Greek crisis

[jon1965]

Re: Greek crisis

Estonia has a sizeable Russian speaking population (47% have Russian as their mother tongue) in Latvia 28% are ethnic Russians so just like Ukraine parts of these countries will have a huge Russian population

[FlamingParrot]

Re: Greek crisis

Personally I think the baltic states are more likely to ask help from the EU than Russia. Russia is not popular in the baltic states - unless perhaps with those with a sizeable Russian poplulation! Maybe we should ask ourselves why we decided to form an EU/Euro in the first place - what was wrong with the way things were prior to it .....

The original idea was a 'common market' because it was seen that there was strength in numbers. A lot of European countries are very small and, by themselves, very insignificant in the global economy, especially when compared to the likes of America, Russia, China, etc. However, things have moved a lot since the original idea of a common market and the EU has grown very rapidly. Perhaps things would be much easier without the Euro and the EU just being a free-trade zone. A common currency across countries with very different economic backgrounds was always going to cause problems.

[jon1965]

Re: Greek crisis

Another reason for the formation of the common market was to foster cooperation and avoid another war

[Ruby]

Re: Greek crisis

Estonia has a sizeable Russian speaking population (47% have Russian as their mother tongue) in Latvia 28% are ethnic Russians so just like Ukraine parts of these countries will have a huge Russian population

Jon, why did these countries you mention decide to become independent from the USSR in the first place?

[Ruby]

Re: Greek crisis

Maybe we should look upon the EU like our own family? We bicker we fight - you can choose your friends but not your family.

Money is the route of all evil ......

[jon1965]

Re: Greek crisis

Estonia has a sizeable Russian speaking population (47% have Russian as their mother tongue) in Latvia 28% are ethnic Russians so just like Ukraine parts of these countries will have a huge Russian population

Jon, why did these countries you mention decide to become independent from the USSR in the first place?

Because at the time there was the political and popular will on both sides , the same reasons as Ukraine didn't become aligned to the Russian Federation. Now however there is a different power in the Kremlin with greater ambitions for empire. Why is Putin in the Crimea or Eastern Ukraine , because he says the people there want to be part of Russia , and maybe parts do but if we allow that we may as well allow Glasgow to become part of an independent Scotland because in that area the majority who voted seemed to want that . It only takes a small part of the country to 'claim' they are being oppressed or whatever for Putin to have an excuse.

You need to remember that during the time when the Soviet Union broke up there was great hope for democracy all over and a ground swell of desire for change .