European and Asian Media Forum was held in Moscow with the participation of 140 media representatives from 14 CIS and Baltic countries. A considerable attention was drawn to the Forum by Russian President Dmitry Medvedev’s address and responses to the mass media representatives’ questions. While answering a question of “Lietuvos Rytas” reporter on Russia – Lithuania relationship, Russia’s President mentioned that he expected a real improvement in Russia’s relations with the Baltic countries – development of economic ties, increase in the flow of tourists, discussion of the “most difficult aspects of our common history”, regular exchange of visits between high-ranking state officials. It is the period of crisis, when the Baltic countries and Russia would cooperate closer, simultaneously paying more attention to the partners’ proposals when new formats are offered for discussion of most complicated issues. “Similarities of positions and points of disagreements should be taken into account, and the history should not be reconsidered, for it is unacceptable. Reconsideration of obvious historical facts is a very dangerous joke.”

Russian President’s homepage, December 9

http://www.kremlin.ru/news/6292

The expressions of Russian President on improvement of relations with the Baltic countries should be approached in two ways. The D.Medvedev’s formally positive and polite statements on the Russia – Baltic cooperation is nothing new – they imply the previous position of Russia’s readiness for cooperation with the Baltic countries and assumption of the very Baltic countries’ inability to use the possibilities, for example, while developing the relations on ideological not pragmatic basis. Second, Russian President mentions forces in the Baltic countries hampering advance in the relations with Russia, for example, those “reconsidering the obvious historical facts” or avoiding use of the offered formats for resolving of urgent issues (Russia’s offer for the European Security Agreement?). Although such statements have been made by Russian officials even previously, in the context of Medvedev’s announcement, they can be considered as an obvious signal to the Baltic countries to restrict activities of the anti-Russia forces. In this context, the Russian President’s announcement should be approached carefully, for presently a number of economic groups in the Baltic countries are interested in development of economic ties with Russia, but since Russia connects the improvement of economic relations with political issues, these groups may try to influence the political relations. If said in short, one of the objectives of the Medvedev’s announcement may be related to use of the Baltic countries’ internal weakness in Russia’s favour, implementing “economic carrot” for achievement of political goals.