Russians aren't blackmailing, says minister

So when Bangladesh was on the verge of recognising Kosovo, then Russia agreed to build several nuclear power plants in Bangladesh ; this apparently had nothing to do with Bangladesh's recognition of Kosovo? Really???? I don't believe that at all.

I suppose it is a bit like when Russia paid Nauru US$50 million, it had nothing to do with Nauru recognising Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent. Coincidence???

Russia loves mastercard diplomacy. How much is it they're offering Belarus to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia?

"How much is it they're offering Belarus to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
(Ian, UK, 15 August 2010, 00:01)"

Not enough. Batka is now saying he didn't "solemnly" swear - and in public - to recognize AbSo, because Russia hasn't promised to make up for any damage that Belarus might potentially suffer for doing so.

Nicaragua and Venezuela got billion-dollar military equipment deals, but Batka doesn't seem to be interested in jets and helicopters.

Notice how they keep moving the pipeline ever more near KiM. At first it was to be laid in Vojvodina. Serbia is secure enough about KiM to do this.

The funny thing is that if there was any blackmailing going on, however ridiculous the charge is, it was by the Bulgarians against Gazprom.

Only a few short weeks back Bulgaria announce, unofficially, that they would pull out of South Stream. This was followed by a rapid visit by Gazprom honchos and this poor hand played poorly by the Bulgarians has been eliminated. The Bulgarians thought they could play Russia (South Stream) off against the USA/EU (Nabucco). They failed badly. Again.

As to the routes, they are limited by cost and environmental concerns so there was never such a large freedom of route as was initially proposed. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill.

The funny thing is that if there was any blackmailing going on, however ridiculous the charge is, it was by the Bulgarians against Gazprom.

Only a few short weeks back Bulgaria announce, unofficially, that they would pull out of South Stream. This was followed by a rapid visit by Gazprom honchos and this poor hand played poorly by the Bulgarians has been eliminated. The Bulgarians thought they could play Russia (South Stream) off against the USA/EU (Nabucco). They failed badly. Again.

As to the routes, they are limited by cost and environmental concerns so there was never such a large freedom of route as was initially proposed. Talk about making a mountain out of a molehill.

So when Bangladesh was on the verge of recognising Kosovo, then Russia agreed to build several nuclear power plants in Bangladesh ; this apparently had nothing to do with Bangladesh's recognition of Kosovo? Really???? I don't believe that at all.

I suppose it is a bit like when Russia paid Nauru US$50 million, it had nothing to do with Nauru recognising Abkhazia and South Ossetia as independent. Coincidence???

Russia loves mastercard diplomacy. How much is it they're offering Belarus to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia?

"How much is it they're offering Belarus to recognise Abkhazia and South Ossetia?
(Ian, UK, 15 August 2010, 00:01)"

Not enough. Batka is now saying he didn't "solemnly" swear - and in public - to recognize AbSo, because Russia hasn't promised to make up for any damage that Belarus might potentially suffer for doing so.

Nicaragua and Venezuela got billion-dollar military equipment deals, but Batka doesn't seem to be interested in jets and helicopters.

Notice how they keep moving the pipeline ever more near KiM. At first it was to be laid in Vojvodina. Serbia is secure enough about KiM to do this.