Russia seeks closer EU defence ties, says France

[NNN0LHI]

http://www.expatica.com/source/site_article.asp?subchannel_id=58&story_id=16055&name=Russia+seeks+closer+EU+defence+ties%2C+says+France

MOSCOW, Jan 21 (AFP) - Russia wants closer ties to the European Union, especially on defence issues, while France supports this goal and will try help attain it, two top French officials said here Friday.

"It appears that there is on both sides an obvious desire for rapprochement between Russia and the European Union," French Defence Minister Michele Alliot-Marie told reporters after she and French Foreign Minister Michel Barnier met Russian President Vladimir Putin.

"Geographic proximity, along with a certain number of challenges that we are confronting, make us desire this rapprochement," she said.

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[progressiveBadger]

1. Don't want to be paranoid...

but I wonder if this is in response to either
A. The US going insane
B. The rest of the world going insane because of what the US is doing

[Zeke]

2. Sad ButTrue...

Both.

[Vincardog]

4. aWoL going insane We have to take our Government Back

Viva

[leesa]

9. I think the rest of the world is doing the only thing they can do.

They MUST make new alliances to protect themselves from the US. Remember, the US threatened EVERYONE that opposes them and said they would launch pre-emptive military invasions even for economic embargoes.

[Spazito]

3. I think this phrase from the article says alot...

"certain number of challenges that we are confronting"

I read that as the posturing and bullying bush is currently doing would be those "challenges".

[McKenzie]

5. and defence co-operation might lead to them adopting the euro

now THAT would be interesting. Expect to see further alliances, both military and economic, in the next few years...I'd say four years is a likely timescale...

Methinks this is a coded way of signalling to the US that there are other powers in the geopolitical pond.

[Just Me]

6. In other words, there are consequences for unilateral imperialist,...

,...aggression. I've said it before and I'll say it again,...the world will no longer tolerate agressive, fascist empires.

[PROGRESSIVE1]

7. The World sees what will happen if they don't unite against....

the worse threat out there: Bush(PNAC)!

[Wilms]

8. This is good news. Perhaps a cold war can be averted. n/t