euro|topics - Gabor Stier

Stier, Gabor

4 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.

Magyar Nemzet - Hungary | 07/01/2009

Ukraine is taking a huge risk

The conservative daily Magyar Nemzet fears that Ukraine could end up as the big loser of the gas dispute. "Ukraine needs to grasp the following: It can't open up to the West on the one hand and continue to hang on Russia's apron strings - as it did in Soviet days - at the same time. ... For its part Europe can't simply abandon Ukraine, which is on the brink of ruin, to its fate. But it is becoming increasingly clear to the EU that in order to secure its energy supplies, in addition to the planned Nabucco pipeline it also needs the Russian North Stream and South Stream pipelines currently under construction. Kiev is therefore taking a great risk: If the plans for these [pipelines] go ahead, it will not only lose import transit revenues, it is also likely to lose the active support of its big brother, the United States."

Magyar Nemzet - Hungary | 25/08/2008

Geopolitics on the rise

The conflict in the Caucasus prompts the conservative newspaper Magyar Nemzet to predict a global increase in geopolitical conflicts. "It is obvious that only on the surface is this crisis about South Ossetia and Georgia. It is really about the conflict between the great powers - in this case Washington and Moscow - for influence. ... Geopolitics is resuming a leading role on the international stage. The events along that axis that stretches from the Middle East to the Caspian region are testimony to this. The military scenarios in Afghanistan and Iraq, American pressure on Iran and the current conflict in the Caucasus belong in this context. Georgia is just a figure on this chess board - however as the current conflict shows - not just a pawn. ... The Kremlin is doing nothing different in the Caucasus today to what the United States did in 1999 in the Balkans. Back then the US prepared for a military battle against Serbia. The Kosovo script is being played out once more. It serves as a precedent and provides Russia with a basis for military intervention."

Magyar Nemzet - Hungary | 11/08/2008

Saakashvili's war

The conservative newspaper Magyar Nemzet lays the blame for the escalation of the conflict in South Ossetia squarely on the shoulders of Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili: "Mikheil Saakashvili is in difficulties. ... Although he dominates the world's press with his rhetoric, at times proclaiming victory, at times ranting about Russian aggression or democracy and Western values (after crushing demonstrations, committing electoral fraud and reducing the South Ossetian capital Tskhinvali to rubble), and despite the tailwind from the West, one thing is nevertheless clear: The Georgian president has grossly miscalculated. ... Saakashvili and Georgia may have started the biggest international conflict in recent years. ... The Georgian president has confused his desires with reality, and blatantly misjudged the situation. ... He did not seriously reckon with retaliation by Moscow, for example. Either that or he simply planned to blame Russia. ... In any event, Saakashvili has clearly shot an own goal."

Magyar Nemzet - Hungary | 02/03/2006

Putin's new policies in eastern Europe

A meeting between Vladimir Putin and opposition leader Viktor Orban in Hungary has been cancelled. Gabor Stier suspects this was the result of government intervention in the context of election campaign tactics. "This last-minute cancellation is unusual in that it doesn't fit in with Putin's pragmatic foreign policy, and is reminiscent of a long-gone era. Putin's statement regarding events in 1956 must have been aimed at placating the Hungarian conservatives and – perhaps out of gratitude for the government's friendly gestures – he cancelled the meeting with Mr. Orban, the leader of the opposition. It's hard to believe that there was no hidden agenda behind the timing of this state visit – just one month before the elections. The opportunity to establish Russian-Hungarian relations on a new basis entirely free of ideological and emotional conflicts has been missed."

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