'Can Russia's current foreign policy progress to become more reliable and more accountable?,' asks Member of European Parliament Professor Vytautas Lansbergis. The question was raised at the EU-Russia Parliamentary Cooperation Committee meeting this Wednesday.'With so much talk about the partnership with Russia within the framework of existing and proposed new arrangements, including on security, the key reference point was and remains Russia's reliability.
Since 1997, when Russia was admitted to the Council of Europe, Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly expects Russia to honor her accession obligations, including the promise to immediately withdraw Russian troops from Moldova. It is indeed too difficult to resolve the issues 'in one week', as was mentioned, but 13 years past Russia's commitments remain unfulfilled, affecting our confidence [in this country] despite all the efforts to strengthen it.
Russia suspended her membership in the CFE Treaty when she deemed it useful, although she never stopped to be vocal on this subject. Then Russia stepped up its military presence in the Caucasus – in excess of any established limits – supposedly for the internal needs of the Russian Federation.
Two years ago, these very troops were used in a real war with Georgia, for external policy needs and for the expansion of the Russian-controlled areas. Now the number of [Russian] troops is growing again, this time in Dagestan on the border with Georgia. Those who see it are concerned and ask: when a new war will break out?' noted Professor Landsbergis.
'Every time presenting a new draft will not make you more reliable; only peaceful action to strengthen security on the ground can make it. Hence, my question is whether Russia's external policy under the current provisions may lead to a change towards greater reliability and accountability?', said Landsbergis.
