MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti international commentator Pyotr Goncharov)
First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov's speech at the 44th international security conference in Munich has raised many questions.
Practically all political scientists were surprised at his peaceful attitude toward his opponents - the United States and other Western countries.
Known for his adamant position on NATO's eastward expansion, deployment of American missile defense elements along Russia's borders with Europe, and some other sensitive issues, Ivanov only mentioned them in passing. This is all the more surprising against the backdrop of Vladimir Putin's speech at the 43rd Munich conference last year.
Political analysts were unanimous in describing Putin's speech as a turning point in Russia's relations with the United States and other Western nations. Moscow obviously toughened its positions regarding the West. The situation has not changed for the better since then, and Ivanov was expected to continue Putin's line.
Head of the Duma's International Relations Committee Konstantin Kosachev did not conceal his hope that the forum would "destroy the U.S. and NATO political monopoly." It is easy to understand his position. In the latter half of the 1990s, the majority of Russian political scientists had many questions about Western policy. In reply to Moscow's striving for rapprochement, the West embarked on NATO's eastern expansion, imposed one-sided disarmament treaties on Russia, tried to separate it from the CIS (Commonwealth of Independent States), and undermine the CSTO (Collective Security Treaty Organization). The West completely ignored Russia's positions on the conflicts in former Yugoslavia, and subjected Serbia to massive bombing that resulted in the Serbs' exodus from Kosovo.
The political circles of NATO and the United States turned a blind eye to Russia's protests, and a crisis in their relations became obvious. The 1999 war in Yugoslavia was the last straw; deterioration of relations became inevitable.
The situation could have changed for the better after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Moscow made a big step toward the United States, not only out of sympathy, but because Putin wanted to improve cooperation with it. By that time, Putin and George W. Bush had become friendly, and their contacts largely prevented bilateral relations from total collapse.
Russia unequivocally supported the United States in its efforts to set-up the anti-terrorist coalition against the Taliban. Russia allowed the aircraft of the United States and its coalition allies to fly to Afghanistan, and even to build temporary air force bases in Central Asia. The Kremlin had limited itself to a gentleman's oral agreement to the effect that these bases would remain in Central Asia until the end of the anti-terrorist campaign.
How did the White House respond to these steps? In 2002, the United States withdrew from the Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, putting Russia in a very difficult situation. It started a war in Iraq, which deprived Russia of all oil concessions in the country. Then NATO made one more leap to the East, this time to the former Soviet territory - the Baltic nations. Procrastination with the notorious Jackson-Vanik amendment and Russia's WTO entry are not even worth mentioning.
In general, NATO continues pursuing a provocative policy toward Russia. On the one hand, the NATO-Russia Council has been established in recognition of Russia's leading role in Europe, but on the other hand, all of Moscow's attempts to discuss possible options of joining the alliance are not taken seriously - Russia is told to stand in line. Finally, NATO's maneuvers around Ukraine are the most sensitive issue for Russia today.
Needless to say, Russia will continue to discuss all these problems, including U.S. efforts to deploy ABM elements in Europe, with NATO. Yet, Ivanov planned his speech in Munich with the express purpose of answering the question "Where is Russia going?" It is clear that the West is increasingly concerned over Russia, a country that is gaining political and economic weight.
This is why his speech was limited to the Western attitude toward Russia. A NATO summit will take place in Bucharest, Romania in April. NATO leaders believe that the Russian president's participation in the summit will help the sides openly discuss controversial issues.
Ivanov expects Putin to attend the summit in Bucharest as Russia's president. Judging by everything, the sides will continue the serious dialogue started in Munich in 2007.
The opinions expressed in this article are the author's and do not necessarily represent those of RIA Novosti.
