DEMONSTRATION OF DOUBLE STANDARDS

The Western press has already labeled the European and US policy with regard to the latest Caucasian events a virtual failure. Indeed, Moscow has entirely ignored warnings by the Council of Europe about the inadmissibility of escalating the violence and violation of every possible human right. The Russian leadership is not in the least impressed by Washington’s threats, and the Kremlin seems heedless to the almost daily appeals by EU leaders to stop its war in the Caucasus.

On the one hand, one could get the impression that the situation is developing according to the Yugoslav Kosovo scenario. Just like Belgrade kept stating that it had every sovereign right to establish constitutional order in Kosovo, the Russian leadership has been repeating that it is combating terrorism in Chechnya. Just like Belgrade vehemently opposed any form of Western pressure, the Kremlin is entirely ignoring the fact that the war in Chechnya has seriously injured the image of Russia — no less than all the Western media publications about the Russian Mafia and money laundering. As Slobodan Milosevic needed a “glorious little war” and to use every possibility to play on Serbs’ patriotic feelings to strengthen his power, the case with Russia is similar, at least, at first glance. According to many commentators, quasi-governmental groups in Russia have allegedly figured out that only a real war in the Caucasus under the slogans of combating terrorism could help to retain power or major influence on decision making. Just like in Serbia, this war is supported by the population. Like in Serbia, the press and the authorities have suddenly fallen prey to anti-Western hysteria. Obviously, the similarities end here. Because Yugoslavia was threatened with armed intervention from the very beginning, and when it went too far, this threat was carried out.

The results of this NATO campaign are still unclear. Russia, with its nuclear weapons, ability to destabilize all possible world markets, and the situation in the world on the whole, is feared, and pretty much at that. This is why nobody expelled Russia from the Council of Europe and nobody is talking seriously about any sanctions by UN or other international organizations. They only promised to raise the Chechnya issue at an OSCE summit in Istanbul slated for November 18 and 19. Even more, nobody is going to mention a possible NATO intervention in Russia.

This is all double standards. What is not permitted small Serbia is virtually permitted Russia. The angry voices and warnings do not really matter. On the other hand, it is now very difficult to trust the three tenors of socialism — Blair, Jospin, and Schroeder — with their talks about fairness, justice, human rights, and democracy. Such words by the Kremlin are just as difficult to trust, after Kosovo and Yugoslavia. And after Chechnya.

It is very difficult to think of any union with Moscow — with Moscow and the Russia, which for some ephemeral interests would not so much eliminate as provoke terrorism and instability.

Now we have every reason to retort to the West in a “ you fool” manner, each time they say there is something not quite right with us. However, it would be so much better to have something other than constant double standards and grand political games.