The CIA Finance Gangster Georg Soros over the euro and greece

22.2.2010 by ctstmaser.

The euro will face bigger tests than Greece

By George Soros

Published: February 21 2010 18:40 | Last updated: February 21 2010 18:46

Otmar Issing, one of the fathers of the euro, correctly states the principle on which the single currency was founded. As he wrote in the FT last week, the euro was meant to be a monetary union but not a political one. Participating states established a common central bank but refused to surrender the right to tax their citizens to a common authority. This principle was enshrined in the Maastricht treaty and has since been rigorously interpreted by the German constitutional court. The euro was a unique and unusual construction whose viability is now being tested.

The construction is patently flawed. A fully fledged currency requires both a central bank and a Treasury. The Treasury need not be used to tax citizens on an everyday basis but it needs to be available in times of crisis. When the financial system is in danger of collapsing, the central bank can provide liquidity, but only a Treasury can deal with problems of solvency. This is a well-known fact that should have been clear to everyone involved in the creation of the euro. Mr Issing admits that he was among those who believed that “starting monetary union without having established a political union was putting the cart before the horse”……

more see: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/88790e8e-1f16-11df-9584-00144feab49a.html

Since the fall of Milosevic, Serbia, under the auspices of Soros-backed “reformers”, has become less, not more, free. The recently lifted state of emergency saw more than 4,000 people arrested, many of them without charge, political parties threatened with bans, and critical newspapers closed down. It was condemned by the UN Commission on Human Rights and the British Helsinki Group. But there was not a murmur from the Open Society Institute or from Soros himself. In fairness, Soros has been far more critical of his former protégé Leonid Kuchma, president of the Ukraine, a country described by the former intelligence officer Mykola Melnychenko as “one big protection racket”, and now possibly the most repressive police state in Europe.

But generally the sad conclusion is that for all his liberal quoting of Popper, Soros deems a society “open” not if it respects human rights and basic freedoms, but if it is “open” for him and his associates to make money. And, indeed, Soros has made money in every country he has helped to prise “open”. In Kosovo, for example, he has invested $50m in an attempt to gain control of the Trepca mine complex, where there are vast reserves of gold, silver, lead and other minerals estimated to be worth in the region of $5bn. He thus copied a pattern he has deployed to great effect over the whole of eastern Europe: of advocating “shock therapy” and “economic reform”, then swooping in with his associates to buy valuable state assets at knock-down prices

Neil Clark

George Soros Is The Issue

George Soros: “The billionaire trader has become eastern Europe’s uncrowned king and the prophet of “the open society”. But open to what? by Neil Clark, New Statesman, June 2, 2003

A review by Karen Talbot

George Soros, is known as a Hungarian émigré philanthropist, a proponent of human rights and the “open society,” and, just incidentally, a financier —one of the richest men in the world. Soros recently criticized George W. Bush saying in an article in the Financial Times of London that his administration’s Iraq policies were “fundamentally wrong” and that they are premised on the “false ideology that U.S. might gave it the right to impose its will on the world.” Many of us in the peace movement would say: “he got that right!” We might be inclined to praise him and to believe that this confirms that he really is a “do-gooder”—an image, by the way, that he carefully cultivates, especially through various NGOs. In fact numerous non-profit organizations have received funds from his foundation because they have bought into that perception.

But let’s take a closer look to see what is motivating Soros. Neil Clark, writing in an incisive article the New Statesman (June 2, 2003), points out that Soros “made billions out of the Eastern currency crash of 1997,” and that he was fined last year “for insider trading by a court in France.” In fact currency speculation is his modus operandi and if this contradicts his pronouncements against “market fundamentalism” and in favor of “civil society, ” well, so be it. In fact, Clark reported that when queried about the turmoil his speculation caused to Far Eastern economies in 1997, Soros replied: “As a market participant, I don’t need to be concerned with the consequences of my actions.”

But all of this is just the tip of the iceberg. What of the NGOs Soros established and finances? Who are the other leaders of these groups? Clark informs us that at Human Rights Watch, for example, there is Morton Abramowitz, U.S. assistant secretary of state for intelligence and research from 1985-1989` and now a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; Warren Zimmerman former ambassador “whose spell in Yugoslavia coincided with the break up of that country”; and Paul Goble, director of communications “at the CIA-created Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (which Soros also funds).”

According to Clark, Soros’ International Crisis Group “boasts such ‘independent’ luminaries as the former national security advisers Zbigniew Brzezinki and Richard Allen, as well as General Wesley Clark, once NATO supreme allied commander for Europe. The group’s vice-chairman is the former congressman Stephen Solarz, once described as ‘the Israel lobby’s chief legislative tactician on Capitol Hill’ and a signatory, along with the likes of Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz, to a notorious letter to President Clinton in 1998 calling for a ‘comprehensive political and military strategy for brining down Saddam and his regime’.”

So much for Soros’ opposition to Bush’s Iraq policies.

There’s more! Who are Soros’s business partners at the Carlyle Group—one of the world’s largest private equity funds, which makes most of this profit from defense contracts? They include the former secretary of state James Baker and Frank Carlucci, former defense secretary, George Bush, Sr, and “until recently, the estranged relatives of Osama BinLaden.” Soros has invested more than $100 million in Carlyle, Clark tells us.

He also points out that “Soros may not, as sometimes suggested, be a fully paid-up CIA agent. But that his corporations and NGOS are closely wrapped up in U.S. expansionism cannot seriously be doubted.”

More recently, there is the case of Yugoslavia. As Clark puts it:

………………………….
“Soros has made money in every country he has helped to prise ‘open’. In Kosovo, for example, he has invested $50 million in an attempt to gain control of the Trepca mine complex, where there are vast reserves of gold, silver, lead and other minerals estimated to be worth in the region of $5 billion. He thus copied a pattern he has deployed to great effect over the whole of eastern Europe of advocating ‘shocking therapy’ and ‘economic reform’, then swooping in with his associate to buy valuable state assets at knock-down prices,” according to Clark.*

In Hungary, Soros is the benefactor of the Free Democrats party “which has pursued the classic Soros agenda of privatization and economic liberalization—leading to a widening gap between rich and poor,” says Clark.
……………………

globalresearch.ca

Soros behind Mass. effort to decriminalize pot By STEVE LeBLANC – 1 hour ago

BOSTON (AP) — A measure that would decriminalize minor marijuana-possession cases is on the ballot in Massachusetts largely because of one man: billionaire financier and liberal activist George Soros.

Of the $429,000 collected last year by the group advancing the measure, $400,000 came from Soros, who has championed similar efforts in several states and spent $24 million to fight President Bush’s 2004 re-election bid. The Committee for Sensible Marijuana Policy needed about $315,000 of that just to collect the more than 100,000 signatures that secured a spot on the ballot, according to campaign finance reports reviewed by The Associated Press.

“All of us owe George Soros a great deal of gratitude,” said Keith Stroup, founder of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

AP

George Soros: Prophet of an “Open Society”

But let’s take a closer look to see what is motivating Soros. Neil Clark, writing in an incisive article the New Statesman (June 2, 2003), points out that Soros “made billions out of the Eastern currency crash of 1997,” and that he was fined last year “for insider trading by a court in France.” In fact currency speculation is his modus operandi and if this contradicts his pronouncements against “market fundamentalism” and in favor of “civil society, ” well, so be it. In fact, Clark reported that when queried about the turmoil his speculation caused to Far Eastern economies in 1997, Soros replied: “As a market participant, I don’t need to be concerned with the consequences of my actions.”

He also points out that “Soros may not, as sometimes suggested, be a fully paid-up CIA agent. But that his corporations and NGOS are closely wrapped up in U.S. expansionism cannot seriously be doubted.”

http://www.newstatesman.com/200306020019

---

Wem Georg Soros Geld für Wahlkmämpfe zur Verfügung stellt!

George Soros Biography and Political Campaign Contributions

DNC SERVICES CORPORATION/DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL COMMITTEE Democrat 21,750 06/30/2007
DEMOCRATIC SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Democrat 21,750 06/29/2007
DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE Democrat 21,750 06/29/2007
PATRICK MURPHY FOR CONGRESS Democrat 1,000 06/28/2007
SESTAK FOR CONGRESS Democrat 1,000 05/14/2007

http://www.campaignmoney.com/biography/george_soros.asp

Geschrieben in Economy - Wirtschaft | 3 Kommentare »

Kosovo: economic and institutional worries loom large

22.2.2010 by ctstmaser.

Lack of progress shadows Kosovo celebrations

22/02/2010

Though the public is proud of their independence from Serbia, economic and institutional worries loom large.

By Linda Karadaku for Southeast European Times in Pristina — 22/02/10

Kosovo Albanians wave flags in Pristina on February 17th to celebrate independence. [Getty Images]

Two years after Kosovo’s unilateral split from Serbia, its citizens are more concerned with unsolved problems than in celebrating the milestones achieved.

Although the new state has won recognition from 65 countries and has joined international institutions such as the IMF and World Bank, it still faces a host of economic and other challenges.

According to Koha Ditore Editor-in-Chief Agron Bajrami, there is considerable frustration.

“I think the second anniversary of the proclamation of the independence has found Kosovo in a complicated internal situation, with an increase of the discontent of the majority of the citizens, [due to] the lack of the expected progress in building a state based on democracy and rule of law in Kosovo,” he told SETimes.

Bajrami. known for his sharply-worded editorials, says key problems such as the economic situation, corruption and organised crime are not being addressed properly. The ethnically divided north is in a state of tension, Serbia continues to put up obstacles and the number of recognitions is inadequate, he said.

“If we add to that the hard social situation, accompanied with the unlimited government expenses, I think, it is not [surprising] that on the second anniversary of independence what comes to mind are the successes which are lacking,” Bajrami said.

Another journalist, former Zeri editor-in-chief Bardh Hamzaj, highlights positive moves the country has made………………..

Setimes

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Bulgaria, Russia agree to start building nuclear plant

22.2.2010 by ctstmaser.

Gazprom seeks entry to Bulgarian electricity market

22/02/2010

A subsidiary of the Russian energy giant Gazprom has plans to become a leading player in Europe.

(Reuters, DPA - 19/02/10; Standart, Dnevnik, Focus News Agency, The Banker -16/02/10; Bulgarian Energy Holding, National Electric Company, State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission)

Gazprom Marketing & Trading hopes to get a 20-year-license to trade energy in Bulgaria. [File]

The State Energy and Water Regulatory Commission (SEWRC) in Sofia is expected to decide on Monday (February 22nd) if it will award Gazprom Marketing & Trading a 20-year licence to trade energy in Bulgaria.

The company, which applied for the permit in August, has provided a guaranteed deposit of about 75,000 euros and its bid meets the Bulgarian legal requirements.

Established in 1999, the London-based power trader already operates in a number of European countries, including Britain, the Czech Republic, France, the Netherlands, Poland and Switzerland. Last year it obtained a Romanian license, Bulgarian dailies reported……

Setimes

Bulgaria, Russia agree to start building nuclear plant

22/02/2010

MOSCOW, Russia — Bulgaria and Russia have agreed to start building a nuclear power plant in the Bulgarian town of Belene this autumn, Russian Energy Minister Sergei Shmatko said on Saturday (February 20th), after a trip to Sofia for talks with Bulgarian counterpart Traycho Traykov. Shmatko added that a series of details were discussed, particularly Russia’s readiness to provide financial assistance until a strategic investor is found. Russia will finance construction of the plant through a project company established for this purpose and is ready to invest 1.9 billion euros over a period of two years. Efforts to build the plant have stalled a number of times. (ITAR-TASS, Standart, Darik - 20/02/10)

NABUCCO, die Gas-OPEC und die Konturen des Neuen Kalten Krieges ( 1 2 3) 

Bulgarien will ein neues Atom Kraft Werk bauen ( 1 2) 

Die RWE Bestechungs Truppe will in Bulgarien investieren 

Moscow reaps fruit of long-term plan

22/02/2010

Since 1998, when Lukoil set up shop in Bulgaria, Russia has slowly increased its presence and influence in Balkan energy markets by buying companies throughout the region.

Analysis by Marko Biocina for Southeast European Times in Zagreb — 22/02/10

Russia continues to aggressively develop and control the flow of oil and natural gas in the region. [Getty Images]

Over the past ten years, Russian oil companies have become dominant market leaders in the distribution of oil throughout Southeastern Europe. Russia continues to aggressively develop and control the flow of oil and natural gas in the region. This, observers say, was calculated for significant influence — both commercial and political — in the region.

When the Russian oil company Lukoil built its first petrol filling station in the Balkans — a 1998 project in the Bulgarian capital of Sofia — few analysts saw it as the beginning of a long-term strategy for energy dominance in Southeastern Europe.

The most recent evidence of Russian’s plan occurred in March 2009 when Surgutneftegaz bought a 21% ownership stake in Hungary’s central energetic company MOL, previously held by Austrian OMV.

Surgutneftegaz is one of Russia’s least transparent oil companies, with alleged ownership ties to Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. By buying into the Hungarian company, Surgutneftegaz automatically gained a stake in Croatia’s INA, whose 47% share is owned by MOL.

To limit Surgutneftegaz’s influence, the Hungarian company changed its shareholder voting rules. But there is no doubt that by entering into the ownership structure of MOL and INA, the Russians achieved entry into the Croatian and Hungarian market. This is not only a business triumph, but points to the geopolitical success of a ten-year Russian strategy.

Russian companies now operate in all of the energy markets of Southeastern Europe.

The dominant position in Bulgaria is held by Lukoil, which also has operations in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), Montenegro and Croatia. Russia’s influence in Serbia was further strengthened last year when state-owned Gazprom took over Naftna Industries in Serbia. In BiH, Russia owns Naftna Industries in Republika Srpska (NIRS).

It is clear that none of this occurred by chance or without great forethought. Indeed, the long-term strategy was executed through the business and political sectors, with the business component unfolding over a decade.

The dominant position in Bulgaria is held by Lukoil, which also has operations in Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Croatia. [Getty Images]

During that time, some Russian companies made deals for short-term losses now seen as a bigger strategy for later success. The Russians expanded in the region by buying up existing firms and if that failed, set up and developed their own energy firms connected to existing ones.

The process was costly, but well co-ordinated. In the final tally, Russian companies will have achieved almost complete control of retail sales, refineries and oil and natural gas transportation systems in every Southeastern European country in the next few years.

One year after the privately run Lukoil — owned in part by the US-based ConocoPhillips — set up business in Bulgaria, it bought 58% of the Neftochim refinery for 74m euros. Lukoil is considered the most transparent of all Russian oil companies. The Bulgarian plant purchased in 1999 is located in the Black Sea city of Burgas.

Lukoil’s Burgas refinery is the largest in the Balkans and has become a base for further Lukoil development throughout the region. Lukoil is also one of the biggest companies in Bulgaria, generating 9% of the Bulgarian GDP and paying one-fourth of all tax revenue in the country.

In late 2003, the company undertook its largest investment when it purchased a 79.5% of Serbian oil company Beopetrol for 117m euros. Beopetrol owned about 200 petrol filling stations, and held 20% of the retail market for oil derivatives in Serbia.

…………………

http://setimes.com

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Schatten Gestalt Branislav Micunovic ist nun in Montenegro in Attentate verwickelt

22.2.2010 by Lupo.

Montenegro wieder im Visier der Mafiajäger Von Thomas Brey,
…………………

Oppositionsführer Nebojsa Medojevic wird seit Monaten nicht müde, die politische Führung unter Regierungschef Milo Djukanovic zu beschuldigen, sie mache mit der Mafia Geschäfte. Der Ministaat mit nur 620 000 Einwohnern sei der «Privatbesitz» der Familie Djukanovic,

die gemeinsam mit windigen Geschäftsleuten und Mafiagrößen überall im Land absahne. Dass Medojevic am Samstag vor seinem Haus angegriffen wurde, soll nach offizieller Darstellung ein Zufall gewesen sein. Dass der Angreifer sich als Verwandter eines mutmaßlichen Paten vorstellte, wiegt schon schwerer.

Seit Wochen klagt auch das benachbarte Serbien, selbst nicht unbedingt das Paradies der Rechtsstaatlichkeit, Montenegro an. Der Nachbarstaat habe den mit internationalem Haftbefehl gesuchten Serben Darko Saric laufen lassen, lautet der Vorwurf. Der 39-jährige Saric soll die im vergangenen Oktober aufgeflogene Lieferung von 2,4 Tonnen Kokain von Südamerika nach Montenegro organisiert haben. Verwunderung löste das Angebot von Regierungschef Djukanovic aus, Saric könne die montenegrinische Staatsangehörigkeit erhalten, weil er nicht vorbestraft sei.

http://www.eu-info.de/dpa-europaticker/167019.html

Branislav Micunovic

Montenegrin opposition leader assaulted

21/02/2010

PODGORICA, Montenegro — The leader of the main opposition Movement for Change (PzP), Nebojsa Medojevic, was attacked outside his home in Podgorica, PzP spokesman Koca Pavlovic said on Saturday (February 20th). He says the attacker tried to strike Medojevic and warned him “to stop mentioning the name of Branislav Micunovic”. He is a wealthy businessman that Medojevic has described as “the most powerful person” in the country, allegedly controlling even the police. The PzP says the attacker, who is in custody, is one of Mucinovic’s relatives. (Tanjug, B92, DPA, RTCG - 20/02/10)

Die Montenegrinische Mafia um Dukanovic: http://balkan-spezial.blogspot.com

Im Wandel der Dukanovic Mafia: Montenegro
Montenegro Opposition Leader Attacked
Podgorica | 22 February 2010 | Bojana Barlovac

Nebojsa Medojevic
Nebojsa Medojevic
The leader of the Montenegrin opposition party Movement for Change, PZP, Nebojsa Medojevic, who was attacked in front of his building in Podgorica on Saturday, said he feared being killed and expected more attacks on him in the future.

In an interview with daily Politika, Medojevic said that the attack on him was “mafia message to stop fighting crime-generating organisations and organised crime.”

Medojevic was allegedly attacked by Nenad Micunovic, a relative of a very influential businessman in the country, Branislav Micunovic. Medojevic called the businessman the most powerful person in Montenegro and accused him of hiding the alleged drug boss Darko Saric.

“All things considered, we should bow down to Micunovic and beg him to hand over Saric,” Medojevic said at a press conference held a day before the incident.

The country’s police reportedly arrested Nenad Micunovic immediately after the attack. He reportedly admitted his responsibility for the attack.

However, the head of the Montenegrin Police, Veselin Veljovic, has announced that “police have no information on the well-known Niksic-based businessman Branislav Micunovic having any connection to Darko Saric or the cocaine smuggling business.”

U.S. Ambassador to Podgorica Roderick Moore expressed his shock about the attack in a telephone conversation with Medojevic.

“He conveyed to me the message that, as for himself, the fight against organised crime in Montenegro will be a priority of bilateral relations between the two states and offered to help in the fight for a democratic Montenegro,” daily Politika quoted Medojevic as saying.

In light of the attack, leaders of opposition parties in the Montenegrin parliament, including Srdjan Milic of the Socialist People’s Party’s and Andrija Mandic of the New Serb Democracy, along with the PZP leader, agreed to ask Montenegrin President Filip Vujanovic to convene an immediate session of the Defence and Security Council in order to discuss the organised crime problem.http://www.balkaninsight.com/en/main/news/25998/

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