Russia’s updated military doctrine mentions the “desire of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) to provide its force potential with global functions, the implementation of which goes against international law, to bring the military infrastructure of the NATO member countries to the borders of the Russian Federation, including through the means of expanding the bloc.”

In the West, and especially in NATO circles, this doctrinal thesis was received cautiously, and even with some resentment. The present realities, however, speak for the legitimacy of the document.

February 18 marked the 58th anniversary of NATO’s first expansion (initially the military bloc had just six member countries), when Greece and Turkey joined the Alliance in 1952. This event heralded in an amendment to the North Atlantic Treaty, as now documented in Article 6, which reads: “For the purposes of Article 5, an armed attack on one or more of the Parties is deemed to include an armed attack: on the territory of any of the Parties in Europe or North America…on the territory of Turkey or on the islands under the jurisdiction of any of the Parties in the North Atlantic area north of the Tropic of Cancer…”

This amendment was made simply due to the fact that Turkey is not a European state. Moreover, Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty, according to which only European countries may be members of NATO, contradicts Turkey’s membership in the military coalition.

Turkey’s accession into NATO contradicted Article 10 of the North Atlantic Treaty, which strictly restricts the geographical borders of the Alliance.

As for Ukraine, according to sociological surveys, the majority of its population is against the country’s membership in NATO. Nevertheless, according to Mr. Rasmussen, the Alliance has long made a decision that Ukraine will become its member. And that is democracy according to NATO. The people may desire what they may, but decisions will be made in the highest NATO structures, and it is not exactly clear in whose interests.

Clearly, the acceptance of Ukraine into the Alliance is not at all dictated by the desire to spread democracy. The eastward expansion of NATO has already provided the Alliance an ability, with the use of conventional weapons, to make tactical air strikes on Russia’s governmental and military centers, and well as its strategic nuclear forces. With Ukraine’s accession into NATO, which the United States is making significant efforts toward achieving, these abilities will become even greater. For example, Russia’s strategic air base, near the city of Saratov, is located just 600-800 kilometers away from Ukraine’s airports.

The adoption of new states into the Alliance does not so much resemble an expansion of the democratic space in Europe, as an actual encirclement of Russia by the new NATO members, who are ready to comply with any demand made by the leadership of the Alliance. One only needs to consider the secret CIA prisons in Lithuania as proof of that statement.

Read the full story here.

Read Der Spiegel’s piece on inviting Russia to join NATO here.

Sports minister Vitaly Mutkov said Tuesday that he was ready to step down, becoming the first top official to react to President Dmitry Medvedev’s call for resignations after the country’s lackluster showing at the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

“I will resign peacefully if this was directed at me,” Mutko said as he arrived at Sheremetyevo Airport from Vancouver, Interfax reported.

Medvedev said Monday that “fat cat” sports bureaucrats should quit or be fired because of the Vancouver fiasco. Russia, which will host the next Winter Games in Sochi in 2014, finished in 11th place with only three gold medals — its worst-ever Olympics performance.

But Mutko was quick to question the logic of his resignation. “I don’t know whether sports would score a victory because of that,” he said.

The minister also argued that his Sports, Tourism and Youth Policy Ministry could not be blamed because it was too young. “The sports ministry was formed a year and a half ago and has really only been working for a year,” he said in televised comments.

Mutko and Russian Olympic Committee head Leonid Tyagachyov are close allies of Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, and neither announced Tuesday that he had resigned.

Putin has not commented on the Olympic performance since saying last week that the country needed to learn a lesson from Vancouver.

Read more here.

Evgeni Plushenko, one of Russia's underperforming athletes, took silver in men's figure skating.

Perhaps it’s surprising that Russia managed to walk away with even three gold medals after giving its worst-ever performance at a Winter Olympics, writes The Moscow Times.

Its luge team, for one, has to build its own sleds for lack of money and only got a track to practice on at home in 2008 — and even then it doesn’t freeze properly.

“We make the equipment ourselves and almost from scratch,” Valery Silakov, president of the Russian luge federation, told The Moscow Times.

Silakov explained that it is hard to find people to produce luges within the country and even the Khrunichev space center cannot guarantee that its luges, which cost more than $100,000 each, will reach the needed speeds of about 130 kilometers per hour.

The Russian luge team left the Vancouver Games medal-less after veteran Albert Demchenko, 38, placed fourth. 
 
Demchenko complained in Vancouver about the lack of financing for his sport, saying he has to repair his luge out of his own pocket.

He and his fellow athletes only got a chance to train in Russia when a luge and bobsleigh stadium opened in Paramonovo, outside Moscow, in March 2008. The stadium, however, routinely faces problems with its freezing equipment, Silakov said. The stadium originally built for Soviet athletes is located in now-independent Latvia.

Despite the difficulties, Demchenk said he would like to try his luck at the Sochi Games in 2014, when he will be 42.

Russia might need him. With many athletes deserting during the turbulent 1990s, the younger generation who has replaced them remains amateurish. “Many of them entered sports schools after the [training] system had already been destroyed,” Silakov said.

With only two events left Sunday, Russia looked set to place a dismal 11th in the gold medals table, well behind leader Canada (13) and even countries like South Korea (6) and China (5). Russia also won five silvers and seven bronzes for a total of 15 medals.

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Joseph Stalin returns to the streets of Moscow. On the eve of the 65-year anniversary of the Great Victory, the name of the “Father of Nations” will not only be present in the vestibule of the Kurskaya Metro station, but also on information stands, which are being prepared for the holidays by the Committee on Advertising, Information and Displaying Advertisements in Moscow. News agencies, citing high-ranking officials from the Committee, reported yesterday that these stands, which are being installed at the request of the veterans, will provide information on Stalin’s role as the Commander in Chief and his contribution to the defeat of fascism.

This announcement was the highlight of yesterday’s press conference with the Advertising Committee’s head, Vladimir Makarov – which was his first press event since his release from the Pre-Trial Detention Center Number Five, where he had been held on criminal charges of abuse of power and damaging the budget of Moscow. Early this week, Makarov, who has been under arrest since the autumn of last year, was released after Moscow City Duma Speaker Vladimir Platonov volunteered as his guarantor.

But the significant news about the fact that the Investigation Committee under the Prosecutor General’s Office agreed not to insist on keeping the official under arrest (thus confirming that Russian law enforcement agents know means of constraint other than through arrests), faded after Makarov stated he is ready to meet the requests made by the veteran organizations and place a stand with information describing Stalin’s achievements in the center of the city. According to Interfax, which cited the First Deputy Chairman of the Committee on Advertising, Information and Displaying Advertisements in Moscow, Aleksandr Menchuk, the main lobbyist for the return of the generalissimos to the streets of the country’s capital, was in contact with the head of Moscow’s Veteran Council, and it was he who appealed to the authorities with these requests.

Despite the fact that the willingness of Moscow authorities to set up information stands on Stalin in the capital has not been confirmed, the reaction of the democratic society to the statements made by the officials from the Advertising Committee were just as predictable as the veterans’ reaction to the “Anti-Soviet” sign above the shish-kabob bistro. Yesterday, leaders of almost all human rights organizations said that they find the emergence of Joseph Stalin’s portraits in Moscow and especially the praising of the role he played in the Great Patriotic War unacceptable.

“I hope that the authorities of Moscow will have enough common sense and competence to abstain from distributing similar posters,” Yan Raschinsky, member of Memorial Human Rights Center, told Vremya Novostei. “Such ‘immortalization’ is offensive to all nations of the Soviet Union, who won the war despite the mistakes and the crimes of the communist government, and despite the fact that Stalin’s policies enabled and approximated this war.”

Read more here.

Russia and Nicaragua will hold joint military exercises, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on the sidelines of talks with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega during a working visit to Latin America, RIA-Novosti reported Monday via The Moscow Times.

The planned exercises could anger the United States, which considers Latin America as part of its traditional sphere of influence.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister Igor Sechin published an article Monday in Kommersant denying a report in the newspaper last week that Russia may invest in Cuba if the island nation recognizes Georgia’s breakaway regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent countries.

Following a brief war in August 2008, Russia recognized South Ossetia and Abkhazia’s independence and persuaded Nicaragua and Venezuela to follow suit.

Russia has been intensely courting Latin American countries. The leaders of Argentina, Nicaragua, Bolivia, Venezuela and Cuba all visited Moscow last year to renew bilateral contacts. Russian firms, especially state-owned ones, have secured lucrative contracts in electricity and oil and gas sectors.

In the fall of 2008, Moscow sent two strategic bombers and several warships to Venezuela for joint exercises in what appeared to be a retaliatory move after the United States sent warships to the Black Sea to deliver humanitarian aid to Georgia.

Lavrov began his tour across Latin American countries last week in Cuba and Nicaragua. The minister arrived in Guatemala on Monday in what was Russia’s first official visit to the country. He was to visit Mexico on Tuesday and Wednesday, RIA-Novosti said.

President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said in an interview that the Iranian nation is currently demonstrating the highest level of unity in its history.

“Today, the highest level of unity and social solidarity exists in the country,” Ahmadinejad told Russia’s VIP-Premier magazine. “Considering Iran’s history, [such unity] is extraordinary.”

“The recent presidential election, which demonstrated the highest level of eligible voter participation of 85 percent, shows that the solidarity has grown over the past 30 years [since the victory of the Islamic Revolution],” he said.

He also touched on the country’s nuclear issue and said Iran does not need nuclear weapons.

President Ahmadinejad said nuclear weapons are of no use anymore and that Iran can defend itself without them.

Iran says its nuclear program is aimed at the civilian applications of the technology and has called for the removal of all weapons of mass destruction from across the globe.

Read more here.

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Officials in Georgia believe that Kremlin skullduggery has succeeded in pulling the plug on a Georgian satellite television channel capable of broadcasting Russian-language content throughout the former Soviet Union, reports Eurasianet.com

In late January, Eutelsat, a French satellite broadcast operator, abruptly stopped transmission of Georgia’s First Caucasian channel, which was set up to promote Tbilisi’s viewpoint among Russian-speaking viewers. First Caucasian representatives say that Russian broadcast executives, acting at the Kremlin’s behest, were behind Eutelsat’s decision. The channel’s managers claim that Moscow wants to muzzle pro-Tbilisi broadcasts and to effectively block its ability to reach a Russian-speaking audience. [For additional information click here].

The direct cause for the shut-down is a supposed Eutelsat deal with Russian satellite company Intersputnik for broadcasts of a channel reportedly financed by Gazprom, the Kremlin-controlled energy behemoth. First Caucasian representatives contend the Eutelsat’s deal with Intersputnik gave the Russian entity control of all 16 transponders on the French firm’s W7 satellite, which was being used by the Georgian broadcaster. As a result, Intersputnik effectively pushed First Caucasian off the air, according to representatives of Georgian Public Broadcasting (GPB), which financed the Russian-language channel.

During late-January discussions between GPB and Eutelsat representatives, the French firm reportedly offered to transmit First Caucasian on other satellites, but the Georgians refused, citing the fact that only the W7 satellite beams programming that is viewable in Russia with existing dishes, according to GPB’s version of events. Switching to different satellites would have required Russian viewers to purchase new dishes in order to receive the First Caucasian signal. During the same discussions, Eutelsat reportedly attributed the interruption in the transmission of First Caucasian broadcasts to hackers, GPB representatives contended.

“They [Eutelsat] have suddenly changed the initially discussed deal and proposed terms that are not realistic,” said First Caucasian Executive Producer Zurab Dvali. “We have reasons to believe that the Russians, who transmit many channels via Eutelsat satellites, have told them not to transmit our channel. É It is very regrettable that the French, who come here [to Tbilisi] and preach to us about democracy and freedom of speech, brush aside these concepts when it comes to business and politics.”

Citing an unnamed diplomat in Tbilisi, the right-wing Parisian daily Le Figaro reported on January 27 that Eutelsat is allegedly under pressure from Russia not to carry the channel. An anonymous Eutelsat employee also reported “interferences” that could terminate the company’s association with First Caucasian.

First Caucasian started broadcasting online on January 1 and launched test broadcasts on Eutelsat on January 15. Eutelsat stopped carrying the channel roughly a week later, television representatives say.

In response to queries from EurasiaNet, Eutelsat attributed the cessation of First Caucasian programming to the conclusion of the channel’s trial testing period. “For one week there was a test period of the channel, which has now finished, and we are now in discussion of future options,” Eutelsat spokesperson Vanessa O’Connor wrote in an email. “It is not company policy to comment on on-going negotiations, so we have no further comments at this stage.”

O’Connor on February 1 rejected accusations that Moscow exerted any influence on negotiations. She indicated that there were no immoveable obstacles that would prevent Eutelsat and First Caucasian from reaching a new deal.

Georgian Public Broadcasting Company General Director Gia Chanturia hinted to EurasiaNet that Eutelsat was reneging on contractual obligations. “We have a contract, which lays out the terms of the deal pretty clearly, but now they [Eutelsat representatives] are finding fault with everything — be it content, technical problems, finances or what have you,” Chanturia said.

Eutelsat operates the only two satellites in Europe that are “well positioned” to cover Russia and other former Soviet states, Chanturia added. “I assure you we will do everything to ensure that the original deal is implemented,” he said.

Read more here

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Trouble in Transdniestria: Eastern Europe’s powder keg

It is undeniable that Transdniestria is an area that has caused instability both in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. Transdniestria is Russia’s bridgehead on the sovereign and independent territory of Moldova and is a card in Russia’s hands that gives it the opportunity to manipulate decisions that are made on the Dniester River’s right bank, in the Moldovan capital of Chisinau.

The Transdniestrian conflict has jeopardized the autonomy of the Republic of Moldova and is an impediment to political and social stabilization in the country and in the region. Russia’s policy in the region is centered on preserving its influence and perpetuating its military presence. Moldova has no primary energy resources and is forced to import 98% of its gas, electricity and coal from mostly CIS countries. This has created a state of dependence on the CIS, allowing Russia to use energy resources and Transdniestrian question as leverage when dealing with Moldova. Moldovan authorities only control the country’s eastern borders in theory for they are practically managed by the Tiraspol regime. On Transdniestria’s Eastern border, a conflict with Ukraine is brewing. Ukraine has its own interests in the region, which spur its foreign policy. Both the United States and the European Union also have tangible interests in the area, considering this breakaway territory as a buffer state between Europe and the Russian sphere of influence. All this factors and interwoven circumstances demonstrate the geo-strategic importance of Transdniestria for European security.

Just like Moldova, Transdniestria is also going into an electoral year. On March 28th, the election of the Transdniestrian president and deputies of local Councils will be held. At the moment, the basic Transdniestrian political landscape is composed of President Igor Smirnov’s party and the Obnovlenie (Renewal) party, led by Yevgheny Shevchiuc. But the main fight will take place next year, when the election for the post of head of state will take place. President Smirnov is relying on the social-democratic bloc and is hoping to defeat Obnovlenie to receive majority in the Supreme Soviet. Therefore, Obnovlenie wants to first strengthen control over parliament and then dedicate itself to attacking President Smirnov.

Regarding the possible settlement of the Transdniestrian dispute, it is not possible to talk as long as there persists an outside influence. The negotiations between Chisinau and the Tiraspol regime have brought few if any effects and Transdniestria continues to remain Europe’s political powder keg.

Eugen Bejenaru is a political observer.

A Georgian version of the popular US cartoon “The Simpsons” has become a hit on state TV recently. The main difference from the prototype is that they make lots of fun of Russian politicians, while forgetting their own, writes Russia Today.

It’s an average family with average problems – and it’s taking Georgia by storm.

The cartoon series launched just two months ago and has shot to the number two spot among the most-popular shows on one of Georgia’s main TV channels.

“The Samsonadzes” have been described as Georgia’s answer to “The Simpsons”.

But the show’s creators are quick to point out the differences.

“They’re as different as American and Georgian families can be. We just took an average family and made a parody of the common traits, like laziness or love of alcohol,” says the cartoon’s chief scriptwriter, Zviad Bliadze.

The cartoon focuses on a family of four and their everyday life in Tbilisi.

The creators hope their project will reach a level of success similar to that of “The Simpsons” – and in fact, both sitcoms share bright colors, lively animation and lampooning the mindset of the average family man.

The country dropped its long-standing blockade of a much-needed reform of the European Court of Human Rights on Friday when the State Duma ratified Protocol 14 to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Deputies voted 392-56 for the reform, with opposition coming from the Communist and the Liberal Democrats’ factions, Interfax reported.

The vote came as little surprise because United Russia, the ruling party that commands a two-thirds parliamentary majority, had announced in December that it would review its position after President Dmitry Medvedev asked deputies to take a fresh look at the matter.

United Russia and the Foreign Ministry said the Council of Europe, the organization overseeing the court, had made concessions that addressed all their reservations. Council of Europe officials, however, stressed that no changes to the protocol had been made.

Thorbjorn Jagland, the council’s secretary-general, promised during a visit to Moscow last month that ratification would significantly increase Russia’s influence over future reforms of the 47-member organization, Kommersant reported Saturday.

One of the reforms that Jagland will suggest this week is to strengthen the link between a member’s budget contributions and its number of staff in the council, the report said.

Such a reform would greatly benefit Russia, which last year contributed 12 percent to the council’s budget. “If this is implemented, the number of Russians in the council will be doubled,” an unidentified source in Strasbourg, the seat of the organization, told Kommersant.

Jagland on Friday praised the Duma’s ratification, saying in a statement that “Russia is sending a strong signal of its commitment to Europe.”

The country had been the only Council of Europe member that refused to ratify the protocol, despite the fact that a third of the cases flooding the court come from Russia.

Read more here.