We are different, and there is no crime in being different. We don't want the political class system of Europe, where the bureaucrats run everything, where they tell you what to do, in ever more detailed ways. Where they just create prosperous positions for themselves. We don't want a political hypcritical elite, who have no skills other than to spin a story and grab an expense account. Europe is welcome to its own creation. We expect leaders who lead and take us somewhere, not those who follow each other to the best local Brussels restaurant. We know only too well, that its pretty irrelevent who is in power, other than we need a strong leader. We know its the policies that count, not the people. In Europe its the leaders that count not the policies. We don't wan't a system reduced to a fashion show and a promises auction led by two greedy marketing teams. You really are welcome to all of this, you can even label it 'democracy' if that turns you on. But we will call it 'media control', each man to his own I say. I don't try to change you, so don't try to change me, now that is tolerance.

"Just because we do not have same regimes, we can cooperate on some issues...". Heavens! The paragons of indivialism, the West, does not feel comfortable with anyone who does not have the "same regime". The world will have to become totally homogenous, filled with neat rows of barracks, of same size and color, and watching same TV programs, eating same TV dinners... The conference should raise an intriguing question of the Western insecurity. It was easy while West was cruising around the word, their corporations setting the rules for everyone, and the locals were nothing but quaint, colourfull folklore to be relegated to gift shops. But those that West wanted to do business with, had to fit the mould of Western look, feel and smell. As much as I like IKEA, the idea of the world being fillled with IKEA-like standardized living, gives me nightmare. What seems to be happening is the combination of a brief post-Cold-War euforia that created a false belief that the rest of the world does not count any more, and the coming down to earth following the economic meltdown. In this new world, the West needs to cooperate with countries that have accelerated their growth using developmental models that are alien to Western thought. And in this new world, the comfortable feeling of being all-knowing and superior, is gone. We actually may be living in a true post-colonial world. In this word, while there are still weak states that will need to rely on stronger states, especially in the neighborhood, the expectations of relationships have changed. It is expected that a modicum of respect be given for their own ingenuity. This is why dealing with Russia will be especially difficult. Russia's nucleaer status, combined with the genuine desire to open up economically is very, very confusing. This requires partnership and trust, and equality. And that would require a new vision and leadership in the West.