Does Russia Still Have a Cold War Mindset? - Carl Bildt

Complete video at: http://fora.tv/2009/03/20/20_Years_After_the_Fall_of_the_Iron_Curtain

Carl Bildt, Former Prime Minister of Sweden and current Minister of Foreign Affairs, examines relations between Europe and Russia 20 years after the end of the Cold War. Bildt compares the evolution of Russia to that of Germany after World War II.

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Twenty years have passed since the collapse of communism and the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. The epochal changes that led to the largely peaceful end of the Cold War also opened the door for the unification of Germany. At the same time, it anchored Central and Eastern Europe -- from the Baltic to the Black Sea -- to the West in the EU and NATO. While the challenge of integrating and anchoring the Balkans remains incomplete, the historic accomplishment and step toward the vision of a Europe whole, free, and at peace is widely seen as a tremendous success story.

At the same time, there are major questions as we look toward the future. The stability, resilience, and solidarity of a unified Europe is being tested in the current economic and financial crisis. Central and Eastern Europe is looking for strategic reassurance from a resurgent Russia. Western liberal democracy is no longer necessarily seen as the only option in countries on the periphery of Europe and Eurasia.

Is there a new historical and strategic narrative to again mobilize the West to reach out to and embrace countries like Ukraine and Georgia -- or has the window of opportunity for enlargement closed? Above all, how do we deal with a Russia that today seems further from the West in terms of values and seems determined to roll back democratic breakthrough on its periphery but whose support we need on a range of issues from energy to Iran to Afghanistan? - German Marshall Fund

Former Prime Minister of Sweden and current Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Bildt was appointed as the European Union Special Representative to the former Yugoslavia and served as co-chairman of the 1995 Dayton Peace Talks.

Additionally, he has served as the first High Representative of the international community in Bosnia during 1996 and 1997. In 1999, he was asked to re-engage on the Balkan issues as special envoy of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, and served in that capacity until 2001.

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[Luinreg]

I think the question should be "does the United States still have a Cold War mindset?".

Honestly look at the major backlash American politics recently when President Obama decided to cooperate with Russia. The republican celebrities flipped!

The United States politicians and people always wants someone to fight be it external(russia, china, etc.) or internal(liberals, socialists, progressives).

[TheArmedGrizzly]

@jjamesbondoviza and you can't actually believe that immigrants are being killed in swedish prisons? idiot

[aviomaster]

WHAT Boris Yeltsin did to RUSSIA was fantastic , it was great Russia was down and unable to get up that was JUST great Boris Yeltsin is GENIUS. During Boris Yeltsin Russia was DEMOCRACY Free country and than came Putin and saved Russia. BORIS YELTSIN does not remember his presidency you scum bag Carl The shittter Built.

[aviomaster]

RUSSIA has COLD WAR mind set , again Western scum bags WHO is building MISSILE SHIELD ????

[zaphr89]

@WINNNY22 The west isn't a state you fucking retard.

[pack1]

Boris couldnt walk straight and Carl Bildt is a freemasonic prostitute.

[meronmotors]

@Luinreg yeah watch RT and it tells you everything. Stop living in the past. We are willing to move forward. I never see putin trying to cooperate with the usa however obama does. You guys have a dyeing country as of now. You need to really go through an overhaul and get back on your feet. a country like Germany and japan. MUCH smaller then your country and they have a far greater economy. Try to influence off them. Otherwise you will continue to dwindle

[uguessright]

Who are you presenting Mr Bildt?????? Bla, Bla, Bla. You are representing the Bilderberg Group of Nazist. Yes you are a puppy. Stop your shit, because you are betraying your own people in Sweden and you should be indicted.

[TheAranethon]

@TheArmedGrizzly Respected? You from mars mate? Not that many people realy respects him here in Sweden.