FRIENDS AND ENEMIES OF RUSSIANS: POLL

Vladivostok News, Russia
May 31 2007

Kazakhstan and Belarus topped the list of the countries perceived
to be the friendliest to Russia while Estonia was named the iciest
country by an overwhelming number of Russian respondents, a recent
poll held by the Levada agency in mid May revealed.

The poll, which sampled 1,600 Russian citizens in 128 towns in 48
regions of Russia, showed that 39 percent of the respondents consider
Kazakhstan to be the country friendliest to Russia. The number of
positive answers slightly increased compared to 33 percent last year.

Belarus took second place with 38 percent of those interviewed naming
it an amicable country. However, last year the number of people
calling it Russia’s best friend was 47 percent. Germany came third
with a stable 24 percent of all polled naming it a friendly country.

China received 19 percent of Russian’s trust showing a drop from 24
percent last year. Armenia and India were confidently named by 15
and 14 percent of the interviewed people accordingly.

France inspired 9 percent of the respondents’ belief in its friendly
attitude toward Russia while the United States came with only
6 percent.

18 percent of those polled found it difficult to name the friendliest
countries.

Estonia topped the list of the most unfriendly countries harvesting
60 percent of the respondents’ negative emotions. The increase in
dissatisfaction with Estonia is noticeable if compared to 28 percent
last year.

Georgia was named a country inhospitable to Russia by 46 percent of the
polled people and Latvia received 36 percent of the dissatisfaction
of the people, however showing a drop in ill will from 46 percent
last year.

The United States was steadfastly named unfriendly by 35 percent of
the interviewed people. Lithuania collected 32 percent showing a drop
of antagonism from 42 percent last year.

The Ukraine received 23 percent, indicating a slight drop from a
dissatisfaction of 28 percent last year, while Poland received a
negative assessment from 20 percent of the interviewed people showing
a dramatic increase from 7 percent last year. Australia, Egypt, Italy,
Canada Sweden and Finland received no votes of dissatisfaction.