February 28, 2008

Abstract: (Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in the United States, France, Italy, Germany and Spain regard Russia as more of a friend than an enemy, according to a poll by Harris Interactive published in the Financial Times. 56 per cent of respondents in the U.S.—and more than 60 per cent in the four European countries—agree with this view.

(Angus Reid Global Monitor) - Most people in the United States, France, Italy, Germany and Spain regard Russia as more of a friend than an enemy, according to a poll by Harris Interactive published in the Financial Times. 56 per cent of respondents in the U.S.—and more than 60 per cent in the four European countries—agree with this view.

Conversely, 60 per cent of people in Britain regard Russia as a foe, while 40 per cent see it as a friend.

Vladimir Putin was elected to a second term as Russia’s president in March 2004 with 71.31 per cent of all cast ballots. Dmitry Medvedev, Putin’s anointed candidate, is expected to win a presidential election in March.

On Feb. 17, Kosovo—a Serbian province that has been administered by the United Nations (UN) and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) since 1999—unilaterally declared its independence. The U.S., Britain, France, Germany and Italy have recognized the break-away province’s independence, while Spain and Russia have refrained from doing so.

The European Union (EU) has announced it will send a mission to Kosovo with some 2,000 police officers, justice and customs officials to aid and train authorities there and help stabilize the region.

On Feb. 20, the Russian government defined the EU’s mission as a "gross violation" of international law. Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov declared: "The European Union, unilaterally, and without any sanction from the UN Security Council, is sending a mission to Kosovo to ensure the supremacy of the law. (...) To put it mildly, it is a bitter irony that this mission to ensure the supremacy of the law in Kosovo is being sent in breach of the highest international law."

Polling Data

Do you regard Russia as more of a friend or more of a foe?

	USA	BRI	FRA	ITA	ESP	GER
More as a friend	56%	40%	69%	65%	67%	62%
More as a foe	44%	60%	31%	35%	33%	38%

Source: Harris Interactive / Financial Times
Methodology: Online interviews with 6,448 adults in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Spain and the United States, conducted from Jan. 30 to Feb. 8, 2008. No margin of error was provided.