Nice Referendum - The US, Oil and Integration

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday July 25, 2002 14:30 by blisset

My brain is hurting because of this article

This is an excerpt from an article on Geurilla news network and it gives an unusual insight into and idea of the range of forces arrayed worldwide who will be keeping a close eye on the Irish Nice Vote. The Complete Article is here. http://www.guerrillanews.com/war_on_terrorism/doc594.html In my humble opinion the left in Ireland and in Europe need to state and define on their own terms what it is that is being voted for or against in the upcoming referendum. This article shows clearly that European integration being stopped in it's tracks may be the thing the us most wants - boy my head hurts thinking of the many agendas this article outlines

In early 2000, the European Commission began negotiations on EU associate membership status with Macedonia, Bulgaria and Albania. And in April 2001, at the height of the terrorist assaults, Macedonia became the first country in the Balkans to sign a so-called "stabilisation and association agreement" (SAA) constituting an important step towards full EU membership. The agreement provides the basis for "trade liberalisation, political co-operation, economic and institutional reform and transplantation of EU legislation." Under the SAA, Macedonia would (de facto) be integrated into the European monetary system, with full access to the EU market.

The terrorist assaults coincided chronologically with the process of "EU enlargement", gaining momentum barely a few weeks before the signing of the historic "association agreement" with Macedonia. Amply documented, the U.S. has military advisers working with the terrorists. Was this a mere coincidence?

Also, Robert Frowick, "a former U.S. diplomat", was appointed to head the OSCE mission in Macedonia in mid-March, again barely a few weeks before the signing of the "association agreement." In close liaison with Washington and the US embassy in Skopje, Frowick initiated a "dialogue" with NLA rebel leader Ali Ahmeti. He was also instrumental in brokering an agreement between Ahmeti and the leaders of the Albanian parties, which form part of the government coalition.

This agreement negotiated by Frowick has largely contributed to destabilising political institutions, while at the same time jeopardising the process of EU enlargement.11 Moreover, the deteriorating security situation in Macedonia has provided a pretext for increased US political, "humanitarian" and military interference, while contributing to weakening Skopje's economic and political ties to Germany and the EU. In this regard, one of the "binding conditions" of the "association agreement" is that Macedonia conform to "EU standards on democracy". Needless to say, without a "functioning government" in Macedonia, the EU association process with Brussels cannot proceed.

The puppet governments installed in Tirana, Skopje and Sofia, while largely responding to U.S. diktats, are currently being swayed in the direction of the European Union. Washington's intent is ultimately to curb Germany's "Lebensraum" into Southeastern Europe. While paying lip service to "EU enlargement", the U.S. has consistently favoured "NATO enlargement" as a means to pursuing its strategic interests in Eastern Europe and the Balkans, while Germany and France have opposed it.