Cross street banner of the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg.
Photo: Nikita Infantyev
| Other Photos |
 |
|
 |
Russia Refuses to Respond to West’s Criticism
// Public opinion
Nine percent of Russians believe in the G-8
The All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) published the results of opinion poll on the attitude of Russians to the G-8 summit. On the whole, Russians do not doubt that Russia’ participation in the G-8 is in the interests of the country. Yet, a bigger half of those polled are sure that Russia would easily get over the expulsion from the G-8. The majority of Russians believe the country needs to pay attention to the West’s criticism.
On the eve of the G-8 summit in St. Petersburg, the VCIOM published the results of opinion poll on the attitude of Russians to the G-8 and on whether Russia should pay attention to G-8 member states’ criticism. Those polled did not express great doubts of the necessity of Russia’s membership in the G-8. Thus, 38 percent of the pollees believe the G-8’s activities do more good than harm to Russia, and only 9 percent believe the opposite. 67 percent of the respondents do not doubt that Russia should remain G-8’s permanent member, while 58 percent supported this idea exactly one year ago.
However, the overwhelming majority of the pollees absolutely disagree to put up with the criticism coming from other G-8 member states. Especially if the criticism to some extent concerns Russia’s interests abroad. For instance, 24 percent are ready to bear with the criticism on human rights situation in Russia, while only 8 percent will put up with remarks about Russia’s policy towards Georgia, Moldavia, and Ukraine. A little more of the respondents suggest to pay attention to the criticism of Russia’s policy on Iran’s nuclear program.
If the West continues criticizing Russia, and international powers insisting on Russia’s expulsion from the G-8 succeed, those polled by the VCIOM suggest that Russia should easily give up its G-8 membership. 34 percent of the pollees believe the expulsion would be unpleasant, but Russia will get over it easily. Other 22 percent are sure it would not influence Russia’s positions in the world at all. 7 percent of the respondents went as far as claiming it would be even better for Russia to leave the G-8. And only 21 percent of polled Russians think the expulsion from the G-8 would “seriously damage Russia’s international positions.”
Andrey Kozenko
All the Article in Russian as of July 14, 2006
|
|
|
