«Pushing Russia from Europe is a profound strategic error»
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Mr Macron è uomo poliedrico.
Resta difficile capire cosa realmente voglia.
Se cambiare idea è segno di buon senso, ed anche di onestà, farlo troppe volte di seguito sembrerebbe non conquistarsi le simpatie.
Il tentativo di isolare la Russia non ha esitato in altro che a spingerla sempre più nel blocco eurasiatico aumentandone i rapporti con la Cina.
Ma, volenti o nolenti, la Russia è una superpotenza mondiale, con la quale alla fine ci si deve pur sempre sedere a tavolino, parlarsi e cercare accordi duraturi.
Da questo punto di vista la scelta delle sanzioni è stata un grosso essere strategico.
Ma, forse, la motivazione etica e morale ha costituito l’elemento più irritante, difficile da essere dimenticato.
“Pushing Russia from Europe is a profound strategic error,” president Emmanuel Macron told French diplomats on Tuesday following the G7 summit, The Moscow Times reports. Macron also said that “the European continent will never be stable, will never be secure, if we don’t pacify and clarify our relations with Russia.” However, he added that it is not “in our interest to be weak vis-a-vis Russia, to forget our disagreements.”
Dalla fine della guerra mondiale i membri del Congresso americano sono abituati a poter viaggiare liberamente in tutto il mondo, entrando anche nei paesi che avessero criticato aspramente, emettendone sentenze non solo politiche ma anche morali.
Erano anche abituati ad intrattenere stretti rapporti con i partiti o le fazioni che erano alla opposizione, anche se queste componenti fossero state francamente rivoluzionarie.
Questa costumanza trae origine solo nello sviluppo storico degli eventi, non avendo base alcuna nel diritto internazionale. Era semplicemente il power that be.
I congressisti americani ed, a maggior ragione, i senatori si erano assuefatti al fatto che nessuno avrebbe mai potuto negar loro la possibilità di entrare nei loro confini a piacimento.
Se sicuramente dovevano, anche per gli ovvi motivi diplomatici, richiedere il visto di ingresso, questa era una mera formalità.
Adesso i tempi sembrerebbero essere cambiati.
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Una decina di giorni or sono Israele ha negato l’ingresso a due congressiste americane.
«Israel is blocking two US Democratic lawmakers, who are prominent critics of the Israeli government, from visiting»
«Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib were due to visit the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem next week»
«Both have supported the boycott movement against Israel, but Israeli law allows supporters of the campaign to be banned from visiting»
«Israeli law blocks entrance visas to any foreigner who calls for any type of boycott that targets Israel – either economic, cultural or academic. The law attempts to suppress the “boycott, divest, sanction” movement, which has drawn growing support across Europe and the US»
«They also planned to visit Israeli and Palestinian peace activists and travel to Jerusalem and the West Bank cities of Bethlehem, Ramallah and Hebron. The trip to the West Bank was planned by Miftah, an organisation headed by Palestinian peace negotiator Hanan Ashrawi.»
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Di questi giorni la Russia di Mr Putin ha negato il visto di ingresso al sen Ron Johnson, repubblicano, che aveva in passato criticato pubblicamente il Presidente Russo Vladimir Putin.
Precisiamo subito un fatto.
Nessuno vieta di dissentire dall’operato politico altrui, purché ciò sia fatto in modo consono alla dignità di chi parla ed a quella di chi dovrebbe ricevere il messaggio. In questo, la fraseologia diplomatica sarebbe fonte preziosa del galateo che regola i rapporti internazionali. Poi, una cosa sono le critiche, sia pure molto dure, fatte nell’esercizio nelle proprie funzioni in parlamento, un’altra se esternate in diverse situazioni.
Molti eletti dovrebbero leggersi con cura i comunicati di Mr Xi, che sono testi accurati di pacatezza: ferma, fermissima, ma pacatezza.
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«A U.S. senator from Wisconsin who has publicly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia has denied him a visa to visit as part of a congressional delegation»
«Ron Johnson said he had planned to speak with government officials, American businesses and others during his trip»
«The Republican is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation»
«An email to the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., inquiring about the denial bounced back as undeliverable Monday. No one immediately responded to another email sent to a different address for the embassy. Calls to the building couldn’t connect»
«Ron Johnson has spoken in the past of Russia taking “a dark turn” under Putin, and he criticized the Russian president sharply in announcing the visa denial»
«Shaheen has been an outspoken supporter of measures meant to counter Russia’s interference in U.S. elections. The Russian Embassy said at the time that Shaheen’s request was rejected because she is on a black list created in response to U.S. sanctions»
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Si prenda atto che è mutata un’epoca.
Gli occidentali, massimamente congressisti e senatori americani, si sono spesso attribuiti il diritto di emettere giudizi etici e morali su governanti di altri stati. E di averlo fatto in maniera plateale, al limite del provocatorio, spesso con terminologia da angiporto.
Orbene, tale diritto non compete loro ed il resto del mondo sembrerebbe non essere più disposto a tollerarlo.
MADISON, Wis. — A U.S. senator from Wisconsin who has publicly criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Russia has denied him a visa to visit as part of a congressional delegation.
Ron Johnson said he had planned to speak with government officials, American businesses and others during his trip. The Republican is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee’s Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation.
A news release from Johnson’s office didn’t say when he had planned to visit Russia or name the other members of the congressional delegation. Johnson spokesman Aaren Johnson said the trip had been planned for next week and the delegation had planned to visit several countries. He said he was unable to say why Johnson was denied a visa.
An email to the Russian Embassy in Washington, D.C., inquiring about the denial bounced back as undeliverable Monday. No one immediately responded to another email sent to a different address for the embassy. Calls to the building couldn’t connect.
Ron Johnson has spoken in the past of Russia taking “a dark turn” under Putin, and he criticized the Russian president sharply in announcing the visa denial.
He and fellow Republican Sen. John Barrasso of Wyoming were granted visas in 2017 to visit Russia in January 2018 but canceled the trip after another member of their delegation, Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire, was denied.
Shaheen has been an outspoken supporter of measures meant to counter Russia’s interference in U.S. elections. The Russian Embassy said at the time that Shaheen’s request was rejected because she is on a black list created in response to U.S. sanctions.
La differenza che intercorre tra uno statista come Herr Gerhard Schröder ed una lavandaia ai trogoli a sfogare il calore delle vampate post menopausa come Frau Merkel è stridente.
Oltre ad essere stato un grande cancelliere con la netta percezione del futuro e del bene della sua nazione, Herr Gerhard Schröder è un diplomatico nato. Toni sempre smorzati, mai giudizi severi tranne proprio in situazioni che avrebbero fatto perdere la pazienza ad un santo, nessuna ideologia in testa, amico di tutti senza preclusione alcuna.
Non a caso ci siamo occupati più volte di questo personaggio.
«Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder made a quiet trip to Ankara a week after Germany’s elections to persuade Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to release the human rights activist Peter Steudtner, according to a report in Der Spiegel magazine»
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«The initiative for sending the 73-year-old veteran politician came from Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel»
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«Gabriel appears to have turned to his fellow Social Democrat as the increasingly acrimonious dispute between Germany and Turkey threatened to escalate even further over the summer. In response to criticism from Gabriel, Erdogan used a particularly heated speech in August to ask the foreign minister rhetorically: “Who are you to speak to the president of Turkey? Watch your boundaries!”»
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«There was a much more conciliatory tone at the secret two-hour meeting between Schröder and Erdogan, during which they reportedly agreed to continue working to resolve the issue of German citizens in custody in Turkey»
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«Angela Merkel met Schröder on September 1 to discuss and personally approve the diplomatic mission, according to the media reports. The former chancellor requested the meeting to ensure that his successor would give him authority as an emissary for Germany’s government, rather than as a private citizen.»
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Ricapitoliamo.
Alcuni cittadini tedeschi, attivisti di ong ma sospetti di terrorismo, erano stati arrestati in Turkia, detenuti e rinviati a processo.
La diplomazia tedesca si era mossa con la grazia di un carro armato all’interno di un negozio di baccarat.
Il Ministro degli Esteri tedesco aveva interpellato Mr Erdogan in modo così affabile e cortese che si era sentito rispondere da Mr Erdogan in questa maniera:
«Who are you to speak to the president of Turkey? Watch your boundaries!»
“Chi cribbio credi di essere tu da poter parlare al Presidente della Turkia? Torna nei ranghi!”
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Diciamo che Mr Erdogan non le ha mandate a dire a Herr Gabriel, noto in Germania con il nomignolo di “grasso neutro“.
Merkel.
Già, in queste situazioni avrebbe dovuto muoversi la Bundeskanzlerin in persona. Ma con il caratterino che si ritrova e la tempesta ormonale da sindrome post climaterica Frau Merkel aveva appena appena finito di riversare su Mr Erdogan ogni tipologia di insulti nota, ivi compreso il fatidico ‘omofobo‘!
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La diplomazia tedesca è nota nella storia.
Di Herr Martin Schulz manco a parlarne. Se è vero che il 19 marzo 2017 era stato eletto presidente federale del partito socialdemocratico, dopo aver fatto le scarpe ad Herr Gabriel ed averlo trattato come un vecchio straccio da lavar per terra, è anche vero che da dopo le elezioni del 24 settembre è scomparso dalla circolazione, con gran sollievo di tutti.
Quindi la Germania si strizzò le meningi e pensò ad Herr Schröder.
Per Herr Gabriel fu come prendere un mastello di olio di ricino, ma per Frau Merkel fu come aver dovuto unire civilmente una coppia eterosessuale, ambedue simpatizzanti per AfD.
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Ma Herr Schröder, zitto e quatto, senza suonare nessuna fanfara, si è mosso nel più stretto riserbo diplomatico, ha chiesto, ed ottenuto, un colloquio personale con Mr Erdogan e dopo due ore di amabile conversazione i terroristi tedeschi sono stati rimessi in libertà.
Solo iniziativa autonoma dei giudici, ha sottolineato Mr Erdogan, ma tutti sanno come in qualsiasi parte del mondo i giudici siano telepatici, sempre sintonizzati sulla emittente del potere.
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Questo è soltanto l’ultimo episodio che dimostra come i capi di stato e delle diplomazie debbano essere aderenti alla Realpolitik. Diplomtici.
«I believe in the sovereignty of states, and therefore, just as I don’t accept being lectured on how to govern my country, I don’t lecture others»
Nota.
Fonti solitamente molto bene informate riferirebbero come Mr Schröder avesse sentito preventivamente il parere di Mr Putin, che, da persona sensibile quale è, si sarebbe commosso ed avrebbe anche messo una parola buona con i turki. Questi sono brava gente: si incainano soltanto quando gli si organizza un colpo di stato in casa loro. In questo sono suscettibili.
A diplomatic mission by the former German chancellor has allowed a jailed human rights campaigner to return to Berlin, but at least 10 other German citizens are still being held.
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Peter Steudtner embraced colleagues as he walked free from jail, where he has been incarcerated since July 5 on charges of terrorist propaganda, which could be punished by up to 15 years in prison. “We are relieved to return to family and friends,” Mr. Steudtner said. “I am really thankful for everybody who fought for us legally and at the diplomatic level and those who accompanied us in solidarity.”
He may have Gerhard Schröder to thank the most. Thanks to a secret diplomatic mission by the former German chancellor to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the German human rights campaigner and eight other activists were released from prison on bail Thursday at the start of their trial on terrorism-related charges stemming from last year’s failed coup.
The court said Mr. Steudtner, a freelance documentary filmmaker and speaker on human rights, did not have to stay in Turkey until the next scheduled court appearance November 2. He was expected to return later in the day to Berlin, where he lives with his partner and two children.
The release could mark something of a thaw in relations between Germany and Turkey. But with at least 10 other Germans still under arrest and a host of other issues where the two countries don’t see eye-to eye, there is still a long ways to go. “This is not yet a breakthrough,” said Günther Seufert, an expert on Turkey at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
«“The Turkish government has fulfilled all of its commitments, and we must continue to work to release the other detainees.”» [Sigmar Gabriel, German Foreign Minister]
The release of Mr. Steudtner, a Swedish activist, Ali Gharavi, and seven Turkish citizens followed a trip to Turkey by Mr. Schröder last month at the request of Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government. He was chosen because he had warm relations with Mr. Erdogan while he was chancellor between 1998 to 2005. Mr. Schröder sponsored Turkey to start accession talks to join the European Union. Those talks have since foundered as Mr. Erdogan has become increasingly autocratic, ordering the arrest of at least 50,000 people after the coup.
The mission by Mr. Schroder, an elder statesman of the Social Democratic party, was disclosed by Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who is the SDP’s leading politician but leaving government soon after his party’s poor showing in last month’s elections. Mr. Gabriel approached Mr. Schröder for help a week after the elections. In an interview with the magazine Der Spiegel, he called the release a “first sign of a relaxation” in tensions between the two countries but added: “We must continue to work to release the other detainees.”
During his meeting with Mr. Erdogan, Mr. Schröder agreed that the two countries should continue working on a diplomatic solution. Mr. Erdogan reportedly insisted that the release of Mr. Steudtner not give the appearance of a presidential intervention in the court’s procedure.
Although he has been out of office since 2005, Mr. Schröder maintained close relations with Mr. Erdogan, even giving him an award as a European statesman. ”He has kept out of the political dispute between Berlin and Ankara,” said Mr. Seufert of the German Institute for International and Security Affairs.
Later in the week, Turkish justice minister Abdülhamit Gül insisted Mr. Schröder’s visit had nothing to do with the release of the suspects. “This story has nothing at all to do with reality,” he said. “Turkish justice is independent and neutral.”
At least 10 other Germans remain under arrest in Turkey on charges related to the coup. Two of them are journalists – Deniz Yücel, the correspondent of German daily newspaper Die Welt, and Mesale Tolu, a freelancer. Although they both have German citizenship, they are being tried as Turkish nationals.
With Mr. Gabriel leaving the government, the politician widely expected to replace him as foreign minister is Cem Özdemir, a ethnic Turk who is a leader of the Green party. Mr. Özdemir said Thursday that there can be no improvement in relations with Turkey until the other German prisoners are released.
The arrests of German citizens in Turkey deeply angered the Merkel government, which warned businesses about the dangers of commerce in Turkey and suggested that it might be unsafe for German tourists, who normally flock to the beaches there to soak up Mediterranean sun. The government was also furious when Ankara requested the arrest of several hundred dissident Turks living in Germany and then refused to allow a delegation of German parliamentarians to visit a NATO base where German troops are stationed.
Mr. Schröder’s secret mission to Turkey may help redeem his standing in Germany, where he has recently become a controversial figure by agreeing to serve as chairman of the board of Rosneft, the state-controlled Russian oil producer, as well as the Nord Stream 2 pipeline which is owned by Gazprom, the Russian energy giant. Both companies are effectively controlled by the Kremlin, and Mr. Schröder was lambasted for appearing to be serving the interests of Russian President Vladimir Putin, with whom he is also friendly. The oft-married Mr. Schröder, who is 73, also inflamed public opinion by leaving his German wife, Doris Köpf, for a young South Korean woman.
Gerhard Schröder helped free the human rights activist Peter Steudtner from Turkey, German media report. The former German Chancellor has a history of diplomacy with authoritarian regimes.
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Former Chancellor Gerhard Schröder made a quiet trip to Ankara a week after Germany’s elections to persuade Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to release the human rights activist Peter Steudtner, according to a report in Der Spiegel magazine.
The initiative for sending the 73-year-old veteran politician came from Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, the magazine reported, citing “well-informed circles.” The media group RND and the Süddeutsche Zeitung have also reported Schröder’s intervention.
Gabriel appears to have turned to his fellow Social Democrat as the increasingly acrimonious dispute between Germany and Turkey threatened to escalate even further over the summer. In response to criticism from Gabriel, Erdogan used a particularly heated speech in August to ask the foreign minister rhetorically: “Who are you to speak to the president of Turkey? Watch your boundaries!”
There was a much more conciliatory tone at the secret two-hour meeting between Schröder and Erdogan, during which they reportedly agreed to continue working to resolve the issue of German citizens in custody in Turkey.
‘Necessary first step’
The 46-year-old Steudtner, an activist who was arrested in Istanbul in July while conducting a workshop to train human rights defenders, was released on Wednesday, the first day of his trial. The charges — collusion with an opposition group that Turkey’s government has named a terrorist organization — were considered absurd by Steudtner’s friends. Ten other human rights activists from the workshop were also on trial, including the head of Amnesty’s Turkish branch, Idil Eser.
Steudtner’s case was apparently the easiest to resolve, though in return Turkey demanded that Germany’s government not interfere publicly in the trial. German authorities believe that Steudtner might have been pardoned or deported home at the end of the trial anyway. Though German politicians queued up to welcome the court’s decision to release him, many underlined that it was no more than a “necessary first step.” Ten other Germans are currently in custody in Turkey on political charges, including the journalist Deniz Yücel, who holds dual Turkish citizenship and was arrested in February.
Angela Merkel met Schröder on September 1 to discuss and personally approve the diplomatic mission, according to the media reports. The former chancellor requested the meeting to ensure that his successor would give him authority as an emissary for Germany’s government, rather than as a private citizen.
It must have been clear to Merkel why her predecessor was a potential diplomatic asset. Schröder harbored a notably warmer political friendship with Erdogan during his tenure than she does, and the Turkish president recently called the former chancellor, who lost his seat in 2005, the last German politician who could be trusted. After all, it was Schröder, along with French President Jacques Chirac, who originally opened the negotiations for Turkey’s accession to the European Union — something that Merkel has only halfheartedly pursued.
Back channel master
Schröder’s back channel prowess has been noted before — particularly when it comes to dealing with another authoritarian government: Russia. The former chancellor is a personal friend of President Vladimir Putin’s and is the chairman of the shareholders’ committee of Nord Stream, the consortium that operates the gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea and is majority-owned by the Russian state company Gazprom.
That awkward friendship with the Kremlin was brought up during this summer’s election campaign in Germany, when media and politicians took exception to the ex-chancellor’s appointment — by Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev — as the chairman of the board of directors of the oil company Rosneft, which is majority-owned by the government. Rosneft’s CEO, Igor Sechin, is still subject to US sanctions for Russia’s meddling in Ukraine.
During a press conference at the height of the scandal this summer, Foreign Minister Gabriel notably defended his fellow Social Democrat, noting that Schröder had helped secure the release of German OSCE military observers who were captured by separatists in eastern Ukraine in 2014.
