Cases: Disputes with Russia and Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine in oil and gas Booming economic development in recent years increased demand in energy which put energy producers in the position of power and created a situation when energy increasingly serves as a political weapon. Producers use it to advance their national agendas. Russia is an energy superpower. It is the biggest exporter of natural gas, the second largest exporter of oil after Saudi Arabia and has almost a third of the world''s proven natural gas reserves. Russia wields a formidable energy weapon since many countries in Europe and the former Soviet Union most of their natural gas from Russian pipelines and are thus dependent on Russia’s goodwill to keep their homes warm and factories running. These supplies cannot be readily substituted in the short and medium term and the Kremlin realizes that this makes gas a much more effective energy weapon than oil. Unease over Russia''s big role in Europe''s energy market culminated in January 2006, when Russia cut gas supplies to Ukraine for 30 hours — shutting off 80 percent of Russian gas shipments to Europe in a pricing dispute. Moscow''s relations with Ukraine have been tense since late 2004, when voters elected a pro-Western president. To resolve the dispute, Ukraine was forced to double the price it paid for gas. The deal also opened the door for Gazprom( Russia’s State owned gas company) to gain a foothold in Ukraine''s domestic energy industry, according to a U.S. Congressional Research Service study. In the case of Moldova, the crisis ended with Gazprom nearly doubling gas prices and increasing its stake in Moldova''s government-controlled pipeline company. Russia lacks the Soviet Union’s military power and is instead using its rich energy supplies to gain international influence. Such actions distort international trade and create instability in Russia as well as outside its borders. Please incorporate the following into the paper: Changes in Russia’s trade policy after the fall of the USSR ( in general and especially in its energy sector)Time frame 1991- Present. What issues does Russia have to resolve in order to become a member of the WTO and how it affects Russia’s current trade policy. (in general,but focus on the energy sector oil and gas) What does Russia have to do in order to avoid trade wars in the energy sector. What are the recommendations to the Russian government in its trade policy ( energy sector). The recommendations and strategies should be given to the Russian government as if from a consultant firm looking out for Russias best interests. 1 An Introduction, which lays out the issues to be addressed, the reason for addressing the key thrust of your recommendations 2 A background section which establishes the history and context of the subject 3 An analytical section which provide, depending on the case, evaluations of: the trade issues, the substantive policy issues, the political landscape, the key domestic and foreign and international legal and procedural issues and issues related to public opinion and the media 4 A set of policy recommendations: the desired changes in government measures that will fix the targeted trade or domestic policy problem or the desired change in a trade or regulatory measure that will make it possible to pursue the desired trade or investment opportunity 5 Strategies for solving the issues Depending upon the issue, you may need to prepare a domestic strategy paper, with sub-components laying out i) a domestic political and legislative strategy ( including plans for lobbying and alliance building, and draft letters to key individuals) ii) a domestic public relation strategy ( including plans for using press and media, and drafts of press statements) and iii) a research strategy for building up additional information that could sway allies and protagonists (including use of experts, support of conferences, scientific findings, etc.) A negotiation strategy with sub-components laying out the overall approach to the negotiations, plans for building support in the foreign country or foreign countries, a foreign press strategy, and advice on negotiating tactics 6 Exhibits or summaries of research materials, policy memoranda, interviews and other appropriate material 7 A conclusion with a recap of your recommendations for action 8 A power point presentation which summarizes your key findings and your recommendations 9 All data sources must be referenced as well as any direct quote. This could be done either with footnotes or endnotes. 10 A list of acronyms 11 table of content and bibliography