Posted on 05/21/2006 12:54:17 PM PDT by Tailgunner Joe
Russia has accused new European Union members from eastern Europe of bringing their “phantom pains of the past” into the 25-member club and putting strains on relations with Moscow.
Vladimir Chizhov, Russian ambassador to the EU, said their attitude had made it harder for Russia and Europe to forge a long-term “strategic partnership” – one of the key objectives of a summit this week between the two sides.
Speaking to the FT, Mr Chizhov said he expected the summit at the Black Sea resort of Sochi to be “businesslike” and to tackle the contentious issue of energy relations between Russia and Europe.
But he said the EU’s 2004 enlargement, which brought eight former communist countries into the union, had made relations more difficult. “With enlargement, the EU has not become an easier partner for us,” he told the FT. “Some, not all, of the new members have brought into the the EU their own phantom pains – people who concentrate on the sores of the past.”
But Mr Chizhov said relations between the two sides were not “in crisis”, adding that strident US attacks on Moscow could have the effect of bringing them closer together.
Referring to US vice-president Dick Cheney’s claim this month that Moscow was using its oil and gas reserves as weapons of “intimidation and blackmail”, Mr Chizhov said: “Speeches like that have an opposite effect on the European way of thinking.”
Energy will dominate Thursday’s summit; tensions have been high since March when José Manuel Barroso, European Commission president, went to Moscow to ask Mr Putin to open Russia’s pipelines to third-party operators, in exchange for Gazprom having access to the EU’s retail market.
Gazprom responded by talking about shifting its focus to China and the US, and Europe remains cautious after Gazprom turned off gas supplies to Ukraine in the New Year.
Mr Chizhov said Russia and Europe needed each other, and Moscow was the EU’s “most stable and reliable” supplier, but admitted: “There is perhaps a problem with the public relations aspects of our relationship, which should receive more attention on both sides.”
He said Russia was discussing with the European Commission how Moscow might ratify the energy charter treaty – an international framework for energy supplies – but he thought a result was unlikely before the G8 summit in St Petersburg in July.
Mr Chizhov said the charter needed improvement first, including to its transit protocol covering access to pipelines and a disputes procedure, which he said failed to work in January’s stand-off with Ukraine.
This week’s summit will ease visa restrictions between Russia and the EU for some types of travel, but Mr Chizhov hopes it will pave the way for an eventual visa-free travel regime between the two sides.
It will also discuss a new “strategic partnership” between Russia and the EU, covering a wide range of bilateral issues, to replace the existing 10-year arrangement which expires in 2007.
"Phantom Pains" - Maybe they would not have this issue if Russia faced up to its past, which unlike Germany and South Africa, or even Chile, it has refused to do. So, as they say, denial is not just a river in Egypt.
Putin is not remorseful but proud of his "patriotic" KGB past. He does not celebrate the collapse of the Soviet Union, but laments it! He said, "whoever does not miss the Soviet Union has no heart."
The result will be weaker Europe and Russia drifting into embrace of China and other Asian states. So the claims of many "New" Europeans that Russia is Asian country will become true.
No, it looks like Russia's mission is to team up with socialist "Old Europe" to surround and strangle US ally New Europe and Russia's former Soviet vassals.
Ping
Well, I and millions of others heartless bastards don't miss the EVIL EMPIRE at all!
How dare you put the actual quote in! Shame on you for being factual.
Really? Tells us what YOU did to end it? "Letters to the Editor" don't count.
What did KGB Putin do to end it? Nothing! He was a loyal Soviet and now he is a Soviet apologist, just like his goosestepping sycophants!
I guess that big brick thing that ran hundreds through Germany and around Berlin was a wall of the mind.
OK, so what if Russia/Germany FAIL to establish links like Baltic pipeline and Russia drifts toward China and Asia? Will it mean that the "New" Europe is rescued from this "strangling"?
What makes you think Russia's alliances with Red China and Pink Europe are mutually exclusive? Putin's pipeline to China is already a done deal. Russia and China will continue to grow closer regardless of what happens in Europe.
They are not. But if the "New" Europe succeeds in building the cordon sanitaire (quarantine belt) it might be not worth the bother for Russia to try to keep links with Western Europe.
Putin's pipeline to China is already a done deal. Russia and China will continue to grow closer regardless of what happens in Europe.
It is not logical. Western Europe is closer (culturally too) and more attractive to Russia so long as their is no cordon sanitaire in between. On the other hand Russia and China share the long border and there is no danger of the third parties siphoning the precious resource. In addition Russia can supply Korea, Japan, India etc . The Asian market is virtually unlimited and harder to sabotage.
Perhaps you can tell us what Lt. Col. Putin, KGB, did in 1990? And for whom did he work? Ah, that's right. Actual facts scare you.
What was that YOU did to end the evil empire?
Yes, yes we all know Russia's plan to team up with China to place leverage on Europe is not Russia's fault, its Europe's fault for not meekly accepting their fate.
What significant event did Putin do in 1990? Afraid to answer? Probably because it doesn't fit with your misstatements.
You could call Putin the anti-Christ as far as I'm concerned - he's not my president or the leader of my country.
I supported my country be heeding my president's call to defeat the evil empire by enlisting.
WHAT DID YOU DO TO END COMMUNISM? Berating the midnight7-11 clerk about the coming communist apacolypse and nobody will listen to you doesn't count.
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