Russia and Europe – time for stone-collecting

Discussion of the relations between Russia and Europe, which goes throughout last millenniums always had sharp and polemic character.

It’s edge became razor-sharp in last four years in conjunction with the known "juicy" events – return of its primordial territories to Russia. We know that intellectual researches as a rule flow into deep factual, politological, ideological field.

Experts-optimists, since the known historiosoph and geopolitologist Nikolay Yakovlevich Danilevsky, the author of the well-known work "Russia and Europe" claimed that only Russia is a herald of civilization of the future, the last hope of Europe. Experts-pessimists, on the contrary, challenged this thesis, saying that Russia missed her chance to become a part of quite civilized "big Europe". However there are still "truthseekers" which provide proofs of how meanly Europe behaved in relation to Russia, having hypocritically ignored her historical, valuable and legitimate interests, having brought the anti-Russian hysteria to critical, almost uncontrollable scales. In this emotional polemic there is almost no pragmatic and moderately "cynical" assessment of mutual interests, first of all, economic and ideological. All the matter is that we live in the interdependent world, and besides we are located with Europe on the general continent, a name to which - Eurasia. And what do we expect in the close future on our general continent?

Before passing to statement of main theses of this article, it is necessary to make one very important clause – Europe even united within the European Union (further – the EU) is very different in it’s structure. Therefore to speak about single and united Europe - isn't absolutely correct. It is commonly accepted to divide Europe on Western, Central, East, Southern and Northern. There is continental Europe, and there is its "Trojan Horse" - Britain. Therefore, describing background, the present and prospects of the relations and rapprochement, this very important factor of differences of various “Europes” should be taken into account.

The all-European solidarity with London expressed with big clauses in so-called “Skripals’ poisoning case” once again raises much more serious question: do Europe and Russia have real necessity in each other? And which of these parties will lose more in a case of a complete separation of contacts and relations?

The answer to this question is by far not as obvious as it seems at first glance. Escalation of conflict with Russia provoked by London led to a joint statement of European Union’s countries by which responsibility for Sergey Skripal's poisoning "highly likely" is conferred on Russia. At the same time the ambassador of the EU is recalled from Moscow "for consultations as the political sign of solidarity" with London, and overwhelming number of European countries expelled from 1 to 23 diplomats, and even the USA (probably, suddenly, as well "the European country") expelled 60 of them (Britain as the victim-country just 23). Thus, the anglo-saxon countries expelled the vast majority of diplomats in comparison with the romano-germanic countries.

These measures already caused condemnation not only in Moscow, but also discontent in those Europeans who oppose categorically further aggravation of the Russian-European relations, insisting on need of their fastest correction on the principles of mutual respect, international law and justice. So, Marine Le Pen said that the European Union wages this "cold war" against Russia, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Serbia on the other day called all events even more dramatically – "icy war".

Discussions about "cold war" and "wall between Europe and Russia" are conducted last four years which passed after the Crimea and the conflict on Donbass and always perceived as a certain exaggeration. First of all because of understanding of coherence and mutual interests of two parties in most various relations with each other and also views of interpretation and using of international law.

However Russia wasn’t going and not going to indulge in vain hopes. All these years Moscow was conducting with the European leaders and politicians who are adjusted on relations recovery and at the same time - of authentic sovereignty of their countries and turning back to the primordial European values including – religious. In Europe (mainly in Western, Central and Southern) there is a great number of those who understand what harm is caused to her by policy of pressuring upon Russia, policy of so-called "sanctions" and restrictions (in fact – trade and economic war) and also the policy directed to self-destruction of own countries’ foundations by ultra-liberal "values". These are quite various forces – from captains of business, multibillionaires to populist, national-oriented movements, from politicians-eurosceptics to representatives of the old European aristocracy, from left and communists to Catholics and Orthodox Christians. Their opposition to the Atlanticists, controlling the EU and a bunch of European authorities (most of all – in Northern and Eastern Europe), – objective process which gains strength all recent years.

And generally, Russia in the medium term will inevitably receive the "understanding" her authorities (the term went from a phrase "understanding Putin", one of the first who was Horst Zeekhofer – the chairman of CSU, the former prime minister of Bavaria, and nowadays – the Minister of Internal Affairs of Germany) in the majority of the European countries.

But on the way to this inevitable harmony there will be many provocations, and it’s even not only about “Skripal case”. We quite should expect frank and shameless pressure from the anglo-saxon block by means of military blackmail and intimidation by "the Russian threat". For nervous ones there will be accusations with grotesque formulations like "work on the Kremlin as his obvious agent". There will be threats of imposition of sanctions against the allies, in fact - minions and vassals and other tools of hybrid war. And in response to it every time part of the Russian society will arise emotional desire "to get Europe hell out of Russia", to turn away from it, to chop off all communications to show our offense. It’s a peculiar reverse side of same "Eurocentrism" – in negative plan. But it would be wrong to isolate ourselves from Europe first of all because it isn't profitable at all. To us as the unique civilization combining both the European and Asian lines, Europe will always be important both as a neighbor, as a beacon-standard, and as an immemorial partner or opponent, depending on circumstances, situation and each specific country.

Mind you, even during "cold war" and "iron curtain" there was no even idea about any isolation from each other. There were certain game rules, concepts and even "code of honor". Now it’s all became past tense and factually information, economic and diplomatic war with elements of military blackmail in form of larger army groups relocation at borders of Russia is declared.

But what will happen, if now we’ll be forced to lower the “iron curtain”? Who will suffer more from it? Definitely not Russia. In case of numerous communications with Europe interest in the relations for us is not just mutual – first of all it’s European. Because for Europe Russia is not just a neighbor, but a major factor for it’s survival. In case of hostility with Russia Europe loses also even now not the best chances of it’s worthy future, and not only on external, but also on the internal political reasons, considering the fact that Russia remained one of very few countries who continues to guard and observe traditions and values of a classical white Christian civilization. Formation of the EU as independent force in the world is impossible without coordination with Russia. Contrary to Russia and against Russia – European Union is dead – from the word "absolutely".

Today Europe needs from Russia too much and for that reason it is just inadmissible to represent offense to it longly. And it’s not only about oil and gas, markets and  investment projects. Breaking communications with Russia automatically leads to strengthening of that influence on Europe which was received after 1945 by anglo-saxons – USA and Britain and only quite recently they began to lose it, as Abraham Lincoln spoke: "You can fool all the people some of the time, and some of the people all the time, but you cannot fool all the people all the time". The European Union by human and economic potential exceeds USA and could become the independent center of force, but it, alas, continues to stay in completely subordinate provision in relation to the Atlantic project of "the unified West". It occurs for one reason - persistent misunderstanding of own identity, lack of the state sovereignty supported with military force. However these weak spots of Europe were created by decades of existence of continental Europe under a heel of USA and Britain. Impossible to dream of any independent European house in such configuration – and a dream of it was and remains a main target of Europeans. Moreover, such Europe which is in the conflict with Russia will be easier to quarrel also with China. Not even that the enormous Chinese project "one belt, one way" is in many aspects tied to Russia but because the idea of new "axis" (in a positive meaning of this word) Berlin (as the capital of the predominating force in the EU – Germany) – Moscow – Beijing is extremely attractive including for the understanding European politicians and political scientists. Having designed a similar mighty armor-piercing core, it is possible to drive out completely from Eurasia the Atlantic influence and to clean Europe from consequences of such influence.

There are many crises which Europe, certainly, won’t be able to overcome without Russia. For example, without Russia European Union won't be able to influence on situation in the Grand Middle East (from Libya to Afghanistan). And it’s not only a matter of war and peace near the borders of Europe, but also an issue of refugees whose invasion in the EU from only one billion Africa will only upscale. And here we return to valuable and ideological aspect. Europe was for many centuries a stronghold of a white Christian civilization which waged numerous religious wars with representatives of other nations and races, the people and religions, as well as in itself in the form of Great Inquisition. Only aggressive, zealous and extremely ideological governors and the states pressed on it, but now and all this gone to history: today the Christianity in Europe is systematically replaced with Islam and also with ultra-liberal values incompatible with conservative European foundations.

Besides, you shouldn't forget about old confrontation even between different branches of Christianity – Orthodoxy, Catholicism and Protestantism. And here one of very few strongholds of Orthodoxy in Europe moves to the front of Bulgaria. The country which has very close, age-old ties with Russia. If we are engaged in attentive studying of history of formation of the Bulgarian statehood, we will understand that only to Russia Bulgaria is obliged by it’s existence. However for some reason state’s authorities inevitably betrayed Russia over and over again. About this strange historical tendency Konstantin Leontyev, in the well-known work "Byzantism and Slavic Peoples" wrote in the time. However Russia, to honor of our history, never threw our brothers in faith!

You shouldn't forget also about such orthodox country as Montenegro. The country was many years our ally and even big friend, but recently for some reason rapidly u-turned for the Atlantic course. Milo Dukanoviç rules the country continuously since 1991, but at the same time nobody in the West shouts of protection of democracy and removability of authorities. The country was involved in NATO even without holding a referendum contrary to people’s will! However now these days presidential elections take place in Montenegro and the chance is high that infinite westernized ruling of Dukanoviç will finally come to an end and powers ready to return friendship with Russia will come back and ready to live by moderate conservative values and values of Orthodoxy! One of these forces is the Democratic Front which supported promotion of the independent deputy Mladen Bojanić. Unfortunately, Milo Dukanoviç with assistance of the west has won but with small overweight again, however Mladen Bojanić has got support of 33% of voters, and it’s very serious. Now he has 5 years to consolidate opposition, to entice on themselves electorate of the majority, to nullify Dukanoviç's influence and in 5 years to win a victory and to return Montenegro to the true correct way and to friendship with Russia! We will give him support for achievement of this God-blessed and righteous purpose!

Today in Europe there is a rapid decline of spiritual culture of orthodox Christians. Attacks to Orthodoxy began since Great Split (Great Schism) in the 1054^th year. However now there is a unique historical chance to raise authority and influence of orthodox Christianity in Europe and there’re several reasons for that: Russia is the largest country with the greatest Orthodox population, Russia is a keeper of traditional Christian values today. If competently to use and play this card – there will be not just an influence of Christianity in Europe, but Orthodoxy, since it will turn out so that other branches of Christianity didn't sustain negative tendencies and challenges of the present were given, were powerless and broke, and Orthodoxy stood, sustained. Above all that mind you that Protestants and Catholics are more than one billion, and Orthodox Christians – are 4-5 times less.

In a word, having lost normal relations with Russia, European Union extremely weakened the opportunities for influence on world affairs. The role of European countries in the world was reduced catastrophically for the last 70 years, there is no way to draw back further. The 21^st century will be obvious non-European. Pushing away the hand given by Russia with the offer on cooperation, EU dooms itself to a role of controlled junior partner in the Atlantic project. And it’s in the best way. In the worst – failure of the “Unified Europe” will lead to disintegration of European Union and the beginning of an era of distemper and hostility between it’s former state-members, and it is possible also with those who didn't enter or will leave EU (the same Britain which is in process of "Brexit").

What prevents Europe to realize all benefits of close relations with Russia? Confidence that Russia itself is so in great need what "will cave in" sooner or later under it’s dictatorship and demands? Someone, of course, can have such illusions (though enough to remember history of relations between Russia and Europe to understand impossibility of such outcome). The myth that Russia more needs Europe, than we to it, is widespread also among us in country though this myth for the last 4 years actively begins to collapse. But is it correct? The advanced western technologies without which we allegedly won't live? But even harshly isolated USSR produced successfully almost all necessary for developed economy. And now we began to recover our own production, besides Asia has the most modern technologies not only at the West – South Korea, China and Japan.

European Union is valued by us as the consumer of energy resources? But we have also other markets. Already reorientation on East and South where alongside to China, which signed grand contracts with us, there are such large consumers of gas as Japan and South Korea.

Western investments? Well, in general it is ridiculous. Except for several automobile plants (which aren't unique productions at all), almost nothing serious on European money in Russia wasn’t constructed at all. Besides, any investments are directed, first of all, for profit generation for themselves, but not for wellbeing and development of their potential opponents.

In the past 300 years very little in Europe occurred without Russia’s permission and participation. But it was time when Europe owned the world, – and this time inevitably passes away. And very soon it will pass away completely if Europe will insist on refusing to agree and cooperate with Russia.

Russia can once again demonstrate her generosity and favor, let even causing self-damage, but not to the detriment of reputation and suggests to any willing European country join to the global project named "Time for stone-collecting". Main postulates of this project are simple as the principles of Life. So, Russia is ready for cooperation with Europe on following provisions:

  • Unconditional cancellation of so-called "sanctions" and compensation of damage dealt to Russia for their introduction;

  • Ending of information and diplomatic war;

  • Impossibility of legal unilateral punitive measures and equating their application to declaration of war;

  • International law system’s reform for the purpose of impossibility of it’s double-edge interpretation and application;

  • Recognition of sovereignty of the state itself, not bureaucratic supranational structures, as the supreme value of the country and it’s people;

  • Possible creation of the Russian-European military block instead of NATO, at the same time reducing fee amount from 2 to 1% of GDP;

  • Mutually beneficial economic cooperation not to the detriment of economies of the European countries, allowing them to keep at least their traditional industries of economy.

And it will be the beginning of a new era – the Era of mercy and release from illusions. Once European genius Goethe told that the mankind leaves illusions much more painfully than money. But Russia and in this question is quite ready to alleviate the heavy burden of neighbors. Now it’s up to the neighbors.

Russia and America - Saving the planet - the Mission has to be complete

"Russia and America: Reloaded. From the Conflict of Interests to the Consensus of the Elites"

Russia and the United States of America has entered into a new phase of political relations. The degree of mutual claims gets higher and higher. The entire world is observing the situation around Syria with great fear and even greater hope. It’s now up to the leaders of head states: will we completely bury the world completely, or will we be able to save and preserve our planet?

Modern world-scale politics has a prevailing aspiration for political, economic, and ideological domination which causes numerous issues resulting in political and military conflicts. Global transnational elites pursue their own narrow transnational corporate interests and goals, not paying any special attention for true spiritual mankind’s needs. The character of modern politics, including international, inevitably influences the way modern elite is generated and reproduced. Unfortunately, the higher circles in politics and diplomacy are represented by the harshest, most ambitious, unscrupulous and less intelligent personalities whose only «merit» is the ability to disregard universal spiritual values and focus on the acquisition of skills needed to multiply and strengthen their own authority.

The nature of modern politics perfectly manifests itself in the relations between United States and Russia. The political, military, and economic rivalry between USSR and USA had been strong throughout the entire 20th century. This factor has largely determined the path of further development of mankind. A nuclear threat reality forced American and Soviet (later Russian) political elites to hold back from explicit confrontation, preferring to settle disputes and cases through so-called “proxy technologies” in “third-world” countries of Asia, Africa, and South America. Both Russia and USA are great nations with enormous potential. This fact should be taken into account by diplomats and politicians while building relations between these two countries. USA are vastly experienced in worldwide political expansion in the form of «puppet democracies», though having numerous inner problems, from huge external debt to unresolved religious, racial, gender and social tensions. Russia has enormous natural resources but also suffers from low standards of life, low mortality, alcoholism, and drug addiction of it’s population. Russia’s commodity-based economy impedes the development of manufacturing activities and cutting-edge technologies. Of course, the situation shouldn’t be dramatized to the desperation degree. Everybody is quite aware of the fact that many prominent futurologists and scientists didn’t question the colossal reserves of Russia’s political and spiritual strength. American science fiction writer and futurologist Ray Bardbury would mention a great historical mission of Russia due to its humanistic and spiritual potential. In 2013, financial expert Jim Rogers also estimated that in future, Russia had quite good chances. There are more American scientists and even prophets, such as Edgar Cayce and Dannion Brinkley that also believe that Russia might gain back its powerful positions in the post-Soviet world.

Of course, Russians can learn a bit from Americans. First and foremost, it's economic rationalism and the "open door" policy, as well as the promotion of talents from around the world. Both Russia and US are the states tending towards expansion, which is why with all the differences, Russian and American mentalities have something common. Residents of great states can always easily understand each other as they are free from numerous complexes inherent to national minorities and small nations. Therefore, with all their differences, Americans and Russians do not pathologically hate each other, which makes it possible to have a relatively good dialogue in future and probably even seek solutions to common issues together.

It's needless to say that currently, Russia and the US need a more productive bilateral dialogue. Our countries have many common issues, so we need to move away from ambitions, political voluntarism and look for consensus. There are neither historical grounds (such as Poland's historical grudges against Russia or the memory of war against Germany) nor practical necessity for any tough conflict between Russia and the US. If the two great nations of the world manage to reach an agreement, it will benefit mankind as a whole. But this dialogue will be possible only when both Russian and American elite give up the language of sanctions and violence and adopt the language of mutually beneficial partnership for the sake of universal prosperity and sustainable development.  To do this, diplomats who are responsible for bilateral relations should acquire the competencies needed to understand their opponents, seek compromises to resolve conflicts and problems, and most importantly, see a proper perspective.

The global elites can reach a consensus through the meetings of initiative groups that represent most varied segments of the society, from economics to art. The use of bilateral experience including certain cultural and social borrowings will help us find an optimal model of collaboration that will benefit all. The United States could borrow Russia's experience of friendly attitude and assistance to other countries and nations in solving their problems. Even now we need to launch the practical dialogue tools that will lead to the consensus of the elite for the benefit of mankind as a whole.

Sergey Dvoryanov - doctor of philosophy, President of the international diplomatic club "Amicability"