Russia’s policy in the Commonwealth of Independent States is likely to remain the focus of future discussions and a source of heightened tensions with the West until the end of 2004. The development of a realistic national strategy with regard to the CIS in general, and the European CIS countries (Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova) in particular, is still a problem for Moscow; the way this problem is solved will determine Russia-West relations and the future development of the political and economic picture in Russia.
Preparation for the new parliamentary and presidential elections began more than a year and a half ahead of the elections. Why so early? Because at stake is not only or largely the outcome of the elections as the development of the country in the next four years. One of the key issues in the election campaign is foreign policy whose various aspects are analyzed in this personal review.
Russia’s policy in the Commonwealth of Independent States is likely to remain the focus of future discussions and a source of heightened tensions with the West until the end of 2004. The development of a realistic national strategy with regard to the CIS in general, and the European CIS countries (Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova) in particular, is still a problem for Moscow; the way this problem is solved will determine Russia-West relations and the future development of the political and economic picture in Russia.
Preparation for the new parliamentary and presidential elections began more than a year and a half ahead of the elections. Why so early? Because at stake is not only or largely the outcome of the elections as the development of the country in the next four years. One of the key issues in the election campaign is foreign policy whose various aspects are analyzed in this personal review.
When the Baltic countries entered NATO and the European Union a couple of years ago, many thought it was the end of the centuries-old "red line." Euro-Atlantic organizations had crossed into the former Russian and Soviet empires.
In September 2004, the Russian city of Novgorod hosted an international conference entitled Russia at the Turn of the Century: Hopes and Reality. Its organizers were the RIA Novosti news agency, the Council on Foreign and Defense Policy, Russia in Global Affairs, and The Moscow Times.