Blog

THE POLITICAL BEAR MUST SETTLE

WITH THE WOLVES OF EUROPE

By Major General (retd.) A. ZACHOULAS

Economist, President of the Larissa Prefecture EAAS

In the summer of 1994, I was fortunate enough to join an eight-member group of senior and top officers and travel for 20 days in the vastness of Russia.

     The provision of a small aircraft by the Russian Ministry of Defense allowed us to visit the largest cities and explore regions from the Black Sea to Siberia.

     The vast Russian Empire stretches over 20 million square kilometers from the Baltic to the Pacific and from the Arctic to the Black Sea.

     In this vast country lives a population of 280 million inhabitants, a Christian Orthodox people, with their own beautiful culture, who know how to endure, to wait for their improvement and to hope for a better world.

     21^th century sealed the Cold War era of the past and at the same time opened a new period in modern history with new goals, new pursuits and unprecedented perceptions from the so-called powerful on the planet.

     In the US, there are a growing number of hawks who argue that it should assume an imperial and at the same time imperialist role in shaping a global system with hegemonic power itself.

     The 11^η September is the occasion for the change in the dimension related to the confrontation between the USA, United Europe, Russia, and China.

     President Bush's hawkish advisors' program began with war in Afghanistan and Iraq, and perhaps Iran, Syria, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Yemen will suffer the same fate, and more will follow.

     The same advisors, in a villa on the shores of Lake Como, outlined Washington's program, which will change the course of history, concentrating all the planet's energy in the hands of a single superpower, in an international environment, so as to render the resistance of any other major country hopeless.

     Even conservative American intellectuals believe that the US is already a hegemonic power on the planet and that the danger today is no longer the communist USSR, but the maintenance of a global system that serves its interests, the containment of a new superpower, and the protection of key points for American interests, such as Europe, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East.

     The absence of a second great superpower, following the collapse of Russia's socio-economic structure, and Europe's dependence on the US chariot, today support and accelerate America's above pursuit.

     Russia has been slowly recovering since 1992. Its economy, following institutional changes in its political and economic system, is stabilizing, and growth at a rate of 6-8% per year over the last three years now aligns it with the economies of developed countries.

     Democratic Russia is now an integral part of modern world events.

     The political bear has begun to grow stronger and stand on its feet. In the next three years it will produce eight million barrels of oil per day. The sources of natural gas are inexhaustible and Russia is very quickly becoming the second country in the world in oil production and the first in natural gas production.

     According to the analysis of "Astra-Times", after completing the construction of its ports and oil pipelines, Russia will fully cover the fuel needs of both Japan and China, as well as Southeast Asia, in the next five years.

     President Putin in Genoa has already claimed Russia's place in the G8 group. It has something to offer them, in addition to the energy and know-how that most of them need for their participation in the exploitation of space.

     NATO now discusses, in close cooperation with Russia, all serious issues that arise and its position is upgraded and gains equal treatment with the 19 member states. From now on, it will propose, negotiate and discuss strategic issues concerning crisis centers, the development and deployment of peacekeeping forces, the proliferation and reduction of nuclear weapons.

     Putin seeks closer economic and political relations with European leaders and reiterates that: "We must cooperate with the US and coexist with Europe."

     German Chancellor Schröder stated in January 2001 that: "It is inconceivable for Europeans to make any progress in space programs without cooperation with Russia."

     The United Europe as a collective entity can be described as a great power. The member states, however, have less influence in shaping the new global system as it is taking shape today, especially when the poor economic picture they present may once again highlight the differences and weaknesses that exist within it.

     The economic problems it faces, the different strategic policies followed by the larger countries, such as England, France, Germany, and the role of extra in the US theater, make it incapable of playing a major strategic role on the global chessboard.

     The lack of a unified foreign and defense policy and its economic dependence on the US, due to a lack of raw materials, marginalize it and make it unable to play a leading role.

     The EU should, as soon as possible, assume its responsibilities, because without Russia's natural gas, oil and know-how it will remain constantly on the sidelines of developments. It should seize the opportunity now that Russia is reconsidering its energy policy and its Eurasian approach.

     Russia's delay in joining the United Europe may encourage it in future expansion towards Central Asia, since it is already flirting in this direction with the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) and the Collective Security Organization (CSO).

     Russia will exploit the instability in the Middle East region and strengthen its presence in Eastern markets by taking advantage of energy-hungry Japan and fuel-starved China.

     The recent forced accession of ten poor, small states to the EU only adds problems to the European Community, since their sole goal is their economic support at the expense of European growth, which has been shrinking alarmingly in recent years.

     Russia will very quickly become an energy superpower and its immediate accession to the EU will promote economic development, ensure the defensive armor of the member states, achieve innovative and economic and technical development and ensure the EU an explosive investment policy to now play a leading role in the global economy.

     Otherwise, if Russia approaches China and assumes a leading role in Eurasia, then let us have no doubt that Europe will continue to shrink and become politically, militarily and economically dependent on the US.

     I believe that Greece should, in principle, agree with the move to establish the European Federation proposed by Germany and not with the confederation envisioned by England, to seek and contribute to Russia's accession to the EU, the World Trade Organization (WTO), NATO and its rapid integration into the Euroarmy.

     The United States, if it is truly interested in the comprehensive suppression of international terrorism in the world and the political and economic development of states, should not only advocate but also contribute to Russia's accession to the EU and NATO, so that through cooperation they can ensure global peace and development.

     The establishment of a European Constitution in the EU, the transformation of the Commission or the Council of Ministers into a central government, the extensive implementation of enhanced cooperation and the establishment of a common foreign and security policy, should constitute a primary and immediate goal for Europe, so that, together with the accession of Russia, it can play the role of a superpower in the New Order of Things.

     In closing, I would like to repeat Chancellor Schröder's phrase: Europe needs Russia, just as Russia needs Europe today.