике.
Должен вам заметить, мои племянники, что главной чертой российских политиков является неумение искать компромиссы в интересах страны. Каждый из них убежден, что выполняет особую миссию, и ждет от политического противника только капитуляции….
…Гуляя в конце сентября по Белому дому, я видел много вооруженных экстремистов. Шеф иностранных корреспондентов затащил меня в кабинет Хасбулатова на 5-м этаже. Из его слов я окончательно понял: примирения не будет…
Какие уроки я извлек из тех драматических событий?
Во-первых, убедился, что в смутные времена решительному деятелю в России для захвата власти достаточно небольшой танковой колонны (Ельцин) или немногочисленного отряда вооруженных солдат (Ленин). При этом тысячи иностранных дивизий не в состоянии оккупировать вашу страну!
Во-вторых, своими глазами я наблюдал то, о чем через несколько лет мне рассказал академик Лихачев. В февральских событиях 1917 года активно участвовал народ. Люди верили в лучшее будущее. А в октябре 17-го испуганные граждане остались дома, и малочисленная группа устроила переворот.
В 93-м году этого не получилось. По-разному действовали и победители. В 1918 году Ленин открыл лагеря для врагов народа. Ельцин же освободил всех своих противников через несколько месяцев и организовал досрочные выборы и референдум о Конституции…
Но прошло два десятка лет, Россия больше не «на коленях», и внутренние угрозы минимальны. Общественная стабильность, экономическое благосостояние, цивилизованная политическая активность («болотные» демонстрации в 2011 г. и местные выборы в сентябре 2013 г.) намекают на то, что России пора заканчивать со второй постсоветской республикой. Страна нуждается в полноценной демократической системе со сбалансированными институтами власти, а не национальными лидерами и популистскими вождями.
Сегодня правителям требуется куда меньше мужества, чем понадобилось Ельцину в 1993-м. Ничего страшного не случится, если власть в России будет меняться, становиться более гибкой, конкурентной и компромиссной. Во Франции уже живут в Пятой, в Польше — в Третьей, в Италии — во Второй республике!
Дорогие мои племянники, знайте, что 4 октября для России — день скорби. Нет победителей и нет побежденных. Тогда пролилась братская кровь. Радоваться надо только тому, что красно-коричневый монстр не возродился».
* * *
Статья – Джузеппе Д’Амато Московский Комсомолец № 26350 от 4 октября 2013 г. Giuseppe D’Amato Moskovskij Komsomolets.
“As you know, the Kaliningrad region is isolated, geographically isolated, so we could apply some measures also to cut something,” said Linas Linkevicius, Lithuanian Foreign Minister. “Transport, we could cut off trains, but not only trains, also the supply of goods, whatever. It is theoretically possible,” the official added. 
Journalists raised the topic as Lithuania, which currently holds the rotating presidency in the EU, is preparing to host the Third Eastern Partnership Summit– the major conference dedicated to strengthening trade ties between the European economic bloc and six states in Eastern Europe and the Caucasus – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine. All of these countries are Russian neighbors and close economic partners.
Russia is currently building its own economic bloc – the Customs Union – which currently consists of itself, Belarus and Kazakhstan, but to which it welcomes other neighboring nations.
Brussels is locked in an increasingly tense standoff with Moscow over its Eastern Partnership policy, which is designed to draw six countries — Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, Georgia, Azerbaijan and Armenia — more closely into the European fold.
At the Vilnius summit on Nov. 28 to 29, the EU is expected to sign a free trade deal with Ukraine and take further steps towards free trade agreements with Moldova and Georgia. No substantial progress is expected with the other partnership states, which remain more closely aligned with the Kremlin.
«В Латвии 1 октября 2013 года вступают в силу поправки к закону о гражданстве. Они разрешают эмигрантам и их потомкам иметь одновременно два гражданства. Детей неграждан сразу признают гражданами. 
За 15 лет страну в поисках лучшей жизни покинули 200 тысяч человек. И люди продолжают уезжать. Их дети становятся гражданами других государств. А программу реэмиграции многие критикуют за оторванность от реальности. В самой Латвии еще насчитывается 300 тысяч неграждан – вдвое меньше, чем в начале независимости.
Однако темпы натурализации резко замедлились с тех пор, как неграждане получили право безвизового въезда в страны ЕС. К тому же они, в отличие от граждан Латвии, ездят без виз и в Россию. Так что поправки к закону должны решить сразу несколько задач – увеличить число граждан страны, укрепить связи с соотечественниками и, возможно, инициировать их репатриацию…
Теперь латвийское законодательство о гражданстве соответствует требованиям Организации по безопасности и сотрудничеству в Европе (ОБСЕ). В конце 2012 года верховный комиссар ОБСЕ по делам национальных меньшинств Кнут Воллебек направил спикеру латвийского сейма Солвите Аболтыне письмо с призывом предоставлять гражданство всем детям, родившимся в Латвии после 21 августа 1991 года».
Статья – Deutsche Welle.
Москва – не Россия.
25 Sep 2013 Москва поднимается все выше в рейтинге самых богатых и шикарных городов планеты, утверждает ABC. По числу мультимиллионеров – первое место в мире, по количеству автомобилей (4 млн на 12 млн жителей) – первое место среди европейских столиц, приводит статистику журналист Рафаэль М.Манюэко. 
Санкт-Петербург сильно отстает от Москвы, а ее отличия от других крупных российских городов, по мнению автора, “практически непреодолимы”. Корреспондент разъясняет: в Москве сосредоточено 8,5% населения России и более 80% финансовых ресурсов. “Почти все деньги от продажи сырья оседают в столице”.
Круглосуточные магазины и рестораны, экзотические продукты, динамичная и гламурная ночная жизнь, доступ к wi-fi в кафе, метро и парках. “Изобилие дорожек для велосипедистов или конькобежцев, особенно в парках”, – утверждает автор.
По мнению испанского журналиста, сегодня Москва великолепна как никогда в своей истории. “Москвичи гордятся превращением города в грандиозную витрину, хотя это ничуть не отражает реальную жизнь в остальной стране”, – говорится в статье.
Впрочем, Манюэко перечисляет и минусы: транспортные пробки, загрязнение окружающей среды. “Это один из самых дорогих городов мира, притом что средний уровень доходов сильно отстает от показателей ЕС”, – пишет автор. Дорожные работы проводятся весь год, и “это важный источник дохода для коррумпированных чиновников”, добавляет автор.
Не хватает небольших магазинов: всюду только супермаркеты и бутики. Общественный транспорт, за исключением метро, не отвечает запросам огромного города. Все эти недостатки обещал исправить кандидат в мэры Алексей Навальный, но большинство москвичей проголосовало за Собянина, сообщает своим читателям Манюэко.
Статья – Рафаэль М.Манюэко Инопресса – Artículo original – Rafael M. Mañueco Moscù no es Rusia ABC 24.09.2013
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Gabriel García Márquez. Moscú 1957, “la aldea más grande del mundo”. Daniel Utrilla, El Mundo
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