September
11, 2001: Have we made good use of the time since
the
attacks? Many Russians feel that rather than building a better
world,
the great powers have created ' mutual resentments,
recrimination,
mistrust and irritation.'
Novosti, Russia
After September
11, 2001: A Tragically Lost Opportunity
"We thought that a new world
order and a new era of international cooperation had begun, with the great
powers standing shoulder-to-shoulder … It
turned out that there are more things that divide us than bring us together. … this
anniversary of September 11, 2001 is an occasion to ponder why our dreams, which
seemed so within reach seven years ago, have failed to materialize."
By Andrei Vavra
Translated By Igor Medvedev
September 11, 2008
Russia
- Novosti - Original Article (Russia)
MOSCOW: The tragedy
of September 11, 2001, when two planes seized by terrorists were crashed into
the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center in New York, united Russia and the United
States - the world's two most powerful nuclear states - against a common threat.
From that moment we thought that a new world order and a new era of
international cooperation had begun, with the great powers standing
shoulder-to-shoulder, fighting to build a safer and more equitable world. A
world contrary to the one predicted by Francis Fukuyama and his "End of
History" - a world with another, far more interesting quality.
But it turned out
that becoming friends "against" something is much easier than working
together "for" a noble goal. It turned out that there are more things
that divide us than bring us together. Today there is no more talk of standing
shoulder-to-shoulder together. Now is the time of mutual resentments and mutual
recrimination, mistrust and irritation.
In short, our
expectations, dreams and forecasts have been proven wrong. That is why this anniversary
of September 11, 2001 is an occasion to ponder why our dreams, which seemed so within
reach seven years ago, have failed to materialize.
What happened in the
seven years that have passed since that day? It's obvious that the world has
not become safer, more stable and comfortable place to live.
The counterterrorist
alliance has begun to crack. First in connection with Iraq and then because of
Iran. Contrary to the position of our country, the West recognized the independence
of Kosovo. New lines of division have appeared in the world. In Europe, the
United States is preparing to deploy anti-missile systems close to Russia's
border and our closest neighbors, Georgia and Ukraine, have been invited to
join NATO.
Over the years we
have failed to develop a common language for dealing for communicating with our
partners, or for agreeing on a common strategy. In short, we have failed to
promote mutual understanding.
Russia is
suspected of nurturing insidious plots and is portrayed as a country hostile to
the Western world and its values.
Today, after Georgia's
aggression against South Ossetia, the world seems to be entering a long period
of cool relations between Russia and the West. The West has not supported our
decision to recognize the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, because the
inviolability of borders and territorial integrity are very painful issues. We
have not received strong international support. The global community,
unfortunately, is not molding its policies to suit us.
Russia has been
cast in the role of pariah - despite our obvious rights in this conflict. The
trouble is that separatism (or the right of nations to self-determination) is
too great a danger to others for them to encourage Russia's decision. We would therefore
be naïve to expect the support of Spain, Belgium, Britain, Cyprus, Turkey, China,
Ukraine, Moldova, Armenia and many other countries have not supported Russia,
etc., etc. (a very long list).
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
Russia has again
been branded an aggressive bully, ready to act contrary to the wishes of a majority
of the global community. We have been pushed into international isolation.
Life for us will
be no worse for this and it is unlikely to diminish Russia's standard of living.
A vigorous defense will in the end, put everything right. But even without South
Ossetia, there was little attempt to truly understand us - and understanding is
crucial for fruitful cooperation.
It seems that
foreign policy is one of the "weak spots" of our partners; otherwise
they would have acted more flexibly and wisely with regard to Russia.
I'm not a fan of "sovereign
democracy 
," but it
would be foolish not to recognize that Russia has a right to hold its position and
pursue a foreign policy guided by its own interests. After all, the notion of
"national interest" has yet to be repealed.
Moreover, attempts
by Russia to use the same system of measures as, for example, small states or territories,
is counterproductive. Russia is a huge country straddling two continents, and
the notions of wealth and diversity can be applied not only to cultures, traditions,
religions and languages, but also to size. Russia has both Europe and Asia as neighbors,
and it stands astride both the Pacific and the Arctic.
Russia is great
state with great and atypical interests. The world must recognize this and take
it into account.
Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
And lastly, Russia's
contribution to global stability and security has been badly underestimated. The
Soviet Union and the world's socialist countries could have disintegrated much
more catastrophically, with far more bloodshed and tragedy than they did. As it
is, the only party that paid for the dissolution of the Soviet Union was Russia.
We remember this well and cannot understand why the rest of the world has
forgotten this. So don't wait around for us to criticize our own actions.
The Twin Towers, Iraq,
Kosovo, South Ossetia and talk of sanctions have turned out to be a direct road
to a dead-end, have they not? But in 2001, we all saw things so much
differently …
CLICK HERE FOR RUSSIAN
VERSION
[Posted by WORLDMEETS.US
September 17, 12:19Am]
