News Archive October 1-15, 2012

EUROPEAN UNION:
Britain pushes to temper ECB power in banking union
Reuters, October 15, 2012 – Britain is pushing for changes to a proposed euro zone banking union to dilute the power of the European Central Bank, EU officials said, potentially hampering efforts to build the infrastructure urgently needed to underpin the euro.
Israel, Jewish groups congratulate EU on peace prize – Jewish Telegraphic Agency, October 14, 2012 – World Jewish Congress President Ronald Lauder praised the decision…“Jews and members other minority communities have been among the main beneficiaries of closer European integration, and although anti-Semitism and racism continue to worry us, the European Union is — and will be in the future — our main ally in overcoming these scourges,” Lauder said.

UNASUR:
Minister confirms talks for re-incorporation of Paraguay to Unasur and Mercosur
MercoPress (Uruguay), October 15, 2012 – Foreign minister Jose Felix Fernandez Estigarribia confirmed the beginning of negotiations for the re-incorporation of Paraguay to Unasur and Mercosur which will take place through the mediation of a Latinamerican country he did not identify.

EURASIAN UNION:
EurAsEC Anticrisis Fund mission arrives in Belarus
BELTA News (Belarus), October 15, 2012 – The participating states are Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan….The Fund is meant to assist the member states in overcoming consequences of the global financial crisis, securing their economic and financial stability and supporting integration processes in the region.

NORTH AMERICA:
The utopian evil of free trade – WND, October 14, 2012 – Free-trade advocates often point to the free movement of goods, capital and labor in the domestic economy and ask why the same system cannot work internationally since it works so well within the national borders. The reason is simple: The nation cannot continue to exist if the same degree of labor movement takes place across the borders as it presently does within them.
Mexico is forgotten story of US election – Financial Times (London), October 14, 2012 (Google Link) – As the Mexican middle class gets richer, it will narrow the differential with the beleaguered American middle class – indeed, these are two sides of the same coin. At which point – who knows? – maybe Mexico will have to tighten its border security.
Former Suncor CEO says B.C. pipelines a matter of Canadian sovereignty
Calgary Herald, October 14, 2012 – In the book, George said he considers Keystone XL to be a “double-edged sword” for Canada.”While it will boost this country’s crude oil sales to the United States, it also will bind Canada more tightly to the U.S. market. This prospect brings some inherent dangers with it, yet I rarely heard that discussed in the exchanges between the two sides.”

EUROPEAN UNION:
Why Giving the European Union the Nobel Peace Prize Was Wrong
The Atlantic, October 14, 2012 – So when the EU accepts the Nobel Peace Prize in December, will it do so mindful of the 30,000 people who remain missing and unidentified in the Balkans? Will it accept this prestigious prize knowing that 20,000 to 50,000 women were raped during the Bosnian war?
The Nobel for the EU – The Daily Star (Bangladesh), October 14, 2012 – In the years since the EU began to expand, Europeans across national borders have come together politically and economically, to a point where the EU has often served as a model for such regional groupings as Asean, Saarc and the African Union.
Europe’s Lifetime Achievement Award: The Nobel Prize – Council on Foreign Relations, October 12, 2012 – Europe’s third, and continuing, contribution has been in serving as both a model of and force for peace on the global stage. We live, of course, in a world of proliferating regional and subregional organizations. And regional integration will inevitably take different forms reflecting local contexts, as we see in bodies from the African Union (AU) to the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

SAARC:
Let’s tap into TAPI!
Pakistan Today, October 12, 2012 – Pakistan can resolve its energy crisis by expediting work on The Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Gas Pipeline Project, Ambassador of Turkmenistan to Pakistan Atadjan Movlamov said Thursday.

UNASUR:
By the end of the year, Paraguay could return to Unasur, Mercosur
La Nacion (Paraguay), October 13, 2012 – Paraguay could return to bloc Mercosur and Unasur before year-end, according to Brazilian publication predicts that echoes the statements of Brazilian Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota.
Paraguay seeks return to Mercosur and Unasur
El Nuevo Herald (Miami Herald), October 12, 2012 – Paraguay’s foreign minister, Jose Felix Fernandez Estigarribia, said Friday that his country promotes direct negotiations for the return of their country to Mercosur and Unasur, following the suspension imposed last June.

EURASIAN UNION:
Creation of Eurasian Economic Union is like a dream that come true
BNews (Kazakhstan), October 13, 2012 – “A lot of myths and phobias has developed around the Eurasian integration….Kazakhstan has been the driving force behind the integration for many years…”

AFRICAN UNION:
Regional Integration Is Key to Sustainable Growth in East Africa
Louis Kasekende, Deputy Governor of the Bank of Uganda and former Chief Economist of the African Development Bank (AfDB)….argued that transforming Uganda into a modern and prosperous country could best be secured through a deepening of regional economic integration in East Africa, under the auspices of the East African Community (EAC). However, he acknowledged that regional integration would unavoidably entail ceding many elements of national sovereignty to the region.

NORTH AMERICA:
Harper Government Moves Ahead With Commitment on Integrated Cross-Border Law Enforcement
US Politics, Today, October 12, 2012 – “By placing RCMP and USCG officers on a single patrol vessel, Canada-U.S. Shiprider not only allows Canada and the U.S. to leverage law enforcement resources, but also provides the operational flexibility required to interdict suspect vessels across jurisdictions,” said Assistant Commissioner Todd Shean on behalf of RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson. Shiprider represents a truly cooperative approach to conducting integrated cross-border maritime enforcement and security operations.

EUROPEAN UNION:
European Union wins Nobel Peace Prize
CBS News, October 12, 2012 – The European Union won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for its efforts to promote peace and democracy in Europe — despite being in the midst of its biggest crisis since the bloc was created in the 1950s.
Reaction as EU wins Peace Prize – Reuters, October 12, 2012 – MARTIN CALLANAN, LEADER OF THE EUROSCEPTIC CONSERVATIVES AND REFORMISTS PARTY IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT….”Presumably this prize is for the peace and harmony on the streets of Athens and Madrid….”

NORTH AMERICA:
Will North America achieve closer economic integration?
iPolitics (Canada), October 11, 2012 – The idea of North America is ready for a revival. This week’s meeting in Ottawa of the North American Forum provides an opportunity to talk through the cause of closer continental economic integration and interdependence. Meeting annually since 2005, the Forum brings together senior representatives from government, business and the research community.
New US/Canada border conference in Detroit to advance “Beyond the Border” declaration
Government Security News, October 11, 2012 – The comprehensive two-day conference and exhibition in Detroit will focus on implementation of the “Beyond the Border” declaration with specific goals outlined in its Action Plan, including (1) addressing threats early, (2) trade facilitation, (3) economic growth, and (4) integrated cross-border law enforcement.

EURASIAN UNION:
Customs Union on Verge of Expansion
Turkish Weekly, October 12, 2012 – Russia and other members of the organisation are interested in expanding the borders of the Customs Union in the long term and the Eurasian Union in the future at least up to the limits of the former Soviet Union.

ARAB LEAGUE:
‘Egypt grants citizenship to 50,000 Palestinians’
The court decision paved the way for thousands of Palestinians, particularly those living in the Gaza Strip, to apply for and receive Egyptian passports. Until recently, Egypt, like most Arab countries, had refused to grant citizenship to Palestinians in accordance with an Arab League resolution dating back to 1965.

EURASIAN UNION:
Russia ‘Cements’ Relations with Central Asian States
Turkish Weekly, October 11, 2012 – Pannier believes that the first reason of Putin’s visits to Central Asia is that he is willing to follow up on his idea of a Eurasian Union. “The core of that union seems to be the CIS Customs Union – Kazakhstan is a member and Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan want to join,” he said.
“Soft power” of Russia in Armenia
Vestnik Kavkaza (Russia), October 11, 2012 – In general, it seems that any idea of integration with Russia will be welcomed in Armenia, traditionally and rightly considered to be a pro-Russian country. However, there are people who see the Eurasian Union and even its forerunner, the Customs Union, as a direct threat to the independence of Armenia.
COFFEY: Saakashvili legacy – Founding father of democratic Georgia – Washington Times, October 10, 2012 – Despite vaguely reassuring public utterances, Mr. Ivanishvili is thought to want to slow down, if not halt altogether, Georgia’s integration into Euro-Atlantic structures like the European Union or NATO. His party has not ruled out Georgia someday joining Russian President Vladimir Putin’s dream of a Eurasian Union, loosely modeled off the European Union.

EURPEAN UNION:
The rise and fall of enlargement
European Voice, October 11, 2012 – Enlarging the European Union has slipped down the list of priorities of the existing member states and the European Commission. The countries that are on the outside seeking to join the Union detect little encouragement from the EU.
Turkey’s EU Accession Talks in Deadlock – Wall Street Journal, October 11, 2012 – The European Union issued a familiar and rather predictable message for Turkey on Wednesday, offering little hope to jump-start membership talks now stalled for more than two years. It urged the country to press ahead with political reforms, resolve concerns about the rule of law and normalize relations with Cyprus.
EU to Press for Unified Airspace – Wall Street Journal, October 10, 2012- European Union Transport Commissioner Siim Kallas is preparing legal action against EU member countries to force faster action on a delayed program to unify the bloc’s airspace, according to a speech he will deliver Thursday.

AFRICAN UNION:
East Africa: Regional Air Traffic Controls to Be Harmonized
AllAfrica, October 10, 2012 – Civil aviation authorities in the East African Community(EAC) are in talks to harmonize their operations, a move that will not only see that aircrafts acquire free movement in the EAC airspace but will also address what these national bodies regard as the biggest challenge to the growth of the region’s air transport sector.

EURASIAN UNION:
Russian FM Lavrov on prospects of a single currency in the Eurasian Economic Union
Embassy of Russia to the UK, October 9, 2012 – Certainly, this is not an immediate task; however, it will appear on our long-term integration agenda. Meanwhile, transition to payments in national currencies between Russia and our partners in the Eurasian area, Asia and other regions of the world is high on today’s agenda.

AFRICAN UNION:
Regional currency best for Zimbabwe
Southern Times Africa, October 9, 2012 – Tadesse said, at the moment the establishment of a regional currency ‑ either by the SADC or Comesa ‑ offered the country the best way out of the current liquidity squeeze.
SADC: Defence chancellery submits draft military exercises – Angola Press Agency, October 9, 2012 – The Exercise is part of consolidation and harmonisation policy of the Southern Africa Armed Forces, through combined exercises.

UNASUR:
Why Hugo Chavez rules in Venezuela
The Nation (Pakistan), October 10, 2012 – In terms of Latin America integration, this is also good news. Venezuela is now a member of Mercosur. Along with more economic integration, there will be further political integration via Unasur – the South American union.
Cuba Exhales after Venezuelan Vote – Havana Times, October 9, 2012 – Petroleum policies of Caracas that are supportive of the continent have allowed it to create a community of leftist ALBA states — among which Cuba moves like a fish in water — and to also push for broader and more diverse formations such as UNASUR (the Union of South American Nations) and CELAC (the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States).

NORTH AMERICA:
New US-Canada Border Regime: Deep Integration and the North-American Homeland
Global Research, October 10, 2012 – The Next-Generation pilot project which would permit U.S. agents on Canadian soil is on hold while legal issues are being resolved. The security perimeter agreement stated that both countries would, “create integrated teams in areas such as intelligence and criminal investigations, and an intelligence-led uniformed presence between ports of entry.”….Allowing U.S. agents to cross the border and pursue suspects into Canada poses a threat to sovereignty and could infringe on personal privacy laws.

EUROPEAN UNION:
Eleven European Countries Support Tax on Transactions
Wall Street Journal, October 9, 2012 – Eleven European Union countries on Tuesday said they want to levy a tax on the trading of bonds, shares and derivatives, as governments try to recoup some of the cost of the financial crisis.
ASEAN:
Closer Asean, UN cooperation seen
The top official of the United Nations (UN) has urged the Association Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) to play a greater role in shaping the global agenda and to share Asean’s experience and best practices with other regions in the world, including through collaboration with the UN.

AFRICAN UNION:
East Africa: Work On One-Stop-Border-Post Set to Begin
Under the OSBP, services would be harmonised with incoming traffic jointly cleared by officers from both countries from one side of the border and vice-versa for the outgoing ones. The move is also expected to ease the movement of people. Kayonga observed that the construction of the one border post is a means to address the issue of trade barriers and facilitate free movement of people as stipulated in the EAC treaty.
This is exactly the policy being implemented by the Canada-U.S. “Beyond the Border Action Plan” for North America, as shown in the following article:

NORTH AMERICA:
U.S., Canada forge new inspection agreement
Buffalo News, October 9, 2012 – American inspectors will assess vehicles in Ontario before reaching Peace Bridge….though the details of allowing armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Customs and Border Protection officers to operate in Canada – a major sticking point in previous negotiations – have yet to be determined.
OSU signs international MOU focused on unmanned aerial systems – Oklahoma State University, October 8, 2012 – Oklahoma State University has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Unmanned Aerial System Center of Excellence in Alma, Quebec, Canada. Through this agreement, both parties have expressed their intent to collaborate in the development of unmanned vehicle systems and most specifically in the integration of unmanned aerial systems in the North American and international airspace.

AFRICAN UNION:
African Parliament demands for functional powers
Africa Review, October 9, 2012 – The Pan African Parliament (PAP) is urging presidents and heads of governments of the African Union to give an approval granting it legislative and oversight functions.
East Africa: EA Heads to Meet Over Infrastructure – AllAfrica, October 8, 2012 – “That is why the upcoming re-treat of the EAC Heads of State Summit in November 2012 will mainly focus on railway, energy and inland water ways transport in the region,” said the EAC secretary general Amb. Richard Sezibera.
Blackstone Investing in $3 Billion of Africa Power Projects – Bloomberg Businessweek, October 8, 2012 – Blackstone Group LP (BX), the world’s biggest buyout firm, plans to start investing in energy projects in Africa worth $3 billion amid increasing demand for power on the continent.

GCC, ASEAN:
GCC, Asean regions ‘now focus of global investment’ Gulf Times (Qatar), October 9, 2012 – “Economic power has shifted eastwards – to the GCC region and Asean countries; we are the focus of global investment now,” Sheikh Hamad added.
Kuwait participates in GCC water, electricity committee meeting in Riyadh – Kuwait News, Agency, October 8, 2012 – The meeting will also discuss the latest developments in the GCC power grid project and the usage of nuclear energy in electricity generation and water distillation.

UNASUR:
Unasur prosecutors prepare Regional Criminal Court draft
teleSUR TV, October 9, 2012 (Google Translation) – The Attorney General of Ecuador, Galo Chiriboga, reported Monday that the coming months will hold meetings with their regional counterparts,aimed at preparing the first draft of the treaty establishing the International Criminal Court of the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR).
The Unasur increased integration prospects with victory of Hugo Chavez – ElComercio (Peru), October 8, 2012 (Google translation) – Vice President of the Andean Parliament, Alberto Adrianzén estimated that Peruvian-Venezuelan relations will strengthen bilateral, and the Union of South American Nations ( Unasur ) will increase their prospects of integration following the reelection of President Hugo Chavez.

EURASIAN UNION:
Kyrgyzstan Announces Desire To Join Russia-Led Customs Union
RadioFreeEurope/RadioLiberty, October 9, 2012 – Russian officials say the goal of the initiative is to set up by 2015 what they describe as a Eurasian economic union, modeled after the European Union.
Lukashenko: Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan can join CES if they meet some conditions – Kyiv Post (Ukraine), October 9, 2012 – Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan, which are partners of Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan in the Eurasian Economic Community, have already come closer to joining the CES [Common Economic Space]…

UNASUR:
Latin America: reactions to the victory of Hugo Chavez
BBC News, October 8, 2012 (Google translation) – The president of Argentina, Cristina Fernandez, used the social network Twitter to express their support for President Chavez….”Your victory is also ours.’s Of South America and the Caribbean. Force Hugo! Force Venezuela! Mercosur and Unasur Force”.

EUROPEAN UNION:
Now The European Union Starts To Ban Recycling
Forbes, October 7, 2012 – No, it’s not a spoof. It really is true that those tasked with running an entire continent, the bureaucrats in Brussels, think that putting home made jam (jelly to you perhaps) in used jam jars should be and is a crime. With serious penalties too:
Greek retirees burn EU flag in anti-austerity protests – Economic Times (India), October 8, 2012 – Hundreds of Greek pensioners have marched to the European Union offices in Athens to protest planned income cuts under a new harsh austerity program.

EURASIAN UNION:
Symonenko: Ukrainian gas should not be extracted by foreign companies
Kyiv Post (Ukraine), October 8, 2012 – The Communist Party leader is confident that Ukraine’s gas problem will never be solved if the country does not join the Customs Union, the Eurasian Economic Community and completely review its relations with Russia.
Uncertain Future for Western Influence in Eastern Europe – FrontPage Magazine, October 8, 2012 – It is no secret that Vladimir Putin wants to build a Eurasian Union “capable of becoming one of the poles in the modern world.” It is also no secret that the Obama administration, via its “reset button” strategy, has been more than accommodating in return.
Russia and the former Soviet foreign countries as a system – Vestnik Kavkaza (Russia), October 8, 2012 – This is the parliamentary dimension, because we already speak not only of the Union between Russia and Belarus and Russia – the Belarus Union Parliament, but already on the Parliamentary Assembly of the EurAsEC, and we are talking about a possible Parliamentary Assembly of the Eurasian Union in the future.
Moscow-Dushanbe: Eurasian prospects
Vestnik Kavkaza, October 8, 2012 – The Soviet Union, like the Russian Empire, too, actually had their own system of values, and this supported their projects. What will be the ideology of the Eurasian Union?

GCC:
Jordan, GCC to discuss joint cooperation strategy
Petra.gov (Jordan), October 8, 2012 – A Foreign Ministry team on Sunday headed to Riyadh for a meeting tomorrow with their counterparts from the Gulf Cooperation Council GCC to discuss a proposed working plan for cooperation between the six-nation bloc and the Kingdom.

ASEAN:
Japan, Asean to create cyberdefense network
ZDNet News, October 8, 2012 – It will coordinate the development of its cyberdefense network with the 10 member states of the Association of the Southeast Asian nations, and facilitate better communication and data sharing.

PIF:
PACIFIC PLAN REVIEW 2013: Message from Sir Mekere Morauta
Pacific Islands Forum Secretariat, October 8, 2012 – “The Pacific Plan remains the guiding foundation for Forum countries’ endeavours to strengthen regional cooperation and integration….As envisaged by Forum Leaders at the time, the Pacific Plan is a ‘living document’ that must continue to meet our region’s evolving priorities and needs.”

UNASUR:
UNASUR the only foreign observer – La Región (Venezuala), October 7, 2012 – The National Electoral Council agreed that UNASUR will be an international observer in the election process today, other institutions or foreign groups act as chaperones…
Brazil wants Paraguay back in Mercosur following ‘democracy compliance’ test
MercoPress (Uruguay),October 6, 2012 – Brazilian Foreign minister Antonio Patriota said on Friday that Paraguay could resume membership of Mercosur and Unasur without the need to wait for presidential elections next April 2013 as long as “full compliance with democracy” can be verified.

ASEAN:
Asean fund to take off soon
New Straits Times, October 7, 2012 – Previous reports had stated that AIF [Asean Infrastructure Fund], which will be based in Malaysia, would be used to offer loans to build roads, railways and other projects without direct foreign assistance.

AFRICAN UNION:
Trade Minister urges commitment to ECOWAS integration agenda
Ghana News Agency, October 6, 2012 – Trade and Industry Minister Ms Hannah Tetteh has called all stakeholders in the West African sub-region to show extra commitment to the integration agenda and the implementation of various ECOWAS protocols. She said there was the urgent need to complete negotiations on achieving a customs union, single currency and secure full implementation of the ECOWAS protocols…

EUROPEAN UNION:
Europe’s debt crisis: A nudge toward a common security policy
Foreign Policy, October 5, 2012 – The global community is focused on the EU’s efforts to implement the fiscal union that its currency union now demands, but ambitious eurocrats are quietly pursuing an even more fundamental change for the bloc: a truly common foreign and security policy.
France, Italy want single EU bank regulator by January – Reuters, October 5, 2012 – France and Italy led a call by five euro zone member states for the European Union to press ahead toward setting up a single banking regulator by the end of the year to be running in 2013.

SAARC:
‘Improve trade facilitation, regional connectivity’
Republica (Nepal), October 6, 2012 – Experts on Friday urged the South Asian leaders to do away with non-tariff barriers, improve trade facilitation and develop roads and air connectivity among the member states to realize the goal of regional integration

EURASIAN UNION:
Is ‘Soviet Union Light’ the Future of Putin’s Russia?
Voice of America, October 6, 2012 – Russian President Vladimir Putin once described the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union as “the greatest geopolitical catastrophe of the century.” Two decades later, he is laboring to create what some critics call a “Soviet Union Light.”
Sticks and carrotts of EAEC – Kyiv Weekly, October 5, 2012 – Indeed, if signing of the EU association agreement is accompanied by conditions that the Ukrainian government simply cannot fulfill, Kyiv may turn around to face Moscow and join the EAEC Customs Union, then the Eurasian Economic Union and, finally, the Eurasian Union.

ARAB LEAGUE:
Will Syria face “Turkish gambit”?
Voice of Russia, October 4, 2012 – Turkey is seen as an ideal variant for fulfilling a power transfer in Damascus with the help of the use of force….”The problem should be resolved with the help of such regional international structures as the Arab League.”

EUROPEAN UNION: Quid Pro Quo for Taking Lead on Syria?
UK to help Turkey in bid to join European Union
The Independent (London), October 4, 2012 – Britain today announced support to help Turkey in its bid to join the European Union. On a visit to the country, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the UK would assist efforts to bring Turkey’s judiciary into line with those of EU nations.
NORTH AMERICA:
U.S. pre-check lanes to be extended to Canadian NEXUS members
Canadian Skies, October 4, 2012 – As of Nov. 15, 2012, Canadians who are members of the NEXUS program travelling within the U.S will be able to use their NEXUS cards for expedited screening at 27 participating U.S. airports.

AFRICAN UNION:
Africa aims to implement 15 cross-border energy projects worth $40.5bn by 2020
Engineering News, October 5, 2012 – Elmissiry said the first 15 Pida projects had been selected from a far larger list of potential energy developments on the basis of objective criteria that embraced issues such as improving energy access, bolstering energy security and supporting regional integration.

EURASIAN UNION:
Integration, migration, and illegal traffic of drugs
Vestnik Kavkaza (Russia), October 5, 2012 – We have an opportunity to promote the Eurasian integration through cooperation with Tajikistan, an opportunity to “heal” our space, our people of what Putin has called the greatest geopolitical disaster of the 20th century – the dissolution of the USSR.

UNASUR:
Latin America: Strategic Cooperation Dialogue or imperial domination?
CubaInformation.TV, October 4, 2012 – Paraguay has strong ties and military technical cooperation with the United States, has always been the weakest country [in] regional blocs such as MERCOSUR and UNASUR, permanent[ly] renewing agreements to U.S. interference, and is home to conservative right-wing politicians and perpetrated a June 22 parliamentary coup against then-President Fernando Lugo….The U.S. pretexts are fighting terrorist cells and international organized crime, but its real goals are to install new military bases …

NORTH AMERICA:
Cross-Border Trade With Mexico
Voice of America, October 4, 2012 – The United States and Mexico are also jointly addressing unnecessary differences in product regulations, which can be a burden on business and ultimately undermine cross border trade. To avoid this, the United States and Mexico launched the High Level Regulatory Cooperation Council, which works to enhance economic competitiveness and economic well-being by improving regulatory cooperation.
[Obama has already set up a bilateral “Regulatory Cooperation Council” with Canada. By “harmonizing” trade and industry regulations with each country bilaterally, Obama is in effect developing a slight-of-hand, back-door, continental agreement, since regulatory agreement with one nation necessitates compliance with that agreement within the terms of an agreement with the other nation. The media never mentions this, of course. “Burden on business” is not a sufficient enough reason to compromise national sovereignty.]
North American Healthcare JB5252 Arm Cuff Blood Pressure Monitor on Sale – Google Sales
[Here is a product line anticipating the future, if this “regulatory cooperation” is allowed to continue under Obama or Romney. Get used to “North American healthcare” if the national healthcare policies of each nation are harmonized as well.

EURASIAN UNION:
Georgia’s Democratic Litmus Test
The National Interest, October 4, 2012 – Russia, however, is likely to apply pressure on the new government in Tbilisi to join the Commonwealth of Independent States, its Common Security Treaty Organization and eventually maybe the Eurasian Union, Vladimir Putin’s quasi-imperial brainchild. A friendly Georgia may also provide Russia a land corridor to Iran via Armenia, a transportation artery

GCC:
RAK to build UAE’s first clean coal power plant
Gulf News (Dubai, UAE), October 3, 2012 – Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states are set to invest $252 billion (Dh925.62 billion) over the next five years on projects for setting up new power production plants, distribution systems and supply grids, recent reports suggest.

ARAB LEAGUE:
How to form an Arab single currency?
Gulf News (Dubai, UAE), October 3, 2012 – Lately, the Arab League…decided to study the possibility of setting up an Arab single currency, based on a proposal submitted by the Arab Importers and Exporters Union.
Blasphemy, right to freedom of expression and our most sacred beliefs
Washington Post, October 3, 2012 – The Arab League is also calling for the international community to criminalize blasphemy. While it might be tempting to treat a non-binding U.N. measure as benign or irrelevant, that would be a mistake. The “defamation of religions” resolution would validate the national blasphemy laws that have led to persecution and violence in many countries and lead to their proliferation.

UNASUR, ARAB LEAGUE:
‘Implementing effective multilateralism’
Página 12 (Argentina), October 3, 2012 – A fairer and safer power will only occur from greater equality between countries and if implemented effective multilateralism”, Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner claimed to representatives of some thirty countries of UNASUR and the League Arab. With a strong appeal to change the world order…the President of Argentina also included a call to resolve the Palestinian issue, which called “the Gordian knot of peace in the world”….

AFRICAN UNION:
Angola: Constitutional Court for Reinforcement of African Institutions
AllAfrica, October 3, 2012 – The presiding judge of the Constitutional Court of Angola (TC), Rui Ferreira, said on Wednesday in Luanda that his institution aims for the consolidation and reinforcement of all African constitutional jurisdictions, so as to preserve the values of the democratic constitutional order.

EURASIAN UNION:
Alexander Rahr: “Russia is wrong thinking that Ivanishvili is a ‘cater-cousin’ just because ‘Ivan’ is a part of his surname”
Vestnik Kavkaza, October 3, 2012 – As for your question, accession of Georgia into the Eurasian Union is impossible, notwithstanding who rules the country. Georgia is directed at the West, as well as Azerbaijan.
FM: Ukraine’s declaration of its non-aligned status justified – ForUm (Ukraine), Ukraine, October 2, 2012 – is closely watching the transformation of the Customs Union and the Common Economic Space into the Eurasian Economic Union.

AFRICAN UNION:
East Africa: Regional Institutions Key to Integration – Minister – AllAfrica, October 2, 2012 – The political federation is the fourth step in the bloc’s integration process after the ratification of the Customs Union and the Common Market while negotiations for the Monetary Union are currently underway.

EUROPEAN UNION:
The federal revolution
New Europe, October 2, 2012 – Guy Verhofstadt, president of the European parliament’s liberal ALDE group and Daniel Cohn-Bendit, co-president of the parliament’s Green group teamed up to write a new book, ‘For Europe! A manifesto for a post-national revolution in Europe’.
From the Archives:
‘The New World Order Since 11 September’
Guy Verhofstadt, Prime Minister of Belgium, President of the European Council, College of Europe, Natolin Campus, Warsaw. Poland, October 23, 2001
“We could order the world on the basis of existing regional cooperation organizations: the European Union, ASEAN, Mercosur [now UNASUR], NAFTA, the African Union, the Arab League and SAARC in southern Asia….
“We need to take a first step down the path towards a global form of federalism, a structure where the reality of an increasingly interactive world is finally made a political reality too. In fact, a structure of this kind was already planned when the United Nations was created in 1945, but was never implemented after the Cold War.
“The New World Order could lead to a new G8, G9 or G10, with regular meetings between the delegates of the world’s continents….
The European Union is the model.…”
European integration is Ukraine’s priority, Azarov assures – ForUm (Ukraine), October 2, 2012 – Azarov noted that after the election, the government will intensify work on signing of the strategic document between Ukraine and the European Union – the Association Agreement, including free trade area.

EURASIAN UNION:
Beware Russia’s hand in elections in Georgia, Ukraine, Lithuania
Christian Science Monitor, October 1, 2012 – Starting today with Georgia, and followed by Ukraine and Lithuania, parliamentary elections in Europe’s east are revealing the tenuous nature of democracy and sovereignty in countries once entrapped by Soviet-era Moscow….Moscow seeks to create a new Eurasian Union that will balance the European Union in the West and China in the East.
Russian court bans ‘extremist’ video ‘Innocence of Muslims’ – Strategic Culture Foundation, October 1, 2012 – According to Russian laws, any content can be legally classified as ‘extremist’ if prosecutors present sufficient evidence to make their case. After such a ruling, sharing the content also becomes a crime.
‘Oskanian Case’ reveals extent of political struggle in Armenia ahead of presidential campaign – Armenia Now, October 1, 2012 – Oskanian is regarded as a supporter of a pro-Western foreign policy for Armenia, even though last February he joined the party of millionaire businessman Gagik Tsarukyan that advocates closer ties with Russia and Armenia’s integration with the so-called Eurasian Union

UNASUR:
‘Unasur 2’ Combined Exercise Begins in Argentina
UPI Español, October 2, 2012 (Google translation) – The Defense Minister Arturo Puricelli opened the Joint Combined Exercise Regional Peacekeeping Operations “Unasur 2” to be held in Argentina until Friday….Participants will work on an alleged military peacekeeping operation under the mandate of the United Nations Organization (UNO).
The Falklands claim in the agenda of the ASPA Summit – Tiempo Argentino, October 2, 2012 (Google Translation) – President Cristina Fernandez arrived last night in Lima, Peru, to attend the Third Summit of Heads of State and Government of South American and Arab Countries. The highest aspirations of the delegation is to achieve agreements on nuclear energy and the Lima Declaration contains a paragraph to support our claim of sovereignty over the Falkland Islands.
South American infrastructure required to compete – Radio Programs of Peru, October 1, 2012 (Google Translation) – The chairman of the public infrastructure of the Chilean Chamber of Construction, Carlos Alberto Zeppelin Hermosilla, said that “if we (Unasur countries) reach the levels of development of Asian countries, we must invest between 5% and 6% of GDP…

SAARC – THE TAPI PIPELINE INFRASTRUCTURE:
The New Silk Road Strategy
Pakistan Today, October 1, 2012 – New Delhi has invested in the new 2000-kilometer pipeline which would cost around $7.6 billion and bring 70 billion cubic meters of gas from Daulatabad gas fields of Turkmenistan to India through Afghanistan and Pakistan. The agreements between Pakistan and India and other SAARC countries have confirmed the new economic integration.

EURASIAN UNION:
China, Russia in race for Central Asia
WND, October 1, 2012 – Russia already has included Kazakhstan – the most influential Central Asian country – in its Eurasian Union and now is preparing to establish military bases in Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan, where the U.S. also has a base to support its efforts in Afghanistan. However, the U.S. lease on Manas Air Base outside Kyrgyzstan’s capital of Bishkek is up next year…
New Top Kazakh Diplomat – The Moscow Times, October 1, 2012 – Nazarbayev is a supporter of President Vladimir Putin’s plans for an Eurasian Union. But Friday’s appointment helps Nazarbayev to allay any concerns that Kazakhstan might be turning its back on the West…

ARAB LEAGUE:
Free speech under attack because of video about Muslims
Marietta Daily Journal, October 1, 2012 – The head of the Arab League predictably is calling for an international law against insults to religions.

PIF:
Kirk Hope: Tax rules block road to single Anzac market – New Zealand Herald, October 1, 2012 – For nearly 30 years New Zealand and Australia have been moving closer together. This isn’t just about Kiwis living on the Gold Coast. It’s about greater economic integration and the move towards a single economic market….Does all this mean we’re moving towards a single Anzac currency?
McCully: UN must help Pacific nations and Syria
New Zealand Herald, October 1, 2012 – The minister said New Zealand’s work as chairman of the 16-member Pacific Islands Forum had underlined how regional organisations like the forum relied on the UN “for solutions to challenges that are truly global in character”. In that regard “we need and expect more” from the UN.

AFRICAN UNION:
Upcoming EAC Summit to focus on transportation infrastructures
IPP Media (Tanzania), October 1, 2012 – The upcoming East African Community’s Heads of States Summit has planned on putting emphasis on railway, energy and inland water ways transport in the region as a move of easing trade between among the member states.

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