In this issue:

Russia's Glazyev: To Stop War, Create New Monetary System

Putin Likens U.S. Policy to Che Guevara's

France, Germany, Russia Urge Return to International Law

Putin Welcomes Law Degree for Gerhard Schroeder

Putin Sees Long-Term Perspective for Tripartite Relations

Russians Respond to Demand for Iraqi Debt Write-Off

Indonesian President's Russia Trip Takes on New Importance

From Volume 2, Issue Number 16 of Electronic Intelligence Weekly, Published Apr. 21, 2003
Russia and Central Asia News Digest

Russia's Glazyev: To Stop War, Create New Monetary System

Economist and political leader Sergei Glazyev's initiative is potentially of decisive importance for the Russian domestic political scene, as well as for shaping Russia's international policy in the wake of the Iraq war. See this week's INDEPTH.

Putin Likens U.S. Policy to Che Guevara's

Answering reporters' questions following the April 11-12 Russia-Germany-France summit in St. Petersburg, Russian President Vladimir Putin said: "On the T-shirt of your colleague who stands opposite me there is the portrait of Che Guevara. See how beautiful it is, — this is the brightest specimen of the theory of export of the socialist revolution.

"We cannot engage in exporting a capitalist, democratic revolution. If we only permit ourselves to do it, the world will have embarked on a very perilous, slippery road of unending sequences of military conflicts. We and you have no right to allow such a development of events. Saying 'we and you,' I have in mind ... the broadest circles of international public, including representatives of the so-called anti-Iraqi alliance.... And the sooner we take the road proposed by international law, the better. And the longer we postpone solving the issue within the UN framework, the more it will be reminiscent of a colonial situation...."

France, Germany, Russia Urge Return to International Law

The tripartite summit of President Jacques Chirac, President Vladimir Putin, and Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder in St. Petersburg continued April 12 with their participation in an international conference on "Peace, Security and International Law." Addressing the gathering, all three concurred on the need for a central role of the United Nations in Iraq; that the use of force in future conflicts must be avoided; that adjustments have to be made in the United Nations' structure to strengthen the rule of international law.

Putin said that "any modernization of UN mechanisms should be carried out not only within the UN framework, but also with the use of procedures envisaged in international law, which have been recognized by the United Nations."

Schroeder added that in respect to Iraq, "It is urgent to make sure that this will become a victory for the people of Iraq and the neighboring peoples of the region." He also said that "as war is still going on, it is premature to discuss the color of any helmets" (referring to a UN force such as the blue helmets).

Chirac called for a future global order that made the use of force obsolete. "Despite the regrettable return to war as a means of settling conflicts in the 21st century, which we are presently witnessing, we hope to establish an order where nations will make law prevail over force, based on the principle of collective responsibility and solidarity." He added that giving the UN the central role in postwar Iraq, was the "best guarantor that the people of Iraq will become masters of their own destiny."

Putin Welcomes Law Degree for Gerhard Schroeder

Russia's President thanked St. Petersburg University for awarding an honorary law degree to Germany's Chancellor, even though it "was unexpected for me. But it is timely and correct in the context of relations between Russia and Germany, as well as Russia and Europe as a whole." Putin continued that both French President Chirac and Schroeder "have a deep feeling of the links between cultures and times. They advocate stronger ties between Russia and Europe. Today's event is a very useful brick in the foundation of relations between Russia and the united Europe."

Putin Sees Long-Term Perspective for Tripartite Relations

German media on April 14 played up Russian President Putin's emphasis that the consultations among France, Germany, and Russia are based on a long-term perspective, and not merely reactions to the Iraq war. Speaking at a press conference in St. Petersburg on April 12, the Russian President continued his remarks, in response to critics, that the cooperation between the three states was proceeding on a broad base, with respect to stability and peace in Europe and globally.

Also, the project to modernize the United Nations structure, which Putin said he discussed with Schroeder and Chirac the day before, is part of that long-term cooperation perspective, he said. Furthermore, Putin called on the international media to take note of the fact that talks among France, Germany, and Russia have been going on for some time, and that this St. Petersburg event was already the third one based on the "St. Petersburg Dialogue" initiative (begun two years ago) between the Germans and Russians, which he said was open for other states to join.

Russians Respond to Demand for Iraqi Debt Write-Off

Interfax on April 13 reported that a Russian government source's comment on the U.S. proposal that countries should write off Iraq's debt incurred under Saddam Hussein, suggested, "If you follow the logic of U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, who suggested that Russia, France, and Germany forgive Iraq's debts because they were taken in by Saddam Hussein's regime, it would be more logical to begin by forgiving Russia the debts of the former U.S.S.R.."

State Duma Speaker Gennady Seleznyov categorically disagreed with the debt write-off idea, responding, "I was surprised by this statement by a top official from the U.S. Defense Department. Iraq is not the 51st state of America, and, therefore, I am convinced that all debt issues will be resolved only with the lawful government of Iraq," he told reporters April 11. Seleznyov believes "the U.S. should pay Russia some $2 billion for unrealized contracts that were interrupted by the war."

Indonesian President's Russia Trip Takes on New Importance

Indonesian Foreign Minister Hassan Wirayuda said April 13 that President Megawati Sukarnoputri's forthcoming visit to Moscow, to forge bilateral ties between her country and Russia, is an attempt to counterbalance the dominating role of the United States. The two leaders will discuss Iraq, especially the role of nations in reconstruction under UN auspices. Hassan said we see no power that can match the United States. We need to stress multilateralism to correct this situation. Hassan said the opposition of Russia, France, and Germany to the Iraq war could signal the beginning moves to counter the power of the U.S., with Russia taking the lead. He said we realized the importance of looking to Russia even before the Iraq crisis.

In her talks with President Putin April 20-24, it is likely that Megawati will offer possible oil and gas business in Indonesia, an area currently dominated by U.S. and British firms. Foreign Ministry officials have indicated that seven or eight Memorandums of Understanding are to be signed by the two Presidents covering collaboration in arms and oil. (The U.S. has imposed an embargo on weapons sales to Indonesia since the 1999 East Timor fiasco.)

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