ethics
02-18-2005, 01:37 PM
<i>Nezavisimaya Gazeta</i> has a good article in Russian on this whole meet. There won't be just one reason for the meet, but will give the two presidents an opportunity to revive their former relations, and reverse trends toward hostility and even confrontation, because this will be even more difficult to do in the future, the paper doesn't explain why they believe this is so.
One of the mandatory points will be the Jackson-Vanik amendment. Now that practically everyone can emigrate, there is little sense in demanding that Russia should open up its borders. The problem now is rather finding a country willing to <b>accept </b>Russian immigrants, something that the US no longer wants to do. Russia has complained that since September 11 even legitimate businessmen from Russia have sometimes been unable to get an American visa. As someone who has seen many of these "businessmen" I am glad to hear America is not ignorant as they are on the Mexican border issue.
Iraq is the other piece on the agenda and is more sensitive to Russia. Vladimir Putin will need assurances that Iraq will pay back at least some of the loans extended to Saddam Hussein, and that Russian and Iraqi companies will be able to resume their economic relations. As a matter of fact, Russia's worry here is legit since we are speaking of more than 20 billion dollars--at least those that were made public.
Mr. Putin will also press for US support for Russia's desire to become a full-fledged member of the Group of Seven.
On the Bush side, the Russians think that it is certain that Bush will ask Putin about a decision taken by the Ministry of Natural Resources to ban foreign companies from developing oil and other mineral reserves.
Russia's continued refusals to pay compensation to American companies and investors for property put under Russian government control may also draw Mr. Bush's attention and worries the Russians. This departure from international business standards is all the more conspicuous against the background of an increasing number of American enterprises being acquired by Russian companies, with no one objecting.
Of course, both sides will have political complaints:
Moscow wants the US to stop interfering in the CIS. At the same time, Washington, including Mr. Bush, is worried about anti-democratic and nationalist sentiments emerging in Russia. Besides, concern is growing over restrictions on media freedom, especially the television. Many people in America also believe that Russia could be more flexible in Chechnya.
One of the mandatory points will be the Jackson-Vanik amendment. Now that practically everyone can emigrate, there is little sense in demanding that Russia should open up its borders. The problem now is rather finding a country willing to <b>accept </b>Russian immigrants, something that the US no longer wants to do. Russia has complained that since September 11 even legitimate businessmen from Russia have sometimes been unable to get an American visa. As someone who has seen many of these "businessmen" I am glad to hear America is not ignorant as they are on the Mexican border issue.
Iraq is the other piece on the agenda and is more sensitive to Russia. Vladimir Putin will need assurances that Iraq will pay back at least some of the loans extended to Saddam Hussein, and that Russian and Iraqi companies will be able to resume their economic relations. As a matter of fact, Russia's worry here is legit since we are speaking of more than 20 billion dollars--at least those that were made public.
Mr. Putin will also press for US support for Russia's desire to become a full-fledged member of the Group of Seven.
On the Bush side, the Russians think that it is certain that Bush will ask Putin about a decision taken by the Ministry of Natural Resources to ban foreign companies from developing oil and other mineral reserves.
Russia's continued refusals to pay compensation to American companies and investors for property put under Russian government control may also draw Mr. Bush's attention and worries the Russians. This departure from international business standards is all the more conspicuous against the background of an increasing number of American enterprises being acquired by Russian companies, with no one objecting.
Of course, both sides will have political complaints:
Moscow wants the US to stop interfering in the CIS. At the same time, Washington, including Mr. Bush, is worried about anti-democratic and nationalist sentiments emerging in Russia. Besides, concern is growing over restrictions on media freedom, especially the television. Many people in America also believe that Russia could be more flexible in Chechnya.