RBC News (Russia) April 13, 2004
USA intimidating Russia
Americans are threatening to oust Russia from the G8,if Moscow conducts independent domestic and foreign policies.
-[T]he American congressman [Tom Lantos] is to arrive in Moscow to hold tough talks being backed by the Washington administration. The list of US claims will be considerably broader than that in the resolution of the US House International Relations Committee. In particular, Lantos has many times expressed his negative attitude towards Russian-Iranian cooperation in the nuclear sphere and Moscow?s position on the US operation in Iraq. ?I do not rule out that the issue of bitter coverage of Iraqi events in Russian mass media will be raised...."
-?Really important decisions have never been discussed within the framework of the G8. The really important issues of bombing Kosovo and Iraq, NATO?s expansion to the East have never been discussed at G8 meetings. Even if agreements are reached they are not fixed. There is no protocol service and that is why they are not obligatory to implement. Meetings are held for a couple of days and they result in large banquets and present exchanges.? -Over the past twenty years we have destroyed the USSR, withdrawn troops from Europe, however joined the G8. If the Kremlin reacts to American threats to expel Russia from the G8, this will be a signal that ?the fish has swallowed the bait.'
Democratic congressman Tom Lantos, one of the authors of the recent resolution of the US Congress on suspending Russia?s membership in the G8, is to visit Moscow this week. Mr. Lantos is planning to meet with representatives of Russian state authorities to explain why Congress is going to insist on expelling Russia from the club of industrially developed nations. The American legislator is not satisfied that Moscow sidesteps principles of democracy, takes over independent mass media, applies discriminatory justice against major businessmen and continues cooperation with Iran in the nuclear energy sector. In fact, Mr. Lantos wants to make Russia choose either to correct its policies according to Washington?s ideas or to get prepared for being expelled from the prestigious G8 club. Opinions of questioned experts are varied. On the one hand, not a single really important decision has been adopted as a result of meetings on the highest level at G8 summits over its almost 20-year history. On the other hand, it is not ruled out that the G8 will become the prototype of the new world government and Russia?s expulsion from this organization may affect Russia?s international image.
A resolution calling for the suspension of Russia?s participation in the G8 was adopted by the US House International Relations Committee in late March. Committee members decided that Russia should not be a member of the assembly of pluralistic democracies. They believe it is necessary to suspend Russia?s membership in the G8 since the Kremlin oppresses the freedom of the press and human rights, prosecutes its political rivals and arrests prominent leaders of businesses who support political opposition to President Putin. This is not the complete list of claims of US congressmen against Russia. US legislators are not satisfied with the growth in influence of officers of secret services in Russian state agencies and the brutality of the Russian army towards civilians in Chechnya. Democratic congressman Tom Lantos and republican Chris Cox, the authors of this anti-Russian resolution approved on March 31, suggested that the US President together with other G8 members should take measures aimed at suspending Russia?s membership in the G8. The Russian government will have to adhere to norms and standards of a free democratic society to gain this membership back.
The US Department of State refused to support the committee?s resolution officially. However, in one of his interviews Mr. Lantos hinted that preparations of the resolution had been coordinated by the Department of State. Strict claims against Russia have been several times declared by official representatives of the Department of State. Alexander Khramchinin, an expert with the Institute of Strategic and Military Analysis, said that he thought that the American congressman is to arrive in Moscow to hold tough talks being backed by the Washington administration. The list of US claims will be considerably broader than that in the resolution of the US House International Relations Committee. In particular, Lantos has many times expressed his negative attitude towards Russian-Iranian cooperation in the nuclear sphere and Moscow?s position on the US operation in Iraq. ?I do not rule out that the issue of bitter coverage of Iraqi events in Russian mass media will be raised. Moreover, Americans would like to clear up the situation that emerged after the visits of German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder and French President Jacques Chirac to Moscow. The USA is concerned that Europeans may create their own global positioning system with the help of Russian specialists like the USA?s GPS and Russia?s GLONASS,? Mikhail Khazin, the president of the consultative company Neokon, said. According to him, Americans may bind these issues with Russia?s further membership in the G8.
According to Alexander Khramchinin, expulsion from the G8 may become a serious impact on Russia?s image. ?Russia?s expulsion from the organization that it was longing to join for many years will influence negatively the country?s and President Vladimir Putin?s personal image. Moreover, the G8 has a large political future. The UN has demonstrated its complete inefficiency; not a single independent decision has been adopted within the framework of this organization. Under these conditions the G8 may become the prototype of the world government, if China and India join it,? Khramchinin thinks. Mikhail Khazin is of a similar opinion. ?From the point of view of the effect for the economy, Russia?s participation or non-participation in the G8 does not decide anything. However, Putin inherited membership in the G8 from Yeltsin and Russia?s image may be damaged,? he noted. Nevertheless he believes that ?the G8 cannot transform into the analogue of the world government. ?The G8 is just a western global project. China and the Islamic world will have a considerably larger weight in decision making processes in the new world,? the expert stressed.
At the same time Anatoly Utkin, the director of the Center of International Studies of the USA and Canada Institute, is of the opposite opinion. According to him, the G8 is of no importance for Russia and exaggeration of the role of the G8 is for the advantage of Americans who are ready to gain some political dividends on this issue. ?Really important decisions have never been discussed within the framework of the G8. The really important issues of bombing Kosovo and Iraq, NATO?s expansion to the East have never been discussed at G8 meetings. Even if agreements are reached they are not fixed. There is no protocol service and that is why they are not obligatory to implement. Meetings are held for a couple of days and they result in large banquets and present exchanges,? Mr. Utkin said. According to him, the Kremlin desired to participate in ?the club for the chosen? since about 1986 to 1987. However, the country has not received any real advantages from this. ?The desire to become a G8 member is just childishness like a child problem whether ?I am invited to a birthday party or not?. In fact, Russia clings to some ?cheap finery? while losing reality methodically. Over the past twenty years we have destroyed the USSR, withdrawn troops from Europe, however joined the G8. If the Kremlin reacts to American threats to expel Russia from the G8, this will be a signal that ?the fish has swallowed the bait?, which will enable the Americans to bargain concessions,? Mr. Utkin emphasized. -------------END------------------------------ Analytical department of RIA RosBusinessConsulting