4974, 29-Dec-94, 16:11, -E----, 6286, A.Prishchenko, UA, Kiev
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"Novaja Jezhednevnaja Gazeta" attacks Radical Party
"DEFEAT OF THE OWN GOVERNMENT" SYNDROME
("Novaja Jezhednevnaja Gazeta", December 16, 1994, p. 2, heading "PolitHouse")
Lev SIGAL
Maybe you, dear readers, have paid attention to advertising of Transnational Radical party in "Izvestia" or "Komsomol'skaja Pravda"? There is such a party. It was founded on the base of Italian Radical party. Recently radicals have sent us their interesting message.
"More and more openly Russia occupies the side of those, who trample insolently on international legality and use violence and "ethnic cleaning" to create "Great Serbia,"-- write authors of the appeal, coordinators of Radical party's activity in CIS countries Mamuka Tsagarelli and Nikolaj Khramov. "Again, like many times before, world community, Western countries, and NATO capitulate in shame, yielding to new and newer aggressor's demands."
Further authors continue to reproach NATO generals with cowardice in view of Serbians and Russians, and make their main conclusion: "Exactly Russia is now the source of instability and threat -- in the territory of ex-USSR, in Europe, and in the world."
The final is of course pathetic: "Bosnian policy of Russia is fatal ... will they at last realize that in Moscow, Brussels, and New York?"
You must have felt already, dear reader, that "mentioned writing" is not written for you and me. Misters Tsagarelli and Khramov appeal to New York and Brussels (where NATO headquarters is situated), but not to Moscow. At the same time, it is a point of view of our ex-soviet people, and part of out intellectuals shares this opinion, so it is worth to be replied to the point.
Yugoslavia has bore fate of USSR: administrative borders of union republics have turned to state borders at once. Of course, Serbian ethnic minority, that lives compactly in the territory of union republics Croatia and Bosnia, has desired to self-define and to re-unite with Belgrade. States appeared like out Transnistria: Serbska Kraina and Serbian Republic. For some reason they decided in Zagreb and Sarajevo, that only Croatians and Bosnian Moslems have such a right. The war began. Great powers begun to support Croatians, other ones -- to support Moslems, while Orthodox Serbia has got its traditional ally -- Russia.
All those are truisms. Certainly, you, dear sirs, are free to sympathize with enemies of Serbia for some unexpected reason. Let me just to be surprised with your surprise about opinion of majority of Russian society.
Nikolaj Khramov has a longstanding experience concerning unmasking "soviet military threat" to Western community, that goes back to times of half-decadence group "For Establishment Of Trust Between East And West" (such a cunning title was given to the group to avoid cavils of KGB). When you are told continuously, that "USSR is a stronghold of peace", reaction of protest "USSR is a threat against peace in the whole world" can be explained psychologically. The bolshevik "defeat of the own government" syndrome has spread in an atmosphere of decadence gatherings, participants of that expressing themselves exceptionally with denunciations, addressed to West, and waiting for knock at the door and people in civic dresses, and feeling themselves like heroes.
However, Lenin had wholesome cynicism to declare, that "we are defenders since October of 1917", while our "white bolsheviks" just can work only by old cliche.
Such a point of view is not exotic, it is peculiar to a large part of so called democratic community. I write "so called", because adherents of Pinochet also occupy mentioned title. Recent appeal of Party of Economic Freedom (PEF) to countries-members of Security Union of European Countries is extremely interesting. I quote the whole document signed by chairman of PEF Konstantin Borovoj. "We appeal to countries members of Security Union of European Countries and propose to take recent events in Chechnia under consideration. Incapability of Russian government to resolve interior conflicts by peaceful negotiations makes it impossible to obtain peace-making mandate in the territory of ex-USSR countries. Empire tendency of interior and exterior policy of Russia threatens not only democracy inside the country, but also states of ex-USSR, and world community. We expect solidary activities of civilized European community, that can promote freedom and democracy in the territory of Russia and ex-USSR."
I am not happy about possible Caucasian war, too. However, why to call the West for intervention into Russian inner affairs, as if we did not do all possible things? It's a very elegant formulation: "solidary activities" to plant "freedom and democracy in the territory". Why, economic sanctions? Or directly to bombardments? No limits of Russian masochism!
How interesting, oppositions of what countries did sent similar letters to Budapest? Konstantin Natanovich, don't you see, that you have written denunciation against Russian Federation?
I could understand it if you have gathered rebel army and went partisans somewhere in forests of Briansk. OK, not civil war, the at least civil non-obedience to "Evil Empire", endless pickets and hunger strikes could give you a right to speak so. No, you think complaint to Budapest is not an utmost measure, vice versa, the most simple and loyal.
Stop. Why, by no means Borovoj, "Democratic Choice Of Russia", and "Democratic Russia", who stigmatize army with "aggression in Chechnia", are not "irreconcilable opposition". No, sirs representatives of "democratic community", your friends are in President's Council, in administration, in government. If not you, who are favorites of the royal court? But even journalists, who flaunt their close relations with inhabitants of Kremlin, say word "power" with cold animosity.
When at last any party will be so courageous to call itself a ruling one? No way. Half-opposition -- could it be more convenient: they eat acorns and undermine the oak.
Translated into English by A.Prishchenko on December 29, 1994.
