Putin's Speech
I realized that I wrote my blog about Russia exactly at the right moment (probably couple of days too late). At the Munich Security Conference from 9-11 February Russian President Vladimir Putin held a highly controversial speech (the link guides you to the full English text of it). The reactions ranged from “improper accusations against the US” to “properly describes the world imbalance as it is today”. It is worth having a read through to make up one's own picture.
He talks about many points that are mentioned in Peter Scholl-Latour's book about Russia. Specifically the fact about promises that the NATO should not be extended further east than the former iron curtain. Jens Siegert from “Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung” states in an interview that in the 2 + 4 Treaty this was laid down (in contradiction to the information I had before). His overall comment translates approximately like this: in geopolitical issues there are no friends nor enemies there are only interests and opportunities (former German chancellor Bismarck is said to have used this phrase).
Another fact that gets some proof is that the NATO is looking for a new purpose (strategy). It comes from NATO Secretary General Hoop Scheffer himself calling for a new strategic concept.
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Posted at
11:16PM Feb 12, 2007
by Volker Seubert in Europe & Beyond |
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Comments[2]
Posted by Vladimir Dzhuvinov on February 13, 2007 at 08:34 AM CET #
Posted by Hanspeter on February 15, 2007 at 12:16 PM CET #