The anti-Semitism of many of the “reformers” that have seized power in Kiev does not fit with the narrative that the U.S. government is trying to push, so the mainstream media conveniently turns a blind eye to the fact that the United States is essentially helping neo-Nazis take power. In fact, leaders of the Svoboda Party have been appointed to numerous important positions throughout the new government. As you will read about below, the head of the Svoboda Party has denounced the “criminal activities” of “organized Jewry”, another top Svoboda official regularly quotes Joseph Goebbels, and the Party itself was known as “the Social-National Party” (in reference to National Socialists) until 2004. There is a long history of anti-Semitism in Ukraine, but our politicians in Washington D.C. don’t seem to care about that. All they seem to care about is making sure that there is not a pro-Russian government in Ukraine no matter what the cost.

Earlier this week, a synagogue in the country’s southeast was firebombed. There have been multiple reported beatings of Jews and acts of vandalism at Kiev synagogues. A leading rabbi in Kiev has called for Jews to leave the city and the country, if possible—though he later said he was stressing that it’s dangerous for everyone out there—and the Israeli embassy has reportedly advised members of the Jewish community to stay off the streets.

Lithuania torpedoing Rail Baltic - paper
19.12.2013, 14:07

Lithuanian government seems determined to slam on the brakes in setting up of the Rail Baltic joint venture, writes Postimees.

Among others, the Lithuanian government claims that Lithuanian laws do not allow to set up such a joint venture, that the wording of the agreement on setting up the joint venture is not acceptable and that the general manager of the Rail Baltic joint venture should be appointed by the Lithuanian Prime Minister.

But all this issues seem to be artificially brought out, say experts. The core problem is that Lithuania is not interested in Rail Baltic because it would affect the interest of Lithuanian state railway company.

Today and tomorrow, Kaunas will host another meeting of delegations of the three Baltic countries to discuss the latest Lithuanian demand that the Rail Baltic must go through Vilnius. This demand has surprised Estonia and Latvia because Lithuanians had agreed from the start that the route will go through Kaunas instead of Vilnius.

Now that Lithuanians have brought Vilnius into play, it seems like another excuse not to go forward with the project.

When Postimees asked Estonian and Latvian partners for comment, they said they better not say it because it would give Lithuanians another reason to complain.

As one informed source summed it up: Lithuanians are lying, Estonians and Latvians know that they are lying and Lithuanians know that Estonians and Latvians know it. The problem is that none of this is bringing the project closer into reality.

On Tuesday, the Lithuanian parliament told the government to prepare a feasibility and funding analysis for Rail Baltic for the route through Vilnius.

While the previous Lithuanian government supported Rail Baltic, things changed when the current coalition came to power. More specifically, the Lithuanian government and transport minister are now much more interested on the views of Lithuanian Railways, or are even dependent on it.

And Lithuanian Railways sees the north-south transport route as its competitor because it is putting its weight behind developing the east-west one including the Kaunas distribution centre that is being developed.

It may also be that Lithuanian Railways is hoping to receive EU funds to develop Rail Baltic, but actually wants to use it to develop its east-west network and Kaunas and Vilnius stations.

Kaido Simmermann, former board chairman of the Estonian railway company Eesti Raudtee who left for the position of chief engineer at Latvian Railways, the Lithuanian government and Lithuania's state-owned railway company are officially supporting the construction of Rail Baltic but in reality something else is going on