Presenting Guest Blogger Grigory Pasko

By James Kimer | Published: January 10, 2007

(due to a spamming issue, I had to republish this entry, which originally appeared on November 10). We’re pleased to announce that www.robertamsterdam.com will be featuring an exclusive series of articles from one of Russia’s most well known investigative journalists, environmentalists, and civil society actors, Grigory Pasko. Grigory Pasko is a former naval officer and […]

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Belarus Close to Settling Oil Spat

By Robert Amsterdam | Published:

How long will Lukashenko play foil to Vladimir Putin? The Associated Press is reporting that the oil spat between Belarus and Russia may be coming to a close: Russia, Belarus ‘Settle Oil Row’ MINSK, Belarus (AP) — January 10, 2007 – Russia and Belarus have reached a compromise on their dispute that has halted oil […]

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More of the same

By Citizen M | Published:

The EU’s energy policy is still unconvincing By Derek Brower and Tom Nicholls, in Brussels The European Commission said today that it wants to create a single voice for European energy policy. But there was little in its new Energy Review to suggest that will happen soon. This is what we’ve heard from the Russians […]

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Independent: Beware of the Russian Bear

By James Kimer | Published:

From the Independent: Michael Harrison’s Outlook: ‘Beware the Russian bear’ is the motto Europe must adopt as it reviews its energy future Today sees the publication of the European Commission’s review of energy – a subject which has climbed remorselessly up the political agenda in recent years to the point where it has now assumed […]

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Robert Amsterdam in the International Herald Tribune: Get Tough With Gazprom

By James Kimer | Published:

Published in today’s International Herald Tribune: Get tough with Gazprom LONDON: European energy security By Robert R. Amsterdam The European Commission’s Strategic Energy Review, which will be issued on Wednesday, is likely to be the most important statement on energy in the EC’s history. To succeed, one of its top priorities must be equal terms […]

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Iran’s Oil Production Woes

By Robert Amsterdam | Published: January 9, 2007

From the IHT: Iran actually is short of oil By Roger Stern Iran has ensnared itself in a petroleum crisis that could drive its oil exports to zero by 2015. While Iran has the third- largest oil reserves in the world, its exports may be shrinking by 10 to 12 percent per year. How can […]

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Is Russia “Frighteningly Arrogant?”

By Robert Amsterdam | Published:

From Financial Times Deutschland, via Der Spiegel: The Kremlin has implemented a package of measures that is likely to push the Belarusian economy to the brink of collapse. The country’s scarcely reformed industry is highly dependent on the drip of what had to date been cheap Russian energy supplies. The EU, which has scaled down […]

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Russia-Belarus Gas War is a Wake Up Call

By James Kimer | Published:

From the Independent: Oil market gets the jitters after Russians close Belarus pipeline By Michael Harrison, Business Editor … The EU Energy Commissioner Andris Piebags said there was no immediate risk to Europe’s energy supplies. Nevertheless, Russia’s action will intensify pressure on the European Commission to take steps to bolster the security of Europe’s energy […]

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Druzhba Shut Down – Europe Cut Off from Russian Oil

By Robert Amsterdam | Published: January 8, 2007

Today news reports hit the wires reporting a temporary and as of yet unexplained shut down of oil exports from Russia to Europe via the Druzhba pipeline, which passes through Belarus. Apart from accusations of siphoning, there has been little information about who shut down the flow, or how and when the problem will be […]

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Russia Requires a Stronger Response, says Robin Shepherd

By Robert Amsterdam | Published:

In the upcoming edition of the Financial Times, Robin Shepherd of the German Marshall Fund of the United States argues that Europe has done “next to nothing” to mount a coherent response to Russian energy imperialism. Strong response to Putin’s Russia overdue By Robin Shepherd As Russia and Belarus sought to blame each other on […]

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