DATE=12/2/1999
TYPE=BACKGROUND REPORT
TITLE=RUSSIA - NATO
NUMBER=5-44893
BYLINE=ANDRE DE NESNERA
DATELINE=WASHINGTON
CONTENT=
VOICED AT:
// Eds: This is the fifth in an eight-part series on
Russia. Issues raised in the series include the role
of the I-M-F, corruption, and Boris Yeltsin's legacy.
//
INTRO: Relations between Russia and the West cannot be
described as "warm." Many analysts say they have
deteriorated in the past few years. In the fifth of an
eight-part series on Russia, former V-O-A Moscow
correspondent Andre de Nesnera looks at the "cooling
of relations," especially in the wake of NATO's
bombing campaign against Yugoslavia.
TEXT: One of the major - and some might add unforeseen
- consequences of the demise of the Soviet Union in
1991, was that from one day to the next, Moscow lost
its super-power status. During the days of the cold
war, Moscow shared the international spotlight with
Washington. For decades, international relations were
dominated by what was known as a "bipolar world": a
world where decisions by the United States, on the one
hand, and the Soviet Union, on the other, affected
many nations.
But this is no longer the case. And many Russians -
from ordinary citizens to politicians - describe this
loss of international prestige and clout in terms of
humiliation. They believe the West - led by the
United States - can do whatever it wants on the world
stage and treats Russia like a third-world nation.
And that has created a lot of resentment in many parts
of Russia.
Western leaders - including President Bill Clinton -
have made clear they still consider Russia a major
player on the world scene. But many analysts say
relations between Moscow and the West - especially the
United States - have deteriorated since the heady days
right after the fall of communism. They say two recent
examples: NATO's expansion eastward and its bombing
campaign in Kosovo - against Yugoslav President
Slobodan Milosevic - have not helped matters one bit.
Former U-S National Security Adviser General Brent
Scowcroft says during the recent Kosovo crisis, the
West did not use Moscow's traditional ties with Serbia
in an effective way. Instead, he says the United
States has shunned Russia.
/// SCOWCROFT ACT ///
We do not mean to do it. But I believe we are
behaving toward them in a way that accentuates
their sense of humiliation that they have as a
result of the end of the Cold War. And we seem
to ignore them, unless we need them for some
particular thing. I think it is a very bad way
to go. And I think it is giving rise to a strong
nationalistic sentiment that is both anti-US and
anti-Western.
/// END ACT ///
NATO Secretary-General George Robertson admits
relations between the alliance and Moscow are
strained. But he says Russian officials - especially
former Prime Minister Viktor Chernomyrdin - played an
important role in ending the Kosovo crisis and that
Russian soldiers now have a stabilizing role in the
region.
/// ROBERTSON ACT ///
Moscow broke off relations with NATO when the
air assaults took place on Yugoslavia (campaign
began March 24th - ended June 9th), although they
played a big part in the diplomacy beforehand
and they were instrumental in helping end the
conflict. Since then we have started up
discussions about Kosovo and Bosnia only again.
But the reality is, that on the ground inside
Kosovo, Russian troops and NATO troops are
working closely, side by side, in the interest
of bringing stability and peace back to that
troubled part of the Balkans.
/// END ACT ///
Militarily, NATO-Russian cooperation is progressing
smoothly in the Balkans. But the political
relationship remains frozen. Many analysts wonder what
will unblock the situation and set Moscow and NATO
back on the right track that began in May 1997 with
the signing of the "NATO-Russia Founding Act." The
groundbreaking document established a pattern of
cooperation that was simply unthinkable just ten years
ago.
Jack Matlock - the last American ambassador to the
Soviet Union - says the West must learn from the
Kosovo crisis.
/// MATLOCK ACT //
We should have been much more careful on the
diplomatic front in keeping Russia as more of a
partner in solving international crises, instead
of pushing them aside and then constantly
getting into debates with them. I think we could
have done more there.
/// END ACT ///
Experts expect very little will happen next year to
change the current state of relations between Moscow
and the West - and between Moscow and NATO. That is
because Russia and the United States hold presidential
elections - times when traditionally, relations have
been put "on hold." Analysts say only when new
administrations in both countries are firmly in place
can the full-scale relationship resume in earnest.
(Signed)
NEB/ADEN/KL
02-Dec-1999 14:19 PM EDT (02-Dec-1999 1919 UTC)
NNNN
Source: Voice of America
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