The Imperative of an EU–Russia strategic reset in Vienna, Austria

U PF-Austria, Vienna - 120 Peter Haider, President of UPF over 1.600 km. Today, it is only 120 people gathered on February Austria, welcomed the guests and km from St. Petersburg. Is this time to 26, 2015 to attend a panel reminded the audience that Russia sleep or to worry? “Russia no longer discussion “The Imperative of an EU– and Europe are geographically represents anything that appeals to Russia strategic reset” organized by neighbors and have various ties in all anyone other than ethnic Russians, Universal Peace Federation Austria fields of life since many centuries. The and as a result, the geopolitical (UPF) in cooperation with the recent disagreements in relation to troubles it can cause will remain on International Institute for Middle the Ukraine crises should be seen also Europe’s periphery, without touching East and Balkan Studies (IFIMES), as a challenge to restart a spirit of the continent’s core.” – was the line of permanent Representation to Austria showing interest in each other based argumentation recently used by and the Vienna-based IOs. on a relationship of trust. Richard N. Haass, President of the US Starting from April 2012 with a Council of Foreign Relations. Is it conference in Moscow, Russia on the really so? topic “Peace and Security in Is there any intellectually appealing Multicultural Societies” followed by a call originating from Russia? A lonely conference on “Europe and Russia – champion of antifascism and (pan- Partners in a Gloalized World” in )Slavism? Is Slavism, identity, Vienna, Austria in October 2012 and secularism and antifascism in Paris, France in December 2013 on abandoned in Eastern Europe – “Eurasia and Europe: Cooperating for confused perhaps by the mixed a Culture of Peace and Human signals from the austerity tired Development” the Universal Peace Southern Europe and über- Federation tried to contribute to an Prof. Anis Bajrektarevic, IFIMES performing Central Europe? EU/Europe and Russia/Eurasia Vienna, who takes the credit for For the EU, Ukraine is (though dialogue. More recently a conference organizing the speakers, and important) an item of the entitled “Eurasia-Europe Dialogue for masterminding the topic asked the Neighborhood policy and for the US it Peace” took place in Dec. 2014 in following questions: “The Lonely is a geopolitical pivot. For Russia it is Chisinau, Moldova. superpower (US) vs. the Bear of all this plus emotional attachment. permafrost (Russia), with the world’s Without Ukraine, how much is Russia last cosmopolitan (EU) in between. Is Christian and European? Is the EU a the ongoing calamity at the eastern subject or a hostage (like Ukraine) of flank of the EU a conflict, the mega geopolitical drama, whose recalibration, imperialism in hurry, main play is in the Asia-Pacific exaggerated anti-Russian xenophobia theatre? What is the objective here – or confrontational nostalgia scream? the final goal-score (territorial gain) Just 20 years ago, distance between or the altered style of the game (new Moscow and NATO troops stationed emotional charge added to the in Central Europe (e.g. Berlin) was international relations)? What is a

road map, an exit, a future against Ukraine joining the EU, but it General of the Council of Europe, who perspective – relaxation or was against letting this move harm set a different tone on the debate. He escalation? Hegemony, hegemoney, the economic and defense related quoted from the Declaration of Minsk or a global (post-dollar) honeymoon?” interests of Russia. Then he added of February 12, 2015: “Leaders remain that Russia in this case is simply a committed to the vision of a joint mediator in the conflict; who humanitarian and economic space sympathizes with the people of from the Atlantic to the Pacific based Southeast Ukraine. As for Crimea, the upon full respect for international law referendum and the accession that and the OSCE principles.” By followed were just a matter of declaring in the very beginning of his historical justice. At the same time, he speech that although his personal made special reference in the counter- vision has always been that Russia productivity of the Western sanctions would become a part of Europe, he towards Russia, and exerted the believes that Russia has not yet willingness of his country to finished its transformation after the H.E. Anwar S. Azimov, Moscow, generously participate in a funding communist dictatorship. He former Russian ambassador to the scheme for the reconstruction of the illustrated the fact that Russia is, OSCE HQ Vienna, and the RF’s (Visa) post conflict Ukraine. Last but not besides any strategic and geopolitical Delegation Head, the EU – Russia least, he praised the balanced efforts ideas, an indispensable part of the Strategic Dialogue, currently of the OSCE officials, who played a European culture and identity. Hence, Ambassador-at-Large, in the Ministry crucial and objective part in the when he made the provocative and of Foreign Affairs of the Russian monitoring process of peace; a role pioneering hypothesis of Russia Federation gave a detailed insight into that the EU was not and still is not, applying for an EU membership, he developments of the relationship ready to play. argued that the EU would have no between EU and Russia from a grounds in rejecting it. Russian perspective. He asserted that What the two men jointly agreed EU and Russia cannot possibly live upon, is that the EU and Russia have without each other; thus, establishing not yet found a coherent model to common space is a cardinal strategic deal with each other constructively; task. Russia and EU are natural allies, and that this fact is a loss for both besides strategic partners. Indeed parties. true as, more than 50% of Russia’s trade occurs with the EU. The panel discussion was followed by a buffet which included Russian food. Then he unavoidably, turned his focus There lively interactions among the on the Ukrainian crisis; and gave an guests continued. account of the Russia’s views on the A counter-narrative came from Dr. issue. Russia, he says, was never Schwimmer, former Secretary

More pictures