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Moscow Times: German Sources Say Russia Might Price Its Oil in Euros

Discussion in 'BBS Hangout: Debate & Discussion' started by JeffB, Oct 8, 2003.

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  1. JeffB

    JeffB Member

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    German Sources Say Russia Might Price Its Oil in Euros

    Combined Reports

    YEKATERINBURG, Ural Mountains -- Russia is increasingly looking at pricing oil sales in euros instead of dollars, reflecting the euro's growing role as a reserve currency, German government sources said Wednesday.

    "The question is taking on increasing significance," a person travelling with German Chancellor Gerhard Schr?der on an official visit to Russia said.

    A switch into euros by Russia, the second-biggest oil exporter behind Saudi Arabia and holder of the world's largest natural gas reserves, would represent a major shift in the balance of currencies behind the world's most traded commodity.

    European leaders have long expressed interest in seeing energy contracts priced in euros rather than dollars to promote the currency and boost price stability in the European Union.

    Most energy contracts are settled in dollars, meaning that for European buyers, trade in gas and oil is subject not only to fluctuations in their market prices but also to variations in the value of the U.S. currency. In 1999, just after Vladimir Putin became prime minister, he laid out a proposal to move Russia's trade out of dollars and into euros.

    A Russian Energy Ministry official said he could not confirm the report. "We cannot confirm this information. No talks are taking place on the issue. The ministry draws up export timetables, but does not deal with financial issues on oil supplies," the source said. (Reuters, MT)
     
    #1 JeffB, Oct 8, 2003
  2. MacBeth

    MacBeth Member

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    AND we know for a fact that they have WMDs....
     
    #2 MacBeth, Oct 8, 2003
  3. DaDakota

    DaDakota Balance wins
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    If they trade in Euros we cut off their free aid....pretty simple really.

    DD
     
    #3 DaDakota, Oct 8, 2003
  4. MacBeth

    MacBeth Member

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    I'm pretty sure that they are aware that not being able to profit from the transaction makes it likely that we would cease our...er...altruism...
     
    #4 MacBeth, Oct 9, 2003
  5. treeman

    treeman Member

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    We're seeing the creation of a new axis here: France-Germany-Russia (although I sense that Germany is a bit unsure of this). I have been saying for a while - since long before Iraq - that this axis would materialize, as all of these countries want to sculpt themselves as a counterbalance to the American-Anglo alliance. Not surprising, really, and nothing we can really do about it. It is inevitable that something arises to replace the unipolar unbalance we have right now, much as I like that unbalance. Hey, better them than China... I guess.

    Although I'm sure that MacBeth will propose that we just sign on the dotted line of the surrender document right now and just get it all over with, so that we can get on with the more important business of erasing all of our national identities and forming a single world government under Chirac's gentle direction. :)
     
    #5 treeman, Oct 9, 2003
  6. MacBeth

    MacBeth Member

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    Uh-huh...


    One question:


    In that two of the three nations you cite as Axis; France and Russia, were, unlike the US, original members of the Allies during the past two World Wars...why do they get the club name with the negative assossication in your little fantasy? Our side only has one...England. We got in late in both...
     
    #6 MacBeth, Oct 9, 2003
  7. treeman

    treeman Member

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    Yopu mean why aren't I calling us the Axis and them the Allies?

    MacBeth, are you trying to imply that we're fascists again? Now, now, I think that if anyone is deserving of that title, it would be France (belligerent national socialism) and Russia (ruthless oligarchy).

    Also, when was the last time either of them freed anyone else from tyranny? Never, huh? I think that earns us the title to "Good-Guy" status a little more than them...
     
    #7 treeman, Oct 9, 2003
  8. MacBeth

    MacBeth Member

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    Uh...where to begin....


    Ok: The French are currently deployed in Liberia...trying to, as you so quaintly put it, free people from tyranny. But they have a long history of it...including such notable instances as The American Revolution, ending the Holy Roman Empire, ending the Austrian rule of norhtern Italy, etc. etc.

    And what on earth does belligerent national socialism have to do with the Nazis? Don't tell me you're falling for the name thing? The National Socialist Party were no more socialist than the People's Republic of China have a lot in common with the Republican party, or the res publica of Rome.


    And where do you find the basis for 'belligerent'? for the French, or ruthless for the Russians? We have been in for more wars than the French in the past..oh, 5, 15, 25, 50 years..pick one...And how, exactly, do you measure ruthlessness?

    And as to which party has the most in common, let's see? ( This wasn't my point, to begin with, just wondering what...objective...lol..basis you used for your ascribing us..surprise...the white hats...but I'm game)

    In the late 1930's, claiming it was in order to protect the victims of tyranny and terrorism, contrary to global opinion, Germany invaded other nations, and then went about setting them up modelled along the same lines of it's own government. The League of Nations, among others, spoke out in opposition to these moves of aggression, but the leader ofGermany said it was, in fact, an act of self defense, as Germanic speaking peoples within Austria and other nations were being victimized, and plots were afoot to strike against Germany with terrorist attacks. When the LoN didn't buy this argument, Germany essentially called them irrelelvent, and as they possessed the most formidible military and economic power of the time, they could do as they pleased.

    In the early 2000's, claiming it was....you see where I'm going with this.

    Now, rememeber, I am not saying we are the Nazis...but when asking whether we fit the bill better than France, clearly we do...
     
    #8 MacBeth, Oct 9, 2003
  9. treeman

    treeman Member

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    Rather than spend all night arguing with you about this, and I don't have time for it (and my fiance gets mad at me for it), I will just say: You're right. We're Nazis. We're the Unholy Axis, and the French, Germans, and Russians are the Glorious Allies who will save the world from our tyranny.

    Long live Chirac!
     
    #9 treeman, Oct 9, 2003
  10. Mango

    Mango Member

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    France in Cote D'Ivoire I know about. France in Liberia is news to me.
     
    #10 Mango, Oct 9, 2003
  11. MacBeth

    MacBeth Member

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    Uh, to be fair tree, you brought the analogy up...I just asked for accuracy and/or openmindedness about it...


    Your fiance gets mad at you for arguing with me, or just for arguing on here? Am actually intrigued.
     
    #11 MacBeth, Oct 9, 2003
  12. Zion

    Zion Member

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    Wow, you are so smart. How do you come up with these amazing ideas?
     
    #12 Zion, Oct 9, 2003
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