Researcher warns against overdramatising relations with Russia
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By Hanna Miettinen
Arkadi Moshes, a Russian citizen, who works as a researcher at the Finnish Institute for International Affairs, and who recently defended his doctoral dissertation on the history of international relations, feels that Sergei Yastrzhembski (an aide to President Vladimir Putin) was exaggerating when he said that there is a "bloc" of countries in the European Union with a negative attitude toward Russia.
"The word ‘bloc’ is too strong", he says.
Even if there were something resembling a bloc among the new EU member states, Moshes feels that Finland is not a part of it.
Moshes does not want to guess why Yastrzhembski saw Finland as part of such a grouping. He suspects that one reason may be the visa issue, which has been a problem with Finnish-Russian relations in recent years.
Moshes adds that Yastrzhembski’s statement should under no circumstances be overdramatised.
He feels that the statements are symbolic for the present age.
"Relations between Russia and the EU are growing worse. The problem is conceded on the official summit level", Moshes points out.
Moshes feels that the first thing that the EU should do about the matter is to find a common policy on Russia.
"It would not necessarily be the most efficient policy, and it might not get everyone’s support, but it should be a unified policy", he emphasises.
In his view, the only thing that the EU is doing now is offering explanations for why it is so difficult to deal with relations with Russia, while there is no concept of what direction people want to move forward in.
"The question of what should be done with Russia needs answers from the business community, intellectuals, students, and ordinary tourists", he says.
In Moshes’ view, the EU needs to create a vision of a democratic Russia capable of integration - of what Russia’s development could be under the best of circumstances, even if the realisation of that vision is not imminent.
"The EU would benefit enormously from Russia’s development", Moshes points out.
"We need more Russian students in Europe, and fewer problems for Russians who study in Europe. We also need changes in the infrastructure. It is absurd that the train journey from Helsinki to St. Petersburg takes five and a half hours."
Moshes also feels that purely practical measures are not enough.
"Pragmatism is not enough. It does not help create a stable, trustworthy, and friendly neighbour."
If the integration of Russia is to be achieved, Moshes observes that the EU should show that it cares about ordinary Russians. He says that the EU should stop thinking of the EU as "us", and the Russians are "the others".
"I fear that the EU is not yet ready for this", Moshes says.
With this in mind, he returns to the dispute between Finland and Russia on the visa issue.
Moshes feels that the image created by Finland on the dispute is distorted. It is suggested that the sticking point is the weakening of border controls. As Moshes sees it, the change would mean that passport controls would be shifted from Finnish consulates in Russia to the border.
"The arguments with which Finland defends mandatory visas are technical. From the Russian point of view, it seems doubtful that Finland wants to solve the issue."
Helsingin Sanomat / First published in print 9.12.2004
HANNA MIETTINEN / Helsingin Sanomat
hanna.miettinen@hs.fi
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| 14.12.2004 - THIS WEEK |
 Researcher warns against overdramatising relations with Russia |
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