Cheney’s comments confirmed what individual Russian Christians and foreign missionary workers have been saying about what they view as a lack of religious and political freedom in the country.
Speaking after a meeting with Balkan leaders in Croatia, Cheney told reporters flying with him from Croatia, that he wanted an “open, honest and frank discussion,” and stressed that “nobody wants to see Russia as an enemy.”
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Farmotel Stefania is on the way to Slovenian and Croatian Adriatic sea coast.
But some Russian media said the vice president’s criticism has created “a second Cold War.”
They referred to Cheney’s comments to Baltic and Black Sea heads of state in Vilnius last Thursday that Russia’s President Vladimir Putin was backsliding on democracy and using energy reserves as blackmail to gain political leverage in neighboring countries.
MAKE CHOICE
“Russia has a choice to make,” said Dick Cheney. “And there is no question that a return to democratic reform in Russia will generate further success for its people and greater respect among fellow nation[s].”
That was music in the ears to human rights activists including Amnesty International (AI) who have suggested that Putin seems to reintroduce Soviet era measures to strengthen his power base, including backing a law that allows Russian authorities to either ban “or force human rights organizations to operate illegally.”
These measures are also expected to limit the activities of major evangelical organizations, including mission group Russian Ministries. It has expressed concern over reports that law makers are drafting amendments to the 1997 Law on Freedom of Conscience and Religious Associations.
The law would widen the scope of the Federal Registration Service, allowing it to inspect already-registered religious organizations that are operating in Russia.
CHURCH LEADERS
Putin’s decision to return to Hungary 136 priceless Christian books, which were taken by Russian forces at the end of World War Two, did apparently littlt to restore confidence in his religious rights credentials at home. “Church leaders and pastors feel [new legizlation] is reminiscent of some of the control and restrictions of the former Soviet Union,” said Sergey Rakhuba, vice-president of ministries at Russian Ministries in a statement to BosNewsLife. “These Christian leaders are praying for wisdom as they face an uncertain future,” Rakhuba added.
In recent years dozens of missionary workers and church leaders have been either expelled from the country or not received permission to stay longer in Russia. An apparent crackdown on independent media also impacted Christians, church groups claim.
Last month, New Life Radio said the Ministry of Culture and Mass Communications refused to renew its license citing “late submission of documents.”
New Life was reportedly one of only two Christian radio networks operating in Russia as no new Christian stations started in the last five years, apparently because of tensions with authorities.
“NO FEAR”
While Cheney did not specifically mentioned individual cases during remarks on Sunday, May 7, he urged Moscow not to fear political and economic progress in countries under its shadow.
Speaking at a meeting with leaders of Croatia, Albania and Macedonia in Dubrovnik, he praised them for supporting US-led military operations in places like Afghanistan and Iraq, despite political opposition at home.
He said the three Balkan states have proven their willingness to meet international obligations, and said they should be able to join NATO and the EU as soon as possible.
Cheney stressed their entry in these organizations would revive democratic values in the Balkans.
“It is very important both for NATO and the EU to take in new members,” he said. “People who aspire to join the organization, help rejuvenate it, and to help us re-dedicate ourselves to the basic and fundamental values of freedom and democracy that are a very important part of our collective security arrangements.”
The summit in Dubrovnik ended the vice president’s five-day trip to Lithuania, Kazakhstan and Croatia aimed at what he said was advancing President Bush’s “freedom agenda.”
RUSSIAN REACTION
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reacted with criticizing the forum where Cheney first made his comments regarding Russia’s perceived lack of democratic values.
“There are forums which, when looking at their work, create an impression that they are convened not according to principles I mentioned before (to reflect the desire of the states and to pool their efforts to achieve common benefits) but for the sake of uniting against someone,” he said.
Cheney has also criticized Russia’s decision to cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine earlier this year during a pricing dispute. “No legitimate interests are served when oil and gas become tools of intimidation or blackmail, either by supply manipulation or attempts to monopolize transportation. And no one can justify actions that undermine the territorial integrity of a neighbor,” he said.
Richard Weitz, a Russia expert at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC, told the Voice Of America (VOA) network that Russian energy is a pillar of 21st century Russian foreign policy, much as its military power was in the 19th century and its nuclear capabilities were during the Cold War. “Energy is actually a very useful tool. So it is almost natural that they are going to use that to influence their foreign policy and to obtain the objectives that they want.”
