Posted on 01/01/2005 10:57:22 AM PST by Lukasz
MOSCOW, December 28, (RIA Novosti) - Although relations with the American administration and the European Union are normal, international politicians have begun airing the idea of restricting Russia's influence, Gleb Pavlovsky, president of the Fund for Effective Policy (FEP), noted at a news conference on Tuesday.
He called the idea the "Kwasniewski doctrine", because the Polish president was the first to voice it. "Russia rejects this doctrine - we are not accepting in any degree the policy of curbing Russia's influence. This is beyond the boundaries of geopolitical correctness," Pavlovsky said.
The expert believes that Russia passes through "periods of dissatisfaction" on the part of the Western countries with regard to its positions. This, according to him, takes place because Russia "explains inadequately its stand and its objectives".
"In the next few years Russia will build up the quality of its foreign policy of influence in those countries where our interests are present," the FEP president said. Abkhazia and Ukraine are just the first signs of such activity.
He said that Russia underestimated the institution of international monitors at the election in Ukraine, which proved to be a "strong-arm institution - an institution for massaging the results of the election". Now, Pavlovsky is convinced, one should draw conclusions and move to expand the spectrum of international monitors at elections in Russia. "It is necessary to negotiate with forces in Europe and the US that are critical of their establishment and invite them to elections to have an extensive spectrum of political forces represented," he said.
The expert considers that Russia will be advocating the status quo in the security system in Eastern Europe. Ukraine is the cornerstone of the security system in that region, and Russia will come out against "a European-Atlantic security system on Ukrainian expanses."
Pavlovsky believes that in relations with Ukraine inthe 1990s Russia made a mistake in failing to align relations with different political forces in Ukraine. The relations between the two countries were maintained only at the leadership level, the expert believes.
Polish conspiracy ping!
But obviously, he has learnt his lessons OK since then.
Interesting. Thanks for the post.
=== what the heck is the difference?
All Illumined, actually. Which begs the same question where the leadership of "The West" is concerned.
Happy New Year toots.
Influence is like reputation, it's something that other people think about you. You cannot hold on to either nor control either. You have influence or you do not. Influence is not the result of a policy or change of policy. Influence has to do with the perception of the strength of your society. Russia can even fix an election in the Ukraine any more with a long border, with tight connections to the Ukrainian elite and with millions of Russian-speaking and Russia-oriented Ukrainians. I haven't mentioned Russia's inability to defeat Chechens within it's own borders.
Russia can only get stronger with freedom and Putin is moving in the other direction with predictable results.
Hey Neets -- Happy New Year to you as well!
"Russia can only get stronger with freedom and Putin is moving in the other direction with predictable results."
I agree, but Putin doesn't get it, he thinks this is still like in good old times.
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