Article by Luis Carapinha, member of the International Department
The situation created with the recurring gas " war", between Russia and Ukraine, acquired a new dimension, at this beginning of 2009.
Never, in 30 years, did the Russian natural gas ever stopped running in the gas pipeline network onto Europe, as a legacy of the USSR, depriving off the supply of Eastern European and Balkan countries, as what happened during the almost two weeks, in January, during which the supplies to and throughout Ukraine were completely interrupted.
Unlike the previous 2006 mini-war, the current dragging out of the test of wills directly affected several countries, leading to the full stop of numerous factories and drastic restrictions on domestic consumption.
At East, social discontent spreads hastily, as the result of the deepening of the global economic crisis, and the system’s ideological credibility adds negative scores. After all, and on what concerns the gas, the capitalist logic, tout court, succeeded in the small deed of turning "geography" into an obstacle, building up unusual barriers within the boarders among countries…
The achieved agreement , on Sunday dawn, between the Moscow and Kiev heads of Government, Putin and Timochenko, which allowed, at present, to take up again the normal supplies of Russian gas, therefore, seemed, inevitable.
Nevertheless, the commercial dispute between the two neighbouring countries, about the Russian gas supply and transit prices, hardly constitutes but the tip of the iceberg. The leading reasons which were in the origin of this other eruption, remain.
In reality, under the effects of the development of the capitalism economic crisis, and particularly, since last Summer’s Caucause war, the tension escalade within all the old Soviet perimeter, has not stopped to worsen, caused by the imperialism expansionist agenda and the Russian capitalist regime power ambitions, dictating its law.
All points out that the Ukrainian blockade to the passage of the gas was meticulously prepared – Kiev had accumulated six months gas reserves – and all being decided from Washington, and with the EU compliance.
With the " orange revolution" in deep coma and the Ukrainian economy close to a calamitous condition, the USA blamed the Kremlin, placing the key-note on Russia’s absence of liability, as a supplier, and what, alias, constituted the media focus ( and a "useful" contribution for NATO’s plans culture pot, to bring action as guarantee of the " energetic security" ).
During the " silent war "for the control of the resources and energetic corridors within the soviet ex-space, the USA and the EU are , alias, the great impellers of the " alternative " gas pipeline Nabucco, linking Central Asia to Western Europe, via the Caspian Sea. On the contrary, Russia’s military siege, tightens. For the gas plot back- round, one must not forget, once more, that the USA signed down a strategic partnership agreement with Kiev, December last, which includes the energetic sector and reaffirms the NATO declaration on integrating Ukraine unto the Alliance, precisely a few days before the closing of the settlement of the Gas Export Countries Forum, in Moscow, which integrates some of the greatest producers, among others, Russia, Iran, Libya, Algeria, Venezuela and Bolivia.
Putin hit the mark on mentioning the " political collapse " in Ukraine and the " high corruption level of its power structures "( RIA – Novosti, 09.01.08 ).
Nevertheless, the energetic agenda priority, as an impeller motive of the Russian capitalism hegemonic aims ( Belorussia knows it ) is far from guaranteeing the overcoming of structural weaknesses, which threaten the post – soviet Russia ‘s future.
Within a scenery of capitalist crisis, globally installed, 2009 is outlooked as an year of hard trials, demanding the workers’ and peoples’ mobilization.
