Main focus of Thursday, May 10, 2007

Russia's demonstration of national power

In Russia, May 9, the "Day of Victory" over National Socialism is traditionally marked with a massive military parade. Vladimir Putin has used the commemorative ceremony to at once commemorate Russian history, and to demonstrate national power in view of current conflicts. In the run-up to the EU-Russia summit meeting in Samara, European newspapers criticise Russia's politicisation of history.

Le Monde - France

"A few days before the biannual summit between the European Union and Russia on the 18th and 19th of May in Samara (on the banks of the Volga), tension is higher than it has ever been since the fall of the Berlin Wall. The list of contentious subjects is getting longer and the tone of declarations coming from Moscow is less and less agreeable", notes the daily. "This isn't a question of mere squabbling, but the consequence of the 2004 European accession of countries from Central and Eastern Europe, particularly the Baltic States. Whatever they may say, the Russians have never really accepted this. As for these countries, they have brought to the Union an experience of Russian relations marked by more than half a century of domination. This experience, that the western European countries lack, makes them more mistrustful, or less naive, regarding Russian intentions." (10/05/2007)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Europe

NRC Handelsblad - Netherlands

"Contrary to his predecessors, President Putin is an authoritarian leader", says the Dutch daily. "He is imposing heavy political pressure on his former compatriots. Through orchestrated campaigns, threats and demonstrations, the Russians directly interfered in the case of the 'Bronze Soldier' in Tallinn. ... The European Union should not let itself be intimidated. The European Commission has taken a step in the right direction by taking action against Russia after intimidating demonstrations were organised in front of the Estonian embassy in Moscow. The Estonian Prime Minister has set an example by placing a bouquet at the foot of the displaced monument. This contrasts with Putin who, prior to the commemoration of the Liberation [The Russians celebrate victory over fascism on May 9th] indirectly criticised the displacement of the monument." (09/05/2007)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Russia, » Europe

Neue Zürcher Zeitung - Switzerland

World War II memorials "were deliberately designed as symbols of Soviet power," states Romanian-German writer Richard Wagner, explaining the vehemence of the Russian-Estonian memorial dispute: "An empire that knows no public debate can only express itself through extreme symbolism. This is still in evidence now that end Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe is over. Russia never confronted its inglorious role in controlling the peoples of Eastern Europe after World War II. The failure of democratisation in Russia, the way it has reanchored itself into super-confident, resource-squandering, society-controlling conglomerate also leads to its aggressive behaviour vis-à-vis the new free states." (10/05/2007)

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More from the press review on the subject » International Relations, » History, » Estonia, » Russia, » Eastern Europe
All available articles from » Richard Wagner

Polityka Online - Poland

Slawomir Popowski accuses Russian President Putin of instrumenalising history in a war of ideologies. "All nations have the right to organise their own hierarchy of historical events that are important for them, that influence their identity and bind them as a society… For Russians, this is undoubtedly the 9th of May, the day of the end of the war. It is no accident that it is called the 'Great Fatherland War.' A war that was won, but paid for with the lives of millions of Soviet soldiers. One has to respect that, one must honour the dead, even if we differ in our evaluation of the political results of this war. But if politicians of whatever stripe start to play with history, using it as a tool to accomplish political or ideological projects, then a problem arises. And we are becoming witnesses to just such a development. The current battle over remembrance, symbols and memorials is basically a war of ideology. It has to do with a concrete image of the state, Europe and the world. And it is in this light that we must view the pomp of this victory parade on Red Square, and Vladimir Putin's appearance there." (10/05/2007)

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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » History, » Russia
All available articles from » Slawomir Popowski

Atgimimas - Lithuania

Erikas Boltowskis and Ricardas Cekutis ask why the dispute over the bronze statue in Tallinn is causing such a fuss. After all, in many places Soviet memorials simply disappeared. "It could be that the reactions from Moscow really are a distraction from a completely different, much more important issue, for example the Russian-German gas pipeline, which - according to the latest plan - will go through Estonian waters. Russian marines will be charged with protecting the pipeline. And so they'll once again be the lords of the Baltic Sea. Is the history of 1939/1940 repeating itself? At any rate, Swedes and Finns have already made it quite clear that they don't want to see any soldiers in their waterways. And we should follow suit." (10/05/2007)

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More from the press review on the subject » Security Policy / Crises / War, » Environmental Policy, » Lithuania, » Estonia, » Russia, » Baltic States
All available articles from » Erikas Boltowskis, » Ricardas Cekutis

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