Progress, or just a time-out?

Last month's EU-Russia summit in Brussels, which finalized a long-awaited agreement on visas and transits for Russians wanting to cross Lithuania to and from the Kaliningrad region, inspired different reactions in Russian society. While many welcomed the deal, even describing it as a victory of Russian diplomacy, others were quick to decry it. Case in point: the opinions of leading Kaliningrad politicians summarized below.

Vladimir Nikitin, speaker of the regional legislature:

As far as the summit's outcome, I would like to say that the proposals for transporting passengers and cargoes across the territory of Lithuania completely met the demands as set forth by the constitution of the Russia Federation.

Starting July 1, 2003 Russian citizens will receive simplified transit documents at train stations' ticket windows. This system is completely different from any traditional visa regimen, so therefore Russia's main demand at the summit was satisfied.

Sergei Pasko, chairman of the Kaliningrad Businessmen's Union:

My overall impression from the summit is quite sad, since the leadership of Russia failed to defend any real interests of Kaliningrad residents.

I think that this failure has to do with the fact that during negotiations Russia was for the most part concerned only about its own benefit. I get the impression that Moscow tried to turn Kaliningrad Oblast into a kind of loophole for integrating into the European community. The EU understood this, and as a result all the Russian president's and prime minister's proposals were rejected.

In sum, the ultimate result was just as the EU head Romano Prodi predicted in August: "Europeans made us accept visas." What's more, the problem isn't that these visas are now unabashedly referred to as simplified transit documents, but that permission for Russian citizens to cross Lithuania will be given by the Republic of Lithuania.

So one can expect that many Russians will simply not receive any such permission.

Vladimir Pirogov, deputy governor of Kaliningrad Oblast:

The summit's success is obvious. Our diplomats carried out a colossal task in resolving one of Kaliningrad Oblast's problems. Now in the near future it is imperative to work out a mechanism for facilitating cooperation. And it appears that Greece, which will become the new chair of the European Union, will play a decisive role.

Yuri Khlebnikov, acting chairman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Kaliningrad Oblast:

Right now it is extremely difficult to comment on the summit's outcome, because the joint declaration that was signed is of a general character. It contains several new things for us, particularly the implementation of simplified transit documents. True enough, it's not clear how they will be issued. And, by all accounts, this problem will be ironed out during subsequent negotiations in Lithuania.

Vitautas Zhalis, consul general of Lithuania in Kaliningrad Oblast:

Lithuania on the whole finds the joint declaration of Russia and the EC that was made at the conclusion of the summit as a positive one. It is a clear demonstration that both sides are striving toward a political compromise.

Solomon Ginzburg, member of Kaliningrad's legislature:

I'm not one to express admiration of Russian diplomacy, and I'm not going to beat my head against the wall in ecstasy for the sake of our federal leaders. The only real result of the summit is a half-year time-out.

Now is not the time to play patriots but to solve real problems. First, by drafting a conception for a Russian-European agreement on Kaliningrad Oblast. Second, by creating a fund for supporting small and medium businesses in Kaliningrad. Third, by solving the [foreign] passport problem. And fourth, by preparing public opinion both in Russia and the West for the need to provide Kaliningraders with Schengen visas, which will benefit all of Russia.

After all, the sooner we understand that a visa regimen is unavoidable, and that there's nothing awful about it, the easier it will be for all Kaliningraders and Russians.