Russia: Russia-U.S. ties threatened by Washington's Cold War attitudes

[truthpusher]

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/01/29/international2358EST0628.DTL

Russia-U.S. ties threatened by Washington's Cold War attitudes, foreign minister says

STEVE GUTTERMAN, Associated Press Writer

Saturday, January 29, 2005

Russian-American relations are good but have been harmed by Washington's Cold War-style power games in ex-Soviet republics, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in comments made public Saturday.

Lavrov accused the United States of applying double standards regarding elections in former Soviet republics, saying that its determinations about whether votes pass muster as open and democratic "depend on political expediency."

Lavrov was clearly alluding to the recent presidential battle in Ukraine, where Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated the Kremlin's favored candidate on a victory that was then overturned by Ukraine's high court following criticism from Western vote monitors and from governments that refused to recognize the official results.

"A generally positive dynamic is characteristic" of the U.S.-Russian relationship, Lavrov told a meeting of a Russian-American business council Thursday, according to an outline of his comments posted Saturday on the Foreign Ministry's Web site.

more:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2005/01/29/international2358EST0628.DTL

[Tinoire]

1. Scary I'm telling you!

Letter of 100 on Democracy in Russia, September 28, 2004

An Open Letter to the Heads of State and Government
Of the European Union and NATO
September 28, 2004

(snip)
… we are deeply concerned that these tragic events are being used to further undermine democracy in Russia. Russia's democratic institutions have always been weak and fragile. Since becoming President in January 2000, Vladimir Putin has made them even weaker. He has systematically undercut the freedom and independence of the press, destroyed the checks and balances in the Russian federal system, arbitrarily imprisoned both real and imagined political rivals, removed legitimate candidates from electoral ballots, harassed and arrested NGO leaders, and weakened Russia's political parties. In the wake of the horrific crime in Beslan, President Putin has announced plans to further centralize power and to push through measures that will take Russia a step closer to authoritarian regime.
We are also worried about the deteriorating conduct of Russia in its foreign relations. President Putin's foreign policy is increasingly marked by a threatening attitude towards Russia's neighbors and Europe's energy security, the return of rhetoric of militarism and empire, and by a refusal to comply with Russia's international treaty obligations. In all aspects of Russian political life, the instruments of state power appear to be being rebuilt and the dominance of the security services to grow. We believe that this conduct cannot be accepted as the foundation of a true partnership between Russia and the democracies of NATO and the European Union.
These moves are only the latest evidence that the present Russian leadership is breaking away from the core democratic values of the Euro-Atlantic community. All too often in the past, the West has remained silent and restrained its criticism in the belief that President Putin's steps in the wrong direction were temporary and the hope that Russia would soon return to a democratic and pro-Western path. Western leaders continue to embrace President Putin in the face of growing evidence that the country is moving in the wrong direction and that his strategy for fighting terrorism is producing less and less freedom. We firmly believe dictatorship will not and cannot be the answer to Russia's problems and the very real threats it faces.
The leaders of the West must recognize that our current strategy towards Russia is failing. Our policies have failed to contribute to the democratic Russia we wished for and the people of this great country deserve after all the suffering they have endured. It is time for us to rethink how and to what extent we engage with Putin's Russia and to put ourselves unambiguously on the side of democratic forces in Russia. At this critical time in history when the West is pushing for democratic change around the world, including in the broader Middle East, it is imperative that we do not look the other way in assessing Moscow's behaviour or create a double standard for democracy in the countries which lie to Europe's East. We must speak the truth about what is happening in Russia. We owe it to the victims of Beslan and the tens of thousands of Russian democrats who are still fighting to preserve democracy and human freedom in their country.

Urban Ahlin Madeleine K. Albright Giuliano Amato
Uzi Arad Timothy Garton Ash Anders Aslund
Ronald D. Asmus Rafael L. Bardaji Wladyslaw Bartoszewski

Arnold Beichman Jeff Bergner Joseph R. Biden
Carl Bildt Max Boot Ellen Bork
Pascal Bruckner Mark Brzezinski Reinhard Buetikofer

Janusz Bugajski Michael Butler Martin Butora
Daniele Capezzone Per Carlsen Gunilla Carlsson
Ivo Daalder Massimo D'Alema Pavol Demes
Larry Diamond Peter Dimitrov Thomas Donnelly
Nicholas Eberstadt Uffe Elleman-Jensen Helga Flores Trejo

Francis Fukuyama Jeffrey Gedmin Bronislaw Geremek
Carl Gershmann Marc Ginsberg Andre Glucksmann
Phil Gordon Karl-Theodor von und zu Guttenberg
Istvan Gyarmati Pierre Hassner Vaclav Havel
Richard C. Holbrooke Toomas Ilves Bruce Jackson
Donald Kagan Robert Kagan Craig Kennedy
Penn Kemble Glenys Kinnock Bernard Kouchner
Jerzy Kozminski Ivan Krastev William Kristol
Girts Valdis Kristovskis Ludger Kuehnhardt Mart Laar
Vytautas Landsbergis Stephen Larrabee
Mark Leonard Sabine Leutheusser-Schnarrenberger
Tod Lindberg Tom Malinowski
Will Marshall Margarita Mathiopoulos
Clifford May John McCain Michael McFaul
Matteo Mecacci Mark Medish Thomas O. Melia
Sarah E. Mendelson Michael Mertes Ilir Meta
Adam Michnik Richard Morningstar Joshua Muravchik

Klaus Naumann Dietmar Nietan James O'Brien
Janusz Onyszkiewicz Cem Ozdemir Can Paker
Mark Palmer Martin Peretz Friedbert Pflueger
Danielle Pletka Florentino Portero Samantha Ravich
Janusz Reiter Alex Rondos Jim Rosapepe
Jacques Rupnik Eberhard Sandschneider
Randy Scheunemann Christian Schmidt
Gary Schmitt Simon Serfaty Stephen Sestanovich

Radek Sikorski Stefano Silvestri Martin Simecka
Gary Smith Abraham Sofaer James Steinberg
Gary Titley Ivan Vejvoda Sasha Vondra
Celeste Wallander Ruth Wedgood Richard Weitz

Kenneth Weinstein Jennifer Windsor R. James Woolsey


http://www.newamericancentury.org/russia-20040928.htm

===

China and Russia will soon be holding their first ever joint military exercise.
===

1. The Coming Draft in the US.
Schumer, Democrat, proposes to draft in the US.

2. September 28, 2004
PNAC letter "TO to the Heads of State and Government
Of the European Union and NATO" about their belligerent attitude towards us in not rallying against Russia

http://www.newamericancentury.org/russia-20040928.htm

3. The Coming Draft in Russia: (and this is a mild article)
As students join Russian protests, concerns over stability rise
Christian Science Monitor - January 27, 2005

MOSCOW – The Kremlin is backpedaling on market reforms introduced earlier this month in an effort to forestall students, police, and even soldiers from joining a growing pensioners' revolt against the cancellation of traditional benefits.

Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov pledged Tuesday to postpone until later this year plans to force students into the army, after young people rallied in several cities against the conscription system.

(snip)

Students, like many elderly Russians, are stirring over cancellation of their public transport privileges and a draft law requiring all 18-year-old males to perform military service before being allowed to go to university.

(snip)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2005/0127/p07s01-woeu.html



4. First ever Sino-Soviet Military Excercise
Russia, China to conduct joint military drill 12/14/2004 -- 10:59(GMT+7)

Beijing (VNA) - Visiting Russian Defence Minister Sergei Ivanov and his Chinese counterpart Cao Gangchuan on Monday agreed to conduct a first-ever joint military drill next year. The same day, State President and Chairman of China's Central Military Commission Hu Jintao and his deputy on the committee Guo Baxiong also held talks with Minister Ivanov.

Guo welcomed Russia's stance on the Taiwan issue, stressing that China will not tolerate separatist activities aimed at seeking independence for Taiwan.

(snip)

http://www.vnagency.com.vn/NewsA.asp?LANGUAGE_ID=2&CATEGORY_ID=34&NEWS_ID=131122

China, Russia to conduct first joint military drill
www.chinaview.cn 2004-12-14 07:28:15


Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan(R) gestures during a welcome ceremony with his visiting Russian counterpart in Beijing on December 13.


Chinese Defense Minister Cao Gangchuan (L) holds a welcome ceremony for visiting Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov in Beijing Dec. 13. China and Russia will conduct the first-ever joint military exercise next year. (Xinhua photo)

==

===
12-14-2004
President: Sino-Russian strategic coordination reaches unprecedented level

BEIJING, Dec. 13 (Xinhuanet) -- Sino-Russian strategic coordination has attained an unprecedentedly high level, said President Hu Jintao here Monday during his meeting with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Ivanov, according to Foreign Ministry sources.

Hu, also chairman of the Central Military Commission of the Communist Party of China, said bilateral relations between China and Russia had entered a new phase of overall growth, since the two nations forged strategic partnership of coordination.

Cooperation in various sectors has been practical, in-depth andfruitful, he said, adding that growth of relations between the two armies have maintained good momentum.

China and Russia now face the same task of maintaining peace and stability and promoting common development, and it is in the fundamental interests of the people of every nation in the region to further deepen Sino-Russian bilateral strategic coordination, to tighten coordination and cooperation between the two countries and their armies within the framework of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and to join hands in combating terrorism and other evil forces, Hu said.

(snip)

Relations between the two armies are an important part of the partnership, he acknowledged, adding that Russia is willing to work with China to promote this relationship and to maintain peace and stability in the region and the world at large.

(snip)

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2004-12/14/content_2330766.htm

===


Venezuela and China Sign Oil Agreements


President Hugo Chavez and Chinese Vice President Zeng Qinghong signed several agreements Saturday concerning oil, agriculture and technology, officials said. Chavez, whose relationship with the United States has deteriorated recently, has sought to forge new trade and political ties with foreign powers including China and Russia.

. . .

During their meeting, Chavez and Zeng signed a total of 19 agreements after discussing technological cooperation, as well as mining, oil and gas projects, according to a statement issued by the information ministry.

On a visit to Beijing last month, Chavez signed agreements boosting Chinese investment in Venezuela's rich oil and gas resources. The deals also involved the construction of a railroad in eastern Venezuela, the purchase of a satellite to improve telecommunications in the South American country, and the purchase of radars to tighten security along its border with Colombia.

Venezuela expects trade with China to reach US$3 billion this year due to the trade deals signed in December.

http://www.forbes.com/home/feeds/ap/2005/01/29/ap1791428.html
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1195955#1196034

[teryang]

3. The multi pronged American attack on Asia

Includes support for terrorism, encirclement, invasion, sedition from within, and an archipeligo of unsustainable military bases across the continent. It is the dominant position of the neo-cons, oil lobby, Air Force, and defense contractors that could even conjure up such a foolhardy and aggressive strategy. The strategy is directed at complete dominance of Asian energy resources and markets and envisions a dependent and completely helpless Russia. To the extent that we are engaged in war, it is unsuccessful and weakening our nation.

The military alliance of Russia and China will consolidate in face of the threat. The Chinese also have to create new relationships with India in order to offset the instability in the balance of power which lets the outside power America dominate central Asia by engaging in wars, alliances, terrorism and other "great game" subtrefuges with what are essentially the minor states of Asia. In military terms the Chinese and Indians are faced with either meeting the challenge to which the Russians are otherwise prostrate or ultimately facing the threat of genocidal attacks.

This means isolating Pakistan diplomatically. If this is done the neutralization of Indian interests will be at an end and American influence will be eventually be pushed out of inland and central Asia and limited to the smaller littoral nations.

[necso]

2. "...the Cold War calculus that

anything good for one superpower was bad for the other."

And don't forget the Cold War calculus that anything bad for one superpower was good for the other.

Even with the sugar-coating, I am a little surprised that they are speaking this openly. And they must be thrilled with our new SoS.