And they are a partner of choice in the Russia

In the early 1990, just after the collapse of the USSR, the Russia was a form of blackmail on the West. "We have a choice between two models of development: that of the West or in China", we said some Russian leaders. In other words: If you have too much pressure on us the name of democracy we choose the "East wind".

Today, however, the Russia closer to Europe, probably because she has no choice. The trilateral summit of Deauville between the Germany, the France and the Russia which was held last week is a significant step in this evolution. It is more for Moscow to "divide and rule". The cold war is behind it. Rapprochement with Washington preceded in many respects than with Paris and Berlin.

If the Russia is close to the West, it is both because she feels stronger to Washington, Paris, Berlin But also because she feels hopelessly overtaken by China. The Russia a Western, and more particularly European investors. And they are a partner of choice in the Russia. Putin's regime was never as strong.

Medvedev parenthesis will close in 2012 and no serious doubts in Russia that Putin succeeded him, i.e. in reality not be succeeded himself. Moscow does not risk and begins to lock elections that Putin, popular, can only win. The Presidency of the Autonomous Republic of Tatarstan to the Mayor of Moscow, worshippers are implemented. More assertive, the Russia is also aware of the difficulties of America and the weakness of the European Union. The balance of the trust has tilted towards the East, but not the Russian is around Vladivostok: China Eastern. Demographic change is a painful illustration of this problem and the "black narcissism" of the Russian soul does that amplify it. In Russia, the excess of birth death is always greater than 500,000 people a year and life expectancy of a male Russian, still less than sixty years, is closer to that of an African country to a European country. At the same time, the Chinese average life expectancy increased from 38 years in 1960 to seventy-three years now.

To balance a China that dominates the head and shoulders, the Russia rediscovers European. It means even provide energy and openness to Europe. Kazan, capital of Tatarstan, is often described as "the Istanbul of the Volga. This city, who claims the third capital of the Russia status, has a unique identity. If St. Petersburg is the symbol of the opening of the Russia to the West, Moscow Headquarters of Sainte Russia, Kazan is the embodiment of peaceful coexistence between the Muslim world and Orthodox Christianity. In the Kazan Kremlin, a gleaming mosque built in 2005 in a style a little "Disney World" is almost adjacent to the old cathedral. And as in Bangalore, India, the new brand commercial galleries rise above buildings constructed after communism but which still retain the fragrance from the world of the soviets. And yet, in this town, which appears to be nowhere, whose airport is obsolete and missing international schools, there is something like a thrill of hope. From Moscow to Kazan, the Russia wakes up and is approaching in a Europe that is becoming multi-polar, with three centres of gravity, one around the Union, the second around the Russia and the third, probably around the Turkey. This rapprochement between the Russia and Europe, through the France and the Germany, translated into effect entry into a new world, which is no longer dominated like yesterday by NATO and the EU European. This new world is the result of the relative disengagement from America to Europe, and disengagement from the major European nations behind the France and the Germany of the EU. The Russia has maps to play in this new configuration of the forces in presence.