newnations.com
Monthly reports on finance, business, trade,
economics, & political analysis
NEWNATIONS BULLETIN 01 JUNE 2009
Monthly reports on finance, business, trade,
economics, & political analysis
NEWNATIONS BULLETIN 01 JUNE 2009
SELF MUTILATION
We take a look at the big political scandal, which seems to be confined to the UK. On the brink of the European Elections "The Daily Telegraph" a bastion of the Conservatives, deeply embarrassed the Labour Government in publishing many details of MP's and Peers allowance claims. Very damaging but as might be expected damaging not only to Labour, because like a forest fire it embraced many politicians of the right and failed to stop, so that after three weeks of relentless leaks, they are still coming.
It might be observed that if the British choose to do this to themselves then that is their problem, but since the Euro elections are on June 6th, the way this is looking could adversely affect the kind of MEPs that will be elected to Strasburg, as it is the usually unelectable racist far-right that looks as though it might gain here.
We take a look at how RUSSIA is shaping up in its relationships with the world. Economic news from RUSSIA is mixed. GDP is set to contract by 7% this year, but its stockmarket has risen 59%. Economic leadership of the former soviet bloc, establishing its leadership over its near-abroad, is key to the clear dominance it seeks to establish.
We look at TURKMENISTAN's interests in laying a new pipeline for the European markets and thus diversifying its customer base.
GEORGIA internally bruised from its short sharp defeat by Russian forces is undergoing the inevitable fall-out from this, primarily from Georgians themselves. The Opposition parties are demanding the immediate resignation of President Saakashvili. He of course is unlikely to agree to that so it will be revealing as to what concessions he is prepared to offer. He has tenure until 2013. Meanwhile the French and German presidents have opted out, on behalf of their Nato contingents, from the combined NATO exercises due to be held in GEORGIA on the grounds that it is un-necessarily provocative. It seems so like a 19th century military-political flexing of muscle as to be slightly absurd. We were surprised that an Obama government has gone this route, particularly since he is to meet with Medvedev in July and wonder if the decision predated the election.
We look at PAKISTAN and AFGHANISTAN whose problems of course are interlocked. Interesting that the US commanding general formerly in IRAQ in whom we were told to have such confidence, has quietly been replaced. Our report also considers the economic news from PAKISTAN which is not all black.
IRAN's elections are nearly upon us. Our June report gives all details but there are four survivors of the presidential vetting procedures. It is interesting to read how Ahmadinejad has been cautiously positioning himself for negotiations with Washington.
Reports on all of these plus 22 other countries
GO TO
All Country Updated reports
at
Also published on our blog page
Posts
