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The US perceives too much power in the Kremlin

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  • The US perceives too much power in the Kremlin

    Agency WPS
    What the Papers Say. Part B (Russia)
    February 3, 2005, Thursday

    THE UNITED STATES PERCEIVES TOO MUCH POWER IN THE KREMLIN

    SOURCE: Vremya Novostei, February 3, 2005, p. 1

    by Alexander Samokhotkin

    Newly-appointed US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice outlined the
    major principles of Washington's policy with regard to Russia in an
    extensive interview with AFP and Reuters. Rice will be meeting with
    Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in Ankara on February 5. This will be
    their first meeting since Rice's promotion on January 27.

    According to Rice, there will be no radical revision of bilateral
    relations, because present-day Russia "is not the Soviet Union, and a
    return to the past is out of the question and that is great." She
    adds that "Russia's progress in the direction of democracy has not
    been smooth." That is why development of cooperation, "to which we
    all aspire, is only possible on the basis of common values." As far
    as Rice is concerned, these values include a wish for "a greater
    degree of democracy" and existence of civil institutions serving as a
    counterweight to government structures. Rice said that "the problem
    is rooted in concentration of power in the Kremlin" at the expense of
    these institutions, and "the United States has told the Russians as
    much."

    Rice promised "assistance" in establishing civil society,
    deregulating the economy, and developing small and medium business.
    Assistance with World Trade Organization membership was also promised
    - but only when Russia meets all requirements. "Deregulating the
    Russian economy in line with the rules of the World Trade
    Organization" was described by Rice as "good for all of the
    international community."

    Rice hopes for "productive cooperation" between our countries in
    "numerous spheres" including the war on international terrorism. She
    hopes that the United States and Russia will work side by side on
    resolution of regional conflicts like in the Caucasus and
    Nagorno-Karabakh. All this bonhomie ended with what was essentially a
    warning to the Kremlin. "We are keeping an eye on the strategy of
    Russia's development - Vremya Novostei and decide what to do on the
    basis of these evaluations," Rice said.

    "Generally speaking, America's position remains unchanged. Russia is
    not cast out for the time being," said Viktor Kremenyuk, deputy
    director of the USA and Canada Institute. "On the other hand, the
    Americans are making their displeasure clear regarding the course of
    events in Russia." In the international arena, the matter concerns
    Ukraine and Georgia. In domestic affairs, it concerns media freedom
    and YUKOS. The United States are trying to convey a message that
    Putin should not expect too much from the Bratislava summit on
    February 24. A message that the period when Washington looked the
    other way is over. The United States is prepared to maintain more or
    less broad cooperation provided Moscow takes into account what the
    Americans are saying.

    Rice also announced that the United States does not plan to attack
    North Korea and is determined to find a peaceful solution to the
    problem with Iran's nuclear program. Rice complimented London, Paris,
    and Berlin on their efforts to persuade Tehran to abandon its nuclear
    programs. Rice warned the EU that a decision to lift the embargo on
    arms exports to China might send Beijing "the wrong signal" about the
    human rights situation in China. The leading proponents of lifting
    the embargo are Germany and France.

    Translated by A. Ignatkin
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