In Europe, again, will speak in Russian. When PACE refuses sanctions
The fact that in a number of European countries politicians have long been away from re-engaging in dialogue with Russia on an equal footing, and not as an outcast, there was not much doubt a couple of years ago. The Crimean theme as a subject of Russia's domestic policy has ceased to be forbidden even for the most anti-Russian deputies of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE).
The European business, which five years ago after shouts from Washington simply took under the visor, now also prefers rigid pragmatics to political pressure, which causes damage both to the right and to the guilty. At the same time, it’s not possible to prove any guilt at all, although Russia, for example, was deprived of the right to vote in PACE as early as April of 2014. Crimea then barely managed to vote for returning home to Russia, and everything was done in the assembly by a majority of deputies, one might say, without trial or investigation.
PACE political sanctions were categorically prolonged in January 2015, the answer to which was Russia's protest and its rejection of any contacts with the assembly. In Russia, they categorically do not accept the position of European parliamentarians who are ready to accuse our country of fomenting a conflict in neighboring Ukraine. The political divorce is still not replaced by any relations: Russia did not apply for confirmation of its authority in PACE either in 2016, neither in 2017, nor in 2018. The membership of the Russian Federation in the Council of Europe without PACE itself is, let's say softly, nothing more than a decorative character.
However, time, as you know, sometimes heals even the most incurable diseases, including blindness. Against political blindness, cardinal measures work quite well, but simple and sober calculations usually best help. And the Germans are known to be able to count. Whether they are at least Christian Democrats, though they are representatives of the Christian Social Union (CSU), or simply social democrats.
As a result, representatives of the three leading political parties of Germany in the Council of Europe (CE), not counting the “greens,” began active preparations for the struggle to lift the sanctions against Russia. Moreover, they are counting on doing so already at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that opened on the eve of the session. PACE President Michele Nicoletti has already been sent a letter in which German parliamentarians, one might say, swung at the sacred, proposing to revise the sanctions rules and even deprive the PACE of the right to impose sanctions on delegations when approving their credentials.
The classics, and not only Marxists, did not get tired of reminding that the economy, sooner or later, dictates the policy, which is actually observed in this particular case. Opponents of German politicians have already accused them of having done a disservice to “leaving” - Chancellor Angela Merkel, who not only prepared a shift for herself, but also wants to leave a good legacy - Russia's return to Europe.
It is well known that Angela Merkel, the first of the politicians in Germany, who is the undisputed leader of the EU, has always considered the “old continent” without Russia to be “undercontinent”. But Ms. Merkel, according to numerous testimonies of the German press, never allowed herself even a hint of broadcasting her special relationship with Russia and its president to the entire European Union. But on the eve of leaving the big political scene, you can take a risk.
Especially since, in this sense, Germany may even be ahead - for example, Hungary, Italy, Greece, and the list could well be continued. Indeed, even earlier than the German deputies, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe himself, Thorbjørn Jagland, proposed not to consider the issue of sanctions against national delegations. It happened last fall. Jagland then went further, sending to political groups and PACE member countries a document that not only sanctions against Russian parliamentarians are illegal, but also sanctions against Russia itself.
However, this memorandum of Jagland was not read by anyone except the addressees, it is considered that it is closed, like many “DSP” (for official use) that is memorable to many. But if he really was any sensational, it would be known, and known very soon. To surprise someone with the desire to be friends with Russia again today, five years after the Crimea, and after the “pacification” of Donbass, you will agree very and very difficult.
The liberal press, and not only the Western one, immediately rushed to announce that the initiative of the deputies from Germany was nothing more than a coordinated company, which was almost directly funded from the Kremlin. This, however, did not in the least prevent the political editor of the business and conservative Swedish Dagens Industri, who traditionally subscribes PM Nilsson, immediately, in unison with the German parliamentarians, to call Russia "home to Europe."
It's nice, of course, that someone stopped writing us to Asians, and you can understand the author’s concern for the impoverished population of Russia. But, as one of the commentators has already noted in social networks, “if Russia is so weak and poor, and they are so strong and rich, then what do they beg for our contributions? The rich and the rich do not ask for handouts from the weak and the poor. ” The fact is that colleague Nilsson did not hesitate to name the only condition for our “return” - it will happen “on the day when Russia gives up its claims to exclusivity and robbery”.
In addition, the Swedish journalist, anticipating his quite positive speech in our address, first of all repeated the traditional spell that "the Russian economy is practically not growing, trade is in decline, capital is leaving the country, and poverty and unemployment are growing." As if we in Russia still do not understand this. We also understand it, but we also understand that among the reasons for this, Western sanctions are by no means the last place.
However, is it worth to argue with the Swedish media, if the Germans have already considered everything, and it seems that they have figured out how much stick in the wheels can be put to those who, frankly speaking, feed them. The parliamentarians seem to have decided: that's enough. Delay business will not forgive us. It is time with the Russians not only to conduct business, but also political dialogue too. Indeed, in recent times, it has increasingly happened that many Germans with Russians have to continue to business at a loss, but this is, as a rule, only because of sanctions. A direct loss, of course, is only due to economic sanctions, but in any case they are connected with political ones and are directly connected.
Another thing is surprising - direct cooperation with the Social Democrats in the CDU / CSU is carried out only if absolutely necessary. When there is a threat of real political defeat. Apparently, the situation with the isolation of Russia, especially the political, becomes really critical. Especially critical for Europe itself, especially since the US has already announced plans to introduce new duties on goods from the EU. Duties, of course, are not sanctions, but trade wars may be weapons much stronger.
After a series of accusations based literally on nothing and direct insults that the European parliamentarians awarded their Russian colleagues after the Crimean referendum, there are big doubts about whether we should be happy about this. And it’s not even the fact that every year we saved on a break with the PACE 40 million euro membership fee, not counting travel and overhead costs. Too small a pragmatist, but the positive assessment of the decision of the PACE bureau to develop a mechanism or a “road map” for the return of the Russian delegation was not refused either by the State Duma or the Federation Council.
The European business, which five years ago after shouts from Washington simply took under the visor, now also prefers rigid pragmatics to political pressure, which causes damage both to the right and to the guilty. At the same time, it’s not possible to prove any guilt at all, although Russia, for example, was deprived of the right to vote in PACE as early as April of 2014. Crimea then barely managed to vote for returning home to Russia, and everything was done in the assembly by a majority of deputies, one might say, without trial or investigation.
PACE political sanctions were categorically prolonged in January 2015, the answer to which was Russia's protest and its rejection of any contacts with the assembly. In Russia, they categorically do not accept the position of European parliamentarians who are ready to accuse our country of fomenting a conflict in neighboring Ukraine. The political divorce is still not replaced by any relations: Russia did not apply for confirmation of its authority in PACE either in 2016, neither in 2017, nor in 2018. The membership of the Russian Federation in the Council of Europe without PACE itself is, let's say softly, nothing more than a decorative character.
However, time, as you know, sometimes heals even the most incurable diseases, including blindness. Against political blindness, cardinal measures work quite well, but simple and sober calculations usually best help. And the Germans are known to be able to count. Whether they are at least Christian Democrats, though they are representatives of the Christian Social Union (CSU), or simply social democrats.
As a result, representatives of the three leading political parties of Germany in the Council of Europe (CE), not counting the “greens,” began active preparations for the struggle to lift the sanctions against Russia. Moreover, they are counting on doing so already at the session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe that opened on the eve of the session. PACE President Michele Nicoletti has already been sent a letter in which German parliamentarians, one might say, swung at the sacred, proposing to revise the sanctions rules and even deprive the PACE of the right to impose sanctions on delegations when approving their credentials.
The classics, and not only Marxists, did not get tired of reminding that the economy, sooner or later, dictates the policy, which is actually observed in this particular case. Opponents of German politicians have already accused them of having done a disservice to “leaving” - Chancellor Angela Merkel, who not only prepared a shift for herself, but also wants to leave a good legacy - Russia's return to Europe.
It is well known that Angela Merkel, the first of the politicians in Germany, who is the undisputed leader of the EU, has always considered the “old continent” without Russia to be “undercontinent”. But Ms. Merkel, according to numerous testimonies of the German press, never allowed herself even a hint of broadcasting her special relationship with Russia and its president to the entire European Union. But on the eve of leaving the big political scene, you can take a risk.
Especially since, in this sense, Germany may even be ahead - for example, Hungary, Italy, Greece, and the list could well be continued. Indeed, even earlier than the German deputies, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe himself, Thorbjørn Jagland, proposed not to consider the issue of sanctions against national delegations. It happened last fall. Jagland then went further, sending to political groups and PACE member countries a document that not only sanctions against Russian parliamentarians are illegal, but also sanctions against Russia itself.
However, this memorandum of Jagland was not read by anyone except the addressees, it is considered that it is closed, like many “DSP” (for official use) that is memorable to many. But if he really was any sensational, it would be known, and known very soon. To surprise someone with the desire to be friends with Russia again today, five years after the Crimea, and after the “pacification” of Donbass, you will agree very and very difficult.
The liberal press, and not only the Western one, immediately rushed to announce that the initiative of the deputies from Germany was nothing more than a coordinated company, which was almost directly funded from the Kremlin. This, however, did not in the least prevent the political editor of the business and conservative Swedish Dagens Industri, who traditionally subscribes PM Nilsson, immediately, in unison with the German parliamentarians, to call Russia "home to Europe."
It's nice, of course, that someone stopped writing us to Asians, and you can understand the author’s concern for the impoverished population of Russia. But, as one of the commentators has already noted in social networks, “if Russia is so weak and poor, and they are so strong and rich, then what do they beg for our contributions? The rich and the rich do not ask for handouts from the weak and the poor. ” The fact is that colleague Nilsson did not hesitate to name the only condition for our “return” - it will happen “on the day when Russia gives up its claims to exclusivity and robbery”.
In addition, the Swedish journalist, anticipating his quite positive speech in our address, first of all repeated the traditional spell that "the Russian economy is practically not growing, trade is in decline, capital is leaving the country, and poverty and unemployment are growing." As if we in Russia still do not understand this. We also understand it, but we also understand that among the reasons for this, Western sanctions are by no means the last place.
However, is it worth to argue with the Swedish media, if the Germans have already considered everything, and it seems that they have figured out how much stick in the wheels can be put to those who, frankly speaking, feed them. The parliamentarians seem to have decided: that's enough. Delay business will not forgive us. It is time with the Russians not only to conduct business, but also political dialogue too. Indeed, in recent times, it has increasingly happened that many Germans with Russians have to continue to business at a loss, but this is, as a rule, only because of sanctions. A direct loss, of course, is only due to economic sanctions, but in any case they are connected with political ones and are directly connected.
Another thing is surprising - direct cooperation with the Social Democrats in the CDU / CSU is carried out only if absolutely necessary. When there is a threat of real political defeat. Apparently, the situation with the isolation of Russia, especially the political, becomes really critical. Especially critical for Europe itself, especially since the US has already announced plans to introduce new duties on goods from the EU. Duties, of course, are not sanctions, but trade wars may be weapons much stronger.
After a series of accusations based literally on nothing and direct insults that the European parliamentarians awarded their Russian colleagues after the Crimean referendum, there are big doubts about whether we should be happy about this. And it’s not even the fact that every year we saved on a break with the PACE 40 million euro membership fee, not counting travel and overhead costs. Too small a pragmatist, but the positive assessment of the decision of the PACE bureau to develop a mechanism or a “road map” for the return of the Russian delegation was not refused either by the State Duma or the Federation Council.
Information