Give up old biases, global community told

I AM pleased to take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the article written by prominent Russian political analyst Sergei Karaganov (“A Eurasian solution for Europe’s crisis”), which was printed in the Opinion section of the INQUIRER’s Sept. 18 issue. Unfortunately, this kind of article rarely appears on the pages of Philippine newspapers.

Karaganov does not represent Moscow’s official position, but the Russian government is likely to share most of his views.

I personally believe that his analysis is a rich source of references, providing a fresh and unbiased view of the current developments in Ukraine which has been stuck in a political stalemate. And Russia’s goal is to keep the Ukrainian nation united. None of Russia’s leaders have ever desired the dissolution of Ukraine, or used the term “Novorossia,” which has been coined by residents of Ukraine’s southeast.

The global perspectives projected by Karaganov imply a set of possible solutions to other crises in other parts of the globe. I suppose, it is high time for the international community to consolidate its efforts and give up old prejudices. This, however, requires certain will and courage.

The cause of the mistakes, made in the Middle East and Ukraine, is actually the overestimation of one’s capabilities, as well as underestimation of the opponents’ reaction. A classic example of such mistakes is the ridiculous and, therefore, futile attempt to isolate Russia.

As Karaganov has reasonably noticed, these are “hopes dashed.”

—ILYA PERENKOV, press attaché, Embassy of the Russian Federation