15:36 Aug 21, 2010 

I lived and worked in Moscow, I know Russian history and Russia's problems. The phrase in question has been in circulation for some time. It most probably refers to the speech made by President Medvedev on 5 June 2008 in Berlin but may be traced back to Litvinov. Your reading of my alleged doublespeak will depend on your knowledge of Russian history, I was as diplomatic about it as possible but I am prepared to go into details if challenged. Maria was educated in New York, lives in Italy and in her responses on Proz focused on Civil Engineering and Geology. I would certainly respect her response to my questions in these fields.

15:01 Aug 21, 2010 

1. Why are you so sure that "ее" and "страны" refers to Russia?

Assume for a minute that there is a problematic country and Russia is invited to take part in the security regime around that country to bring that problematic country back to normal or, for that matter, normalize it?

2. "With no disrespect to our Russian friends intended" — I don't buy that doublespeak!

Your usage of the word "normal" as applies to Russia, is, if unintended, a disrespect to our Russian friends. Who are you to set the norm? And, for that matter, who is anybody? That's history and history deserves, well, a bit gentler attitude, does it not?

3. The asker has spoken and the asker, by definition, knows better.

13:54 Aug 21, 2010 

The source phrase distinctly refers to DOMESTIC matters in Russia and to PROSPECTS of things becoming normal. The responses provided by Judith and Roman imply that there was some time when things were normal and it needs to be restored. I, Ellen and rns see "normalisation" as a prospective target. Now, would you please - that's addressed to Judith and to Roman - advise us when a domestic policy in Russia was normal - in the western sense of the word - in the last last, e.g. four centuries, apart from the short time Kerensky government, which wasn't given a chance by the Bolsheviks?

13:40 Aug 21, 2010 

I'm sorry guys, you are wrong on a matter of principle

23:05 Aug 18, 2010 

With no disrespect to our Russian friends intended, I'm afraid normalisation in Russia's domestic arrangements is something to be desired yet rather than something to be restored. Its history is somewhat complicated, to put the things diplomatically. To me the text says that putting an end to the country's isolation will make it easier to bring about normalisation in its domestic politics. This would, however, imply that both Roman's and Judith proposals which refer to a RETURN to normality, etc. are off the mark.