Russian-Western interplay at CSCE

The CSCE summit marked a collapse of Russian diplomacy's hopes that east European countries could be prevented from getting NATO membership. Last doubts were dispersed by U.S. President Bill Clinton who apparently decided to clarify the issue once and for all by stating, without his usual curtsies to his 'friend Boris,' that no country would be allowed to block NATO expansion.

Europeans, both western and eastern, displayed their solidarity with Washington's position, and Moscow found itself in isolation. Russian diplomacy suffered a dramatic defeat. It has nobody to blame for this but itself. Wasn't it clear long ago, when the question of possible NATO membership for Poland, Hungary, Czechia and Slovakia had just arisen, that Moscow was unable to prevent this? It seems there was nobody in the Russian leadership who could evaluate their abilities adequately and explain to Boris Yeltsin that his tough promises 'not to allow' NATO expansion were backed by nothing.

The Kremlin apparently was sure that the West would try to avoid a clash with Russia and, threatened by Yeltsin's anger, would retreat at the last moment. This, however, did not happen, and Moscow had nothing to do but to open its cards and to demonstrate to the entire world what 'response measures' are in the stock of Russian diplomats. As could be expected, the Kremlin's arsenal proved to be extremely limited: a refusal by Russian Foreign Minister Andrei Kozyrev to sign an agreement on cooperation with NATO and also several critical arrows shot by Yeltsin towards the West.

It was unreasonable, therefore, to make so much fuss around the expansion of the North Atlantic alliance. It would be better not to dramatize the situation, especially because Russian leaders officially stated that Moscow regards NATO as a partner and not as a potential enemy.

As for the West, its actions are quite logical: whatever happens in Russia, the strengthening of NATO would be desirable. If democratic forces in Moscow gain stronger positions, NATO coming closer to Russia's borders would facilitate its cooperation in Russia; in case tough opposition comes to power and Europe returns to the epoch of confrontation, Western leaders would not reproach themselves because they missed an opportunity to build up their defense capacity.

-- Izvestia, Moscow