Here!

There were days when the Moscow student-age public hung out at numerous protest pickets outside the embassies of NATO countries, not very politely protesting against the alliance’s actions in the Balkans. They had fun, drank beer and threw bottles of ink at the imperialist facades. Now in Moscow there is the “Russian Youth Initiative “Support to the North Atlantic Alliance”. It was invented by several students from Moscow universities. Over the weekend, the Liberal-Conservative Policy Center introduced Friends of NATO to the public.

There were few participants. In addition to the Komsomol-looking young people with NATO pins on their lapels, there were two journalists, Novodvorskaya with Borov and Yushenkov, who was counting something on a calculator. On the registration table there was a pile of questionnaires for those wishing to join the Initiative.

The head of the organizing committee, a neatly combed young man of military age named Sergei Vladimirov, said that the moment to support NATO was good: Russia was about to turn its face to the West again, and even the president did not rule out the country joining the bloc. “Previously, all you heard was that NATO butchers were exterminating the population of Serbia,” Mr. Vladimirov said. “Now, thank God, they don’t talk about this.” The chairman explained that he wants to communicate with the people through the heads of the Kremlin officialdom and convey to them universal human values. Those to whom they can reach will be given a “NATO Friend Passport” - a colorful booklet with a story about the Alliance’s activities, including human rights ones. In the “Passport” there will be a special tear-off coupon on which the person who wishes to write his name and send it to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, “so that the foreign policy department can see that NATO is supported in Russia.”

The older guests first argued about the anthem, but then they remembered why they had gathered and promised to support young NATO members and share their experience. “Tomorrow, what you are doing could be dangerous,” they warned. “Congratulations on being so brave.” The brave ones listened soulfully and nodded.

Ivan SUKHOV