Kurt Nicklas
2008-08-18 11:08:41 UTC
Russia's Neighbors Try To Protect Themselves
18 August 2008
http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/1010/42/369855.htm
WARSAW -- Poland strikes a deal on a U.S. missile-defense base.
Ukraine tries to limit the Russian navy's movement in its waters. The
Czech Republic's leader warns his nation is in danger of being sucked
back into Moscow's orbit.
Russia's attack on Georgia has sparked fears across the young
democracies of Eastern and Central Europe that Moscow is once again
hungry for conquest -- and they are scrambling to protect themselves
by tightening security alliances with Western powers.
Around the region, memories are being revived of the darkest days of
Soviet oppression.
In Prague, where Czechs on Wednesday will mark the 40th anniversary of
the Soviet invasion that crushed a reform movement, Prime Minister
Mirek Topolanek expressed fears of history repeating itself.
"The Russian tanks on the streets of Georgian towns remind us ... of
the invasion in 1968," Topolanek wrote in Mlada Fronta Dnes daily, the
country's biggest newspaper.
"But it is not just history. It is still, even now, a relevant
question whether we will or will not belong to the sphere of Russian
influence."
Since fighting broke out 10 days ago between Russia and Georgia, the
crisis has dominated headlines and sparked pro-Georgia rallies across
the region.
Poland's President Lech Kaczynski and the leaders of four ex-Soviet
republics journeyed together to Tbilisi last week to show solidarity
with Georgia. At a demonstration there, Kaczynski declared that the
Russians had again "shown the face that we have known for centuries."
"I am scared of those things that are happening in Georgia now," said
Juste Viaciulyte, a 23-year-old student at a rally Thursday in
Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, to protest Russia's actions in Georgia.
He noted that the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad borders his country
"and is beefed up with Russian soldiers, missiles and tanks. It would
take just several hours for them to ignite a similar nightmare here in
Lithuania if something turned really wrong."
The most vulnerable country is probably Ukraine, wedged between Russia
and NATO states.
Eugeniusz Smolar, director of the Center for International Relations
in Warsaw, said countries like Poland and the Czech Republic are safer
because they already belong to NATO and the EU.
"But not so with Ukraine; with Ukraine there is fear," Smolar said.
"It's very unstable politically, there is a strong pro-Russian
political element, plus there's strong activity of Russian
intelligence."
And there are signs Central and East European countries feel that
their NATO membership isn't sufficient protection.
As part of the preliminary missile-defense deal that Poland struck
with the United States on Thursday, it secured from Washington a
commitment of swifter help than that offered by NATO.
18 August 2008
http://www.moscowtimes.ru/article/1010/42/369855.htm
WARSAW -- Poland strikes a deal on a U.S. missile-defense base.
Ukraine tries to limit the Russian navy's movement in its waters. The
Czech Republic's leader warns his nation is in danger of being sucked
back into Moscow's orbit.
Russia's attack on Georgia has sparked fears across the young
democracies of Eastern and Central Europe that Moscow is once again
hungry for conquest -- and they are scrambling to protect themselves
by tightening security alliances with Western powers.
Around the region, memories are being revived of the darkest days of
Soviet oppression.
In Prague, where Czechs on Wednesday will mark the 40th anniversary of
the Soviet invasion that crushed a reform movement, Prime Minister
Mirek Topolanek expressed fears of history repeating itself.
"The Russian tanks on the streets of Georgian towns remind us ... of
the invasion in 1968," Topolanek wrote in Mlada Fronta Dnes daily, the
country's biggest newspaper.
"But it is not just history. It is still, even now, a relevant
question whether we will or will not belong to the sphere of Russian
influence."
Since fighting broke out 10 days ago between Russia and Georgia, the
crisis has dominated headlines and sparked pro-Georgia rallies across
the region.
Poland's President Lech Kaczynski and the leaders of four ex-Soviet
republics journeyed together to Tbilisi last week to show solidarity
with Georgia. At a demonstration there, Kaczynski declared that the
Russians had again "shown the face that we have known for centuries."
"I am scared of those things that are happening in Georgia now," said
Juste Viaciulyte, a 23-year-old student at a rally Thursday in
Lithuania's capital, Vilnius, to protest Russia's actions in Georgia.
He noted that the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad borders his country
"and is beefed up with Russian soldiers, missiles and tanks. It would
take just several hours for them to ignite a similar nightmare here in
Lithuania if something turned really wrong."
The most vulnerable country is probably Ukraine, wedged between Russia
and NATO states.
Eugeniusz Smolar, director of the Center for International Relations
in Warsaw, said countries like Poland and the Czech Republic are safer
because they already belong to NATO and the EU.
"But not so with Ukraine; with Ukraine there is fear," Smolar said.
"It's very unstable politically, there is a strong pro-Russian
political element, plus there's strong activity of Russian
intelligence."
And there are signs Central and East European countries feel that
their NATO membership isn't sufficient protection.
As part of the preliminary missile-defense deal that Poland struck
with the United States on Thursday, it secured from Washington a
commitment of swifter help than that offered by NATO.