Submitted by Vilen Khachatryan, Dec 18, 2007 22:18

Who wants more confrontation between Russia and Europe? The only side that is truly interested in fueling the conflict between Russia and Europe is the US. It would be hard to push Dmitri Medvedev to change the course. As long as Putin is around, Medvedev will have no problem to withstand to any possible pressure coming from the European continent. The US administration is awkwardly trying to initiate a conflict, blaming the Russian side for putting economic pressure on its former client states on one side, and Europe for not being aggressive enough. By expanding the NATO alliance eastward, incorporating Georgia and Ukraine, the US plays quite dangerous for the European continent game. The EU is not interested in bad relationship with Russia because there are not natural enemies. Russia needs Europe as much as Europe needs Russia. Stability in Europe and Russia is mutually beneficial for both sides. This stability is not so beneficial for the US, which sees this possible alliance as an economic and political threat to the US. Europeans are very angry about the US refusal to sign the Kyoto treaty on tackling global warming, and Russians are concerned about the US missile defense plan in Check Republic and Poland. Additionally, there is disagreement between Russia, the US and Europe about the frozen conflicts on the territory of the former Soviet Union. Those conflicts can become the second Middle East of not "defrosted" for too long. To continue freezing the resolution of the four post-Soviet secessionist conflicts, Russia needs a fifth frozen conflict in Kosovo. Once Kosovo is given independence, it would be hard to deny the same independence to the other, semi-independent countries, which have fought for their personal and collective survival for too long. Kosovars did not. No matter what, the four semi-independent republics will eventually get recognition of their sovereignty. There is no way to reverse the wheel of history. The only way to limit their independence is to bring back the Soviet Union so that the unrecognized territories again can forcefully be incorporated into the USSR. Freedom can be limited only by force. None of the countries who "lost" their territories are able to retake the territories by force. Georgia, Azerbaijan and Moldova should realize that the territories they lost were given to them against the will of the people inhabiting those territories. For instance, Stalin did not bother to ask the people of Karabakh whether they want to live with Azeries or not. The will of people cannot be suppressed for too long. The conflicts cannot be initiated for no particular reason. The US should abandon its unconstructive stance, and instead initiate true cooperation between Europe and Russia. Russia and not Georgia or Ukraine is a top exporter of oil and gas. Energy security cooperation between the United States, Europe and Russia is advantageous. Initiating conflicts between natural allies, such as Europe and Russia, will only help to drive the price for gas up, benefiting our enemies, who want to destroy the US, our culture, and everything that makes any sense.

Vilen Khachatryan

UCLA Pol Sci department student

1150 North Maryland Ave, Apt # 9

Glendale, CA 91207

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