- 18 Mar 2018 08:45
#14897536
Whether in Iran or Russia, the Germans always there with their sinister manipulation.
Google translate, but worth reading.
https://translate.google.com/translate? ... t=&act=url[/quote]
Google translate, but worth reading.
Russia: Putin reads the West well
Eldad Beck, Berlin
A day after completing his term as foreign minister of Germany, Ziegmar Gabriel appeared before the members of the German-Russian Forum, one of the many bodies operating in Germany, to strengthen cooperation between the two countries. In other words, this is a Russian lobby.
When Gabriel was invited to address the forum on the occasion of his 25 years of existence, it was not yet clear whether he would continue to serve as foreign minister. In any event, the reason for the invitation is not only related to his official position but also to his positions. For several months, a senior Social Democratic party preacher has been calling for easing the sanctions imposed by the EU on Moscow for violating Ukraine's sovereignty. The conciliatory line is absolutely against the position of Chancellor Angela Merkel, one of the initiators of the sanctions. Now that he is not a member of the government, Gabriel can criticize the chancellor, and he did so last Thursday. After all, a position favored by the Kremlin might give Gabriel a new career, as in the past.
In 2005, Social-Democratic Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder lost the general election to Angela Merkel. During his tenure as leader of Germany, Schroeder developed a close relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a "model democrat" in his language. Shortly before his defeat in the elections, Schroeder, despite his Eastern European allies' protest, approved the establishment of a pipeline from Russia to Germany that would allow Russia to circumvent the eastern countries it had sponsored in the past. This is a significant economic loss to those countries whose economy is not as strong as that of Germany.
Shortly after his defeat, Schroeder was appointed to a senior position in the management of the company, which was entrusted with the construction of the submarine gas pipeline, which was shared by the Russian energy concern Gazprom. Two years ago Schroeder was appointed director of a continuation project for the underwater pipeline. A year ago he was appointed by the Kremlin as the independent director of Russian oil producer Rosneft for $ 350,000 a year. Schroeder, who celebrated with great pride in St. Petersburg with his good friend Putin on his 70th birthday, did not mind that Rosenfet was included in the list of companies under sanctions by the European Union. Putin's friends know how to take care of themselves.
The president of Russia, who is to be elected for another term, is well aware that Germany is a weak link in any Western coalition that might arise against him. While there are people in Germany who do not forget the injustices of the Communist regime in the east of the country, Germany aspires to be closer to the East rather than to the West. Therefore, it is possible to find support for rapprochement with Russia not only in the ranks of the Social Democrats, but also among the conservatives - whether in Merkel's party or in the "alternative to Germany", which championed a pro-Russian approach.
Putin has proved to the West that he can transcend him by meddling in his internal affairs: not only through mass propaganda in electronic and digital media, or in the hidden activity of crackers and dummy operators on Facebook, but mainly through honest and open contacts with politicians from across the political spectrum. Putin is associated only with populist or nationalist right-wing parties such as the National Front in France, the Freedom Party in Austria, the Italian League and supporters of Catalan independence. But in retrospect, the Kremlin's network of connections throughout Europe is very diverse.
In fact, experts say, following Russian involvement in Europe, Putin prefers ties with mainstream politicians - such as Schroeder and Gabriel. And only if these ties do not advance Russia's interests, does the Kremlin seek replacement. As, for example, the recent presidential elections in France. Although Russia has given urgent financial aid to the "national front," Putin invited Le Pen to Moscow only after the leading conservative candidate, Francois Fillon, got embroiled in a corruption scandal that destroyed his career. Putin today calls the West and its weaknesses better than the West calls Russia.
https://translate.google.com/translate? ... t=&act=url[/quote]