Russia, he added, might be tempted to become an imperial power again if "the post-Communist countries are left alone."

He says the social situation is similar to that of other post-communist countries, and also post-slavery societies.

Hungary was the only post-communist country in the region that had not reformed its fundamental law following the democratic transition.

While crime became more widespread after the fall of communism in 1989, it remains low when compared to many other post-communist countries.

That has left the human rights groups of these post-Communist countries feeling increasingly vulnerable as their chief champion backs away from confrontation.

We cannot be continually thrown into some common bag of post-Communist countries.

I am sure the same is true of the Commissioners-designate from the other post-Communist countries.

The post-Communist countries have experienced so many changes and transformations over a short space of time that our heads are still spinning.

We also need to make an effort to raise the level of democratic political culture, especially in post-communist countries.

Can far-reaching reforms be carried out in a post-communist country without that promise?