Russians Like Britain Despite Cooldown
It seems to me that emotions now prevail in the Russia-Britain relations. Gordon Brown, for instance, got so offended that he never ever telephoned Moscow since his becoming the prime minister. In his turn, President Vladimir Putin talked to Brown just once, when he congratulated him on the premiership. They say the leaders of the two countries have not behaved this way since the Cold War times. Back then, everyone truly believed that the two opponent camps have different worldview, and thus there is nothing to talk about.
In this situation, ‘diligent’ state bodies of lower rank could do nothing but start freezing the relations between the countries. Because of Lugovoi, London demanded that Moscow reconsider Russia’s Constitution. And Moscow questioned the lawfulness of the British Council’s regional offices’ work. Then followed mutual deportation of diplomats. Recently, TNK-BP and BP-Trading companies underwent search, and two people were arrested on suspicion of economic espionage. Along simple logics, this operation was immediately linked to the general state of affairs between Russia and Great Britain. I suppose that linking was hurried and questionable, to say the least.
In modern times, countries of that level cannot conduct a local cold war. I cannot even figure out what these countries want to get from each other. Moreover, Russia’s and Britain’s views on the modern world are now similar in many ways. I believe both countries understand that it is inconvenient to be going around with clenched fists for a long time. I am sure they will start ‘seeking peace’. There are some signs of it now: Gordon Brown wants to meet with Dmitry Medvedev at the G8 summit in July in Japan. He was one of the first heads of state to congratulate our president-elect on his victory.
Certainly, the parties are concerned about the way to normalize the relations and save the face at the same time. I suppose this task will not confuse diplomats, who are used to ‘saving both the goat and the cabbage’. Besides, while politicians are busy quarrelling, businessmen keep cooperating. Although diplomatic cooldowns only hamper ‘the man of economy’.
There are no grounds for further thrust and parry at the NGOs level as well. I say that judging from my personal experience. I can refer to successful work of the Russian-British Round Table, at which we discuss the issues in our relations in a frank and even friendly manner. I can also prove it by active cooperation between Russia’s delegation in the PACE and Great Britain’s representatives in the European Democrats Group.
Moreover, Russian citizens like Great Britain. And not only those who can afford buying real estate in London. Our citizens study English, listen to English music from Purcell to Britten, go to theater to see plays from Shakespeare to Tom Stoppard, and watch Purely English Murder on TV. One can easily buy Fowles and Tolkien in a bookstore. And the English public applauds at Russian ballet soirees.
So, weak variations on the Cold War theme are pointless now.
Mikhail Margelov, chairman of the Federation Council’s Foreign Affairs Committee
All the Article in Russian as of Mar. 27, 2008
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