Showing posts with label G8. Show all posts
Snowden affair: Redefining worldwide democracy
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| A member of German Piraten Partei (Pirates party) holds the portraits of U.S. Army Private First Class Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden (R), a former contractor at the National Security Agency (NSA), during a protest in Berlin's Tiergarten district, June 19, 2013. (Reuters) |
Days after the G8 summit in Northern Ireland brought an awkward meeting between Presidents Obama and Putin, US-Russia relations are put under a new critical test.
This time the name of the game is not “Syria”, but “Snowden”. Moreover, the Snowden story is already evolving into a global debate on what are the do’s and don’t of a decent partnership and the ABC of personal freedoms and genuine democracy.
The detective story of the 30-year old NSA leaker, who landed in Moscow after leaving Hong Kong, added to the growing frustration which has plagued US-Russian relations in recent months.
Unwrapping the riddle of Snowden’s whereabouts President Putin confirmed he is still at the transit area of Moscow’s Sheremetyevo Airport. Denying any accusations against Russia as “nonsense and rubbish” as Snowden “has not crossed” the Russian border, Putin called on the US to turn down anti-Russian rhetoric and finally tried to draw a line under the whole story in his trademark colorful language: “In any case, I would like not to deal with such issues because it is like shearing a pig: there's lots of squealing and little fleece”.
However, as the Snowden saga is far from being over, the scandal has a potential to pave the way for a lengthy period of even more chilled relations between Moscow and Washington; its ups and downs at present can be described not as a “cold war”, but a “cold peace”.
While the Obama administration refrains from further rocking the boat, it is done by US congressmen, who are exercising fresh attacks on President Putin and making thinly-veiled warnings about US retaliation.
“The bottom line is very simple. Allies are supposed to treat each other decently, and Putin always seems almost eager to put a finger in the eye of the United States, whether it is Syria, Iran and now, of course, with Snowden. That’s not how allies should treat one another, and I think it will have serious consequences for the United States-Russia relationship”, -- explains Sen. Charles E.Schumer.
The dominant mood on the large part of the American political elite is seemingly this: the Edward Snowden case comes as another defining moment for US relations with the rest of the world, including Russia. So, by not lending the US a helping hand at this critical point, both Russia and China placed themselves on the other side of global barricades – in a camp of old US adversaries, like Cuba and Venezuela.
Neocons would stick to the point which long before the Snowden saga was articulated by some leading Republicans, including presidential hopeful Mitt Romney during the 2012 presidential race. Mr.Romney repeatedly spoke of an informal global alliance of non-democratic regimes, which is trying to hinder the interests of the US and their Western allies world-wide, whenever the situation allows, at every possible point (the policy of “putting a finger in the eye”).
Following this way of understanding things, the Snowden scandal is seen by some as another lively episode of a grand battle “democracies” versus “autocracies”. The list of the countries which has adopted non-cooperative approach on the Snowden case is becoming highly symbolic: China, Russia, Venezuela, Cuba, Ecuador (either regular autocracies, like China or Cuba, or troubled democracies sliding to autocratic rule, like Russia). So, it looks as if the whole story illustrates the slogan of the day once coined by Andrew Kuchins ” Autocracies of the world, unite!
Truly, in the Snowden case democracy is a core divisive issue, but things are not that simple. Ironically, it is Edward Snowden who is waging the battle for democracy on his own, posing as another “warrior of truth” – but not a traitor. He explained that what made him become a whistleblower was the credibility gap between the state and civil society. So, on his part it was not an act of national betrayal, but a decent protest move to expose US crimes and human rights violations both at home and abroad. In a way, he hinted he wanted to help President Obama who is more and more often described as “George Obama” (but not a reincarnation of President Kennedy).
The Snowden case pinpoints a certain tendency. After Bradley Manning, the 25-year old US soldier, accused of passing classified files to WikiLeaks, we have another story of a young American citizen, who is behind an important leak of classified information. While some in Washington tend to describe it as a global plot against the US, with Russia siding with US adversaries, the cases of both Manning and Snowden have a lot in common. Both cases spilt America into those, who consider whistleblowers traitors, putting US national security at risk and those who describe them as a brave citizens, who were not scared to expose the US government wrongdoing in the interests of Americans themselves.
No surprise, that the story of Snowden has already triggered a global debate on what is the delicate balancing act between democracy and security, which make uneasy bedfellows. In his recent interview to RT President Putin hinted that surveillance "is becoming a global phenomenon in the context of combating international terrorism", and that "such methods are generally practicable". However, "the question is how well those security agencies are controlled by the public."
"I can tell you that, at least in Russia, you cannot just go and tap into someone’s phone conversation without a warrant issued by a court. That’s more or less the way a civilized society should go about fighting terrorism with modern-day technology. As long as it is exercised within the boundaries of the law that regulates intelligence activities, it’s alright. But if it’s unlawful, then it’s bad”, said Putin.
So, it is probably high time for President Obama to answer a tough question about what went wrong in the US to produce the phenomena of Manning-Snowden. It is not President Putin who is “putting finger in the eye of the United States”, but a growing army of disenchanted Americans, who are not buying President Obama’s notion that “you can’t have 100 per cent security and 100 per cent privacy”.
The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.
G8 leaders sign tax evasion declaration
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| Country leaders Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel, Russia's President Vladimir Putin (L), Britain's Prime Minister David Cameron (C) and U.S. President Barack Obama (R) attend a working session at the Lough Erne golf resort where the G8 summit is taking place in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland June 18, 2013.(Reuters / Yves Herman) |
G8 leaders have signed the 'Lough Erne Declaration', pledging to change the international financial scheme that currently allows individuals and companies to hide money and avoid paying taxes, thus creating a more transparent international economy. After two days of resolutions on ‘the three Ts’ – tax, trade, and transparency- leaders have signed a concluding summit document to update tax rules which date back half a century to the League of Nations. "You have to collect the taxes that are owed," Cameron said at his press conference. "Tax authorities across the world should automatically share information so those who want to evade taxes have nowhere to hide," said Cameron. All G8 leaders signed the Long Erne Declaration, which sets out to drive growth, reduce poverty, create jobs, and promote prosperity. The document states the following can only be accomplished under fair and transparent tax and trade laws, which must be managed by good governance. "You're going to see concrete achievements today on changing the international rules on taxation, so individuals can't hide their money offshore and companies don't shift their profits away from where the profit is made," George Osborne, UK Chancellor, told the BBC before the official meeting.
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| Prime Minister David Cameron is the first to sign the Long Erne Declaration. Photo from twitter.com user @Number10gov |
David Cameron attended a key discussion on tackling tax evasion to provide a blueprint ahead of the G20 meeting in St. Petersburg in September, where it is expected a final cooperative directive will be issued to put a halt to tax evasion. Company directors have a "duty" to ensure their firms pay fair share of tax as well as maximize shareholder value, said Paul Collier, director of the Center for the Study of African Economies at Oxford University and an adviser to Cameron. Downing Street released and official document after the meeting, the 'UK Action Plan to prevent misuse of companies and legal arrangements' which states the UK's commitment to implementing transparency in corporate governance. The post-recession economic climate has led to stiff competition between struggling G8 economies for both investment and tax revenue. Governments can no longer afford to miss out on tax revenue from companies or individuals stashing their money in havens. An estimated $8.5 trillion sits in offshore accounts, which doesn’t draw tax revenue back to the source of the wealth, and has come under attack from politicians as the economic crisis deepens. “I am particularly pleased to fight against offshores because it’s not not only a problem for Russia but for the entire world economy," Russian President Vladimir Putin said in his press conference, pointing to Cyprus as a case study of how a rogue offshore can derail and hinder investment worldwide. Companies, use creative tax schemes to shelve profits and avoid taxes, a practice which is currently not a criminal offense.
‘Britain must put its own house in order’
UK leaders may find it difficult to convey to their international counterparts they are ready to lead the effort against tax evasion, as they have made little ground at home on the issue. It is estimated one fifth of the world’s illicit tax haven money is situated in accounts in British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies, and in 2012, the UK lost $156 billion in tax revenue from those individuals who dodged mainland taxes, instead keeping their assets offshore. Tax evasion has a €1 trillion effect on the EU economy, and in Britain, at least $150 billion is lost to tax schemers. Oxfam, a UK-based charity, estimates that some $18.47 trillion is being held by individuals in tax havens around the world. Of this some $7.18 trillion is in accounts situated in British Overseas Territories and Crown Dependencies. "Of course Britain's got to put its own house in order," said Osborne before the meeting. It will be a long and drawn out process, because some countries have specifically catered and developed their economies around the loose tax haven regulations, most notably Switzerland, Austria, and Luxembourg, which have become financial hotspots because they offer a niche for low corporate taxes. The tax evasion would need to be a global overhaul, because if just one country decides not to comply, and offer lower tax rates for people trying to hide money, the whole effort is void. EU leaders met in Brussels on May 22 and agreed to aggressively dismantle the dangerous tax loopholes and havens through 2020. The tax evasion topic spills into the transparency theme, which focuses on developing countries and commodities.
Call for transparency
The UK wants to create a public tax register, a country by country report on taxes, which would bring to light to any ‘shell companies’ operating abroad engaging in tax evasion gimmicks. A shell company is a subsidiary of a multinational set up in another country with lower corporate tax rates in order to ‘hide’ their liabilities from taxes in their home country. Apple has come under fire for setting up offices in Ireland, where they paid less corporate taxes than they would in America, but they are not alone. Osborne has stressed taxes should be paid where the profits are generated, whether it’s Apple, or a natural resource company mining in Africa. On Monday US President Obama and Cameron officially announced plans to create the ‘biggest bilateral trade deal in history’.
Putin: Didn’t feel isolated, not all G8 leaders agree Assad used chemical weapons
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| Russia's President Vladimir Putin speaks during a media conference at the conclusion of the G8 summit at the Lough Erne resort near Enniskillen in Northern Ireland on June 18, 2013.(AFP Photo / Matt Dunham) |
There is no proof that the Syrian government used chemical weapons, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during the G8 summit. Some of the G8 countries share this view, he added. “We do not have any facts of the use of such weapons by the Syrian government. I assure you, that by no means all the G8 members believe that they were used,” Putin said. The Russian President stressed he “never felt isolated” at the summit despite the difference in views, and said the G8 leaders have been seeking a common solution to the Syrian conflict. Supplying arms to the rebels based on unconfirmed reports that chemical weapons were used by the Assad government would further destabilize Syria, Putin warned. Putin urged Western nations not to be hasty in arming the Syrian opposition, saying that such weapons could fall into the wrong hands, or be uncontrollable.“I call on all our partners to think twice before making such steps. It is a very dangerous stuff,” the Russian president said, pointing to the “horrible” and “tragic” Woolwich murder. There are “loads of such criminals fighting for the [Syrian] opposition, who could commit a brutal murder like this,” he stressed. However, Putin did not rule out Russia signing new arms contracts with the Syrian government. The Russian president stressed that all such contracts comport with international law: “We are supplying arms under legal contracts to the legitimate government. It is the government of the President Assad. And if we are going to make such contracts, then we will deliver.” Russia and the United States will spearhead the development of a peace plan for Syria, Putin said. The G8 countries have agreed that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the US Secretary of State John Kerry will take on “main role and the main burden of responsibility” for working out the principles of the solution to the crisis, he added. Tuesday’s communique by the G8 nations calling for an end to the fighting in Syria represents a “much better outcome” than was expected, Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper said. Harper also apparently changed his view on Russia’s role in Syrian conflict talks, saying there has been “a very significant move on the part of Mr. Putin and the Russians.”
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Putin and Obama agree to push both sides in Syrian conflict to Geneva talks
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| U.S. President Barack Obama meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during the G8 Summit at Lough Erne in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland June 17, 2013. (Reuters / Kevin Lamarque) |
Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Barack Obama have
agreed to push the sides of the ongoing Syrian conflict to the
negotiating table in Geneva. The leaders made the pledge after a 2 hour
meeting at the G8 summit. “We have agreed to push the sides of the Syrian conflict to
come to the negotiating table at the international Geneva
conference,” Putin said. “On some points, we still have a different stance, but we are
united by an aspiration to prevent violence, to put an end to the
growing number of victims, to solve the problem by peaceful
means, including through negotiations at the international
conference at Geneva,” the Russian President added. President Obama conceded that he has a “different
perspective” on Syria than his Russian counterpart, but
confirmed that both countries have a shared interest in stopping
the violence and “securing chemical weapons” in
Syria. “We do have differing perspectives on the problem but we share
an interest in reducing the violence, securing chemical weapons
and ensuring that they're neither used nor are they subject to
proliferation,” Obama said. “We want to try to resolve the
issue through political means if possible.” In the meantime President Obama is set to announce a further $300
million in new humanitarian aid to Syria, which will bring the
total of US aid during the two-year civil war there to over $800
million. A little less than half of the new aid package will go
to Syria itself, with the rest being sent to neighboring
countries harboring Syrian refugees, the White House said on
Monday. Last week the Obama administration declared that Assad’s
government had crossed a red line, claiming new classified
evidence of chemical weapons use by government forces. As a
result, American officials went on the record supporting the idea
of military aid to the Syrian insurgency. Washington was also
reviewing the possibility of setting
up a no-fly zone in Syria that would extend 40km into its
territory and would be, officials told Reuters, used as a safe
haven for refugees and a platform to train rebels. Moscow spoke
out against the US plan to aid the rebels, saying Kremlin
officials were “unconvinced” by the US claim of
evidence. In addition to the discussion of Syria, during their nearly
two-hour-long talks the presidents also touched on a number of
sensitive issues including Iran, nuclear security and the
prevention of nuclear arms proliferation, as well as cyber
security and cooperation in fighting terrorism. “We spoke in detail about strategic security between the two
countries and the world in general. I think that we have
opportunities to move forward in the most sensitive areas,”
Putin said.
