Russia turns off the oil tap for the Czechs

Russia has substantially reduced its crude oil supplies to the Czech Republic over the past few days - without any explanation so far. Prague has not ruled out that the measure could be a reaction to the radar treaty for the construction of a missile defence shield signed between the Czechs and the US. The conservative daily Lidové noviny comments: "Russia is taking advantage of the situation to test how far it can go as regards using its energy sources to put pressure on the West. It is also putting the Czech Republic, its neighbours, Europe and the transatlantic alliance to the test. This puts one in mind of the Berlin Blockade in 1948, albeit on a much smaller scale. ... The EU now has the chance to prove that it not only regulates its member states but can also stand by their side. If it fails to do so it is completely useless."

» more information (external link, Czech)
More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Economic Policy, » Czech Republic, » Russia, » Europe, » U.S.
All available articles from » Bohumil Doležal

» To the complete press review of Monday, July 14, 2008