Russia out in the cold?

"We're not worried about EU enlargement" was the message a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered to European leaders here at the European Economic Summit in Warsaw.

If you are Russian, would you agree? I'm not Russian, I've never been there and I'm curious to learn their perspective on enlargement.

You see, 8 of the 10 new EU members were former Soviet Republics and communist countries - now they're taking a BIG step towards Western Europe, Nato and the US. Is Moscow irritated? Quaking in its boots?

“Our only concern about the expansion of the European Union is that it should not result in the emergence on its territory of second grade citizens deprived of many rights and freedoms on the basis of their ethnicity,” is what Sergei Yastrzhembsky, an aide to Putin, said.

“Russia regards the expansion of the European Union as a good thing, positive for Russia,” he declared. ”Indeed, this process leads to the expansion of the zone of stability and promotes the development of democracy and the adoption of European legal standards in the states immediately bordering Russia.” (Read the full session summary)

One Polish woman told me that Russia is seriously concerned.

"Their sphere of influence is all of sudden being taken away from them. In their mind, they would like to have the good old days back."

And then there's question of Nato. "The Polish buffer is disappearing, and now Nato troops can come right up to the border with Russia," she said.

But these "buffer states" should be happy that they're no longer sandwiched between opposing systems, or world powers.

If you're from an accession state or Russia, are you happy about what's going to happen on 1 May?

Comments

[tk]

To me it is often seems that russians are still seen to be Evil, being villans. And i ask my self, Why? is it because of views that have been promoted by our politicians in the past. So when russia is not admited to EU everybody expects it to be hurt because it 'lost' its evil influence power. Russia, like any other country, has many other problems to care about then its influence in Baltic States. Rather then continuing to 'fight' Russia why don't countries support and guide it through this painfull process of transition. after all would not i be a better place when we all benefit each other and not fight each other. And remember Russia is not a villan, never was, never will be...

[Lilia]

And more about Latvia - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/3677383.stm

[Lilia]

Just to give you some background about situation in Latvia - http://www.eubusiness.com/imported/2003/02/102412

[Lilia]

I guess if you want to know opinion of Russian people you have to ask them and not Polish :)))

I'm far from politics, but this is my 5 cents.

What I find out strange and not fair is that for many people Russia took all the legacies of Soviet Union, including being an evil, enemy and the one not democratic. Of course, Russia is far from being open and stable, but there are millions of good development that often not seen.

It pains to see people from former communist countries talking about Russians as invadors. Hey, that wasn't average Russian, that were Soviet politicians and lots of Russians suffered from them as well.

Especially in Baltic countries. I can understand bitterness of their relations with Russia as independence wounds are still fresh, but sometimes it looks like they equal Russians with invadors as some other people equal muslims with terrorists. I'm not an expert, but what I know about situation with Russian minorities there (especially in Latvia) worries me. This is definetely not democratic and I hope that after new EU celebrations are over these issues will be tackled.

Back to your question. I'm Russian, but at the moment I work and live in EU (Netherlands), and I can see good sides of both world. I hope that having a border now will make us getting to know each other better and to have on-going dialogue instead of looking for differences.

And, please, take care of not spreading stereotypes - it's not colder in Russia than in Nordic countries (and we don't have bears on the streets and don't drink vodka for breakfast :)))