The potential fruits of cooperation

The leader of the Russian democratic opposition party Yabloko, Grigory Yavlinsky, has called for Europe and Russia to come up with a strategic cooperation plan.

"If Europe wants to be competitive in the 21st century, it has to find a new formula for [cooperative] integration with Belarus, Ukraine and Russia," Yavlinsky said.

The combination of the EU's economic power and know-how with Russia's military potential and abundance of natural resources could increase the continent's competitiveness and help it in the economic race with North America and Southeast Asia, Yavlinsky claims.

The Yabloko leader sees the lack of Europe's long-term strategy as one of the main reasons for the frequent rows with Moscow. He pointed out that the post-World War II strategy to unite Europe is just now being finalized after 60 years, and there is no new idea for the next 25-30 years. He acknowledges that Russia has an authoritarian regime, but "this is a temporary state," he says. "In the late 1940s, when integration plans were being prepared, half of Europe was under Stalin's yoke." He warns that if Europe doesn't find a way to bring Russia closer, Moscow might join forces with Far Eastern states.

When asked about how to deal with Belarus, Yavlinsky sarcastically remarked: "If you want Belarus to become a region of Russia, then isolation is the best way [to accomplish that]." He added that he advocates allowing contacts between students, scientists and athletes.

As for the meat ban that has been the thorn in the side of Polish-Russian relations, Yavlinsky said that he expects the border to be opened to Polish meat products soon. "After President Putin said that he likes Polish meat, I can't imagine any minister saying that he doesn't like it. The embargo should be lifted soon," he said.