Putin's Russia in Lisbon

These days have been crazy and wild in Lisbon. Politicians, the media and civil society new actors are in absolute frenzy, trying to make the most of this unique moment - the six month presidency of the Council of Europe Portugal holds until December.

I must say I am an admirer of the Portuguese massive diplomatic efforts and the brilliantism and professionalism transparent in every act, political gesture or attemp to design new policies or strategies for Europe.

Lisbon paved the way for the new Treaty, put Brazil in the European agenda as a priviledged partner and is attempting to focus Europe's attention to Africa, where China is so much ahead of us now.

All this to say that also Russia was in Lisbon very recently. President Putin came to Lisbon for the EU-Russia Summit and his arrival provoked a triple effect earthquake.

He literally made the city stop. Something I had never experienced before, not even when I lived in Brussels and when the streets around the Berlaymont are shut down. Lisbon was paralyzed, frozen as if waiting for some sort of revelation. I happened to be stuck for minutes in the traffic and eventually did the route on foot. I then saw something hard to put in words. The city was suspended from its natural existence. No cars, very few people, echoing painful silence only to be interrupted by loud police military-style cars, Mr. Putin's limosine with the Russian flag and his entourage following him in minibuses.

First, President Putin has compared US plans for a missile shield in Europe to the Cuban missile crisis of the 1960s. WOW
To soon after say that there would be no repeat because Russia and the US were "not enemies anymore... we are partners" and President Bush was a "personal friend". Ambiguous speech, where one can obviously read the revival of Russia's will for frontline leadership.

Second, President Putin brought part of the Hermitage with him! Lisbon now temporarily holds an important selection of works of arts from the Hermitage. Something I will not absolutely miss again.

Third, and this came as totally unexpected to me, President Putin proposed the founding of a joint agency to look at human rights issues of mutual interest. Such an agency could bring together politicians, businessmen and members of civil society to discuss rights issues, and could be partly-funded by Russia. Ok, this one I am still processing...



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