Athens Meeting 18-20 November 2005, Contribution of CP of
Poland
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From: SolidNet, Tuesday, November 29, 2005
http://www.kompol.org , mailto:kontakt@kompol.org
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International Meeting of Communist and Workers' Parties
"Current Trends In Capitalism: Economic, Social And
Political Impact. The Communists' Alternative"
Athens, 18-20 November, 2005

On behalf of the Central Committee of the Communist Party
of Poland I would like to thank the Communist Party of
Greece for organising this meeting and an invitation. It is
a very important conference for us.

In my lecture I'll focus on rivalry for political and
economic influences in Easter Europe and former Soviet
Union. Restoration of capitalism in the region, which took
place in the turn of 80s and 90s of the XX century didn't
mean end of the struggle for political and economic
domination. It meant the beginning of a process lasting
until now. In its first part internal changes of the social
economic structure of the states took place. Capitalist
system was being introduced. In international relations it
meant strengthening of the influence of the United States
from one side and Western European countries (European
Union) from the other. The key role among Western European
countries has been played by Germany. They often imposed
their interests through international financial
institutions such as IMF and WTO. One of the most important
mechanisms of influence were Structural Adjustment
Programmes of the IMF. They imposed free market economy,
privatisation of the public sector and industry and
neo-liberal vision of state. Similar adjustment policy was
proposed by the EU to candidate countries. Entire sectors
of industry, such as heavy industry or mining were
privatised or play a secondary role. Economy of the
transition countries (Poland was among them) was over the
deep influence of the capital from the EU countries, mainly
so called "old Europe" France and Germany. The govts. were
trying to balance this influence by co-operating with the
United States. The US expressed their connections to Poland
more than it was needed because of the US capital present.
Growing contradictions between national bourgeoisie, mainly
producers, and foreign capital is a hidden factor of this
policy. National bourgeoisie was the key part of the
"orange revolution" on Ukraine, where its interests were
similar to US and European plans of expansion.

International changes also meant the armed conflicts. From
the mid 1990s NATO was engaged openly in the war in
ex-Yugoslavia. In 1999 newly joined NATO member states took
part in attack on Yugoslavia. Nearly all countries of the
Easter European countries were enveloped by the process of
integration into political and military structures of the
capitalist West.

In the mid 1990s strategy of the US towards former Soviet
states has changed. In the place of the former priority of
contacts mainly with the Russian Federation, the US started
to build its interests by the expense of Russian influence.
Baltic states were first to join military and political
structures of the West. In strategically important regions
such as Ukraine, Caucasus and Central Asia Russian and
western interests clashed. In these cases connections
between political military and economic sphere was clearly
visible. I'll analyse contradictions of interests among
powers (Russia, US, and the EU) on the example of rivalry
for access to Caspian energetic resources. This rivalry has
also a military character what we can see in Iraq and
Afghanistan. Its efect on international market are very
higher prices of oil. .

New oil resources in the region were found in the early 90s
of the XX century. Biggest resources are located in
Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan. Until now size of these
resources wasn't judged. It is thought that they are about
several % of the world resources. But its political and
economic importance is a key issue.

Among the foreign companies in the region key role is
played by the US Chevron, British BP, Norwegian Statoil and
Russian �UKoil. They are engaged into extracting and
delivering resources. Main investments are oil pipelines
through which Caspian oil would be delivered to
Mediterranean. Localisation of the pipelines is determined
by the political factors. The represent the result of the
conflict between the empires. Main routes of export go
through territory of the Russian Federation. It controls
strategic elements of Soviet system of oil and gas
pipelines. In November 2001 new pipeline from the main
Kazakh oil field Tengiz to Russian port Noworosyjsk near
the Black Sea was finished. From the initiative of the US
projects of building pipelines outside Russian territory
are being introduced. The main route of transport is going
to be Baku Tiblisi Ceyhan pipeline. Plans of delivering
through it Kazakh oil also occurred. Even projects of
constructing trans-caspian sea pipeline were introduced.
Also Iran is interested in building pipelines on its
territory treating it as a way to go out of international
isolation and starting closer relations with central Asian
states. US opposes such an investition.

US oil companies, such as Chevron engaged themselves in oil
exploitation projects. US policy toward the region is more
active from the mid 90s when the US stated that Caspian sea
is a region of its influence and started political and
military co-operation with the Central Asian states. It
meant also building military bases and presence of the US
army. They appeared there in 2001 as a part of so called
"war on terror". US imposes its interests also trough
Turkey. In some aspects, mainly construction of the
pipeline Baku - Tiblisi - Ceyhan connecting Azer oilfields
with Turkish port, interests of the US oil companies were
incompatible with strategic plans of the US administration.
opening of the pipeline strengthened US influence in the
region.

European Union also had active policy towards the region. A
communication corridor east-west is an example. EU is also
interested in import of the Caspian natural resources.
China also expressed hope to strengthen ties with the
Central Asian states. Its aim is also to import natural
resources.

Russian position in the region was weakened in the 90s.
when Russian govt. Lacked strategy. Contradictions between
Russian oil companies and interests of the foreign ministry
were visible. Oil companies were interested in contracts
which are against Russian strategic interests. New strategy
of the Russian Federation is based on pragmatic supporting
oil companies to strengthen their position on the territory
of the former Soviet Union. The biggest success of this
strategy was gaining of contract on delivering natural gas
from Central Asiatic states (mainly Turkmenistan) by
Gazprom. This rivalry is often named "The New Great Game"
reminding historical "The Great Game" between British and
Russian empire from the end of the XIX century.

The rivalry has also its military context. Caspian region
tends to be militarised. Countries located on the shores of
the Caspian Sea build its military potential also by
building their fleets. Navy would give these countries
control over the resources of the Caspian Sea. They would
also be a tool of influence in case of a border conflict
and status of the oil fields. Unregulated legal status of
the sea and countries aspirations is a cause of conflicts.
The biggest contradictions take place between Azerbaijan
and Iran and Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Contradictions
can easily lead to open conflict. Cases of using force has
already happened. Iran Azer conflict in 2001 is the best
example. Further growth of the military potential becomes a
threat of armed conflict involving forces from outside the
region.

In situation of economic crisis after the split of Soviet
Union countries of the region on the internal level treated
their resources as a main sources of income. In development
strategy further strengthening of the oil-energetic sector
is predicted. Economy based on export subjects these
countries to international market economy. In case of the
price drop it means economic crisis. This dependency is
even bigger because of the fact that energy sector is under
the control of the foreign oil companies. They omit
processing industry.