Russian Baltic Policy: The Song Remains the Same?
erschienen in der Publikation "Sicherheitspolitik in der GUS und im Baltikum (1/01)" (ISBN: 3-901328-53-X) - März 2001
Autor(en):
Anton V. Vushkarnik
7 Seiten (41 KB)
Schlagworte zu diesem Beitrag:
Russland, Politik, Sicherheitspolitik, Verteidigungspolitik, Außenpolitik
Abstract:
In February 1997, the press service of the President of the Russian Federation published the document titled "A long-term line of Russia towards the Baltic countries". The paper, introduced as the official guidelines of Russian Baltic policy, defined the "strategic goal" of Moscow in the Baltic region as the "promotion of a constructive model of relations based on principles of encouragement of regional economic integration and bilateral economic cooperation, indivisibility of security of the states, respect of human rights and rights of national minorities". A number of important factors helped to design these guidelines.
First of all, the formation of a more or less precise political line concerning the Baltic countries was promoted by the occurrence of a certain consensus in Russia regarding the basic directions of its external policy. Within the framework of the concept of a "multipolar world", which in 1996-1997 emerged as an official Russian foreign policy doctrine, Russia is considered as an independent "pole" with its own interests, not necessarily fitting those of the Western countries. The concept has gained the support of the Russian political elite, and Moscow’s firm stance on a number of issues in Russian-Baltic relations - such as the situation of the Russian speaking minorities or eventual NATO membership of the Baltic countries - can be explained in part by the political mood inside the country.
First of all, the formation of a more or less precise political line concerning the Baltic countries was promoted by the occurrence of a certain consensus in Russia regarding the basic directions of its external policy. Within the framework of the concept of a "multipolar world", which in 1996-1997 emerged as an official Russian foreign policy doctrine, Russia is considered as an independent "pole" with its own interests, not necessarily fitting those of the Western countries. The concept has gained the support of the Russian political elite, and Moscow’s firm stance on a number of issues in Russian-Baltic relations - such as the situation of the Russian speaking minorities or eventual NATO membership of the Baltic countries - can be explained in part by the political mood inside the country.