EUROPE OFTEN TOO PEDANTIC

René van der Linden, President of the Council of Europe, congratulates Putin on his policy

Van der Linden understands that the Russians are annoyed about Western interference. "You cannot compare Russia, with its eleven time zones and dozens of minorities, to, say, Bulgaria"

When he spoke to President Vladimir Putin yesterday, René van der Linden did not address the ban of the gay pride , nor the violence around the modest gay activist demonstration last weekend. "It is a difficult subject", Van der Linden says during a cocktail in the Duma. "You have to be careful not to impose our advanced liberal views on countries where they have different ideas. I think it is similar to the case of the abortion boat, something I absolutely opposed", Van der Linden continues. According to him, the Gay Pride was mostly a foreign initiative: there was a noticeable presence of foreigners. "That is why I did not raise this with Putin. But in other conversations here I have consistently emphasized our great concern about the rise of nationalism and extremism in Russia."

Van der Linden visited Moscow because last week Russia took over the Presidency of the Council of Europe, the 46 member state organisation that addresses human rights and the development of the rule of law. Russia, which has never before led a Pan-european organisation, wants the Council to focus more on education, social cohesion and culture. The Kremlin feels that the Council applies double standards and that it is too critical on the human rights situation in Russia.

Van der Linden understands the annoyance of the Russians: ' Europe was too impatient. You cannot compare Russia, with its eleven time zones and dozens of minorities, with Bulgaria."

According to van der Linden it is mainly Europe that made many mistakes regarding Russia. "In the past ten years we did not succeed in deepening our cooperation beyond the energy-interests. We are mutually dependent of one another, but mutual respect is all too often absent. The EU often has a patronising and pedantic attitude".

De recent critical speech of US Vice-President Cheney on the erosion of democracy in Russia under Putin is qualified as 'unwise' by Van der Linden. "That was pure cold war rethoric, which does not help the reformers in Russia. On the contrary, it will boost those forces that seek a return to Soviet times".

For that reason he started by extensively congratulating Putin. "Much has improved during the ten years of Russian membership. The office of Ombudsman has been created, the jjudiciary has improved and the moratorium on the death penalty has been observed. In addition, Their presidency has been thoroughly prepared.They will also organise three conferences"

Putin is keen on working with the Council of Europe, Van der Linden says. "As we are a structure of which the Russians themselves are part, they accept our criticism more readily. I am convinced we have to make every effort to prevent Russia from being isolated. Security, stability and prosperity in Europe depend on it".

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