| YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin made a speech at a congress
of Norwegian liberal party Venstre on April 3, 2011. His speech
was devoted to the issues of European integration, Russia’s
role in this process, as well as problems Russia encounter
in its development as a democratic state. Over 500 people
were present at the congress: delegates of the Venstre party
and leaders of foreign sister parties.
In his speech Sergei Mitrokhin told to his foreign colleagues
about the history and the structure of the YABLOKO party,
as well as the liberal and democratic values YABLOKO have
been advocating for almost 20 years already.
Sergei Mitrokhin also said that the approach of the Western
leaders based on Realpolitik had failed. YABLOKO’s leader
called the EU to develop a single strategy in its relations
with Russia: “The lack of firm approach to Russia when liberal
values or human rights are concerned was regarded as a kind
of carte blanche by our elites. And now we all have what we
have”.
According to Mitrokhin, Western countries should initiate
projects engaging our society and elites into the European
values, this would ensure Russia’s movement towards European
democracy.
He also called his foreign colleagues to support YABLOKO’s
initiative on removing visa barriers between Russia and the
EU. “A visa-free regime would considerably facilitate the
formation of civil society in Russia and will guarantee Russia’s
movement along the European liberal way of development. We
are sure that in the 21st century we should eliminate the
remnants of the “iron curtain”. And this can become our common
strategic goal,” Mitrokhin said.
He also told to the congress about another YABLOKO’s initiative
– creation of a joint US-European-Russian missile defence
system, which will make the world more secure. According to
Mitrokhin, at present the joint missile defence project is
one of the key issues on the agenda in Russia-US relations.
Another field where Russia and Europe could develop close
cooperation can be protection environment.
Speaking about the present economic and political situation
in Russia YABLOKO’s leader noted worsening of the situation
with human rights, huge corruption and lack of free and fair
elections. YABLOKO had many times warned the Russian authorities
that all these unsolved problems had been bringing Russia
closer to the “point of no return”, when a demand for changes
could even transfer into a riot or revolutions, such as in
the Arab world. And then it would be too late to speak about
evolutional development or modernisation,” he stressed.
Mitrokhin also added that YABLOKO believed that the only
solution for Russia was dismantling of the system created
in 1990s.
“The destiny of the world greatly depends on what choice
Russia and Europe will make. We’ll try to do our best so that
Russia would choose a European way of development, which means
a choice for freedom,” concluded YABLOKO’s leader.
The audience interrupted Mitrokhin’s speech by applause several
times and greeted the concluding remarks by standing up for
the ovation.
Sergei Mitrokhin is in Norway on the invitation of the Venstre
party, the oldest party in Norway. Venstre, like YABLOKO,
is advocating social liberalism, protecting civil rights and
liberties which are regarded as a necessary requirement for
formation of a strong social role of the state.
Russia's
Missile Defence Initiatives
Russia-US
Relations
Russia
and NATO
YABLOKO’s
Sister Parties
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