This article is from the source 'nytimes' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.nytimes.com/2014/07/23/world/europe/europeans-to-debate-tougher-sanctions-on-russia.html
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Despite Anger Over Downed Jetliner, Europe Shies Away From Sanctions on Russia | Despite Anger Over Downed Jetliner, Europe Shies Away From Sanctions on Russia |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| AMSTERDAM — In cafes across the Netherlands a new Cold War with Russia had already erupted. | AMSTERDAM — In cafes across the Netherlands a new Cold War with Russia had already erupted. |
| “We have to draw a line somewhere,” said Meindert van der Kaaij, a silver-haired journalist, lamenting over beers those who died on Flight 17, 193 of them from the Netherlands. “We must say something.” | “We have to draw a line somewhere,” said Meindert van der Kaaij, a silver-haired journalist, lamenting over beers those who died on Flight 17, 193 of them from the Netherlands. “We must say something.” |
| Russia, everybody agreed, was the real culprit. | Russia, everybody agreed, was the real culprit. |
| “What can we do?” Niels Romijn, a civil servant, snapped back. “We must be realistic; there is just not much we can do.” | “What can we do?” Niels Romijn, a civil servant, snapped back. “We must be realistic; there is just not much we can do.” |
| It was a mirror image of the debate that unfolded in bland diplomatic language in Brussels, where foreign ministers of the European Union’s 28 member states were under pressure to display resolve and common purpose after the downing of the Malaysia Airlines jet over eastern Ukraine. In the end, there was plenty of tough talk, yet no real punishment for Russia despite calls from Australia, Britain and the United States, who have all accused Russia of supplying the missile that brought down Flight 17, to take a tougher line. | |
| Despite widespread anger over the plane’s downing, European nations have shied away from measures that would further isolate Russia. Dependent on Russian gas and oil, wary of confrontation on the Continent and alive to the fact of Russia’s proximity, Europe’s leaders have largely decided they will have to live with a newly assertive Russia. | Despite widespread anger over the plane’s downing, European nations have shied away from measures that would further isolate Russia. Dependent on Russian gas and oil, wary of confrontation on the Continent and alive to the fact of Russia’s proximity, Europe’s leaders have largely decided they will have to live with a newly assertive Russia. |
| “Almost every European state has voluntarily handed over power to Mr. Putin, allowing him to play countries against each other,” said Marietje Schaake, an influential member of the European Parliament. “We should choose for energy independency, for principles, human rights and rule of law. But that is not what we are doing now.” | |
| At Tuesday’s meeting, the foreign ministers agreed to draw up a new, broader list of targets for sanctions, including Russian individuals and entities, said Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign affairs chief. | At Tuesday’s meeting, the foreign ministers agreed to draw up a new, broader list of targets for sanctions, including Russian individuals and entities, said Catherine Ashton, the European Union’s foreign affairs chief. |
| But no new additional measures were imposed, reflecting fears among some Europeans that tougher sanctions would invite reprisals by Russia against countries dependent on its energy supplies, harming the Continent’s economic growth. | But no new additional measures were imposed, reflecting fears among some Europeans that tougher sanctions would invite reprisals by Russia against countries dependent on its energy supplies, harming the Continent’s economic growth. |
| Nowhere is the European conundrum clearer than in the Netherlands, a tiny nation of 16 million but one of the wealthiest in the European Union. For more than a decade, the Dutch have been forging closer ties with Russia, emphasizing a growing trade and economic partnership while pointedly ignoring President Vladimir V. Putin’s regional ambitions. | |
| Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, which has its head office in The Hague, is one of the largest foreign investors in Russian gas fields in Siberia. Shell is the largest corporation in the Netherlands, and its stock is widely held in the nation’s pension funds. If Shell loses money, the pensions of Dutch teachers, civil servants and many others suffer. | Shell, the Anglo-Dutch oil giant, which has its head office in The Hague, is one of the largest foreign investors in Russian gas fields in Siberia. Shell is the largest corporation in the Netherlands, and its stock is widely held in the nation’s pension funds. If Shell loses money, the pensions of Dutch teachers, civil servants and many others suffer. |
| As a result, the ties between Shell and the government are extremely close, and the company’s welfare inevitably influences policy, analysts said. | As a result, the ties between Shell and the government are extremely close, and the company’s welfare inevitably influences policy, analysts said. |
| “They have direct access to everybody in the establishment,” said Sweder van Wijnbergen, who was the secretary-general of the ministry of economic affairs from 1997 to 2000. His former boss in that job, who was then the minister in charge of the economy, Hans Wijers, sits on the Shell board of directors. “Naturally Shell will try to prevent any sanctions against Russia,” Mr. van Wijnbergen said. “Of course the government ultimately makes its own decisions.” | |
| A spokesman for the company declined to say whether Shell would reconsider its investments in Russia after the downing of the plane. Four Shell employees died in the crash of Flight 17. | A spokesman for the company declined to say whether Shell would reconsider its investments in Russia after the downing of the plane. Four Shell employees died in the crash of Flight 17. |
| After China, the Netherlands is Russia’s most important trading partner. The Russians and the Dutch have invested billions in each other’s countries. In 2012, the Netherlands imported 20.3 billion euros, or about $27.3 billion, worth of gas, reselling 95 percent of it to the rest Europe, official statistics show. Russia imported €7.2 billion in office equipment, food and flowers. | |
| The port of Rotterdam saw the import of Russian oil rise fivefold over the past decade, making the country the largest importer of Russian gas. Shell has been a major investor in a huge Russian liquefied natural gas project in Siberia. | The port of Rotterdam saw the import of Russian oil rise fivefold over the past decade, making the country the largest importer of Russian gas. Shell has been a major investor in a huge Russian liquefied natural gas project in Siberia. |
| The Dutch entanglement with Russia through Shell is emblematic of ties that many European nations have with Russia. | The Dutch entanglement with Russia through Shell is emblematic of ties that many European nations have with Russia. |
| In making the case for tougher sanctions to his Parliament, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain argued that Europe should use its economic leverage against Russia. | In making the case for tougher sanctions to his Parliament, Prime Minister David Cameron of Britain argued that Europe should use its economic leverage against Russia. |
| “It is time to make our power, influence and resources felt,” Mr. Cameron said Monday. | “It is time to make our power, influence and resources felt,” Mr. Cameron said Monday. |
| But other European countries have parried efforts to strengthen penalties on Russia. | But other European countries have parried efforts to strengthen penalties on Russia. |
| France has opposed proposed sanctions against arms sales to Russia, in part because it is building two Mistral-class helicopter ships for Russia’s military. | France has opposed proposed sanctions against arms sales to Russia, in part because it is building two Mistral-class helicopter ships for Russia’s military. |
| “For the time being, a level of sanctions has not been decided that would prevent this delivery,” President François Hollande of France said Monday. “The Russians have paid,” he said, and canceling the deal would require France to reimburse Russia €1.1 billion, or $1.5 billion. | |
| Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany on Monday said that communication lines with Russia needed to stay open. | Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany on Monday said that communication lines with Russia needed to stay open. |
| Juurd Eijsvoogel, a foreign affairs columnist for one of the leading Dutch newspapers, NRC Handelsblad, said, “Germany does not follow the U.S. blindly.” | |
| In Ukraine, Europe was widely seen as waffling. | |
| “It looks like they will not impose any strict sanctions,” said Svitlana Khutka, an associate professor of sociology at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Kiev. | “It looks like they will not impose any strict sanctions,” said Svitlana Khutka, an associate professor of sociology at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Kiev. |
| “Why? Because they say they are very concerned, deeply concerned, very, very concerned, very much concerned, so very deeply concerned,” she said in an interview. “You just don’t believe that they are concerned, because it is quite evident that they have their own interests.” | “Why? Because they say they are very concerned, deeply concerned, very, very concerned, very much concerned, so very deeply concerned,” she said in an interview. “You just don’t believe that they are concerned, because it is quite evident that they have their own interests.” |
| The Dutch have declared Wednesday, when the remains of passengers on board Flight 17 are expected to arrive in the Netherlands, a day of mourning. At the same moment, Dutch leaders are carefully trying to balance the open anger, with an increasing number of people calling the episode a “war crime,” with the country’s deep economic ties with Russia. | |
| In full-page advertisements in major Dutch newspapers, the government offered condolences, but described the downing of the plane as a “disaster” rather than a missile strike. In recent days, Prime Minister Mark Rutte has made sure to keep his lines of communication with Mr. Putin open, to “bring the bodies home,” he has said repeatedly. | |
| Behind the scenes, Dutch investors in Russia are also consulted, former insiders said. “Of course representatives of Shell are discreetly talking to the government throughout the plane ordeal, in order to minimize damage to the company,” Mr. van Wijnbergen said. | Behind the scenes, Dutch investors in Russia are also consulted, former insiders said. “Of course representatives of Shell are discreetly talking to the government throughout the plane ordeal, in order to minimize damage to the company,” Mr. van Wijnbergen said. |
| Many Dutch people said they hoped for a tougher stance toward Russia from Mr. Rutte. | Many Dutch people said they hoped for a tougher stance toward Russia from Mr. Rutte. |
| “His real test will come after the bodies have arrived here, and after we have mourned,” said Mr. van der Kaaij. “I think many people in the Netherlands expect him to take a tougher stance. What kind of country are we if we just smooth this over?” |