Russian-led bloc set to expand borders - Polidicks

[QUOTE]Today, a train car loaded with coal in Kazakhstan can rumble thousands of kilometres across the Eurasian steppes to a factory in Belarus, all without once clearing customs. Citizens of three former Soviet countries - Belarus, Russia and Kazakhstan - can work legally on the territory of one another's countries. And in a skyscraper in Moscow, hundreds of officials at a new international organization have quietly taken over trade policy for these three governments. After years of fits and starts, a Russian-backed idea to form a free-trade zone on the territory of much of the former Soviet Union is closer to fruition than ever before. Advertisement Adding to the momentum was the decision last week by the Ukrainian government to hold talks on aligning with this group, called the Customs Union, rather than with the European Union. Two other former Soviet states, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia, have also committed to joining this group, a sort of Eurasian version of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. ''The main Russian point here is to formalise a zone in which Russia has preferential economic interests and privileges,'' says Alexander Kliment, a Russian analyst at Eurasia Group in Washington. ''Russia has informally been trying to do that for the past 10 years. But the Kremlin wants a formal structure.'' Now, it has that structure. The decision by Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych to halt talks with the EU and turn instead to the Customs Union seems a pivotal moment. It also touched off protests in Kiev, illustrating how the choice was also about more than trade: the EU deal was also supposed to help democratise former Soviet states and spread Western values. Lost in the broader tug-of-war between east and west were the workaday advantages that the Russian-supported trade bloc is increasingly able to provide as more countries join. The bloc's larger population means companies that invest within the region, such as Ford, which builds cars in Russia, have more potential consumers without crossing a customs barrier. Read more: [url]http://www.smh.com.au/business/world-business/russialed-bloc-set-to-expand-borders-20131129-2yhf2.html#ixzz2m4tEHE5i[/url][/QUOTE]

"We'll make our own European Union. With blackjack. And hookers" Ridiculous

[QUOTE=Laserbeams;43020990]"We'll make our own European Union. With blackjack. And hookers" Ridiculous[/QUOTE] dont forget bribing corrupt political leaders to join the union and trying to blackmail small countries into joining ;))

[QUOTE=Turing;43021141]dont forget bribing corrupt political leaders to join the union and trying to blackmail small countries into joining ;))[/QUOTE] I don't doubt for a second that the leaders of Belarus and Kazakhstan actually wanted to join this trade union. But Ukraine won't join it, Yanukovich is pretty clear on this. He did not sign the association deal because he's trying to tell the EU that they cannot tell us who stays in jail and who doesn't

RISE OF THE FOURTH INTERNATIONAL WAKE UP SHEEPLE [editline]29th November 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=Laserbeams;43021296]I don't doubt for a second that the leaders of Belarus and Kazakhstan actually wanted to join this trade union. But Ukraine won't join it, Yanukovich is pretty clear on this. He did not sign the association deal because he's trying to tell the EU that they cannot tell us who stays in jail and who doesn't[/QUOTE] I read "Yanukovich" as "Yankovic" for a second and wondered why Weird Al was the president of the Ukraine

Russia, you already have so much land. You're the biggest country in the world and have been for centuries. Why do you constantly want to expand?

[QUOTE=Emperor Scorpious II;43024572]Russia, you already have so much land. You're the biggest country in the world and have been for centuries. Why do you constantly want to expand?[/QUOTE] Probably has something to do with 50% of it becoming a frozen wasteland in the winter and not that much better in the summer.

oh christ not again

It's USSR all over again, isn't it.

Cold War 2. Fight! ... U.S. hits economic breaking point and can offer no assistance. Western Europe doesn't really want to get involved. K.O.!!

I will be optimistic and hope that this will support integrity of European Union when people realize it might eventually be choice between EU or the Greater Russia.

[QUOTE=Burque-IL;43024866]Cold War 2. Fight! ... U.S. hits economic breaking point and can offer no assistance. Western Europe doesn't really want to get involved. K.O.!![/QUOTE] I'd become a terrorist before I'd become a russian citizen. Piece of shit government doesn't deserve the right to rule anybody.

[QUOTE=Miskav;43025030]I'd become a terrorist before I'd become a russian citizen. Piece of shit government doesn't deserve the right to rule anybody.[/QUOTE] I'm mostly certain these are just empty words.

[QUOTE=Radley;43025300]I'm mostly certain these are just empty words.[/QUOTE] You're going to feel pretty silly when you see international news footage of U.S. citizens on their rooftops, in the prone with AR's drawn.

[QUOTE=Burque-IL;43025322]You're going to feel pretty silly when you see international news footage of U.S. citizens on their rooftops, in the prone with AR's drawn.[/QUOTE] What?

[QUOTE=Burque-IL;43024866]Cold War 2. Fight! ... U.S. hits economic breaking point and can offer no assistance. Western Europe doesn't really want to get involved. K.O.!![/QUOTE] iirc this is the opening prologue to the original Red Dawn :v:

[QUOTE=Burque-IL;43025322]You're going to feel pretty silly when you see international news footage of U.S. citizens on their rooftops, in the prone with AR's drawn.[/QUOTE] You think Russia will invade America? Am I in a Call of Duty game?

[QUOTE=Burque-IL;43025322]You're going to feel pretty silly when you see international news footage of U.S. citizens on their rooftops, in the prone with AR's drawn.[/QUOTE] Am I actually?

[IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BaVojELCAAEd8A6.jpg[/IMG] police have tear gas and rubber beating sticks protestors have plastic tubes and wooden bludegons

[QUOTE=BusterBluth;43026146]What?[/QUOTE] *A Large number of Americans will literally DIE to protect their right to own a firearm. [editline]1st December 2013[/editline] [QUOTE=IrishBandit;43026951]You think Russia will invade America? Am I in a Call of Duty game?[/QUOTE] Way bad reading dude.

[QUOTE=Turing;43028028][IMG]https://pbs.twimg.com/media/BaVojELCAAEd8A6.jpg[/IMG] police have tear gas and rubber beating sticks protestors have plastic tubes and wooden bludegons[/QUOTE] Protestors should have used a Demigod instead [editline]2nd December 2013[/editline] [i]i hope someone get the reference[/i]