Russia and Germany are moving closer and closer on a srategic development vector. The platform that is being built is now based on cool reflection, not an overnight euphoria. The former east Germany has now settled and with its new confidence can look back objectively. This objective look back identifies correctly that the Soviet Union liberated europe from the Nazis. Without such liberation, Germany and the rest of Europe would have been enslaved under Nazism for a very long and tragic time. In fact the Soviet victory was the biggest contribution to save humanity in world history. There is also a realism that many in east Germany, had a way of life and living standard that they were happy with at the time. So a clearer multicoloured spectrum is emerging, which is in contrast to the western single mode depiction of former life in east Germany. The people of Gemany decided with their people power to unite themselves and take what was rightfully theirs, their place in this world as a proud confident sovereign complete nation. They made their decision, when they were able to. Now together with them we will work for a better future for both of us, with a correct and balanced view of the past.

Despite the catastrophic death and destruction the Third Reich brought to the people of the Soviet Union, today, Russia and united Germany are close partners not only in the economic field and the commerce but also in cultural and social fields. This is a model the world can copy to bring about international relations based on mutual benefits. P/S. “nostalgia” is a loaded word; it is possible that some people may feel that the new post 1989 situation brought to them economic hardship not freedom. Not only in East Germany but much of Eastern Europe, these groups may include the elderly, poor farmers, unemployed factors works who were made redundant by the new liberal economics of privatisations programs which favored the few over the many.. I do not think that their sentiments can be reduced to one of nostalgia for the Soviet times.

I must admit, I feel a little bit nostalgic, we lived in Socialist Yugoslavia, and at those times, I was a teenager, we were free to travel and work in the Economic Community. But after the collapse of Berlin Wall, almost all former yugo republics had to face a wall, ban on travel, ban on work in the EU. I don't belong to low class, or anything like it, as a matter of fact I am a capitalist, but the cost of our wealth was too high. We suffered during 90es, and last 10 years the new system gave us too much work, stress, worries and lots of wealth. Now as I remember, We were happy family during the cold war, had lots of free time, every Summer we had holidays, not like today, a little free time just on Sundays, there is a constant competition on the market, who sleeps will go bankrupt. And now I am not so sure did this brought us just wealth, and took happiness from us. But for sure, the old system was exausted, thught noone can take our memories and happiness from those times.

Germany and Russia had not received the credit they both deserve in cementing peace and stability in Europe. And that progress was made in spite of many a roadblock thrown along the way. The unification of Germany was met with nervousness by traditional allies. Strong Germany has been, and it still remains, one of the fears. Europe is still burdened by its misplaced sense of self. England and France, in particular, continue to perceive the Euro-Atlantic alliance as the only relevant factor in the global affairs today, and have difficulty at times with the changing role of Russia, China and Latin America. Even though everybody professes to understand the "new paradigm", my feeling all along is that Europe is clinging to the "half paradigm" shift. Germany and Russia will need to continue exerting leadership in the global restructuring. The globe can use some islands of stability in Eurasia in the years to come.

So, Nostalgia for the bad totalitarian comies... Perhaps the promised "freedom" isn't exactly as they expected it. When they said to you "from this moment, you are free to say whatever you like and bad KGB will spy on you no more", you were so happy, you celebrated like crazy for 1,2,3,4 days in the street but when you returned home and you learnt that you have been fired from your job, then you realized that you have been foolled: Freedom and no money. When you attempt to protest, you face their "democratic" police that calls you a terrorist and arrests you just because of some e-mails you sent and you realize that you have been doubly foolled: Neither freedom nor money. Such are the NAziTO "liberators". So some people have a nostalgia for the previous bad guys because they weren't so bad, at least they provided food, homes and jobs... Some, being brainwashed by the "free" "democratic" western TV, still bellieve they are in the western paradise... The rest refuse to choose between bad guys...