A. EU-Russia: what kind of relationship?

B. Russia and its path to democracy.

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A. EU-Russia: what kind of relationship? Is Russia still a danger for East European States? What’s future for Russia?

1. The EU and Russia are already strong partners in Europe. Moscow plays an important role in securing peace and stability. The EU believes in an effective multilateral system with a strong United Nations at its core. Russia shares the same world view. Russia needs the EU as the EU Russia. Half of Russia’s foreign trade is with the EU and many EU members has invested in Russian economy in recent years.

The EU and Russia should have a better exchange of information and guarantee easier visas. People need to meet and get to know each others. This is the only way to defeat racism and misinformation especially now, when, even in the most remote Siberian village, people have the chance of watching on TV other ways of living, traditions and customs.

For centuries, these rural people were completely isolated from the rest of the world.

After 1991 Soviet break up the balances in Europe have changed. Moscow doesn’t represent a danger for its neighbours any more. It’s quite natural that Easter European people are still worried of Russians, who were, in many circumstances, unpleasant guests for a long time.

In next few years, Russia is going to remain a regional superpower in Europe and Asia and sell its energy resources.

2. Democracy should be the basis of EU-Russian relationship. Its lack is a problem for all the European continent. Many Balts still consider Russia as a danger for the terrible past we had.

Valdas, Kaunas

3. Russian fight against terrorism has created concern in many members of the European Union. World’s leaders should sit at a table and agree on a common plan putting aside national interests.

Michelle, Paris

B. Russia and its path to democracy.

1. Mr. Putin is reforming Russian political system. His main idea is to centralize more the power to avoid Russia ending up like USSR. It’s really difficult to govern a country as large as Russia with 11 times zones. But is this the right way to guarantee a better future and stability to this enormous state? Too much power in few hands might provoke other kinds of diseases. In Mr. Putin’s opinion the vertical power is a good receipt to beat corruption and give to Russia stability.

2. After 74 years of communism the democratization of Russia is one of the revolutions of the 20^th century. Russians are simply still looking for their right internal political balance. If another Russian generation lives with this system we can be sure of democracy putting roots in Russia.

Jack

3. Even Mr. Yeltsin is against Putin’s reforms. We need not to forget it!

Mark

4. Liberals and reformists remained out of the Duma at last parliamentarian elections. We should remember that!

Ivan, Moscow.

5. The presidential elections in 2008, when Mr. Putin is stepping down after two terms, are decisive for the democratic future of Russia. Liberals and reformists are preparing for this event.

Igor, Kazan

6. Last summer Russian Defence Minister, Mr. Sergei Ivanov, spoke about Russian (Eastern?) model to democracy.

Is the vertical power this model? Could it be more easily described as “authoritarian system”?

Hans, Hamburg

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