This is a conversation between two senior German diplomats: Helga Schmid, Deputy Secretary General for Catherine Ashton’s European External Action Service and Jan Tombinski, the EU ambassador to Ukraine.
It goes like that: (my own quickie rough translation from German)
Hello?
This is Helga. I wanted to tell you in confidence that the Americans are going around saying that we are too weak and that their stance is stronger on sanctions. I spoke with Cathy and we are on the same line which we have to prepare in a very intelligent way, as we have already discussed it, but you need to know that we are very angry at the Americans for accusing the EU of being too soft, they have said so to reporters. Maybe you could tell the US Ambassador that we are not soft at all and that we have recently come up with a strong statement about Bulatov (inaudible). It makes me angry that the media here says that the US is on the side of freedom.
But Helga you need to realize that we are not in a competition to see how will make the strongest statement…we have other instruments… it is good that…
But you have to see that I don’t want Cathy to be hurt or stuck into a corner as this would take on a different political meaning. Cathy will raise this issue with Kerry and I want you to know that while we are not in a competition it is very unfair on their part to spread such things
Let me tell you that I have learned just a few minutes ago that the opposition will make a new offer to the President and I will immediately write that to Cathy and to you.
Okay thanks!
Thanks bye!
Neat, no?
The Saker
Bhadrakumar´s take on Ukraine & Sochi:
China backs Russia over Ukraine
The visit by Chinese President Xi Jinping to Sochi attend the inaugural ceremony of the 2014 Winter Olympics is invested with political symbolism. It is an expression of solidarity with Russia and with President Vladimir Putin in particular. In the event, Xi’s meeting with Putin at Sochi on Thursday turned out to be substantive.
The Kremlin readout brings out that the meeting was marked by exceptional warmth. Putin disclosed that he will be meeting Xi on five occasions this year, which would include two visits to China. The Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted that Xi took a common stand with Putin with regard to Ukraine.
In Peskov’s words, “The sides aired much criticism of outside interference. Both parties have emphasized the unacceptability of any interference from the outside in what is happening and a very serious condemnation of such interference has been voiced.”
This amounts to Beijing supporting Moscow’s concerns over the Ukraine situation. It is a big Chinese move, considering that it is not a Eurasian power and it implies Beijing’s censuring of the European Union and the US whose officials have been visiting Ukraine and openly encouraging anti-government protests.
Interestingly, Xinhua report on the meeting in Sochi contained an additional detail that Putin expressed Russia’s support for China’s stance on the lessons of history relating to the Japanese aggression. The report said Xi and Putin also agreed to hold activities to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the World Anti-Fascist War and the 70th anniversary of the victory of Anti-Japanese War in 2015, “so as to remember the history and educate future generations.”
The Xinhua report quoted Xi as underscoring that China and Russia “should continue to deepen consultation and cooperation on major international issues and jointly safeguard peace, security and stability of the region and the world at large.”
Evidently, China and Russia have drawn still closer against the backdrop of the US strategies in the Asia-Pacific and in UKraine. At the Munich security conference last week, US secretaries of state and defence John Kerry and Chuck Hagel spoke abrasively over the Ukraine situation in remarks that were patently directed at Russia.
Both also spoke of a “transatlantic renaissance” in world politics, while Hagel pointedly referred to China and Russia “rapidly modernizing their militaries and global defense industries, challenging our [US’] technological edge in defense partnerships across the world.” Hagel also revealed the deployment of USS Donald Cook, a missile defence-capable destroyer in Rota, Spain.
Today, it is going to be Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s turn to be received by Putin at Sochi. Tokyo also claims Abe’s visit to Sochi is intended as a show of support to Putin. Indeed, Japan is breaking ranks with the US, Britain, France and Germany, which downgraded their representation at the inaugural of the Sochi Winter Olympics. Moscow has criticized Abe’s visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, but that hasn’t come in the way. Evidently, Russian diplomacy is keeping the upper hand here.
Posted in Uncategorized.
Tagged with Kurile Islands, Russia-China strategic partnership, Ukraine color revolution, US missile defence, US-Russia reset.
By M K Bhadrakumar
“Nuland is incensed that the European Union has not joined Washington in imposing sanctions on the Ukrainian government in order to complete Washington’s takeover of Ukraine. Nuland speaks as if she is God with the God-given right to select the government of Ukraine, which she proceeds to do.
The EU, as corrupt as it is by Washington’s money, nevertheless understands being made rich by Washington is no protection agains Russian nuclear missiles. Nuland’s response to Europe’s hesitancy to risk its existence for the benefit of US hegemony is:
“Fuck the EU.”” in “Washington Destabilizes Ukraine” by Paul Craig Roberts
Paul Roberts is right, even the europeans` quislings want to live.
@Saker
Your translation is quite accurate.
Given how rather tame these intercepts are, and further assuming that they often talk about way more interesting stuff on the phone, these intercepts are of course leaked by someone with the capacity to do so (a US whistleb lower? a non-US intelligence agency?), but intended to raise the cost of communication – they have to meet in physical and safe rooms because they are scared.
It might just be buying some time (*cough* Sochi *cough*), rather than inflicting serious damage.
Honk
Or it is a “test-fart’ to check the reaction. Now that the conversations are confirmed, piling on more serious stuff would be rather effective, as it will immediately be accepted as real.
Honk
Seen this possible fake “Ukrainian police tortures naked man in snow” video?
http://www.voltairenet.org/article182057.html
Honk
update Ukraine info:
American Conquest by Subversion: Victoria Nuland’s Admits Washington Has Spent $5 Billion to “Subvert Ukraine”
Youtube video of her victorious speach :((
will post @Penny’s blog in comments, and also tweeting about UN willingness to be a party to this Imperialism.
karin
A poignant question in view of all these revelations of imperialism’s lawlessness, violence, corruption, conspiracies, and sleaze (as if these characteristics weren’t blatant enough given the West’s track record) amounts to the following:
Is the bankster cabal, its Corporate Media whores, its military, and its political offal any significantly worried about them? Embarrassed, maybe. But significantly worried? Hardly, because in that case they would go to much greater lengths with regard to secrecy. However, what’s really interesting here is the well-known fact that decadent societies that have outlived themselves (and hence entered the phase of terminal rot) do have a strong tendency to treat their previously holy façade with utmost contempt or refined amusement. And this DOES tell us something. Hence the below verdict:
Yes, it is a good thing to finally have the criminals’ deliberations uncovered. More specifically, in the context of the attempted fascist putsch in Ukraine, we can now safely deduce that the rabble in the streets in general and their “leadership” in particular are plain scum, held in such profound contempt by their paymasters that the latter don’t even bother too much revealing this fact, albeit “by accident”.
Jan Tombiński is of course POLISH, not German!