Ukraine needs Codes of Tolerance to cool down
World Security Network reporting from Berlin in Germany, April 17, 2014
Dear Friends of the World Security Network,
Ukraine is in severe danger of losing its eastern territory. The
escalation level is rising to military confrontation with the
separatists and Russian special forces and a possible open intervention
by the Russian Federation.
The approach of the Europeans and U.S. to
this crisis in Ukraine is still mainly reactionary, after a committed
start by the German, Polish and French foreign ministers during the
Maidan Square occupation.
The U.S., the EU and especially influential Germany, with its strong
relations to Moscow, should now pursue a more active double strategy of
power and diplomacy, including hard and soft factors of peace keeping. I
call this fresh approach
World 3.0.
Our World Security Network Foundation reports from Ukraine:
The most important aspect for the Russia oriented population in the east
and south of Ukraine is the protection of their culture and dignity as
well as economic prosperity. Since they suffer economically, many hope
for better times through joining the Russian Federation. This is not
propaganda from Moscow, but the reality.
It is the Achilles heel of the weak transition government, which acts
ad-hoc without clear planning, as well as of the American and European
foreign policy for Ukraine, that leaves too much room for Putin’s
manoeuvring and anti-Kiev propaganda. We should not criticise him, but
the West for not filling the vacuum on this delicate playing field for
years.
As the Kiev government now pursues military actions in the east, it as
well urgently needs at least a safeguarding mechanism through the very
important soft factors within a credible double strategy. So far, this
wise approach is missing.
The transition government is unable to cope and does not possess the
know-how: it can only come from the West. Brussels and Washington cannot
leave it to Kiev - that is naïve. The EU has all soft power knowledge
necessary, but utilizes it inadequately and hence remains passive. The
same is true for Washington.
This is why it seems to be necessary to once again (see
Hubertus
Hoffmann: What to do about the Ukrainian Crisis?, March 7, 2014) name
soft-factor-proposals to cool down the situation in eastern Ukraine,
using our long term know-how from the Baltic States and promoting Codes
of Tolerance for Ukraine.
-
The OSCE should immediately create a Tolerance Report for Ukraine with
clear references to the protection of minorities according to rules of
the Council of Europe, the UN and the OSCE. It should be discussed in
Vienna very soon.
-
The transition government should appoint a Minister of Tolerance and
Reconciliation from the Russian population. The EU could provide € 50
million for the purpose of reconciliation and its own experts.
-
After the publication of the OSCE report, the government in Kiev must
produce its own annual Tolerance Report, with discussions in the
parliament and openly confess to the protection of its Russian
population and promote fresh Codes of Tolerance for Ukraine (see our
main project www.codesoftolerance.com).
-
Several local Round Tables are to be established, parallel to the
security measures, in Donetsk and the cities in the east of Ukraine to
enable discussions about the future between all participants.
-
Germany, Poland and France should guarantee the protection of the
Russian population in Ukraine with a Guarantee Declaration according to
the guidelines of the UN Charta, the OSCE and the Council of Europe and
appoint a Special Representative. The transition government should
accept this guarantee. This move is similar to the Austrian guarantee of
the protection of the Germany minority in Tyrolia in its treaty with
Italy in 1972.
-
The transition government should declare its appreciation of Russian as
second equal language as part of its codes of tolerance and diversity
program and contain anti-ethnic activities.
-
The aim should be maximum autonomy for the Russian parts of Ukraine
within a federal state.
-
To keep the Russians in and Putin out, the EU must propose a concept for
Ukrainian-Russian economic relations and incorporate it into the free
trade agreement.
Dr Hubertus Hoffmann
President and Founder
World Security Network Foundation
The Caspian 5 and Arctic 5 –
Critical Similarities
Between Inner Lake and Open Sea
While the world’s attention
remains focused on Ukraine, Crimea is portrayed as its hotbed. No wonder
as this peninsula is an absolutely pivotal portion of the Black Sea
theatre for the very survival of the Black Sea fleet to both Russia and
Ukraine. In the larger context, it revels the old chapters of history
books full of overt and covert struggles between Atlantic–Central Europe
and Russophone Europe for influence and strategic depth extension over
the playground called Eastern Europe.
However, there are two other vital theatres for these same protagonists,
both remaining underreported and less elaborated.
Author brings an interesting account on Caspian and Artic, by
contrasting and comparing them. He claims that both water plateaus are
of utmost geopolitical as well as of geo-economic (biota, energy,
transport) importance, and that Caspian and Arctic will considerably
influence passions and imperatives of any future mega geopolitical
strategies – far more than Black Sea could have ever had.
The Caspian 5 and Arctic 5 –
Critical Similarities
Between Inner Lake and Open Sea
As
the rapid melting of the Polar caps has unexpectedly turned distanced
and dim economic possibilities into viable geo-economic and geopolitical
probabilities, so it was with the unexpected and fast meltdown of
Russia’s historic empire – the Soviet Union. Once considered as the
Russian inner lake, the Caspian has presented itself as an open/high sea
of opportunities literally overnight – not only for the (new, increased
number of) riparian states, but also for the belt of (new and old)
neighbouring, and other interested (overseas) states.
Interest of external players ranges from the symbolic or
rather rhetorical, to the global geopolitical; from an antagonizing
political conditionality and constrain to the pragmatic trade-off
between (inflicting pain of) political influence and energy supply gain.
Big consumers such as China, India or the European Union (EU) are
additionally driven by its own energy imperative: to improve the energy
security (including the reduction of external dependencies) as well as
to diversify its supplies, modes and forms on a long run.
On a promise of allegedly vast oil and natural gas
resources (most of which untapped), the Caspian is witnessing the “New
Grand Game” – struggle for the domination and influence over the region
and its resources as well as transportation routes. Notably, the Caspian
is a large landlocked water plateau without any connection with the
outer water systems. Moreover, 3 out of 5 riparian states are
land-locking Caspian, but are themselves landlocked too. (Former Soviet
republics of) Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have no direct
access to any international waters. That means that pipelines remain the
only mode of transportation and delivery of carbonic fuels, thus
creating yet another segment for competition, and source of regional
tension as the 3 raparian states do depend on their neighbours for
export routes.
Finally, due to both the unsolved legal status of the
Basin as well as the number of political and territorial disputes in
Caucasus and on the Caspian, numerous new pipeline constructions and
expansion projects have been proposed, but so far not operationalized.
For the EU, the most important being the Nabucco pipeline, which,
although not fully guaranteed, serves as the hope for reduced dependence
on Russia.
The following lines will therefore consider the
geopolitical, legal and economic (including the energy security for the
final end–user, supplier and transiting countries) features of the
Caspian theatre, complex interplays and possible future outlook.
To explain the long lasting Russian presence at
Caspian and still prone interested in the region, two factors are at
interplay: geopolitical and geo–economic.
Ever since Peter the Great, Russian geopolitical
imperative is to extend the strategic depth. It naturally necessitated
ensuring the security for its southwest and southern flanks of the
Empire. Such a security imperative brought about bitter struggles for
Russia over the domination of huge theatre: Eastern and Central Balkans,
Black Sea, Caucasus and Caspian basin. Russia was there contested by the
Habsburg empire, by the Ottomans, Iran (and after collapse of the
Ottomans by the Britons) all throughout the pre-modern and modern times.
Just a quick glance on the map of western and southwest
Russia will be self-explanatory showing the geostrategic imperative; low
laying areas of Russia were unprotectable without dominating the
mountain chains at Caucasus, Carpathian – Black Sea – Caucasus – Caspian
– Kopet Dag. Historically, the main fight of Russia was with the
Ottomans over this line. When the Ottomans were eliminated from the
historic scene, it was Britain on the Indian subcontinent and in Iran as
a main contester – the fact that eventually led to effective splitting
the basin into two spheres of influence – British and Russian.
The Caspian water plateau – a unique basin
The Caspian (Azerbaijani:
Xəzər dənizi,
Persian:
دریای خزر
or
دریای مازندران,
Russian: Каспийское море,
Kazakh: Каспий теңізі,
Turkmen: Hazar deňzi) is the world’s
largest
enclosed or landlocked
body
of (salty) water – approximately of the size of
Germany and the Netherlands combined. Geographical literature refers to
this water plateau as the sea, or world’s largest lake that covers an
area of 386,400 km² (a
total length of 1,200 km from north to south, and
a width ranging from a minimum of 196 km to a
maximum
of
435
km), with the mean depth of about 170 meters
(maximum southern depth is at 1025 m). At present, the Caspian water
line is some 28 meters below sea level (median measure of the first
decade of 21st
century)[1].
The total Caspian
coastline
measures to nearly 7,000
km, being
shared
by
five riparian (or littoral) states.
 |
 |
|
Sources: WorldAtlas (n.d.a.), n.p.a.; EVS
(2011), n.p.a |
Figure 1: The Caspian Sea and its hydrogeology |
The very legal status of this unique body of water is
still unsolved: Sea or lake? As international law defers lakes from
seas, the Caspian should be referred as the water plateau or the Caspian
basin. Interestingly enough, the Caspian is indeed both sea and lake:
northern portions of the Caspian display characteristics of a freshwater
lake (e.g. due to influx of the largest European river – Volga, river
Ural and other relatively smaller river systems from Russia’s north),
and in the southern portions where waters are considerably deeper but
without major river inflows, salinity of waters is evident and the
Caspian appears as a sea. (Median salinity of the Caspian is
approximately 1/3 relative to the oceanic waters average). The
geomorphology of the Caspian is unique and many authors have referred to
the formation similarities of the Black Sea–Caspian–Aral and their
interconnectivity back to Pleistocene. Most probably, some 5,5 million
years ago two factors landlocked the Caspian: the tectonic uplift of the
basin and the dramatic fall of the earth’s oceanic levels which
literally trapped the Caspian to the present shores. Due to its unique
formation and present water composition variations, the Caspian hosts
rare biodiversity and many endemic species of flora and fauna
(presently, threatened by rising exploration and exploitation of vast
oil and gas reserves).
The Inner Circle – Similarities
The so-called “Inner
Circle” of
the Caspian Basin
consists of
the five littoral
(riparian) states, namely Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan,
Kazakhstan, and Turkmenistan, sharing the common coastline.
As much as the geographically distant as well as
different by their distinctive geomorphology and hydrology, the Arctic
and Caspian – when contrasted and compared – however resemble several
critical similarities.
Both theaters are grand bodies of water surrounded by 5
riparian/littoral states. (Meaning both are water surrounded by
landmass, while Antarctica represents landmass surrounded by water.)
Both of them are of huge and largely unexplored natural resources and
marine biota. Both the Artic and Caspian have numerous territorial
disputes and are of absolute geopolitical importance for their
respective littoral states, and well beyond. Finally, both theaters are
also of unsolved legal status – drifting between an external quest for
creation of special international regime and the existing Law of Sea
Convention system (UNCLOS).
Ergo, in both theaters, the dynamic of the littoral
states displays the following:
1. Dismissive:
Erode the efforts of international community/external interested parties
for creation of the Antarctica-like treaty (by keeping the UNCLOS
referential);
2. Assertive:
Maximize the shares of the spoils of partition – extend the EEZ and
continental shelf as to divide most if not the entire body of water only
among the Five;
3. Reconciliatory:
Prevent any direct confrontation among the riparian states over the
spoils – resolve the claims without arbitration of the III parties.
(preferably CLCS).
One of the most important differentiating elements of the
two theatres is the composition of littoral states. The constellation of
the Arctic Five, we can consider as being symmetric – each of the Five
has an open sea access (as the Arctic itself has wide connection with
the oceanic systems of Atlantic and Pacific). On contrary, the Caspian
Five are of asymmetric constellation. The Caspian Five could be roughly
divided on the old/traditional two (Russia and Iran), and the three
newcomers (Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan). This division
corresponds also with the following characteristic: only Iran and Russia
have an open sea access, other three countries are landlocked – as the
Caspian itself is a landlocked body of water.
Like no other country, the Persian proper is uniquely
situated by connecting the Euro-Med/MENA with Central and South, well to
the East Asia landmass. Additionally, it solely bridges the two key
Euro-Asian energy plateaus: the Gulf and Caspian. This gives Iran an
absolutely pivotal geopolitical and geo-economic posture over the larger
region – an opportunity but also an exposure! No wonder that Teheran
needs Moscow for its own regime survival, as the impressive US physical
presence in the Gulf represents a double threat to Iran – geopolitically
and geo-economically.
Vienna, 14 APR 14
Prof. Anis H. Bajrektarevic
anis@corpsdiplomatique.cd
[1] The Caspian basin records
gradual and cyclical water level variations that are basically
synchronized with the volume discharge of the Volga river system and
co-related to the complex North Atlantic oscillations (amount of North
Atlantic depressions that reaches the Eurasian land mass interior).
The International Institute for
Middle-East and Balkan Studies (
IFIMES) in Ljubljana, Slovenia, regularly analyses
events in the Middle East and the Balkans. Aviation General Blagoje
Grahovac, member of the Advisory Board of the IFIMES International
Institute, has analysed the recent disappearance of Malaysia Airlines
Boeing 777. His article entitled
“MALAYSIAN
BOEING 777 ACCIDENT[1]”
is here published in full.
● Aviation General Blagoje Grahovac
- Member of the Advisory Board of the IFIMES
International Institute
Malaysian Boeing 777 accident
On the basis of the information gathered and
published it is possible to establish some important parameters for the
reconstruction of the missing Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777 accident.
Those parameters are:
- the signals coming to the base station showed
that the engines were working for about seven hours after the plane
formally disappeared;
- although the satellite and radar images of the
plane in the air are insufficiently reliable they nevertheless indicate
that the plane was physically in the air for about seven hours after the
moment it formally went missing;
- the fact that several passengers had their cell
phones turned on is a considerable indicator that they were physically
present in the plane while it was flying in the air although none of
them answered the calls.
Read more on the next page:
30.03..2014
Geopolitics and the
dramatic confrontation over Crimea
Dear friends,
In recent months large numbers of Ukrainians braved first the cold, and then
snipers, protesting and waving the blue star-spangled flag of Europe. This has
angered leaders in the Kremlin, leading to the dramatic confrontation over
Crimea. It also left many in the EU confused how to respond.
Should the EU, or future Ukrainian governments, withdraw the promise of deeper
integration in order to placate a grim and threatening Russia, as some in the EU
are arguing behind closed doors? Is Ukraine's still undefined "European
perspective" worth the risk of offending Russia?
Or have Ukrainians, by defending their right to ratify an Association Agreement
with the EU – and to pursue deeper integration in the future – in fact kept open
the single most promising path for their country to transform itself for the
benefit of its ordinary citizens?
Read more on the next page:
21.03.2014
INDONESIA ELECTION 2014
By Igor Dirgantara
Abstract
One
of the fastest growing economies (over 6%) and the forthcoming power
house in the impressive world’s top 10 club, as well as the largest
Muslim (but secular, republican and non-Arab) country is heading towards
its presidential elections. Mood, wisdom and passions of the strongly
emerging Indonesian middle class will be decisive this time. Or by words
of distinguish colleague of mine, professor Anis Bajrektarevic: “The
middle class is like a dual-use technology, it can be deployed
peacefully, but it also might be destructively weaponized, for at home
or abroad.”
Keywords: Indonesia Election, Presidential
Candidates, Political Programs, Prabowo Subianto, Jokowi
From November 2013 to January 2014, Faculty of Social
and Politics, University of Jayabaya (UJ), periodically conducted
surveys related to the electability of the political parties and the
presidential and vice-presidential candidates for the 2014 elections.
The results show that the electability of the Democratic Party and the
Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) have been decreasing following corruption
cases. The survey was conducted in 33 provinces by taking a sample of
1225 people which have the right to vote (aged 17 years and over. or not
yet 17 years old but already married). The margin of error is + / - 2.8%
and the confidence level is 95%. Population Data were collected through
interviews withrespondents using techniques based on the questionnaire.
Read more
on the next page:
28.02.2014
Climate Change and Re-Insurance: The Human Security Issue
SC – SEA
Prof. Anis Bajrektarevic & Carla Baumer
1
Introduction
Climate change, its existence, causes and
effects, has been disputed by researchers, academics and policy makers.
The given degree of international consensus varies greatly between those
most affected by changes to climatic conditions in contrast to those who
are estimated to only experience a limited effect. Controversially, it
can also be claimed that some regions are set to gain from climate
change such as the polar region nations currently disputing resource
claims and logistic networks. In analysis of available data, research
suggests the increased intensity of storms, hurricanes, cyclones,
flooding, droughts, bushfires, mudslides and hailstorms along with
increased temperatures, rising sea levels, and changing to pressure
systems. With climate change as a global phenomenon, not isolated to a
certain region, the interest of stakeholders remains strongest in those
with the ‘smallest’ voice such as the coastal areas, islands, commonly
catastrophe prone and ‘future’ catastrophe prone regions in South East
Asia.
Read more
on the next page:
30.01.2014
Call for Action in Syria
World Security
Network reporting from Berlin in Germany, January 23, 2014
Dear
Friends of the World Security Network,
as the Syrian peace
conference is currently held in Montreux, Switzerland, the independent
World Security Network Foundation would like to share with you its proposals
for the future of Syria, that we have come up with two years ago and still find
them valid today.
1.
A new Syrian Constitution should be discussed and
adopted by the Syrian National Council as soon as possible.
We should not wait for the fall of the Assad regime in the hope that a
democratic constitution can be agreed in the extreme chaos that will inevitably
follow. This mistake was made in Iraq as well as in Libya and Egypt where the
West did not connect its support with a crystal-clear democratic constitution
first and naively believed democrats would later win in the power struggle with
radicals. All leaders of the different groups must personally sign and agree
under oath to implement all the rules of this new fundamental law of the Syrian
National Council. Any group which abstains must be excluded from any political,
financial or military support by the West and the Arab States involved. We can
only support rebels who fight for democracy and not a differently labeled
dictatorship..
2. Only after this first step
of a new constitution including rights for Kurds and Christians is agreed in the
SNC and personally signed by all political leaders, a new Syrian government in
exile should be constituted and recognized by Western and Arab countries and
supported in step two.
It can only include those forces who have signed under oath. Diplomatic
relations with the Assad regime should then be cut.
3. A special
"Syrian Centre for the Registration of Crimes against Humanity" should be
established now,
preferably in Berlin. Special prosecutors must collect evidence of crimes
including the many murders and executions. Victims can report them to the staff.
The International Court of Justice (ICJ) can be co-opted to punish major human
right violations.
4. Sanctions
could be enforced as well including cutting any supply to Syria with a sea and
land blockade,
but only after the new constitution and the recognition of the government in
exile.
World Security Network Foundation
23.01.2014
THE ONGOING PUBLIC DEBT CRISIS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION:
IMPACTS ON AND LESSONS FOR VIETNAM
Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Assos.
Prof.[1]
Nguyen Linh[2]
Abstract
The current public debt crisis in the (European Union) EU
began in Greece in November 2009, quickly spreading to Ireland
(September 2010), Portugal (January 2012), Spain (June 2012), Italy
(November 2012) and most recently, Cyprus (March 2013). This crisis has
not only impacted on the Europe but also on the entire global economy,
including that of Vietnam. This article will analyze the causes of this
crisis, its impacts on the economy of Vietnam and lessons for Vietnam to
avoid a potential public debt crisis and guarantee sustainable
development.
1. The Public debt crisis in the EU.
a. Public debt and public debt crisis
Public
debt is a relatively complex concept that most current approaches agree
to refer to the sum of debt whose obligation to repay falls on the
government of a country[3].
According to the World Bank (WB)'s approach, public debt is understood
as the liability of four main groups of institutions: (i) Central
government liability, (ii) Local government liability, (iii) Central
banking institution liability, and (iv) Liabilities of independent
organizations, state-owned enterprises of whose capital the state owns
more than 50%, or other organizations whose debt the government has the
responsibility to settle should they fails to do this[4].
Owing to the widespread nature of public debt and the fact that
countries can easily fall into public debt crisis – especially since the
80s of the 20th
century – the global community had created a number of criteria to
supervise and warn countries about to, or in the middle of a public debt
crisis[5].
However, the criteria most commonly used to estimate a country's public
debt situation is public debt as a percentage of Gross Domestic Product
(GDP). This figure reflects the size of a country's public debt as a
fraction of the economy's income and is calculated as of the 31st
December each year.
According to a 2010 research of the American National Bureau of Economic
Research (NBER), a survey of more than 44 countries showed that when the
public debt/GDP ration exceeds 90%, it will negatively impact on
economic growth and reduce the economic growth rate of the country in
question by around four percent on average. In particular, for newly
emerging economies like that of Vietnam, the healthy public debt/GDP
ratio threshold is 60%, and exceeding this threshold will stall annual
economic growth by around 2%. However, the ratio between public debt and
GDP alone is not a comprehensive estimate of the safety or riskiness of
a country's public debt – we need to examine public debt in a more
comprehensive manner, in its relation with the system of macroeconomic
criteria of a national economy[6].
Read more
on the next page:
30.12.2013
The emergence of the Bhikkhuni Sangha (monkhood for women) in Thailand.
Has its time come?
Murray Hunter
If
one takes a close look at Thai society today, it could be argued that it
is primarily the women who run daily affairs. In a country where females
outnumber males, the gender dynamics of the nation have dramatically
shifted over the last few decades to where women fulfill many of the
major roles in society. The majority of university enrollments are
women, the breadwinners in many families are women, many corporate
executives and civil servants are women, the majority of new
entrepreneurial start-ups are undertaken by women, and even many farmers
are women.
Dr. Siriwan Ratanakarn from Bangkok University in a paper on the women's
role in Thai society discusses the important contributions made by such
women as Nang Suang, Sikhara Maha-Devi, Nang Nopamas, Queen Suriyothai,
Queen Saovabhaphongsri, and Queen Sirikit. She states that these women
have helped to shape Thai culture, customs, and traditions either as
regents themselves or as direct advisors to their kings. She also points
out how, during the Sukhothai period, women were portrayed as equal
partners to men. Through literature, we can note that women's status
became much lower through the Ayutthaya period, where they were
portrayed as obedient wives and daughters. Siriwan believes that women
in Thailand have come a long way since then.
Read more
on the next page:
25..12.2013
World Security Network reporting from Seoul in South
Korea, December 19, 2013
North
Korean Leadership Upheaval: Voices from the South
Dear Friends of the World Security
Network,
North Korea is once again producing controversial headlines. After Kim
Jong-un ascended to the position of supreme ruler of North Korea in 2011
as the third family member of the only remaining dynastic dictatorship
in the world he launched the supposedly third nuclear test in February
2013. In what many argue to be an effort of power consolidation he
ordered the execution of the second most powerful man in this bizarre
and reclusive state, his uncle and mentor Jang Song Taek, for treason,
corruption and womanizing.
In October 2013, members of the World Security Network Foundation
travelled to South Korea and spoke to some of the countries leading
experts about the difficult relation between the divided neighbors, the
nuclear threat, and the implications for the otherwise highly dynamic
North East Asian region. One of the key findings, as outlined by Dr.
Cheon Seong-Whun, President of the
Korea Institute for National Unification (KINU), indicated
that the leadership nature of North Korea is the most pressing obstacle
to opening up North Korea and Korean unification.
See his opinions and others in the statements listed below:
Read more
on the next page:
World Security Network Foundation
December 19, 2013
20 Years to Trade Economic Independence for Political Sovereignty
Example of the former Soviet Union country Latvia
Eva
MAURINA
eva.maurina@inbox.lv
Vienna University of Economics and Business, Vienna
Following
famous words of my professor Anis Bajrektarevic that: “the Atlantic Europe is a
political power-house (with the two of three European nuclear powers and two of
five permanent members of the UN Security Council, P-5), Central Europe is an
economic power-house, Russophone Europe is an energy power-house, Scandinavian
Europe is all of that a bit, and Eastern Europe is none of it.”, I wanted to
examine the standing of my own place of origin in the ‘new European
constellations’. What happens to a country which suddenly is free to govern its
own territory and people? What is the biggest fear? Is it the inability to
satisfy its population or a threat from the former conqueror? Should a country
opt for the ‘shock therapy’ or experience gradual changes? How to deal with the
privatization of state-owned institutions? The following lines objectively
question how the well-being of the East-European nation has changed in 20 years
since the collapse of the Soviet Union, and in the course of the country’s
integration into the EU. The authoress also answers whether a small country like
Latvia can actually preserve both its political and economic sovereignty. On a
bigger scale, the findings suggest that the well-being in the Latvian SSR was
better than it is today, while others strongly disagree. Furthermore, the
authoress concludes that Latvia had to sacrifice its economical sovereignty in
order to preserve its political independence. Is any other choice conceivable,
now or in future?
* * * *
The Republic of Latvia is a small country situated on the Baltic coast, in
Eastern Europe. The estimated population of 2012 slightly exceeds 2 million. 60%
of the population is ethnic Latvians, while a significant part, i.e. 27.3%, is
Russian, demonstrating the legacy of the past. (Eurostat, 2012)
Just slightly over 20 years ago Latvia was under the Soviet rule and Communists
were the ones who had the power to make decisions. The government of Latvia was
not recognized by the international community. The nation itself experienced the
Soviet economic and political system. In other words, during the time of
occupation, Soviet Union introduced the Russian language into all aspects of
everyday life. The intelligence was deported and a 5-year economy plan led to
empty store shelves and starving people. Even though the productivity of the
agricultural sector was high, all harvest was transported to other Soviet
territories. Nevertheless, industrial capacity was significantly improved,
employment was high, education was for free, and most of the basic needs of the
nation, such as housing, were satisfied.
Read more
on the next page:
09.12.2013
Is
Singapore Western Intelligence's 6th Eye in Asia?
What are the Regional Foreign Policy Consequences?
Murray Hunter
The
largely Anglophile Singapore is an anomaly in South-East Asia. It has
staunch connections with the US and
Israel, and a network of varied
corporate interests all around the world. Singapore is a small
primarily non-Muslim city-state surrounded predominantly by much larger
Muslim countries. Sovereignty disputes upon the South China Sea are
ongoing, and unpredictable events like Sulu militants invading Lahad
Datu in Sabah continue to occur.
Singapore's security is of prime importance to the nation.
The potency and effectiveness of Singapore's intelligence services was
seen in the 1990s with the
successful recruitment of Australian intelligence officers to pass on
sensitive information to Singaporean intelligence at the DSD (now
Australian Signals Directorate) listening station at Cabarlah, near
Toowoomba, Queensland.
Even though Singapore has initiated a number of security programs like the
Eyes-in-the-Sky (EiS) program with Malaysia and Indonesia to protect
the Melaka Straits, and undertakes joint surveillance of the South China
Sea with Malaysia, using land, sea, and air based assets,
Malaysia and Indonesia are still very suspicious of Singapore's
intentions. In particular, Indonesia is very concerned that Singapore
has been colluding with Australia and the United States with spying
activities within Indonesia,
recently calling the Singapore Ambassador to Jakarta for an explanation.
The majority of Indonesia's international telephone and internet traffic
is routed through Singapore, which leaves the country very vulnerable to
Singapore's SIGINT programs.
Singapore has extensive military links with other nations of the
"Western block" with air force squadrons based in France, the United
States, and Australia. These relationships are also firmly embedded in
the intelligence arena.
Read more
on the next page:
09.12.2013
In Defense of Cross-Fertilization:
Europe and Its Identity Contradictions
Aleš Debeljak
Where
does Europe end? The question of boundary has been discussed for quite some
time. It is an old one indeed, going back to the destruction of the Jewish
temple, the disintegration of the Greek city-states, and the collapse of the
Roman Empire. This is what provides historical material for the narrative of
what it means to be a European today. The idea of uniting various European lands
is also an old one and has seen many different incarnations. One of them was
captured well by Charlemagne's motto: Renovatio Imperii Romani or
Reconstruction of the Roman Empire. After his kingdom disintegrated,
numerous fiefdoms sprung up in its wake. Then, Napoleon conquered large parts of
the European continent and made some serious overtures toward what the European
Union of today is: the common European Arts and Sciences Academy, the common
measures, the common currency, the common Court of Appeals, etc.
Nevertheless, all attempts to build a United Europe were predicated on a
perceived difference: us versus them. "Us" stood for the civilized conqueror,
whereas "them" referred to the conquered barbarians. It is not just the Roman
limes that can be used as a symbolic demarcation between civilization and
barbarianism. The European Union continues to emphasize the difference between
"us" and "them". It would be nice to be able to talk about a tower of Babel in
which everybody is freely mixing with people from different lands, speaking
different languages, and practicing different cultures. As we know, that is not
the case. However, in a particular sense we are all in the same boat. We are
members of the same community if not the same polity. We are all human. Alas,
this claim that has often been repeated but very seldom heeded we tend to either
dismiss as banal, or attribute it an absolute mandate to change our perspective
so as to line it up with the philosophy of German critical theologian Hans Jonas
who said: "Live your life so that it will be compatible with sustained human
life on Earth".
Read more
on the next page:
09.12.2013
PUBLICATIONS:
Ukraine needs Codes of Tolerance to cool down
The
Caspian 5 and Arctic 5 – Critical Similarities - Prof. Anis H.
Bajrektarevic
Malaysian
Boeing 777 accident - Aviation General Blagoje Grahovac
Geopolitics
and
the
dramatic confrontation over Crimea
INDONESIA
ELECTION 2014 - By Igor Dirgantara
Climate_Change_and_Re_Insurance:_The_Human_Security_Issue_SC-SEA_Prof.Anis_Bajrektarevic_&_Carla_Baumer
Call_for_Action_in_Syria_-_World_Security_Network_reporting_from_Berlin_in_Germany,_January_23,_2014
HE ONGOING PUBLIC DEBT CRISIS IN THE EUROPEAN UNION: IMPACTS ON
AND LESSONS FOR VIETNAM - Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Assos. Prof.[1]
Nguyen Linh[2]
The
emergence of the Bhikkhuni Sangha (monkhood for women) in
Thailand -
Murray Hunter
North
Korean Leadership Upheaval: Voices from the South
20
Years to Trade Economic Independence for Political Sovereignty -
Eva MAURINA
Is Singapore Western
Intelligence's 6th Eye in Asia?- Murray Hunter
In
Defense of Cross-Fertilization: Europe and Its Identity
Contradictions - Aleš Debeljak
Malaysia: Why the Pakatan Rakyat does not deserve to be the
Federal Government - Murray Hunter
The Germans to the Front?
-
Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann
The Australian security state
is collecting intelligence on an Orwellian scale never seen
before
-
Murray Hunter
Has an 'out of
control' intelligence community compromised 'Australia in
the Asian Century'?-Murray
Hunter
The European Court of
Justice
of Human Rights and Bosnia
The Australian Government's new stance on human rights?
- Murray Hunter
NATO rejects Bosnia and
Herzegovina due to Russia's influence -
Bakhtyar
Aljaf
The immorality of Australia's prostitution laws
-
Murray Hunter
Australian Election: Abbott as PM may surprise everyone
-
Murray Hunter
Malaysia: Desperately needing a new national narrative - Murray
Hunter
One Man's view of the world and a thousand faceless men:
Singapore's cadre system - Murray Hunter
How important is the Australian Election? - Murray Hunter
El Indio: Seeking Symmetry - By Jamil Maidan Flores
Australian Immigration - the Snowden link? - Murray Hunter
Sarawak Reenacts Independence from Britain 50 years Ago -Murray
Hunter
The return of Kevin Rudd as Australian PM: For how long? - Murray Hunter
Reinvigorating
Rural Malaysia - New Paradigms Needed - Murray Hunter
Can there be a National Unity Government in Malaysia? - Murray Hunter
Will Australian Labor Remain Principled and fall on its own Sword? - Murray
Hunter
Finding a long term solution in the 'Deep South' of Thailand - Murray Hunter
Islamic Freedom in ASEAN - Murray Hunter
Multiculturalism is dead in Europe – MENA oil and the (hidden) political
price Europe pays for it - Author: Anis Bajrektarevic
Malaysia: It was Never About the Election It was always about what would
happen afterwards - Murray Hunter
Enriching the Sustainability Paradigm - Murray Hunter
Does Australia's 2013 Defence White Paper Signal a Strategic Withdraw? -
Murray Hunter
Where is Saudi Arabian Society Heading? - Abdullah Abdul Elah
Ali Sallam & Murray Hunter University Malaysia Perlis
Critical Similarities and Differences in SS of Asia and Europe - Prof. Anis
H. Bajrektarevic
Searching for an end game in the Korean Crisis - Murray Hunter
Turks suspicious
towards German Government - Dr. Hubertus Hoffmann
The high Australian Dollar: Whose
interests is the Reserve Bank of Australia looking after? - Murray Hunter
Is Secretary Kerry's trip to
China a "face saving" measure? - Murray Hunter
Asia-Pacific at
the Crossroads - The Implications for Australian Strategic Defense Policy -
Murray Hunter
Obama's Korean
Peninsula "Game" Strategy seeks to achieve a wide range of objectives in his
"Asian Pivot" - Murray Hunter
Institute for the research of genocide - IGC Letter Regarding Vuk Jeremic Agenda in UN
Who rules Singapore? - The only true mercantile state in the world - Murray
Hunter
The Thai Deep South: Both Malaysia and
Thailand Desperately Seeking Success - Murray Hunter
The desperate plight of Islamic education in Southern Thailand - Murray Hunte
Who makes public policy in Malaysia? - Murray Hunter
MENA Saga and Lady Gaga - (Same dilemma from the MENA) - Anis H. Bajrektarevic
Australia's National Security Paper: Did it
amount to lost opportunities? The policy you have when you don't have a policy -
Murray Hunter
Are "B" Schools in Developing Countries
infatuated with 'Western' Management ideas? - Murray Hunter
The Stages of Economic Development from
an Opportunity Perspective: Rostow Extended - Murray Hunter
Who Really Rules Australia?: A tragic tale of the Australian People - Murray
Hunter
Europe: Something Old, Something
New, Something Borrowed, and Something Blue - Murray Hunter
Back to the future: Australia's "Pacific
Solution" reprise - Murray Hunter
Hillary to Julia "You take India and I'll take Pakistan", while an ex-Aussie
PM says "Enough is enough with the US" - Murray Hunter
Entrepreneurship and economic growth? South-East Asian
governments are developing policy on the misconception that entrepreneurship
creates economic growth. - Murray Hunter
FOCUSING ON MENACING MIDDLE EAST GEOPOLITICAL ENVIRONMENTS,
ENDANGERING SECURITY AND STABILITY OF WESTERN BALKAN* - Brig Gen (Rtd) Dr. Muhammad Aslam Khan, Pakistan
Australia "Do as I say, not as I do" - The ongoing RBA
bribery scandal - Murray Hunter
Australia in the "Asian Century" or is it Lost in Asia? - Murray Hunter
Surprise, surprise: An Islam economy can be innovative - Murray Hunter
Do Asian Management Paradigms Exist? A look at four theoretical frames - Murray
Hunter
What China wants in Asia: 1975 or 1908 ? – addendum - prof. dr. Anis
Bajraktarević
ASEAN Nations need indigenous innovation
to transform their economies but are doing little about it. - Murray Hunter
From Europe, to the US, Japan, and onto China: The evolution of the automobile -
Murray Hunter
Missed Opportunities for ASEAN if the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) fails to
start up in 2015 - Murray Hunter
Lessons from the Invention of the airplane and the Beginning of the Aviation Era
- Murray Hunter
Elite educators idolize the “ high flying entrepreneurs” while
deluded about the realities of entrepreneurship for the masses: -
Murray Hunter
The
Arrival of Petroleum, Rockefeller, and the Lessons He taught Us - Murray Hunter
- University Malaysia Perlis
Ethics, Sustainability and the New Realities - Murray Hunter
The Dominance of “Western” Management Theories in South-East Asian Business
Schools: The occidental colonization of the mind. - Murray Hunter
How feudalism
hinders community transformation and economic evolution: Isn’t equal opportunity
a basic human right? - Murray Hunter
On Some of the Misconceptions about Entrepreneurship - Murray Hunter
Knowledge, Understanding and the God Paradigm - Murray Hunter
Do Confucian Principled Businesses Exist in Asia? - Murray Hunter
Samsara and the
Organization - Murray Hunter
Integrating the philosophy of Tawhid – an Islamic approach to organization. -
Murray Hunter
What’s
with all the hype – a look at aspirational marketing - Murray Hunter
Does Intrapreneurship exist in Asia? - Murray Hunter
One Man, Multiple Inventions: The lessons and legacies of Thomas Edison -
Murray Hunter
People tend to start businesses for the wrong reasons - Murray Hunter
How
emotions influence, how we see the world? - Murray Hunter
How we create new ideas - Murray Hunter
Where do entrepreneurial opportunities come from? - Murray Hunter
The
five types of thinking we use - Murray Hunter
Evaluating Entrepreneurial Opportunities: What’s wrong with SWOT? - Murray
Hunter
How
motivation really works - Murray Hunter
The
Evolution of Business Strategy - Murray Hunter
Not all opportunities are the same: A look at the four types of
entrepreneurial opportunity -
Murray Hunter
Do we have a creative intelligence? - Murray Hunter
Imagination may be more important than knowledge: The eight types of imagination
we use - Murray Hunter
The environment as a multi-dimensional system:
Taking off your rose coloured
glasses
- Murray Hunter
Generational Attitudes and Behaviour -
Murray Hunter
Groupthink may still be a hazard to your organization - Murray Hunter
Perpetual Self conflict: Self awareness as a key to our ethical drive, personal mastery, and perception of
entrepreneurial opportunities - Murray Hunter
The Continuum of Psychotic Organisational Typologies - Murray Hunter
There is no such person as an entrepreneur, just a person who acts
entrepreneurially - Murray Hunter
Go Home, Occupy Movement!!-(The McFB– Was Ist Das?) - prof. dr. Anis Bajrektarevic
Diplomatie préventive - Aucun siècle Asiatique sans l’institution pan-Asiatique - prof. dr. Anis Bajrektarevic
Democide Mass-Murder
and the New World Order - Paul Adams
![Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Assos. Prof.[1] Nguyen Linh[2]](images/Prof_Dr._Nguyen_Anh_Tuan_140.jpg)
december-2014
