Michael Bloomberg remains Mayor of New York

New York Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg  won reelection Tuesday, giving him the third term he began seeking last year in campaigning for a change to the city’s term-limits law, write Washington Post. But it was a hard-won victory, despite an election-eve poll that showed Bloomberg comfortably ahead of Comptroller William C. Thompson (D).

Relatively low score which won Michael Bloomberg (51% vs. 46%, as obtained Thompson) is due the fact that many of New Yorkers penalized on Bloomberg because forced to amend the election law, so can run for a third time. Bloomberg, founder of a media empire and also the richest man in New York with a fortune estimated at 17.5 billion dollars, has invested 100 million dollars of own money into the campaign in recent months (over 1 million dollars a day). This means that each vote cost him $ 147.27, while his rival – $ 13.12. Of the 8,300,000 inhabitants of New York (and 4.2 million voting), only 1.1 million have exercised that right.

But, equally, Michael Bloomberg is considered artisan megalopolis transformation from violent and chaotic city in one of the cleanest, safest and most effective (in terms of administrative) U.S. cities. Businessman for 67 years managed to solve the deficit by $ 6 billion, succeeding even in those eight years in office to bring a surplus of $ 3 billion in the municipal budget.

Bloomberg first won office in a hard-fought 2001 election over public advocate Mark Green. He sailed to reelection in 2005 over former Bronx borough president Fernando Ferrer. New Yorkers also elected a comptroller to replace Thompson, and dozens of other officials. John C. Liu won the Comptroller race, becoming the first Asian American to hold citywide office.

Vice-President US, Joe Biden – “We believe that a better relationship with Russia is the benefit of all”

U.S. Vice President Joe Biden was on tour in Poland, Czech Republic and Romania, between 20-24 October 2009.
Regarding the visits to Poland and the Czech Republic, analysts Stratfor states defining its relations with the United States, where Obama administration’s decision to abandon the missile shield project promoted by ex-president George W. Bush.

Today, Vice President Biden met with Romanian President Traian Basescu, with dismissed premier Emil Boc and with Opposition leaders.  Also, he gave a public speech in the Hall of the University Library of Romania. In his speech in Bucharest, Joe Biden sent several important messages for the European partners and NATO allies.  Biden sent the European partners that “the U.S. is still a player in the region and an ally in security”. But according to political analysts, beyond these messages, Biden’s tour remains one of consolation.

But let’s see what the main ideas and the context in which they were uttered.

Visit of Vice – U.S. President in Bucharest takes place one day before the  start of presidential election campaign. Thus the joint statement after meeting with Romanian President Traian Basescu can detect two aspects: administration in Washington has not had a top partner in the person of the current president, but is open to dialogue, irrespective of who will win the Presidential elections. Also, the fact that the speech for European partners was elected Bucharest,  stresses stronger bilateral relationship between Romania and the United States. Moreover, can talk  about  strategic location that America gives to Romania on his interests and in the design of the NATO Alliance in the Eastern European area.

On the public diplomacy, Joe Biden tried in his discourse from the University Library, to ensure that countries in the East European region that, despite a change of Obama discourse, Washington has not changed security objectives. But while he insisted that: “We believe that a better relationship with Russia is benefit of all. Pragmatic relationship, too”. Meanwhile, he said the reconfiguration of the missile shield is not a favor done to Russia, but a more efficient way to meet new security challenges. Biden reiterated the importance of Article 5 and firmly reject the imposition of spheres of influence between global powers. “Nothing without you, nothing more than your desire” were sure NATO partners of U.S.

In the same context: “Any missile defense system in Europe should be collective,”  said on Thursday the spokesman of Russian Foreign Ministry, Andrei Nesterenko, quoted by RIA Novosti. He also stressed that “Russia wants to start with Washington a careful assessment of the new U.S. missile shield in Europe”, adding that Moscow does not consider that U.S. plans to place SM-3 missiles in Poland are already established.
Nesterenko’s statement comes after Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk  said Wednesday – when U.S. Vice President Joe Biden visit to Warsaw – that Poland is ready to participate in the new U.S. missile shield, as this is especially possible location in 2011 in Poland of  U.S. SM-3 missile.

The same important: Beyond public diplomacy in a speech in Bucharest, the representative of the White House for the first time spoke about the Romanian-American partnership in concrete Constanta-Trieste pipeline project. That while the premiers Putin, Berlusconi and Erdogan discussed again about  South Stream.

Obama has awarded the Nobel Peace Prize 2009

U.S. President Barack Obama is the winner of the Nobel Peace Prize this year. Surprising or not, the decision of the Nobel Committee has considered “efforts to strengthen international diplomacy and cooperation between  peoples”.

President Barack Obama has less than one year when installed in the White House. This has led political analysts to consider the granting of the award rather a symbolic gesture and hope for the future actions of the White House. It is an encouraging signal for political change initiated by Barack Obama.

“Thanks to Obama’s initiative, the USA is now playing a more constructive role in meeting the great climatic challenges the world is confronting. Democracy and human rights are to be strengthened”  stated in reasons of the Norwegian Nobel Committee.

Also, Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet leader and a Nobel Prize winner himself, said: “I am happy. What Obama did during his presidency is a big signal, he gave a hope. In these hard times people who are capable of taking responsibility, who have a vision, commitment and political will should be supported”, quoted by Reuters.

The chief Palestinian peace negotiator, Saeb Erekat, welcomed the award to Obama and expressed hope that “he will be able to achieve peace in the Middle East.”

Note that although it had strong opponent (Nicolas Sarkozy and former German Chancellor Helmut Kohl), the Nobel Committee’s decision mattered action taken by Barack Obama in the Middle East peace process. Also for steps to combat poverty in Africa and steps to reduce nuclear arsenals (context in that remember reset U.S.  – Russia bilateral relations, and negotiations on the Treaty Start 2, but also actions on Iran’s nuclear program).

Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum (BSEEF) Bucharest – inaugural edition

Between September 30 to October 2 at the JW Marriott in Bucharest – Romania will be held the inaugural edition of the Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum. The event is organized by the Atlantic Council of the United States, with support from the Ministry of Economy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania.

According to indications from the organizers, “The Black Sea Energy and Economic Forum (BSEEF) will be  a unique annual gathering of world leaders and key stakeholders in energy policy and business for unofficial consultations on global energy security.  Set in the Black Sea-Caspian region, a nexus of global energy security and geopolitics, the conference will bring together world leaders, business executives and prominent policymakers for discussions on today’s key energy issues and recommendations for the future”. Forum topics on its agenda: Policy Responses to Energy Challenges, Global Energy Future, Scenarios for Future Energy Security, The New Energy Mix: Policy and Business Challenges.

The discussions forum will be attended from CEOs and Executives from Areva, DEPA, Eni SpA, ExxonMobil, Hellenic Petroleum, Hunt Oil, KazMunaiGas, WCO, DP Holding, Sabanci Energy Group, Schlumberger and SOCAR.  Also, there will be present Energy and Economy Ministers and senior officials from: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Egypt, Georgia, Greece, Iraq, Kazakhstan, the Republic of Moldova, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Sweden, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, United States and Uzbekistan. “In order to promote dialogue and multinational cooperation in this area of increasing geopolitical signifcance, the Atlantic Council has initiated the BSEEF through our new Eurasian Energy Center. By bringing together key regional and global energy security stakeholders from governments and business, we hope to help transform the Black Sea-Caspian region into a more stable and cooperative platform that grows more closely linked to the European Union and the U.S.” says Chuck Hagel, Chairman of Atlantic Council of the US.

Published in Top Business Weeklypaper, nr. 785/1-7 oct. 2009

Thank you, Mr. Newman

He is Mr. Newman and is already a star.

Location: near a cafe in San Francisco. Photograf: Chris Michael.

I decided to post this photo in place of a comment about history circus of UN Council nuclear meeting. Why? Because in both cases  I do not know what should I do: to smile or be sad?

Also because Mr. Newman is more honest, more alive and expressive than any speech carefully directed by the leaders of UN Council or G 20 …

For all this, Thank you Chris…Thank you Mr. Newman !