But there is the other option, you just want to get some influence on countries which belonged to your emipre in the past.
Yes there are old fashioned people in Russia and by low demographic lewel the percentage of old and conservative people is too high. They are thinking about their youth when they were stronger. They have sometimes a romantic view on Soviet superpower not because they are imperialists but by the reason they were younger some 30 years ago. That is quite common with all old people.
Authorities have to take that into account because they are voters. But in general Russian authorities try to get rid of expensive friends abroad. Today Belarus is one of such examples.
The best way to destroy superpower ilusions is to show that "friends" are parasits. That each Russian can gain more if Russia doesn't have dependent states. That enemies are more inexpensive than friends.
But USA and EU don't help Russian authorities in such propaganda. They state that Ukraine should be dotated by Russia and pay for gas 2-3 times less than Poland. Nobody took care of Poland in early 90 when world gas prices were established although the internal Polish situation seemed to be a real disaster. Ukranians today have an average salary of some USD 250-300 and world prices may signify only some USD 15 of reduction only. You see very few Ukranians want to pay 15 dollars for independence and they are supported by the West.
Do you think it is easy to persuade any Russian that the loss of "friends" is profitable if the West requires for them both freedom and dotations?
Your regime fits you by stories like this
That is not the regime. That is the most liberal and proeuropean Russian singer in 90 Oleg Gasmanow. He is the example of dissapointment it the West.
What is more he provokes other countries, and when they react he is showing him self as good boy form this story. And you think you need him.
1. Nobody provokes Ahtisaari to impose Kosovo independense despite the agreement with Serbija. That may create a bad precedent and Russia is afraid. That may awake some extremists who want to declare Abhasia and Osetia independence from Georgia and Russia will have to pay for their liberty. That was the western idea about Kosovo.
2. What are the USA and some European states doing in Iraq? Did Russia provoke Iraq occupation?
All you need is democracy, and Russia is going in other direction.
All we need for today are moral and money.
Nobody is interested in democracy in misery and accompanied by gay manifestations.
Money was the main idea of Russian politicians and businessmen supported by the West in 90 when Russia was weak. Their activities were highly estimated by western politicians despite they thought about profits only, not about liberty.
Why are you astonished when the rest of Russians also want to have a share of profits and don't think about democracy?
Why are you astonished that Russians become anti-west when they notice that profits are possible without west orientation?
Are you sure democracy will mean anything even in the West if living standards go down?
So thats why for example he is not going to solve problem of Kaliningrad, because unsolved issue of visas for Kaliningrad citizens makes his regime more popular.
There were many attempts to solve Kaliningrad challenge. But EU never proposed a regime similar to West Berlin visitation by West Europeans.
All you need is democracy, and Russia is going in other direction.
The new law adopted following Putin's initiative permits only parties' lists at parlamentary elections. That creates a basis for strong pluralism.
Russian authorities don't create obstacles for internet access. That defends the right to receive information more than any other legal provisions.
There are prospects for more freedom but it is quite uneasy to create a free society in a state separated from the West. Russia has to make all the way toward free society using its own force only. The west has a reputation of non-profitable adviser.
As to relations between Poland and Russia, I don't see any prospects for today.
Poland taken separately from EU isn't mentioned by Russian mass media. The man in the street think a pure Europe begins away from Poland. Poland is only Kresy of EU. A poor relative of western Europeans.
Germany is the symbol of western civilization for today Russians.
As to East EU members in general...
Well, Russia is more interested in their hostility.
Russians (note: of different political views) are going to persuade the West that its special attention to these states accompanied by isolation of Russia in 90 lead to Russian inverability. And that possible problema with Turkish state is also of the same nature.
Sooner or later the West will look for the reasons of its disasters in relations with the rest of the world. Such idea will be up to day. Russians are away and Poles are near. That is a common rule that punishment is not for guilty but for those nearby.
Such activities are more profitable than improvement of relations. For today at least. In situation when obsolete approaches governs.
Poland may reject such prospects only by inventing new clever initiatives.
Please comment on my low-cost post. That seems to be relevant
Lukasz, please answer: Which new profits besides money for gas Russia can receive from the West.
Why should the man in the street be interested in good relations with the West.
No demonstration of that view appeared in Russia in 90. But there were many mistakes commited by EU as well as Russia.
Well...
Let us try again. But what about benefits? What about proposals. What about interests of ordinary Russians. Do you imagine such interest? I don't.
Read this article published in Guardian
guardian.co.uk/Columnists/Column/0,,2171414,00.html
