RIA Novosti

Hugo Chavez`s autumn tour: regaining his positions at home

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 04:35:00 GMT

Russian-Venezuelan relations are developing quite normally, although there is certainly no cause for euphoria. Regimes like the one in Venezuela are rather unstable, as the history of Latin America repeatedly shows. This was confirmed once more by the recent failed coup in Honduras and ensuing events. In light of this, Chavez is trying to strengthen his position in all aspects of his domestic and foreign policies.

After the Reset. A New Agenda for Russian-U.S. relations

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 04:00:00 GMT

Russian-U.S. relations have enjoyed a six-month-long honeymoon since last spring’s “wedding.” The “reset” has worked. But more difficult times lie ahead. The Republicans have gone on the offensive against Barack Obama, determined to derail the ratification of the START treaty. The structural weakness of the current model of relations only aggravates the situation. Deputy Director of the Institute of Europe at the Russian Academy of Sciences, Dean of the Department ofWorld Economy and World Politics at the State University – Higher School of Economics, Chairman of the Presidium of the Council for Foreign and Defense Policy, Chairman of the editorial board of Russia in Global Affairs magazine

Chavez’ Visit to Russia: Infected by “VIRUS”?

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Some observers nastily called the alliance of Venezuela, Iran and Russia “VIRUS.” The question is, whether the VIRUS has already spread, or is likely to spread, to Bolivia, Cuba, Ecuador, Nicaragua, North Korea, and possibly China.

Whither Russia?

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 09:19:00 GMT

In the political realm, Russia is at a crossroads after a decade of ups and downs in its relations with the West. This has included periods of security cooperation, as well as tensions resulting from Russian assertiveness in the international arena, its efforts to curb the expansion of NATO, and the war with Georgia

Reply of a useful idiot

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 07:12:00 GMT

The Polish newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza recently published an article by Lilia Shevtsova about Putin’s “useful idiots”. This is how she refers to the participants of the Valdai Club, where Russian officials and political scientists from around the world gather to discuss Russian issues. She also criticizes the Russia-U.S. “reset” policy and Russia-EU cooperation on modernization. She even criticizes Russian Westernizers, who want Russia to turn to the West.

The German issue today

Mon, 04 Oct 2010 07:31:00 GMT

This fall marks 20 years since the reunification of Germany. On 12 September 1990 the Moscow Treaty was signed, apparently bringing the curtain down on the German question. On 3 October 1990, on the basis of the Moscow Treaty, the Cold War’s Eastern and Western Germany were reunified. Now, two decades later, it is time to consider whether the Moscow Treaty really did settle the "German question".

Thoughts on the Luzhkov affair

Thu, 30 Sep 2010 06:30:00 GMT

In a heavily managed political system that rarely generates dramatic headlines, the sacking of Yuri Luzhkov on September 28, after his refusal to go peacefully, is big news. For shock value, the only comparison in the Putin years would be the attack on Mikhail Khodorkovsky in 2003, although of course Luzhkov has not been imprisoned or charged with a crime. Khodorkovsky when deposed was one of the wealthiest men in Russia; Luzhkov was one of the most powerful. For Russia, this is no garden-variety dispute.

Moscow mayor`s dismissal is not accidental

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 12:59:00 GMT

He built Moscow as his small empire, and according to some Russian and international surveys, Moscow became one of the most corrupt cities in the world. Speedy fortunes were built on real estate and many separate contracts. From the Western perspective, obviously, family conflict of interest looked too obvious with his wife becoming the richest or one of the richest persons in Russia.

Divorcia Politica alla Russica

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 06:31:00 GMT

Putin never trusted Lushkov (who ran for President himself briefly), though he left him in place, because once he had promised not to oppose the President, he was simply too powerful to be worth bothering. He has also been quite popular among Muscovites, having made sure that public services have been maintained and even improved, and a reasonable proportion of the immense wealth flowing through Moscow taxed for this purpose.

Observations from Russia

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 06:52:00 GMT

None of the Russian intellectuals on this year's Valdai trip thought that modernisation would go anywhere. They believe that 'top down' efforts to modernise – such as giving Rosnano, a state entity, the money to build a nano-technology industry, or creating a 'silicon valley' near Moscow at Skolkovo – will not have much impact without broader political change.

Russia's Push to the West

Tue, 21 Sep 2010 06:29:00 GMT

Medvedev’s proposal for a new European security architecture is of course very different from NATO membership, and has in part a purely pragmatic motive, which should be fully shared by the West, and implemented as soon as possible. This is to put into place mechanisms which will prevent the eruption of more local crises like the Georgia war of 2008, with Russia and the West drawn in on opposite sides

The issues of European security take new direction - Clifford Kupchan

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 05:12:47 GMT

The use of force can only be used as a last resort, when it is used, it leaves a lasting damage on a broader structure of the international relations. There is a strong appreciation (for) that both in the American and in Russian government.

Re-Examining Russian History - Anatol Lieven

Fri, 17 Sep 2010 05:09:00 GMT

One of the main themes of the Valdai Club this year was coming to terms with Russia’s 20th Century history, or rather the ghastly period between the revolution of 1917 and the death of Stalin in 1953. This forms part of a push by Russian establishment liberals who support President Medvedev to galvanise Russian reform and bring about a clear break with the Soviet past.

Alexei Arbatov on Anatoly Serdyukov’s visit to the United States

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 14:07:00 GMT

There is a new trend in the Russian ground forces. The United States has been moving in this direction more decisively, which can be accounted for by their geopolitical location and geostrategic position. One way or another, over the past twenty years the United States have been preparing for wars like this.

Travels with the Russian Tortoise

Thu, 16 Sep 2010 12:57:00 GMT

Media coverage of Vladimir Putin’s dinner last week with the Valdai Club – of which I am a member - has inevitably focused on his remark about Franklin Delano Roosevelt having stood for four terms as President, and this having been (at the time) perfectly in accordance with the US Constitution. Equally inevitably, this was taken as a heavy hint that Putin intends to run again for President in 2012, replacing Dmitri Medvedev.

Leonid Grigoryev: “There will be no second wave of the crisis”

Wed, 15 Sep 2010 11:55:00 GMT

Leonid Grigoryev, president of the Institute for Energy and Finance, an independent think tank, talks about when we will see international economies stabilize after the economic crisis. He also discusses Moscow’s chances of becoming an international financial center, and the possibility of a new recession.

Washington’s Far East strategy: US-China contradictions cause problems for Russian Far East

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 05:31:06 GMT

The problems in U.S.-Chinese relations affect Russian interests as well. American experts are increasingly concerned about the strengthening of economic relations between China and the Russian Far East. U.S. media have discussed the possibility of American business participation in the development of the Russian Far East. This could involve increasing the capacity of Russian ports in the Pacific Ocean, creating a free trade zone in the Bering Sea or between Alaska and Chukotka, and construction of Russian railways.

The history of Slavophiles and Westernizers in Russia

Thu, 02 Sep 2010 08:29:00 GMT

In the 1840s and the 1850s, two intellectual movements, namely, the Slavophiles and the Westernizers, emerged in Russian society and philosophical thought. The Slavophiles advocated Russia’s unique way of development, whereas the Westernizers insisted on the need to follow in the wake of Western civilization and imitate the Western socio-political system, civil society and culture.

We should talk more about the Future rather than the Past

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 06:00:00 GMT

Angela Stent, participant of the upcoming meeting of the Valdai Discussion club, Director of the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies in the Georgetown School of Foreign Service, dwells on the influence of history on Russian future development in an interview for RIA Novosti.

Arnaud Dubien: A strong central government does not preclude a strong democracy

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:32:00 GMT

Projects developed in some Anglo-Saxon circles, whose goal is the strategic separation of Russia and Ukraine, have failed. They were unrealistic and dangerous, both for the two countries and the rest of Europe. It is obvious that for historical reasons, Ukraine will always occupy a special place in Russia’s political vision.

Russians think that they live on a vast territory surrounded by enemies

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 05:17:00 GMT

In advance of the seventh regular meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, which is to be held in St. Petersburg, Kizhi, Valaam and Moscow in the first decade of September , Richard Pipes, an American Professor of Russian History, gave an interview for RIA Novosti where he explained his views on the influence of history and geography on the Russian political system. According to his opinion Russia has its own, different from Western civilization, development path.

Russia and Europe need to continue developing their relations gently

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:50:00 GMT

In an interview with RIA Novosti, former Polish Prime Minister (2001-2004) Leszek Miller says that Russia and Europe need to develop their relations gently. Mr Miller is to take part in the forthcoming meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club. In Europe, they expect Russia to continue promoting its market economy and democracy, but understand that Russia should not blindly follow European traditions, Leszek Miller said.

Russia’s mission is Eurasian integration

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:42:00 GMT

For several centuries, everyone in Russia – from great minds to cooks – has been discussing the same issue: should Russia look to Europe or Asia? The world’s geopolitical structure has changed in this time, and yet we still have not resolved this issue. Xing Guangcheng, an expert on Russia and a professor at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, who will be attending the upcoming seventh meeting of the Valdai International Discussion Club, shared his views on this question with RIA Novosti.

Charles Grant: Russia and the EU

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:33:00 GMT

It is high time Russia and the European Union started discussing a possible “reset” in their relations now that Russia has successfully “reset” its relations with the United States, believes Charles Grant, director of the Centre for European Reform.

Valdai provides unique chance of “immersion into Russian dimension”

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 04:23:00 GMT

The next meeting of the Valdai Discussion Club, taking place in early September in St. Petersburg, Kizhi, Valaam and Moscow, will provide its foreign participants with a truly unique chance of “immersion into the Russian dimension”