16 November 2008 - 04H54
Medvedev bullish on Obama presidency
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed steely optimism about relations between Moscow and Washington under the administration of US President-elect Barack Obama, offering compromise over the US missile shield plan in Eastern Europe.
Russian President Dmitri Medvedev expressed hope Saturday that his US counterpart-to-be Barack Obama will take steps to warm up strained relations between the Kremlin and Washington.
"We welcome the election of Barack Obama," Medvedev said in a speech to the Council on Foreign Relations in Washington, following his participation in a Group of 20 summit on the financial crisis.
"We believe he will act to overcome problems that have accumulated recently in our relations," he said in Russian, according to the translator.
The comments add to the statements -- some hot and others cold -- that have emerged from the Kremlin since Obama's historic election victory on November 4, amid a searing bilateral row over US plans to base parts of a missile shield in eastern Europe.
The statement carried weight in particular because it was made in the presence of Madeleine Albright, a former secretary of state and president-elect Obama's special emissary at Saturday's crisis summit in Washington featuring the leaders of the Group of 20 major industrialized and emerging economies.
Medvedev said Russian-US relations were "extremely extensive, rich and rather complex" but that they have become strained.
"I can admit that recently we've experienced a crisis of confidence," the Russian president said, referring to ties between the Kremlin and Washington.
"There is no trust in Russian-US relations, the trust we need," he said.
Medvedev said he hoped to meet with Obama soon and begin mending relations.
"We have a great opportunity to restore relations to the fullest extent," he said.
Discussions of sources of friction could start with missile defense in Europe, he said, or "we can start with something else."
The meeting with Obama "should take place soon," he added.
"I believe the president-elect has that willingness and I share this willingness."
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Comments
what the Russian President expected
We, the americains doesn't have time to talk with a show-some russian-combattant-navires. Mr. russian president is better of his own problems : financial crisis and freedom of the russian reporters. Hoping some archaic weapons will not giving any impression in the world.
viducle
Still living in the Cold War?
Jeremy, you mention the word enemy - I think it's would be nice if the American people finally ask themselves and hopefully find the answer to the question "why do we have (pardon, need) so many enemies? Could it be that it's because we're not busy solving our problems (and they are many) and instead meddle in others affairs? " Why 50 mln people are without health insurance, underemployed, overworked and yet still believe in the carrot (sorry the american dream)?
No More Games with Russia
As an American I am very offended by the presumptive tone the Russian president has chosen regarding the Unites States' President Elect. The Unites States has given many assurances to the people of Poland and the Czech Republic and should not ignore those assurances or betray the trust of those peoples.
There are many in Europe uncomfortable with upsetting Russia, particularly in regards to a missile shield designed to thwart an attack from the Middle East. What is Russia upset about? They have yet to explain themselves and their desire to place missiles near the Polish boarder in response to the U.S. missile shield in also insane, particularly when the U.S. has offered to cooperate with Russia on the shield. Why is it so important for a Nation we should be at peace with to prevent us from adequately defending ourselves? Why must they be so vocal about this? Why have the Russians been working so much with Iran and Venezuela, both enemies of the United States?
Here is what I propose the United State can do.
1. We will withdraw all military operations from Europe.
2. We will withdraw from NATO.
3. We will withdraw from the United Nations Security Council.
By these acts we will directly permit Russia to have the influence and power it desires while we, the U.S. quietly maintain the ability to deface their continent from anywhere in the world. This may seem silly, but that’s what Europeans thought about Hitler. Perhaps it's time for Europeans to stop sticking their heads in a hole and recognize the growing monster to their east. Americans will be too preoccupied fixing our economy over the next decade to worry about the affairs of Europe.