andrzej,

i dont think the issue here is people trying to get to Russia "in boats" (I assume FOX News on Cuban immirgants to the US give you any thoughts?), in Italy we have a lot of immigrants from Albania and Poland (surprise!) trying to stay in the country (lets wait for what will happen after EU expands), yet Italian immigration laws are not any stricter than any other "westernized" nation (as you would put it). By the way, off topic, the only time I was pickpocketed in Italy (my own country, mind you), was by Polish guy...my father notice him trying to steal something from my backpack, so he stopped him, yet it was not a reason for us to raise this issue in Parliament ("Don't Let Poles Get Into Italy!"), it was just an isolated incident.
When you talk about what was happening in 70's or 80's, why dont you dig that non-existant statistics yourself, it seems that you know a great deal about "statistics", I personally don't believe such statistics exists, as it was poorely tracked due to certain political interests at the time. Yet, I do agree with you in regard to 70's and 80's, when Russia was a part of Soviet Union with all the "pleasantriesw" derived from it, many people did stay in the States permamnently, can you blame them? I do believe, however, the situation has changed dramatically, and if you have made you way to Russia recently, you may know that not every Russian just dreams about moving to the States...this is the kind of perception that FOX News and the likes gives the American public (I won't even go there!)

Russia tries to protect and control its borders by issuing visas to foreigners, including American citizens. You are implying that Americans should be exempt from this because they live in a rich country? I hope you realize that this is very irrelevant to what a country (let it be Russia, Poland, Ukraine, UK, US, whatever) wants to do in relation to controlling its borders, its citizens health, its national security and the whatever else they may find applicable?
US stands nowhere compared to, for instance, Iceland, when it comes to the standard of living, yet it seems like Icelandic people don't seem to see a problem in having to apply for a Russian visa when they come to Moscow (having many Icelandic friend and lived there for an extended period of time, I can attest). And so forth... Your beliefs that Americans should be given a visa free entry just based on the fact that they are Americans are exactly the ideals of the cold war and wishful thinking.

[This message has been edited by asnovici (edited 05-03-2003).]

[This message has been edited by asnovici (edited 05-03-2003).]

[This message has been edited by asnovici (edited 05-03-2003).]