[nasional_list] [ppiindia] Russia finds new friends in the form of Hungary and the Czech Republic
- From: "Ambon" <sea@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <"Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@freelists.org>
- Date: Wed, 8 Mar 2006 10:52:45 +0100
** Forum Nasional Indonesia PPI India Mailing List **
** Untuk bergabung dg Milis Nasional kunjungi:
** Situs Milis: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/ **
** Beasiswa dalam negeri dan luar negeri S1 S2 S3 dan post-doctoral
scholarship, kunjungi
http://informasi-beasiswa.blogspot.com
**http://english.pravda.ru/world/ussr/07-03-2006/77000-putin_hungary+czech-0
07.03.2006
Russia finds new friends in the form of Hungary and the Czech Republic
Last week Vladimir Putin visited Hungary and the Czech Republic. It was
the first time a Russian leader had visited Hungary since 1992 and the Czech
Republic since 1993. Putin's visits to these countries undoubtedly are
historically significant. Relations with these countries differ greatly from
those that Russia has with Poland and the Baltic States.
First of all, Poland differs from Hungary and the Czech Republic in that
it is striving for the status of regional leader. Poland has its own
geopolitical ambitions, connected with its aim of becoming the USA's regional
ally. This is seen in the way that Poland is acting towards the Ukraine and
Belarus. The Baltic States have their own problems forging their self-identity.
Poland and the Baltic States are trying to find their place in the modern
world. At the same time there is a strong anti-Russia feeling in these
countries and this gives rise to the current political line adopted by those in
power. The Baltic States still need to sign an agreement regarding their
borders and resolve such question as status of the Russian-speaking population.
Poland and the Baltic States must consider the historical links that they have
with Russia as regards the events that took place during the Soviet period.
Secondly, Hungary and the Czech Republic were not part of the Russian Empir
e or the Soviet Union unlike Poland and the Baltic States. Czechs and
Hungarians nowadays are not inclined to bring up the dramatic events of 1956
and 1968 which badly affected relations with Russia. The President of Hungary
has announced that he is not allowing the celebration of the jubilee of the
anti-Soviet uprising The Russian President has also made a similar gesture by
announcing that "in the past there were a few problems such as the events of
1956, but in 1992 President Yeltsin gave his opinion and judgment of Soviet
politics." Vladimir Putin accepted Russia's moral responsibility, but said that
it was not possible to do the same in Poland and the Baltic States. One of the
most important gestures which he made was to lay a wreath at a monument
commemorating the victims of the 1956 events.
the Czech Republic the events of 1968 are still keenly felt, even though
officially all has been forgotten. Czech President Vaclav Klaus said in an
interview with Kommersant, "It is impossible for a national to completely
forget about such horrific events. On the other hand, should it affect today's
political and economic relations between the two countries? I do not think that
Russia is continuing the politics of Brezhnev's Soviet Union." The Czech
President had already announced at a press conference, "We will not forget the
past, but we know that the past should not be something that influences the
future." The Russian President noted that "we could not remember one problem,
which has made us cease relations: such problems do not exist."
The Russian leader's visits to Hungary and the Czech Republic are very
important to other countries in Central and Eastern Europe and the West in
general. Russia currently has two aims; to show that it is no longer the Soviet
Union and is trying to clean up its image, but Russia is also striving to
continue its role as the unique and stable partner in the energy sphere.
The main theme of the visits was to establish an energy partnership.
Russia's aim was to convince Hungary and the Czech Republic that they are a
reliable gas supplier. Hungary was one of the countries that were affected by
the recent conflict between Russia and the Ukraine over gas prices. The Russian
President went to Hungary to state that Russia wished to remain the major
supplier of gas to South and Central Europe. The Hungarian Prime Minster
announced that his country was interested in Russian gas and that he would
allow her to become the European centre for distribution. Energy supply was the
topic under discussion during talks with the Czech Republic, three-quarters of
whose energy is supplied by Russia. The Czech Republic is hoping for a
long-term energy agreement with Russia since its current agreement runs out in
2013. Neither the Czech Republic not Hungary has spoken officially about
energy-dependence. Vaclav Klaus has said that he does not see any problem in
being dependent on Russia because there are opportunities to develop
alternative sources of energy. He also stated that Russian "blackmailed" the
Ukraine during the recent gas conflict.
Russia held economic talks with both countries. The Russian President
said that Russia would Hungarian farmers to trade in Russia. He apologized for
the fact that at the start of the 1990s Russia for ideological and political
reasons stopped selling products. Putin said, "We came to an agreement with out
Hungarian counterparts. In order to repay the debt we have replaced the
products needed for Hungarian industry and economy." There were many economic
mistakes made as regards the Czech Republic. Russia promised to help in the
building of a metro system, the modernization of the energy system, and
production of trolleybuses.
It is possible to say that the visits to Hungary and the Czech Republic
mark a new stage in relations with countries in Central and Eastern Europe.
Russia's foreign policy in this region has changed somewhat as regards
relations toward the geopolitical ambitions of countries of Central and Eastern
Europe. For Russia the visits to Hungary and the Czech Republic have a double
significance, in both political and economic terms. In the first instance these
visits are significant for those countries which, as Putin has said, still live
"in the past" and which Hungarian President has classed as egoistic. In the
second instance, Russia, as one of the world's main energy suppliers, is
continuing its search for partners and associates. Vladimir Putin aimed to
convince Hungary and the Czech Republic that they are reliable energy
suppliers. In the main the visits can be deemed successful.
Politcom
Translated by Michael Simpson
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
***************************************************************************
Berdikusi dg Santun & Elegan, dg Semangat Persahabatan. Menuju Indonesia yg
Lebih Baik, in Commonality & Shared Destiny.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia
***************************************************************************
__________________________________________________________________________
Mohon Perhatian:
1. Harap tdk. memposting/reply yg menyinggung SARA (kecuali sbg otokritik)
2. Pesan yg akan direply harap dihapus, kecuali yg akan dikomentari.
3. Reading only, http://dear.to/ppi
4. Satu email perhari: ppiindia-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
5. No-email/web only: ppiindia-nomail@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
6. kembali menerima email: ppiindia-normal@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
ppiindia-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
** Forum Nasional Indonesia PPI India Mailing List **
** Untuk bergabung dg Milis Nasional kunjungi:
** Situs Milis: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ppiindia/ **
** Beasiswa dalam negeri dan luar negeri S1 S2 S3 dan post-doctoral
scholarship, kunjungi
http://informasi-beasiswa.blogspot.com **
Other related posts:
- » [nasional_list] [ppiindia] Russia finds new friends in the form of Hungary and the Czech Republic
