Thursday, June 17, 2010

Russian President Medvedev Outlines What Worries And Concerns Him

President Dmitri A. Medvedev. Kremlin Press Office

Russian President Warns On Stability In Mideast, Central Asia -- Wall Street Journal

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia—Dmitry Medvedev's relaxed bearing belied his bracing message about the risks he sees for Europe's common currency, oil giant BP PLC and global security from the Middle East to Central Asia.

"Centrifugal" forces could threaten the European Union, while the Gulf of Mexico oil spill might "annihilate" BP, the Russian president said in a wide-ranging interview with The Wall Street Journal. If Iran were to acquire nuclear weapons, "a wave" of other nations in the region would race to follow suit, he said. And in the strategic but strife-torn Central Asian state of Kyrgyzstan, he said signs of stabilization remain extremely fragile.

Read more ....

My Comment: A refreshing and candid discussion. I have disagreed with his (and PM Putin's) domestic policies .... but with the exception of North Korea (in which Russia should be more forceful) and Iran (Russia should break all trading ties on nuclear technology) his foreign policy is remarkably in sync with Europe's and one that I do feel comfortable with.

His visit to the U.S. next week and his meeting with President Obama should be a cordial one. I do not expect any surprises, but there will be discussions on Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, the financial crisis, and passing the new START Treaty on nuclear weapons.

1 comment:

Trevor Pyle said...

Too bad he has no real power. He's the velvet glove wrapped around Vladamir Putin's iron fist. Don't ever forget that.