Viktoria Panova

Russia Today: Apart from trade and economic co-operation, what are other important issues that Russia would like to see discussed in Austria?

Victoria Panova: I'm quite sure that for Russia it's interesting to discuss issues of political importance like ballistic missiles deployment in the Czech Republic and Poland, or even an impasse in the crisis over the Conventional Arms Treaty that is now going on, and probably to discuss how it is possible to revive some European institutions that are now in crisis, OSCE for instance. These could be the issues to be discussed apart from economics. However, I should say that we shouldn't underestimate the importance of the economic issues in their own right. Russia's politics has been recently viewed by many countries through an ideological prism and there is a revival of the Cold War, if I can say so, in the view of some opposition figures. However, Russia is very pragmatic. It bases its politics on the development of economic ties with other countries. Politics without economics is nonsense, so if the countries have close economic relations it would be difficult for them to go into a political crisis. 

RT: The issue of Human Rights in Russia has been a major irritant in Russia's relations with the European Union. Do you think that it might take centre-stage in Vienna?

V.P.: I personally think it would take one of the centre-stages in Vienna, because, first of all, these issues are always raised by our western partners and if these issues are discussed constructively, this will never lead to any impasse in the talks. Besides, it's not only the issue of Human Rights in Russia. What we need is a comprehensive and constructive dialogue on how to counter the recent rise of extremism and radicalism in Europe. Here I don't mean only the issue of Islamism that Europe is now facing but also neo-Nazism and far right extremism, which are also big problems for Europe including Austria, judging by the last elections in the country, and also for some new members of the European Union. 

Earlier, Victoria Panova gave Russia Today her opinion on the results of Russia-OSCE summit in Brussels.

"The easiest way to summarise the results of the summit is to say that, as usual, it failed. Nevertheless, it is true. Over the years Russia and the West have been keeping different approaches towards the ways of mutually beneficial adaptation of arms treaty and towards the problem of withdrawing Russian bases from Moldova and Georgia, although Russia says it has already withdrawn most of its bases from Moldova and is withdrawing its bases from Georgia according to the previously planned schedule. So, the results of the session are as follows: as usual, it failed, and no common approaches to longstanding problems have been found,” stressed the expert.

Then the analyst talked about the ways to improve Russia-OSCE relations in spite of the failure of the summit.

“To my mind, energy could make both sides improve their relations, taking into account approaching winter and Russia remaining the major energy supplier for Europe. Therefore, European leaders just can not make Russia do what they want. The energy problem also includes Energy Charter ratification and public concern about transit problems, which provides Russia with different means to influence OSCE and other European organisations,” pointed out Ms Panova.

She also spoke about the consequences of Russia's possible withdrawal from the organisation.

“If you ask about my opinion on OSCE, I think it is a dead organisation, but OSCE would never withdraw Russia from its ranks. Only some journalists who enjoy sensations speculate about that. If OSCE withdraw Russia, the former will lose the status of a really influential organization. On the other hand, Russia understands that no matter how OSCE is helpless at the moment, it is still the organisation that gathers almost all the European countries from NATO members to Russia itself, and it still can provide Russia with the ways to negotiate with Europe,” claimed the analyst.

Finally, the expert speculated about possible ways of reforming OSCE.

“They have been talking about the reforming of the organisation for quite a while, but nothing has changed. So, it is not going to work in the near future, unless the underlying problems are solved. The structures like OSCE or UN, which were created during the Cold War, are very difficult to adapt to present realities, and that is what happening now,” summed up the analyst.

Earlier, Victoria Panova told Russia Today about the visit of the Russian President Vladimir Putin to South Africa.

Russia Today’s guest says President Putin’s visit to the Republic of South Africa has not been organised by chance. Vladimir Putin makes official visits only when there is an opportunity to sign important and meaningful international agreements, our guest notes - this visit being in the planning since 2004. The Russian Federation has gained strength, she says, and is ready to broaden its sphere of influence. Many world leaders have already been to South Africa and it is strategically important for President Putin not to lose Russia’s global standing. South Africa is developing dynamically, she adds, assessing relations between the two states as an important element of Russia’s own domestic economic progress.