July 20, 2007 :: Financial Times :: News
Czech government officials have recently made a series of noteworthy observations about Russian foreign policy and influence in Europe. The Czech Republic's Foreign Minister Karel Schwarzenberg commented that while Russia is not an imminent threat, it could become one within the decade.
Maybe Russia will be a threat once more... In the last few months there have been some rather surprising occurrences... Russia would like to achieve the same status [vis-a-vis America] that the former Soviet Union had. Then the two of them, Washington and Moscow, would be the two to decide European issues. I am very sorry, but we consider that is our affair too.
In separate comments, an independent member of the Czech government Prince zu Schwarzenberg concurred with the Foreign Minister's statement while speaking at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.
We can understand that Russia is claiming its former position of superpower... However, we are scared by a strategy oriented more on prestige and on building military might instead of investing in civil infrastructure. With this strategy, I am afraid that Russia will once again end up as a giant with feet of clay... The Russians have always thought much more in long-term and strategic considerations than other European states. Other European states [go] from one election to another, and think more about tactics.
Both officials agreed that Europe must acquire energy independence to preserve its full independence. (Article)
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