Latter-Day Prophecies speak of a time when a power from the north will enter the promised land and onlookers will merely ask if she has “come to take a spoil.” It is for this reason that we observe with great interest the lands to the north of Israel noting the changes which are occurring.
Russia and NATO
In May, 2002, fifty years after its founding and a decade after the end of the cold war, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization approved an expanded working relationship with Russia. Specifically Russia became an equal partner at the table for joint discussions on such issues as nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, military cooperation, civil emergency planning, and other topics as agreed to in the future by the 19 full member nations.
This new status replaces a 1997 accord that allowed Russia to participate in discussions with member NATO nations only after alliance members reached agreement on a common position. This new status does not provide Russia with full NATO membership, a veto power or a vote on expansion of membership. However, it does give Russia an immediate role in NATO discussions. As well, it excludes Russia from the collective defense pact in which all nations pledge to come to each other’s defense if necessary. What this agreement does provide for Russia is a much needed “foot in the door” relationship with NATO. The partnership status is the first step in allowing Russia full membership into NATO – a step that should come over the next year or so.
Expanded economic status
Another important step in having Russia accepted by the West was granted by the Bush Administration in early June. The New York Times reported June 6, 2002; “The Bush administration announced that it will grant Russia ‘market economy’ status. Russia received a similar recognition by the European Union last week. Underscoring the important political value that the coveted designation represents, U.S. President George W. Bush, reportedly called his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, personally with the news.”
The designation will provide Russia with important new economic benefits, including greater foreign investment, improved access for Russian goods to U.S. markets and stronger protection against U.S. trade barriers to Russian products such as steel. It also is seen as an important step toward gaining membership in the World Trade Organization — a key economic priority for Mr. Putin.
American antidumping laws, meant to protect American industries from unfair import competition, turn on whether goods are sold in the United States for less than they cost to make at home. For non-market economies, the law assumes that domestic prices are meaningless, and American trade officials use figures for a surrogate market economy country instead — generally to the great disadvantage of the country accused of dumping. That provision has been especially costly for Russia in commodity goods like steel and fertilizer. In 1998, Russian steel producers agreed to deep cuts in their shipments to the United States to avoid punitive duties.
With the market economy designation, Russian companies will get to use their own cost figures in arguing dumping cases, and not be saddled with figures from third world countries that may bear little relation to Russian reality.
Without question, these two developments, market economy status and NATO partnership, will bring Russia further into the Western fold, helping to solidify the Russian-American friendship that has become so important to Washington in this post-September 11, 2001 world.
Russia – Iran relationship
Russia is also improving relations with Iran (Persia) through increased trade and transfers of knowledge. The New York Times reported June 6, 2002: “Technology transfers flow from Russia’s lucrative contracts to supply Iran with a nuclear power reactor and advanced conventional weapons. The sales are an important revenue source for Russia’s beleaguered arms and energy industries. Yet Russia stands to benefit far more from the improved trade relations now on offer from the West than from these risky deals with Iran.
“More than 1,000 Russian engineers and technicians are helping Iran build a civilian power reactor at Bushehr on the Persian Gulf. When completed in several years, the reactor will produce plutonium as a byproduct of power generation. That plutonium could potentially be reprocessed into nuclear bomb fuel using technology learned from the Russians. Last year, Russia resumed sales of conventional arms to Iran, including an advanced air defense system. American intelligence agencies also report that Moscow is secretly transferring ballistic missile technology to Tehran, including suspected transfers through front companies in the former Soviet republics of Moldova and Armenia.”
In June, 2002, Bush raised the nuclear and missile technology issues with Putin and got some unconvincing verbal reassurances that Russian scientists would not transfer dangerous technologies to Iran. The New York Times continues, “Although Iran has signed the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and has agreed to allow the International Atomic Energy Agency to inspect the Bushehr facility, Washington has good reason to believe that Tehran is intent on secretly developing nuclear weapons and will use Russian technology to do so.”
It is extremely interesting that Russia is not only moving closer to the West by making unprecedented alliances while at the same time developing and extrapolating relationships with nations that will play a major role during the latter days. One can then begin to comprehend the Western power’s state of ambiguity during the latter days when an attack is launched against Israel. We watch this movement of nations in light of prophecy with great interest. The Lord is at the door and will come as a thief in the night. May he find us ready to welcome him with our lamps full of oil.
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One