back to pre-war condition of 1939

NATO is significantly increasing its military presence in the Black Sea basin. According to the head of the European Command of the Armed Forces U.S. Admiral James Stavridis, U.S. Marine Corps will expand its activities in the Black Sea region. According to the official version of Stavridis, who, incidentally, at the same time holds the position of Supreme Allied Commander (OER) of NATO in Europe, the increase in the number of U.S. Marines is due to the need for training of the allied forces for their further deployment to Afghanistan. According to Stavridis, in 2011 the U.S. has planned various kinds of interaction with as many as 14 Black Sea region countries, to include the preparation of the Armies of partner states for deployment to Afghanistan and training their sergeant staff. However, he did not specify which countries he had in mind. Even if we were to include Moldavia in the list of the countries of the Black Sea region, there would not be as many as 14 states. Russia, Ukraine, Romania, Bulgaria, Turkey and Georgia have full access to the Black Sea. The interaction with the Russian side is obviously not planned. Perhaps, Stavridis had in mind the countries of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation that include Armenia, Azerbaijan, Greece, Serbia and Albania? In this case we have only 11 potential partners of America in the region. Moreover, Armenia and Serbia are reluctant to send their troops to the Afghan war. Stavridis may have included Poland to the list of the Black Sea region countries. According to his confession, along with two Georgian battalions, his subordinates have prepared a couple of Polish brigades. Given the old dream of the Polish elite to be stretching "from one sea to another," it is clearly not opposed to be among the Black Sea region countries. Yet, this does not give an exhaustive answer about Washington's plans in the region. Even more questions arise concerning the preparation for the Afghan operation. First, the Georgian military will be prepared for operations against the Taliban not in Afghanistan but at home, although the terrains of the two countries differ markedly. Second, according to Stavridis, the parties have already commenced joint exercises. In the course of the exercise the forces of the U.S. Navy practiced the use of unmanned aerial vehicles that ran on board the ships, and other maneuvers. A key role was played by warships that clearly practiced strikes at the coast. It also seems a bit strange, because even if they wanted, they would not be able to send the fleet to Afghanistan. At the same time, the Royal Marines of the British Royal Navy are conducting strange trainings with their Ukrainian counterparts near the main base of the Russian Black Sea Fleet. The trainings are held in the Old Crimea, at the base of the Black Sea Marine Corps training center of coastal defense troops of the Ukrainian Navy. According to the legend of the maneuvers, they represent "workshops to share experiences in carrying out peacekeeping missions." What are the real objectives pursued by NATO countries in the region? A captain of 1st rank, 1st Vice-President of the Academy of Geopolitical Issued answered this question for Pravda.ru: "The Americans, in addition to the preparation of cannon meat from the satellite countries for participation in the punitive operations against Afghanistan, are preparing for combat action in the Black Sea area. This time it will no longer be a local conflict like the war of 2008, but a large-scale war. It suffices to recall the statement made by head of the Academy of Military Sciences Gareev on March 26 where he touched upon this topic. In addition, this same conclusion can be drawn from the available data on building groups of NATO in the Black Sea basin and at Russia's western borders. The U.S. is starting to deploy new military bases in Poland and upgrade existing ones to receive a much larger number of troops. The military buildup of NATO to Russian borders clearly indicates that the preparation for aggression is in full swing. We must pay tribute to U.S. troops by saying that the preparation for a strike against a possible military adversary is in all respects conducted at the highest professional level. The fact that the British, with the approval of our Ukrainian brothers, are honing the skills of warfare in the Crimea near Sevastopol, too, speaks volumes. These are the links of one chain, because since the establishment of the Rockefeller, International oligarchic capital has adopted a common policy of aggression against other countries. In fact, if we draw historical parallels, the world is in a state of 1939, i.e., before the start of a global war, whose precursor is the aggression of the U.S. and its satellites against Iraq and Afghanistan, and this time against Libya. The only question is when this "Black Sea Libya" happens. It is not that the Americans and their European satellites are the bad guys, it's just that the prosperity of their economies depends on the control of the world's raw materials resources. In a crisis, they have no other choice. With regard to the outbreak of the conflict with Russia, there are more than enough reasons for it." For example, the Georgian scenario may be played out again, or the Libyan scenario may be attempted as well. The West is very sensitive to terrorist groups operating in the North Caucasus. A look at the western press is sufficient to understand how these events are covered. After another successful raid carried out against militants, NATO can submit a voice in defense of the "revolutionaries and guerrillas," and further continue to operate under the planned scenario.

Reason for war? Gaddafi wanted to nationalise oil

The Libyan leader proposed the nationalisation of U.S. oil companies, as well as those of UK, Germany, Spain, Norway, Canada and Italy in 2009. On January 25, 2009, Muammar Al Gaddafi announced that his country was studying the nationalisation of foreign companies due to lower oil prices. "The oil-exporting countries should opt for nationalisation because of the rapid fall in oil prices. We must put the issue on the table and discuss it seriously," said Gaddafi. "Oil should be owned by the State at this time, so we could better control prices by the increase or decrease in production," said the Libyan leader. These statements have worried the main foreign companies operating in Libya: Anglo-Dutch Shell, British Petroleum, U.S. ExxonMobil, Hess Corp., Marathon Oil, Occidental Petroleum and ConocoPhillips, the Spanish Repsol, Germany's Wintershall, Austria's OMV , Norway's Statoil, Eni and Canada's Petro Canada. In 2008, the Libyan state oil company, National Oil, prepared a report on the subject in which officials suggested modifying the production-sharing agreements with foreign companies in order to increase state revenues. As a result of these contract changes, Libya gained 5.4 billion dollars in oil revenues. On February 16, 2009, Gaddafi took a step further and called on Libyans to back his proposal to dismantle the government and to distribute the oil wealth directly to the 5 million inhabitants of the country. However, his plan to deliver oil revenues directly to the Libyan people met opposition by senior officials who could lose their jobs due to a parallel plan by Gaddafi to rid the state of corruption. Some officials, including Prime Minister Al-Baghdadi, Ali Al-Mahmoudi and Farhat Omar Bin Guida, of the Central Bank, told Gaddafi that the measure could harm the country's economy in the long term due to "capital flight." "Do not be afraid to directly redistribute the oil money and create fairer governance structures that respond to people's interests," Gaddafi said in a Popular Committee. The Popular Committees are the backbone of Libya. Through them citizens are represented at the district level. "The Administration has failed and the state's economy has failed. Enough is enough. The solution is for the Libyan people to directly receive oil revenues and decide what to do with them," Gaddafi said in a speech broadcast on state television. To this end, the Libyan leader urged a radical reform of government bureaucracy. Despite this, senior Libyan government officials voted to delay Gaddafi's plans. Only 64 ministers from a total of 468 Popular Committee members voted for the measure. There were 251 who saw the measures as positive, but chose to delay their implementation. Given the rejection of the Committee, Gaddafi affirmed before a public meeting: "My dream during all these years was to give the power and wealth directly to the people." So...another big LIE falls by the wayside, the false image of Ghaddafi the dictator who robs from his people. So far we have had pictures of pro-Ghaddafi demonstrations being portrayed as being against him. The professional, foreign and Photoshop nature of anti-Ghaddafi posters being bandied about were noted, along with signs being held upside down by people not knowing the alphabet placed on the signs. We have had pictures of one sided battles where heavily armed terrorists are "fighting" with nobody. We have had reports, glaringly false, that Ghaddafi was fleeing the country. We have had more than enough reports of bombings against his own people that never happened, as well as attacks against "unarmed civilians" that proved to be incorrect. It is patently obvious that there are no "unarmed civilians" involved in these actions against Ghaddafi, but CIA and other intelligence service mercenaries, foreign elements and Al Qaeda. It has been brought to light that the living standard in Libya is the highest in Africa and that Libya was to be commended for its human rights record. How many lies do we have to catch them in before somebody in charge buys a clue? It's no sale! They try to portray Ghaddafi as crazy when he speaks of fighting Al Qaeda and now they have to admit it's true.Two documents strongly back Gaddafi on this issue, according to the findings of Alexander Cockburn. "The first is a secret cable to the State Department from the US embassy in Tripoli in 2008, part of the WikiLeaks trove, entitled, "Extremism in Eastern Libya," which revealed that this area is rife with anti-American, pro-jihad sentiment. The second document, or rather set of documents, are the so-called Sinjar Records, captured al-Qaeda documents that fell into American hands in 2007. They were duly analysed by the Combating Terrorism Center at the US Military Academy at West Point. Al-Qaeda is a bureaucratic outfit and the records contain precise details on personnel, including those who came to Iraq to fight American and coalition forces and, when necessary, commit suicide. The West Point analysts' statistical study of the al-Qaeda personnel records concludes that one country provided "far more" foreign fighters in per capita terms than any other: namely, Libya." So who is the crazy one? Obviously that gang of lunatics savagely launching attacks on Libya based on the worst collection of lies in the history of the world. If you want to know where they are headed, just look at their track record, littered with genocide, theft and destruction. More and more evidence is surfacing that this entire operation has been planned from outside (read U.S. and EU) for quite some time. First surround (Egypt and Tunisia), then invade. Wesley Clarke revealed the laundry list which included Libya. In the U.S., there is a particulary motley group of interventionist war mongers who don't know what they're doing: Susan Rice, Hillary Clinton and Samantha Power, obviously sexually frustrated and repressed man hating lesbians who want to prove they are he-men. We are also seeing attacks on residential areas, many civilians being killed. There have been attacks on Ghaddafi's living area, a clear attempt at assassination. Today intelligence also reports they plan a ground invasion. The fascists of the west never change. The term "humanitarian bombing" reminds of George Orwell doublespeak. One can only heartily agree on Gaddafi's statement: They are "a group of crazy fascists that will end in the garbage dump of history." History will surely judge them on the same page as Adolph Hitler

Ninth Congress announces new Party leaders, adopts resolution

The Ninth Party Congress ended yesterday with the announcement of members of the Politburo, Secretariat, and Inspection Committee, and adoption of the resolution marking its successful outcome.

Mr Choummaly Sayasone was re-elected as Secretary General of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party for a second term .

The number of Politburo members remained at 11, of whom one is a woman, but the number of the new Party Central Committee increased to 61, of whom five are women.

Mr Sisavat Keobounphanh and Mr Saman Vinhaket, who were elected as Politburo members at the Eighth Party Congress, retired, opening up an opportunity for other Party Central Committee members to be promoted to a Politburo post.

Mass celebration marks Party's founding anniversary, success of 9th Congress

More than 1,000 people gathered at the National Culture Hall in Vientiane yesterday to mark the 56th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party (LPRP) and celebrate the achievements of the Ninth Party Congress.

Party Secretary General Choummaly Sayasone attends a gathering at the National Culture Hall in Vientiane to mark the founding of the Party and achievements of the Ninth Party Congress.
New Party leaders elected during the Ninth Party Congress, which closed on Monday, also attended the gathering, including Secretary General Choummaly Sayasone, Politburo and Party Central Committee members.

Vientiane Mayor Sombat Yialiher highlighted the Party's background since its establishment in leading the Lao people to fight for national liberation, as well as the various development achievements under its leadership.

He said the Party was founded on March 22, 1955, having had origins in the Indochina Communist Party, led by Ho Chi Minh at the time.

The establishment of the LPRP marked the first time that the Lao people had leadership in the revolutionary fight for freedom against foreign aggressors.
“The establishment of the Party was in response to the needs of Lao people, who wanted a party to lead their fight and encourage all Lao people to make sacrifices for their nation,” Mr Sombat said.

“After its establishment, the Party led the Lao people to fight against foreign colonialists for 20 years and won on all battlefields before the achievement of national liberation in 1975.”
Over the past five years, Laos continued to maintain political stability, security and social order, facilitating a fast rate of national development.

In this time, the Lao economy continued to grow by on average 7.9 percent per year and the family poverty rate fell from almost 28 percent in 2002-03 to just over 20 percent in 2009-10.
Other achievements include rice production reaching 2.9 million tonnes per year, 72 percent of households gaining access to electricity and the school enrolment of children aged 6 to 10 years reaching 93 percent.

Mr Sombat said the outstanding achievements have given Lao people reason to place increasing trust in the leadership of the Party in terms of national protection and development.
There are now 14,269 Party units throughout Vientiane and the provinces, with 191,700 Party members. Every year, about 7,641 intellectuals become new Party members.

“Over the past 56 years, our Party has always paid attention to recognising the Marxism-Leninism doctrine and applying it to the development of a political directive to reflect the reality of the country,” Mr Sombat said. Held from March 17-21, the Ninth Party Congress has approved of a resolution stipulating the key goals for the country to achieve in the next five years through a ‘breakthrough step'.

One of the key goals includes economic growth of at least 8 percent per year and annual per capita income of US$1,700.

The goals for 2015 also include rice production of 4.2 million tonnes, tourist arrivals of 2.8 million, family poverty levels of less than 10 percent and 99 percent literacy among people of all ethnic groups aged 15-24 years.

The sixty-one member Central Committee of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party elected at its 9th Congress, March 17-21, 2011

Mr Choummaly Sayasone
Mr Thongsing Thammavong
Mr Bounnhang Vorachit
Dr Thongloun Sisoulith
Ms Pany Yathortou
Mr Asang Laoly
Lieutenant General Duangchay Phichit
Mr Somsavat Lengsavad
Dr Bounthong Chitmany
Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong
Dr Phankham Viphavanh
Dr Thongbanh Seng-aphone
Mr Chansy Phosikham
Mr Soukanh Mahalath
Major General Sengnouan Xayalath
Mr Cheuang Sombounkhanh
Dr Xaysomphone Phomvihane
Mr Somphanh Phengkhammy
Ms Onechanh Thammavong
Dr Phimmasone Leuangkhamma
Mr Khammanh Sounvileuth
Dr Chaleun Yiapaoher
Mr Soulivong Daravong
Ms Bounpheng Mounphosay
Dr Phandouangchit Vongsa
Mr Khamboun Douangpanya
Major General Chansamone Chanyalath
Dr Khampheuy Panmalaythong
Mr Vilayvanh Phomkhe
Mr Khamsane Souvong
Dr Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune
Dr Khamphanh Phommathat
Prof.Dr Somkot Mangnomek
Mr Sonesay Siphandone
Dr Nam Vinhaket
Mr Tong Yerthor
Ms Sisay Leudetmounsone
Major General Sanyahak Phomvihane
Prof. Dr Kikeo Khaykhamphithoune
Mr Khambay Damlath
Mr Sommad Pholsena
Mr Somdy Douangdy
Mr Phouphet Khamphounvong
Prof.Dr Bosengkham Vongdara
Dr Lien Thikeo
Prof. Dr Eksavang Vongvichit
Mr Khamla Lorlonsy
Mr Xaysi Santivong
Dr Khampheng Saysompheng
Mr Khamhoung Heuangvongsy
Brigadier General Souvone Leuangbounmy
Mr Khammeung Phongthady
Brigadier General Somkeo Silavong
Mr Khamjane Vongphosy
Mr Pan Noymany
Prof. Dr Soukkongseng Saignaleuth
Mr Khamphanh Sitthidampha
Mr Khamla Lingnasone
Mr Khampheuy Bouddavieng
Ms Sounthone Xayachack
Brigadier General Thongloy Silivong
The first plenary session of the Party Central Committee elected an eleven-member Political Bureau, nine-member Secretariat and seven-member Inspection Committee.
Political Bureau
Secretariat
Inspection Committee
1. Mr Choummaly Sayasone
2. Mr Thongsing Thammavong
3. Mr Bounnhang Vorachit
4. Dr Thongloun Sisoulith
5. Ms Pany Yathortou
6. Mr Asang Laoly
7. Lieutenant General Douangchay Phichit
8. Mr Somsavat Lengsavad
9. Dr Bounthong Chitmany
10. Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong
11. Dr Phankham Viphavanh Mr Choummaly Sayasone is re-elected as Party Secretary General.
1. Mr Choummaly Sayasone
2. Mr Bounnhang Vorachit
3. Dr Bounthong Chitmany
4. Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong
5. Dr Thongbanh Seng-aphone
6. Mr Chansy Phosikham
7. Mr Soukanh Mahalath
8. Major General Sengnouan Xayalath
9. Mr Cheuang Sombounkhanh
Mr Bounnhang Vorachit is re-elected as Secretariat Standing Member
1. Dr Bounthong Chitmany
2. Mr Thongsy Ouanlasy
3. Mr Sinay Mienglavanh
4. Mr Khamsuan Chanthavong
5. Mr Khamsouk Bounyavong
6. Mr Singphet Bounsavatthiphanh
7. Mr Bounpone Sangsomsak Dr Bounthong Chitmany is elected as President of the Inspection Committee.

Party approves new measure to boost development

The Lao People's Revolutionary Party has come up with a new approach to accelerate and sustain national development.

The newly elected Party Central Committee of the 9th Party Congress yesterday approved a resolution giving the green light for the Party to implement the newly proposed ‘four breakthrough steps' to accelerate development of the landlocked country within next five years.
The introduction of the new breakthrough approach is in line with implementation of the Party's renovation policy, which was adopted in 1986, aiming to bring the country into socialism driven by a market oriented economy.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday, re-elected Politburo member Mr Somsavat Lengsavad said that the first of the four breakthroughs, which the Party will complete within the next five years, is to relieve the minds of people from old stereotypes, complacency and extremism.

“If we want to develop our nation, we have to rely on specificity of the country. We cannot copy development models from other countries. But it does not mean that we do not want to learn development lessons from other countries,” he said in response to questions from foreign diplomats and journalists.

Mr Somsavat, who is also Standing Deputy Prime Minister, said that the second breakthrough was to develop human resources, which had an important role in socio-economic development in Laos as the country is living under a new era of the intellect based economy.

“Under international integration circumstances, there are both opportunities and challenges, therefore we have to have human resources with knowledge and competence so they can integrate Laos with the international community and ensure fruit from the integration,” he said.
He said that the Party had agreed to prioritise the development of human resources and invest more funds to develop the health sector to ensure that Lao people benefit from knowledge and health, adding that education development and health are two of the millennium development goals which the Party is striving to achieve.

“The Party Congress has backed public investment plans, which the National Assembly has already approved, to invest 30 percent of state funds in the economic sector, 35 percent into social sectors including education, health and cultural affairs, and 35 percent for development of public infrastructure,” he said.

The third breakthrough is to address administrative procedures and management which impede commercial productivity rates and services, he said, adding that the Party Congress has learnt that a number of business and trade barriers remain, hindering investment.
He said the government had already imposed a policy to set up a single window service to facilitate investment, but the move had not worked effectively.

“The third breakthrough is very important and needs to be addressed within five years otherwise we will not be able to boost commercial production,” he said.
He also said that implementation of the third breakthrough step would be made as the country joins other Asean member states to implement the Asean Free Trade Area, as well as continuing to work towards World Trade Organisation membership.

Mr Somsavat said the fourth breakthrough step was to address poverty, adding that the Party congress had given guidance to mobilise funds from all available avenues to address poverty, from both domestic and foreign sources, adding that the Party had agreed to allow the government to offer investment incentives in rural areas.

In terms of household poverty reduction, Mr Somsavat said the Party expected to reduce the proportion of poor families in Laos from 20 percent of the population to 10 percent in 2015.

Ninth Congress announces new Party leaders, adopts resolution

The Ninth Party Congress ended yesterday with the announcement of members of the Politburo, Secretariat, and Inspection Committee, and adoption of the resolution marking its successful outcome.

Retired Politburo member Mr Sisavat Keobounphanh (second right) congratulates Mr Choummaly Sayasone at the closing ceremony of the 9 th Congress yesterday, while former Party leader and President of Laos, Mr Khamtay Siphandone, looks on.
Mr Choummaly Sayasone was re-elected as Secretary General of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party for a second term .

The number of Politburo members remained at 11, of whom one is a woman, but the number of the new Party Central Committee increased to 61, of whom five are women.
Mr Sisavat Keobounphanh and Mr Saman Vinhaket, who were elected as Politburo members at the Eighth Party Congress, retired, opening up an opportunity for other Party Central Committee members to be promoted to a Politburo post.

The three new Politburo members elected at the congress are Dr Bounthong Chitmany, Dr Bounpone Bouttanavong and Dr Phankham Viphavanh.

Other Politburo members include Mr Thongsing Thammavong, Mr Bounnhang Vorachit, Dr Thongloun Sisoulith, Ms Pany Yathortou, Mr Asang Laoly, Lieutenant General Douangchay Phichit and Mr Somsavat Lengsavad.

The Secretariat Committee of the Party Central Committee comprises nine comrades, namely Mr Choummaly Sayasone, Mr Bounnhang Vorachit, Mr Bounthong Chitmany, Mr Bounpone Bouttanavong, Mr Thongbanh Seng-aphone, Chansy Phosikham, Soukanh Mahalath, Major General Sengnuan Xayalath and Cheuang Sombounkhanh.

Mr Bounnhang Vorachit was elected as Standing Member of the Party Secretariat Committee and Mr Bounthong Chitmany was elected as President of the seven member Inspection Committee of the Party Central Committee.

The 61 members of the Party Central Committee were elected from a total of 69 candidates and voted for by the 576 delegates, representing more than 191,700 Party members nationwide, who attended the five-day congress, which officially opened on March 17.

Just over 39 percent of the new executive committee is aged 60 or over, while just over 57 percent are aged between 45 and 59. The oldest committee member is 75 and the youngest is 42. Almost 36 percent of committee members hold a doctorate degree.

The Party delegates also approved the Resolution of the Ninth Party Congress, which stipulates the key goals for the country to achieve in the next five years, before the newly re-elected Mr Choummaly Sayasone delivered his keynote speech to officially close the congress yesterday.
The Ninth Party Congress was conducted in a constructive atmosphere, with all delegates taking on high responsibility and working hard to ensure its success.

The Party was founded on March 22, 1955, and the Party Congress is held every five years to highlight the preceding five years' achievements and to set goals for the next five years.
The first Congress of the Party was held in 1955 at Ban Nameo in Viengxay district, Huaphan province, with only 25 representatives out of 420 Party members nationwide in attendance.
The Eighth Party Congress took place in Vientiane in March, 2006, and saw Mr Choummaly Sayasone elected as Party Secretary General, replacing Party President Khamtay Siphandone.
Mr Somsavat Lengsavad and Mrs Pany Yathortou were first elected as Politburo members at the Eighth Congress, marking the first time that a woman was elected to this position.
The Eighth Congress was attended by 498 delegates representing 148,590 Party members nationwide.

A crowd of people will gather today in Vientiane to recognise the achievements of the Ninth Party Congress, as well as to mark the 56th anniversary of the founding of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party.