A stable, prosperous and united Europe is in our interests

[michel]

http://www.siberianlight.net/2007/03/26/putin-says-happy-birthday-to-eu/

Vladimir Putin marked the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome with an opinion piece in the Sunday Times yesterday.
In the article, he set out his view of how EU-Russia relations should develop (hint: it doesn’t involve Russia joining the EU):

A stable, prosperous and united Europe is in our interests. European integration is an integral part of the emerging multipolar world order. That the EU is becoming an increasingly authoritative and influential centre of world politics, considerably contributing to regional and global security, is important.
The development of multifaceted ties with the EU is Russia’s principled choice. In the foreseeable future, for obvious reasons, we have no intention of either joining the EU or establishing any form of institutional association with it. Russia intends to build its relations with the EU on a pragmatic basis with a treaty and a strategic partnership. In this regard I agree with Romano Prodi’s view of Russian-EU relations: “Anything but institutions.”
​

He went on to warn that the EU shouldn’t expect to always get its way:

The interests of Russia and the EU will not always coincide. Competition is the reverse side of cooperation and an integral part of the process of globalisation.
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Interestingly, this article was published in the Times, a paper thought by many to be overly sympathetic to exiled Russian oligarch Boris Berezovsky, and generally hostile to Putin.

 

[michel]

Bump.

 

[astarath]

EU will be the beast of the end

 

[James the Persian]

I kind of agree with Putin, but I really fear for the cultures and traditions of the Orthodox countries in the EU. To me a better, though perhaps less likely, union for countries like Romania and Bulgaria would be an eastern equivalent to the EU. I've seen what EU membership has done to Greece and I'm not optimistic that the same won't happen with the other Orthodox countries before long. Of course, I wish good luck to the person who tries to persuade any ex-eastern bloc country that they'd be better off siding with Russia, given the tragic history of their domination by the Soviet Union.

James

 

[PureX]

Words are cheap, and easy to assemble. It will be his deeds that tell the true tale of Mr. Putin and the Russia he has been creating. Same goes for the EU.

 

[Scarlett Wampus]

I am convinced that only on a genuinely collective, trustworthy basis can we find solutions to the world’s challenges and threats: the question of antimissile defences in Europe, the stabilisation of Afghanistan, international terrorism, the nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction, drug trafficking, illegal immigration and global poverty. Russia stands ready for that. I hope the choice will be made in favour of mutual efforts to construct our common future.

A genuine collective basis would mean Russia and the EU sharing some of those "institutions" he wants to avoid.

I think its almost inevitable that EU-Russian relations will grow but Putin's government and the Oligarchs have Russia in such a mess. That doesn't make it easy.

 

[anders]

A strong Europe and a strong Asia-Russia block counterweighing the aggressive but declining US and the unstable Middle East will be good for world peace.

 

[zenzero]

Friends,
Viewed from different angles the same statement is seen differntly.
What comes across when viewd in totality of the human race is that from
only man is not in tune with nature though man is the most evolved creature is because it has the most evolved MIND.
This mind has created indoviduals out of identities and this mind is the cause of finding differences in all religion thouigh they are just differnt fingers pointing at the same moon.
The same mind has created differnt countries, languages, states etc.etc.
Slowly through evolution and levels of knowledge man is slowly learning to bridge these differences and now again they are joining. Religions like Protesteants and CAtholics joining hands, Countries joining to form EU and more such formations are happening.
Slowly and surely the cycle of creation will be completed.
Love & rgds

 

[Diogenes]

I kind of agree with Putin, but I really fear for the cultures and traditions of the Orthodox countries in the EU. James

Not just the orthodox countries-I wonder if this kind of homogenization will mean they will be tearing down the Colosseum soon in order to build a Wal-Mart in its place. Remember what the 'cultural' revolution did for China? They lost a millenia's treasure tove of priceless artifacts and the like. Perhaps this modern world will demand the surrender of all antiquities for the sake of 'progress'.

 

[Terrywoodenpic]

The new order will be acquisitive as any other. Artefacts are valuable they will be safe.
However traditions are hard to value and many will be lost.
The Orthodox communities like all religious communities have succumbed to the modern world in the loss of their faithful. This might well continue to us all. But it will have nothing to do with the EU.
It is more that these countries are finding a place in a modern world, in which Religion is finding it hard to compete for the minds of men.

 

[Fluffy]

Hmmm I would welcome greater integration with Russia simply to lessen America's foothold in Eurasia whilst attempting to lower tensions between Russia and the EU.

I can only hope that if the EU and Russia must remain seperate, they will be able to coexist peacefully. I also hope they give the AU the support and time that it needs.

 

[Mathematician]

I would say a stable, prosperous and united world is in our interests.