Why does Russia go for Britain's cultural jugular?

The UK and Russia have not been the best of diplomatic buddies of late - that's for sure. Today's announcement however that the British Council's licence would be revoked in Russia's regions (i.e outside Moscow) as of January 2008 is both puzzling and, upon reflection, chilling...

In an interview with the BBC, Russia's Foreign Minsiter Sergei Lavrov said that following the explusion of four Russian diplomats from London earlier this year - some form of retaliation from Moscow was to be expected. But why not just send some British diplomats back to London then? Why instead have a go at the UK's leading cultural and English language institution - the British Council? What has British cultural and linguistic heritage ever done to the Russians that would warrant such a move? Are we really to believe claims that a violation of tax regulations is behind this move? Mr Lavrov has himself revealed that the diplomatic dispute is the underlying cause.

Could it possibly be that the Kremlin would not be satisfied with merely ruffling feathers in Whitehall and Westminster, but is rather seeking to send a potent and chilling message that Britain, its culture and what it stands for are less and less welcome in today's Russia?

I only hope this turns out to be a manifestation of my overactive imagination...

The Balkan situation will make or break the European project

European Integration as the "guardian of peace" may at first glance appear a dated concept (and one which I and many Western Europeans under the age of sixty will respect rather than fully appreciate). Many of us are fortunate to have known nothing other than peace, and the EU has needed to find other raisons d'etre as the decades have gone by.

That's Western Europe though. Go to the Balkans and it's quite a different story. With the disputes over Kosovo and ever-growing instablity in Bosnia-Herzegovina, the region is on the verge of plummeting into chaos.

This region will be the ulitmate test for the EU's common foreign and security policy. If it fails to safeguard stability on its own doorstep, then what hope does it have of ever being taken seriously as a world player? Whatsmore, failure to ensure stability in the Balkans and prevent the atrocities of the previous decade would seriously compromise the founding principle of the European project - that of ensuring and exporting peace and stability.