Д.Медведев.Совместная пресс-конференция.27.06.08.Part 7

Joint Press Conference following the Russia-European Union Summit.Part 7
June 27, 2008
Khanty-Mansiysk

Совместная пресс-конференция с Генеральным секретарём Совета Евросоюза Хавьером Соланой, Председателем Комиссии Европейских сообществ Жозе Мануэлом Дурау-Баррозу и Председателем правительства Словении, Председателем Совета Евросоюза Янезом Яншей по итогам саммита Россия Евросоюз
27 июня 2008 года
Ханты-Мансийск

But there are also issues that do not come under these organisations mandate, security issues related to climate change, for example. This is something we started working on only recently. There are other problems too that we have not been able to resolve through the existing mechanisms in the numerous organisations and their programmes.

But what is the key point in answering this question? What is the foundation of any cooperation in the area of security? The foundation of any such cooperation is what we are defending. What we are defending in Europe are the common values of our European civilisation. Organisations that protect security but are based only on defence capability are only partially successful. In this sense the discussions currently taking place in Europe are especially relevant. President Medvedev already made this point in his speech in Berlin, giving it the appropriate dimension. We are talking about values, and the idea that there are three inheritors of European civilisation and culture the European Union, North America and Russia is the starting point for beginning our discussions by building the right foundation.

What kind of foundation do we need to build solid security structures?

Of course, we are not starting from scratch in this work. The existing organisations have their roles and functions. We are talking about different aspects of our cooperation, about building further upon what we have and looking for new solutions.

Initiatives in this area are very welcome. We all agree that this is a big challenge that we will have to deal with in the future, and I hope that we be able to look for solutions and move forward.

DMITRY MEDVEDEV: I would like to start with a few words on general European security issues. We did indeed have quite a detailed discussion of this subject. We discussed the ideas I put forward in my speech in Berlin yesterday during dinner and again today during the working meeting.

The security of Europe overall cannot be divided. This is clear. It cannot fragment into blocs and alliances, and it cannot be guaranteed by one country or group of countries, precisely because it is the security of the entire European continent we are dealing with.

What is the situation today? There is a whole collection of strong and authoritative organisations that have great influence on the European continent and are attempting to resolve these problems. But in our view not one of these organisations is addressing all of these issues in full measure.

I have spoken about this before. I will just add a few words now.

The OSCE is an organisation that was established during the Cold War on the basis of the Helsinki Accord. It could have become a full-fledged organisation for maintaining security in Europe, but for a number of reasons that I will not go into now this did not happen.

NATO is the most powerful military and political organisation in Europe, a bloc organisation. For reasons that are eminently clear it is also not in a position to ensure security throughout the entire European continent because there are not enough countries participating in it, thus it does not have the needed universality.

The European Union was established for a different purpose and its membership is also not identical to the countries that make up Europe.

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News & Politics

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[averageworkinggal]

Medvedev has a strong facial resemblance to Tsar Nicholas II.

Any relationship?

[niknikolay]

Greetings. I do not think, although it may have a vague resemblance, and if present with a beard.:)