Russia gets closer to West while shedding legacy

Boris Petrov, Russian Information Agency Novosti, Moscow

Recent international developments indicate that the West has ceased to view Russia as an unpredictable partner, an empire of evil, and nuclear effigy.

Both sides are specifying and bringing closer their positions on vital economic and political aspects of the modern world. Both Russia and the West seem equally interested in developing closer relations and long-term cooperation.

Moscow makes no secret of the numerous problems it has to wrestle with on the way towards market economy and breaking the ideological stereotypes of the "bright communist future." However, certain progress of Russia's reform should not be underestimated. Last year, the country implemented a systematic reform in the economic, financial and legislative areas. The forecasts for 2002 also inspire hopes for certain positive changes.

Still, Moscow is not above itself, being cognizant of the direct interdependence between the economic welfare of the West and the results of Russia's reform. Moscow deems it necessary for Russia to be aware that we are all in the same boat of the international economic system. Once the American and European economies tumble, Russia would find it hard to make any tangible progress, and vice versa, considering Russia's enormous potential.

It then seems rather important that all the Western investors give up their present suspicions with regard to Russia and its investment climate. This namely refers to the oil and gas, energy, transport and hi-tech sectors of the Russian industry. Naturally, investors should not discard the labor force potential of Russia's remote areas.

This is the hallmark of Russia's position in the business contacts it actively maintains with foreign partners. For instance, over the past 10 days, Moscow alone has played host to the visiting session of the Davos World Economic Forum titled Meeting in Russia 2001. In addition, it welcomed the French prime minister, the German federal chancellor, the U.S. defense secretary, the British and Belgian foreign secretaries, Islandic foreign and trade ministers. The list can be continued.

Business consultations between Russia and the United States are proceeding on a regular basis. The fifth annual Russo- American investment symposium is a graphic illustration to this effect.

The relations between Russia and the U.S. are a separate topic and not only because they have been and still are nuclear powers, which largely influence the political climate of the world. The current Russo-American relations testify to the countries' closer positions on a number of issues. Some seem to be unhappy about this situation, and are making skeptical indications that this rapprochement is only time-serving and is prompted by the joint efforts within the anti-terror coalition.

In other words, should this anti-terror campaign become less intensive, Russia and the U.S. would find themselves on the different sides of the barricades.

Indeed, the relations between Moscow and Washington have had such an experience. As a graphic example, it is suffice to refer to the Cold War period when the former allies of the anti-Hitler coalition turned into irreconcilable enemies after the World War II.

There is one significant aspect here. Russia never asked to join the anti-terrorist coalition, it became its integral part, since it had long called upon the international community to jointly fight the boundless "terrorist Internationale." However, then the West took no notice of Russia's appeals. On the contrary, it censured Moscow for fighting terrorists in Chechnya.

The Sept. 11 events made it clear that terrorism lies far beyond Chechnya's borders. The Russian president was the first to extend condolences to and signal solidarity with the American leadership and the Americans.

There is every ground to assume that the Russian-American rapprochement is the call of the times, rather than a temporary phenomenon. The official visit by Russian president Vladimir Putin to the U.S. is therefore of large significance.

The spectrum of issues on the agenda of the summit talks is fairly broad, ranging from strategic stability, including strategic offensive arms and anti-missile defense, further cooperation in combating all forms of international terrorism, as well as bio-terrorism, to political, military and economic collaboration.

Putin and Bush maintain that cooperation between the two countries is acquiring a regular, specific and constructive character.

Encouraging to Moscow seems to be the launch of consultations between the U.S. administration and Congress on the complete and final abrogation of the Jackson-Vanik amendment with regard to Russia. The abolishment of the amendment, which restricted trade between the U.S. and Russia, would mean the liquidation of the odious remnants of the Cold War period in Russo-American relations.

On the whole, Russia is steadily but surely integrating into nearly all Western political and economic establishments, which is actually the current integration trend of the civilized world. Quite logically, this process is designed to be mutually advantageous.