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Putin Scores Another Historic Victory: Austria Signs South Stream Pipeline Deal In Defiance Of Europe

Tyler Durden's picture




 

As the war of words between Europe and Russia has escalated, one of the outcomes that has emerged is that just like in false flag war over Syria, the Ukraine war was about the simplest possible thing, and yet so very complicate: a gas pipeline. Of course, it was never a secret that the prize in controlling Ukraine was possession of the vast pipeline infrastructure that left Russia and entered Europe, but since it was all Gazprom's gas in the first place, it didn't really matter if Kiev had possession of the gas as it transits to Europe, or if, as the case is now, Ukraine is merely a transit hub with all Russian gas delivered to European countries and none of it staying in the civil war torn country. After all as of this moment Ukraine can't afford any Russian gas, and if it siphons off any of the product destined for Germany and beyond it would simply antagonize its new NATO best friends, who also happen to be Gazprom clients.

No, the pipeline that has emerged with a starring role in the Ukraine conflict has nothing to do with Ukraine, but is a pipeline that crosses several hundred kilometers south of Ukraine - the South Stream project, which leaves the Russian black sea coast south of Crimea, crosses the black sea, and traverses Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and ends up in the gas hub in Baumgarten, Austria from where it proceeds to all points in central Europe, mostly Germany.

The project, which was conceived in 2007, was meant explicitly to bypass Ukraine, and to be an alternative to the now mothballed Nabucco gas pipeline which, with the backing of the US and Europe, would have taken Caspian gas (mainly Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan) and traverse Turkey before emerging in Bulgaria, and then followed the European path of the South Stream into the Austrian hub and beyond.

Not surprisingly, it was the key transit hub of the South Stream, Bulgaria, that started making problems for Putin even as he succeeded in trumping Nabucco (when in June 2013 the CEO of Austrian energy giant OMV, Gerhard Roiss, announced the project as "over" after the Turkish Shah Deniz consortium chose the Trans-Adriatic Pipieline over Nabucco as a gas export route which would supply Italy instead of Austria).

Recall that it was in January, two months before the Ukraine government was overthrown that the prime minister of Bulgaria - a country that has a very distinguished love/hate relationship with Russia (a relationship which the US would love to make more "hate") - Plamen Oresharski, surprisingly ordered a halt to work on the South Stream, on the recommendation of the EU. The decision was announced after his talks with US senators.

"At this time there is a request from the European Commission, after which we've suspended the current works, I ordered it," Oresharski told journalists after meeting with John McCain, Chris Murphy and Ron Johnson during their visit to Bulgaria on Sunday. "Further proceedings will be decided after additional consultations with Brussels."

At the time McCain, commenting on the situation, said that "Bulgaria should solve the South Stream problems in collaboration with European colleagues," adding that in the current situation they would want "less Russian involvement" in the project.

"America has decided that it wants to put itself in a position where it excludes anybody it doesn't like from countries where it thinks it might have an interest, and there is no economic rationality in this at all. Europeans are very pragmatic, they are looking for cheap energy resources - clean energy resources, and Russia can supply that. But the thing with the South Stream is that it doesn't fit with the politics of the situation," Ben Aris, editor of Business New Europe told RT.

It was also in January when EU authorities ordered Bulgaria to suspend construction on its link of the pipeline, which is planned to transport Russian natural gas through the Black Sea to Bulgaria and onward to western Europe. Brussels wants the project frozen, pending a decision on whether it violates the EU competition regulations on a single energy market. It believes South Stream does not comply with the rules prohibiting energy producers from also controlling pipeline access.

Therein, of course, lies the rub, because as Europe has learned the hard way so many times, its overrliance on Russia for both the production and the transit of gas means that it has absolutely no leverage over the Kremlin - something recent events in Ukraine have only confirmed.

Putin, earlier today, merely cemented the reality that it is not so much about who controls the energy transit pipelines, but whose influence controls Europe: America's or Russia's. "The US opposes the Russian South Stream gas pipeline project because it wants to supply gas to Europe itself, President Putin said on Tuesday. He called the situation an "ordinary competitive struggle."

“They do everything to disrupt this contract. There is nothing unusual here. This is an ordinary competitive struggle. In the course of this competition, political tools are also being used,” the Russian president said after holding talks with his Austrian counterpart, President Heinz Fischer, in Vienna.

"We are in talks with our contract partners, not with third parties. That our US friends are unhappy about South Stream, well, they were unhappy in 1962 too, when the gas-for-pipes project with Germany was beginning. Now they are unhappy too, nothing has changed, except the fact that they want to supply to the European market themselves," Putin stated.

Should this happen, American gas “will not be cheaper than Russian gas – pipe gas is always cheaper than liquefied gas,” Putin stressed.

* * *

Which in turn brings us to the culmination of the political struggle over the South Stream, when earlier today, in yet another coup for the Kremlin, one of the most stable and respected European countries, AAA-rated Austria gave its final approval to the "controversial" Russian gas pipeline project early Tuesday, defying EU officials and welcoming Russian President Vladimir Putin to the neutral country that has been a long-standing energy customer for Moscow.

As Reuters reports, "the chief executives of Russia's Gazprom and Austria's OMV sealed the deal to build a branch of the South Stream gas pipeline to Austria, a staunch defender of the project in the face of opposition from the European Commission."

In other words, one short month after Putin concluded the Holy Grail deal with Beijing, he not only managed to formalize his conquest of Europe's energy needs with yet another pipeline, one which completely bypasses Ukraine (for numerous reasons but mostly one: call it a Plan B), but scored a massive political victory by creating a fissure in the heart of the Eurozone, after Austria openly defied its European peers and sided with Putin.

Needless to say, the European Commission is furious, and is digging in its heels saying South Stream does not comply with EU competition law because it offers no access to third parties. South Stream also, as noted above, counters the EU's policy of diversifying supply sources to reduce dependence on Russia.

But OMV CEO Gerhard Roiss, in a stunning moment of realpolitik clarity and admission that when it comes to the energy future of Europe, Putin is more important than Mario Draghi, told a news conference after the signing: "Europe needs Russian gas. Europe will need more Russian gas in future because European gas production is falling ... I think the European Union understands this, too."

Of course, they do. The only issue is they don't want to admit it because doing so seals Europea's fate as a vassal energy state of Russia. As for Europe's pipedream, pardon the pun, alternative of receiving LNG from the US, it was none other than Cnehiere CEO Charif Souki who said in April, when asked if Cheniere’s terminal could rescue eastern European countries from their dependence on Russia, that "It’s flattering to be talked about like this, but it’s all nonsense. It’s so much nonsense that I can’t believe anybody really believes it.

They don't, but it's all politics. And in politics it is all about wielding power, or submitting to it. Austria did the latter today, and by defecting on its European peers, it may have started a process that leads to the splintering of the Eurozone itself, with none other than Vladimir Putin once again pulling the strings.

The project has pitted European industry against politicians in Brussels, and divided South Stream supporters - which stretch from Germany through the heavily Russia-dependent central and southeastern Europe - from other EU member states.

 

On a one-day working visit to Vienna that drew some criticism in the EU, Putin spoke of close business ties to Austria, the first western European country to sign, in 1968, long-term gas supply deals with Moscow.

 

He called Austria an "important and reliable" partner for Russia, which is Austria's third-biggest non-EU trading partner after the United States and Switzerland.

 

Austrian President Heinz Fischer also defended the South Stream project, saying: "No one can explain to me - and I can't explain to the Austrian people - why a pipeline that crosses EU and NATO countries can't go 50 km into Austria."

Oh and for the record, the Austrian president said "He said he opposed sanctions against Moscow"... just in case the next time Europe dares to pass off any Russian sanctions over Ukraine decision as unanimous.

And speaking of Ukraine, things got downright bizarre in Vienna when the head of Austria's chamber of commerce reminded Putin that part of Ukraine had belonged to Austria in 1914.  "What is that supposed to mean? What are you proposing?" Putin quipped, eliciting laughter from the business elite. Next thing you know Putin will be joking about annexing Hungary...

And there you have it, just in case it was still unclear: what is happening in Ukraine is all a big joke to the power brokers in Europe, the "business elite" - the decision has long since been made that Putin will see no objection by said elite to whatever his intentions with regard to the irrelevant and civil war-torn country are. Aside, of course, from the token CIA and US theater fit simply for lower common denominator consumption.

The joint South Stream Austria project will be 50 percent owned by Gazprom – Russia's largest gas producer – and 50 percent owned by Austria’s OMV Group, the country’s largest oil and gas company.

Austria's president Fischer stated that if anyone criticizes Austria, they should also criticize other member countries and their companies.

“I suppose that there will be no such moment when such a country as Austria will not be holding talks with a partner, which has intense relations with us, and will not be ready to negotiate with it,” the Austrian leader said.

We know such a dialogue does not contradict any EU decision,” he added. What he meant is that nobody in Europe can tell Putin what to do.

* * *

As for the logistical issues of the pipeline, now that the agreement has been signed, they will all be resolved in due course: Gazprom chief Alexei Miller said earlier he was in weekly if not daily contact with European Energy Commissioner Guenther Oettinger about winning approval for the South Stream project.

"We solve problems as they come up, and now the problem of construction of the pipeline is to be solved," Miller said.

The pipeline deal does not address the question of third-party access, which is required by EU law to prevent the owner of an energy source from monopolising its distribution channels. OMV's Roiss said the issue must be negotiated with Brussels.  Roiss said the Austrian part of the pipeline, which is planned to be built in 2016 and deliver its first gas supplies around the start of 2017, would comply fully with European law.

Gazprom and OMV said they would split the 200 million euro ($272 million) costs of building the 50-km (31- mile) Austrian stretch of South Stream, which in total will be 2,446 km long. The total cost of the South Stream pipeline is $40 billion.

At the end of the day it's only capex: money that is more than returned to the investor in the long-run. America may remember capex - it's what companies did before they pushed financial engineering beyond the edge, all in the pursuit of short-term capital appreciation gains. And if Gazprom can't fund it, we are confident China would be delighted to invest in the project by buying a few billion Renminbi-denominated bonds.

* * *

So congratulations to Putin: today he merely further cemented his status as Europe's default energy provider. But not only that. As Reuters noted some politicians have warned that Putin may try to exploit divisions between friendly EU states, such as neutral Austria with its traditionally good ties to Moscow, and those like Britain that want to take a harder line.

"Obviously ... Putin wants to split the European Union. That's nothing new. That's what the Russians always try to do when they are in a corner," Swedish Foreign Minister Carl Bildt told Austrian broadcaster ORF on Monday.

Well, Mr. Bildt, Russia certainly succeeded in sowing the seeds of even more discord in the European Union, whose most stable country just sided with Putin and told all of its European "partners", Merkel and Cameron included, a big fuck you. As for your completely wrong remark about just who is "in the corner" we will let it slip: after all, as that other European career politician Jean-Claude Juncker taught us, when it gets serious, you have to lie.

 

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Wed, 06/25/2014 - 02:17 | 4892234 zdk45
zdk45's picture

...and I hate saying, "Mark my words"...but I did. This is how I know it's crumbling, as we speak.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 04:02 | 4892293 supermaxedout
supermaxedout's picture

What goes up must come down.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 02:53 | 4892250 Nassim
Nassim's picture

Carl Bildt is the biggest cunt in Sweden. His country is almost 100% dependent on Russian gas, and yet he does not want Austria to have the same benefit. What a charlatan!

http://curiousmatic.com/russia-uses-oil-gas-pipelines-economic-weapon

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 02:59 | 4892253 Jano
Jano's picture

1. AM proud being austrian.

2. this deal has ROI of under 20 zears, compared to Nabucco ++20

3. two owners/members only Ru and A, instead of 8 in Nabucco, not including the source.

4. at what terms and why should A not sign...?

5. outher 27 EU members can still opt for US delivery of LNG.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 03:12 | 4892266 All is chosen
All is chosen's picture

I love Swedish humour. Now a Swede is telling me Bildt is being serious! ROFL

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 03:25 | 4892275 supermaxedout
supermaxedout's picture

The two most import excerpts from the article:

In other words, one short month after Putin concluded the Holy Grail deal with Beijing, he not only managed to formalize his conquest of Europe's energy needs with yet another pipeline, one which completely bypasses Ukraine (for numerous reasons but mostly one: call it a Plan B), but scored a massive political victory by creating a fissure in the heart of the Eurozone, after Austria openly defied its European peers and sided with Putin.

Needless to say, the European Commission is furious, and is digging in its heels saying South Stream does not comply with EU competition law because it offers no access to third parties. South Stream also, as noted above, counters the EU's policy of diversifying supply sources to reduce dependence on Russia.

......  Well, Mr. Bildt, Russia certainly succeeded in sowing the seeds of even more discord in the European Union, whose most stable country just sided with Putin and told all of its European "partners", Merkel and Cameron included, a big fuck you. As for your completely wrong remark about just who is "in the corner" we will let it slip: after all, as that other European career politician Jean-Claude Juncker taught us, when it gets serious, you have to lie.

 

And what does it mean: The EU  is not divided when you exclude UK, which is a proy for the US. The EU only wants to get rid of US/UK control.  The last sentence about Juncker, discriminating him says it all: Cameron is desperately fighting to avoid that Juncker becomes the next EU Commission President. Because Juncker unlike Barroso is not in the pockets of US/UK.

Juncker is elected from the European Parliament. And the European Parliament in their great majority do want to have good relations with Russia and they want to have th Russian gas so that the European industry can compete also in the future with the US industry which wants to draw production from Europe to the US with the advantage of "cheap energy in the US".

So Cameron and Bild do clearly want to weaken Europe in favor of the US industry while at the same time weakening Russia.  On Friday it is expected that Mr. Juncker becomes the next EU Commision President. That would definetly mean South Strem is getting the OK from the EU. Then Bulgaria most probably is giving permission to continue the South Stream construction which is opposed by the US. But Bulgaria is by far more dependent on the EU than on the US and that is going to make the difference for sure.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 03:53 | 4892288 AurorusBorealus
AurorusBorealus's picture

Tyler, if you are out there and have a history of my comments... you would notice that I stated several times, from my very first comments over 3 years ago, that this would happen... that the U.S. would lose the European alliance to Russia.  Thank you for putting your mind(s) and your website to work on the intricacies of geostrategy as well as economics.  I had requested that you do as much 3 years ago, and you have fulfilled admirably.  I knew that you would get it figured out.  Great work.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 04:09 | 4892298 RadioactiveRant
RadioactiveRant's picture

And at the other end of Russia, China expands its plans for a World Bank alternative believing it to be "too influenced by the US and its allies".

China expands plans for World Bank rival (FT, £)

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 05:07 | 4892326 marklind
marklind's picture

 

It`s wrong perception if people in the us or gb think the central europeans will switch from russian gas to american.

germany had constant relationship to the ussr during the cold war. they delivered gas and we dollars- with no interuptions for decades!!! its a fine well established deal. we will continue this way even if there is a cold war2.

polls in germany say 90% of germans don`t want bad relationship with russia. end of discussion. the voter says where to go.

sweden and great britain are minor players in the eu and don`t belong to the inner circle - the euro-members.

austrians know something about economics. with american shale gas or any other lng they would priced out of the market for industrial goods.

i think the dices are long fallen. russia keeps the crimean. the eastern provinces of ukrain get regional freedoms but belong to ukrain. they can keep speeking russian at school. and putin his influence over tv etc.

after many years ukrain may qualify for membership to eu. (because we don`t want poor migrants in droves). in 2050 they may even join the euro.

nato may take them earlier. they alwayls need some guys to do the dirt job.

europe will diversify the nat gas suppliers some what, but russia will stay the main seller. some greens here in germany dream of 100% renewables in 2050. pipe dream. my guess.

the realy sad thing is: the ukrain people will stay poor for the years to come. nobody wants to pay for there nat gas bill to russia.

if they are nice, russia could offer an discount. and everbody is happy. beside some chess players at the board.

it`s the ukrain people who pays for chess game.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 06:34 | 4892332 NuYawkFrankie
NuYawkFrankie's picture

re ...the Ukraine war WAS (???) about the simplest possible thing...: a gas pipeline..

Wrong.

It IS about the Zio-Punk USSA encirclement of Russia - with a view to kick-starting WW3.

The "pipeline" is a distraction - a red herring.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 05:20 | 4892341 Dr_D
Dr_D's picture

Just for the record if you didnt know - the Austrian president also is or used to be the the president of the Austrian-North Korean friendship society. He is also known for leaving controversial meetings for the restroom to avoid having to take sides when he was a member of Socialist-led governments in the 80s. Having said that he is also the perfect man for the job being president of the Republic of Austria...

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 05:45 | 4892356 Joe A
Joe A's picture

Hence the need for Russia to take over the Crimea. Austria clearly saying "fuck the US". But they might get some attention now from State department.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 06:28 | 4892385 AdvancingTime
AdvancingTime's picture

The ramifications of Russia ctting off the flow of natural gas to Ukraine are massive and will immediately effect all of Europe. The idea of America getting involved or jumping into a war in Ukraine would have been hard to imagine a few years ago. As I write this the potential for this to escalate into a major shooting war is real. Allowing events to deteriorate into a major war or possibly into what some see as World War III is becoming a reality.

As insane as it appears this could become the final outcome. The location of this as a military confrontation is right in Putin's backyard and this is a strong advantage for Russia. It is silly to think Putin and Russia will back down. This means poking the bear is not a smart move. More on this subject in the article below.

 http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2014/04/war-in-ukraine-bad-idea_26.html

 

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 06:32 | 4892390 AdvancingTime
AdvancingTime's picture

 Too many people it appears a struggle is occurring to unseat America as the words most dominate nation. Too many proud Americans who see the world from the unenlightened and possibly undefendable position the United States has a right to be in control it is both threatening and frustrating to see control slip away.

It is threatening to think the country might quickly fall to the position of a second rate power mired in debt with many of the options we have come to see as our right suddenly ripped away. It is frustrating that in many ways the country has become its own worse enemy guilty of political inaction and squandering its power through a series of bad choices and missteps. More on this shift in power and our best response in the article below.

http://brucewilds.blogspot.com/2014/06/americas-struggle-to-stay-on-top....

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 06:54 | 4892400 yogibear
yogibear's picture

The Eurocrats lose another one. Just Goldman Sachs soldiers in political suits.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 06:57 | 4892401 A82EBA
A82EBA's picture

OT:  good macro interview Greg Hunter with Gordon T Long

http://usawatchdog.com/iraq-about-us-dollar-hyperinflation-trouble-in-20...

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 07:01 | 4892408 schatzi
schatzi's picture

What many don't realize, is that Austria is an independent country - and in contrast to Germany, they can tell Obama and his cronies to fuck off.

 

The Austrians won their sovereignty in 1955 by pleging their neutrality and as a result over the decades developed close economic ties to eastern Europe and Russia, which only accelerated once the cold war ended. Austria's economy has been hurt by the civil war in the Ukraine and more so if sancions against Russia would be implemented (over 4% of its GDP lost by some estimates). They see little economic sense in abiding to US's wishes. Good on them to remember what it means to be an idependent, sovereign state.

In that regard I feel sorry for the Germans, which still pay the price for their Third Reich fiasco. I wonder when they'll ever be aquitted for their debt. Probably never. The US love having them where they can anally assault them at the snap of a finger. As to those naive BundesBank employees still hoping to repatriate their gold. Yeah right.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 07:53 | 4892478 besnook
besnook's picture

merkel was seen crying again. this time she was in anguish over the russian dilemma. someone heard her wailing, "why can't i be putin's girl? why am i stuck with these limp dicks in britain, france AND THE USA?"

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 08:20 | 4892513 JenkinsLane
JenkinsLane's picture

First class journalism.

 

Fuck the EU and the horses they rode in on.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 08:30 | 4892528 Hannibal
Hannibal's picture

Small Russian Village Saurovka and the Banderovite Abominations

"There is in Donbass an itty-bitty village – Saurovka. It’s right next to the Saur-Mogila Mound memorial. The Ukie army, being a direct successor to Hitlerite Wehrmacht, terribly hates Saur-Mogila, as it is a symbol of Russian valor in the Great Patriotic War. All the time their artillery and mortars lob shells directly at the memorial. But they cannot get any closer. On and around the Mound our fighters lie in wait. However, I am not here to talk about the defence of the memorial or of the [strategic] height.

I will talk about the little village of Saurovka. It’s really small. There are only 50 or so houses [in the entire settlement]. One day, the pravoseki [Right Sector militants] came there. NazGuard [National Guard], Azov-2 and Dnepr-2. And then they instilled European values in the village. They cut out[, murdered] all the men. They would cut them alive. They would cut the arms, then the legs. Then the head.

They did not cut the women – they raped them. And now they continue [to rape them], during the pauses between battles. Doubtlessly, the various fanboys of Europe and the Maidanites will say that these are made-up fairy tales. Nevertheless, all [that I said] is true. So, Messrs. Lyashko and Poroshenko, what was it that you were bleating about? A ceasefire? Something about how we need to disarm? There were no weapons in Saurovka …
Take note, chocolate baron, truth is on our side, and, one day, we will come for you. Yes, you, personally!

The forested area around Saur-Mogila continues to be replenshished with the fresh dead.

The pravoseki are inhuman not only toward the Donbass residents. Even their own they consider nothing but garbage. They don’t bury them properly. They do not care. They throw some earth on them, and the job’s done. The green of the forest [is soaked] with the smell of dead flesh. Sometimes they even leave their guns with the dead. Why care, right? Amreeka sponsors them, they’ll throw something new their way or buy [weapons] from some Poles.

They lob cluster shells at our guys. Not made in Ukie-stan. The shrapnel is such that, if it catches you, it will rip you up so that you can’t heal. A few days ago, militia fighters got a woman sniper with an “Utyes” [Note 1: NSV-12.7 “Utyes” machine gun]. Hello Poland! The girl was from there. She had the newest American automatic rifle 12.5mm calibre. We could not use the rifle. The heavy machine gun “Utyes” destroyed the [weapon].

I have a feeling that the Saur-Mogila Mound memorial is again becoming a symbol of Russian valour in the struggle against fascism. A few day ago, the Nazis refused to attack our strategic heigh, and the pravoseki then starting shooting at their own – to whip up the attack.

But then those [who were fired upon] got upset and started shooting back. Our fighters, looking from above, found this highly entertaining. If only the circus came by more often! However, this circus is not going to last long. Very soon we will push the Ukie-nazis out, from the outskirts of Saur-Mogila as well as from other places. Prepare your white shoes."

http://vineyardsaker.blogspot.com/2014/06/ukrainian-successors-to-hitler...

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 09:15 | 4892777 Infinite QE
Infinite QE's picture

Ha. Austria knows the score and is as anti-Bolshevik as they get. Score another victory for the coming ABF, Anti-Bolshevik Federation.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 09:38 | 4892887 laesterzunge
laesterzunge's picture

Hi, this is my account of Putin's visit in my home country:

http://staatsstreich.at/vlad-der-schreckliche-und-die-wiener-geschaeftem...

Unfortunately only in german (other posts in english as well).

Cheers, Andreas, Vienna

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 11:14 | 4893399 BanksterSlayer
BanksterSlayer's picture

I feel bad for the AUSTRALIANS because CNN will likely report this AUSTRIAN story with a map that places Vienna where Sydney used to be. And then Senator John McCain will be photographed shaking hands with kangaroos. Residents of Melbourne should take cover from Obama's misguided drones.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 13:49 | 4894240 Jano
Jano's picture

Herr Bundespräsident Heinz Fischer und Herr Präsident Vladimir Putin apparently follow the policy of Victoria Nulland:

F*CK the EU.

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 17:18 | 4895263 studfinder
studfinder's picture

Nuclear power plants everywhere and mini split heat pumps for heat and AC.  Super high efficient and use electricity.  They can find nuclear fuel probably on the ground from Fukishima. 

Wed, 06/25/2014 - 17:31 | 4895305 Sauerkraut-Opinion
Sauerkraut-Opinion's picture

Citation; "Putin Scores Another Historic Victory: Austria Signs South Stream Pipeline Deal In Defiance Of Europe"....."but scored a massive political victory by creating a fissure in the heart of the Eurozone, after Austria openly defied its European peers and sided with Putin."

I think, the fissure or defiance in the heart of Europe is not very big. Nobody has seen Mrs. and Mr. Europe ever, Brussels merely remains a theoretical construct but the close neighborhood between Austria and Germany and cheap gas from Russia is daily fact. It's more a fissure between Europe and the United States/North American fracking-gas-connection because secretly nobody in central Europe is unhappy neither to circuit the Ukrainian siphon-off-mafia nor the Washington sanction policy against Russia....

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