... investment which previously was not required. As we know, more investment means more cost and greater end-consumer price. For Russia, this is especially a major issue as all the loans for developing new fields and constructing new pipes are done via long-term contracts. This is vital for Gazprom, as the lending banks absolutely adore long-term contracts, especially if they are linked to oil. For instance, the Nord Stream project had a queue of 27 banks. For banks these deals are especially attractive ...
... independent non-partisan think-tank ResPublica Trust where he works on alternative political economies. He is also a frequent contributor to both UK and international press, including International Herald Tribune, The Guardian and The Moscow Times.
*Interviewer: Igor Ossipov / Date: 30/04/2013
Crisis of Capitalism, Identity and Finance
In the last two years Europe has lingered around recession with little light at the end of the tunnel. Is someone, or something, responsible for this crisis?...
... Afghanistan since 2001 and the European Union which has been gaining an interest there since 2006-2007 in an attempt to exploit Central Asia’s need to diversify its energy exports – have impacted upon Russia’s position. Moreover, the E.U. in particular wants access to Turkmen gas and Kazakh oil and gas, as a way to diversify its energy imports and rely less on Russia.
However, the Central Asian states will remain allies of Russia. The ties between the two regions are so close – ...