Stubb: Europe and USA should move forward together in relations with Russia
Foreign Minister addresses NATO-EU foreign ministers’ meeting in Brussels
|
|
|
The European Union and NATO should move forward together in the issue of relations with Russia, says Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs Alexander Stubb (Nat. Coalition Party).
Stubb expressed his views on Russia and the prospects of relations with the country at a dinner for NATO and EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Wednesday.
“Now we have a possibility for a new beginning”, Stubb said, commenting on relations with Russia after the dinner was over.
Possibilities for this were offered by both the change in administration in the United States, and changes in the Russian outlook in economics, domestic policy, and foreign policy. Stubb would like Russia to commit itself to mutual relations through broad cooperation and a comprehensive agenda.
Stubb aired his views on Russia at a “trans-Atlantic dinner” at the request of the host country Belgium.
The dinner was an unofficial forum, which has brought EU countries outside NATO into debate in connection with meetings of the alliance. It is common practice for some participant at the meeting to be asked to elucidate a chosen theme.
Stubb’s speech on Russia came at a good time, because NATO is expected to decide on the normalisation of relations with Russia at the official foreign ministers’ meeting today, Thursday.
The NATO-Russia Council suspended its activities in August when Russia invaded Georgia in the brief war between the two countries.
Also attending the dinner was US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, who is on her first visit to Europe after taking office. She is scheduled to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Geneva on Friday. Clinton’s main topic during both the Wednesday dinner and at the upcoming meeting with Lavrov is the Middle East.
Stubb and Clinton met briefly at the beginning of the short meeting, and agreed on a longer discussion at an Arctic seminar in Washington just over a month from now. According to Stubb, Clinton said that she agreed with him on the Russia question.
“Expectations have often been either too high or too low”, Stubb said on his goals with respect to Russia before the dinner.
Present expectations are clouded by conflicting signs from Russia. Stubb himself emphasised the positive signals in Russia’s foreign policy, but it has been said at the Foreign Ministry that the direction of Russia’s foreign policy has not yet been made clear.
Background assessments point out that Russia’s economy is in a deep crisis, and that the government cannot compensate the restrictions on political freedoms with a higher standard of living. One possible consequence of weakening and uncertainty that has been mentioned is Russia’s concentration on securing its power in nearby areas, such as the Caucasus and Central Asia.
Stubb’s assessment was that in this situation it is necessary to try to persuade Russia to commit to cooperation in all areas, from climate policy to arms control. At the same time, the West needs to show more interest in the Caucasus and Central Asia.
“You have to be a realist”, says Stubb.
Helsingin Sanomat
|
| 5.3.2009 - TODAY |
 Stubb: Europe and USA should move forward together in relations with Russia |
|
