Will President Obama’s first summit meeting with Dmitry Medvedev actually manage to ‘reset’ relations between the former Cold War foes?
Columnist Fyodor Lukyanov of Russia’s Gazeta newspaper warns not to expect more than atmospherics from the two-day summit that begins today, and outlines why when it comes to the mistakes of the decades since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Kremlin holds Washington entirely responsible for all that’s gone wrong.
For Gazeta, Lukyanov writes in part:
“During informal conversation, many American officials agree that Washington bears a significant share of responsibility for the stalemate in relations with Russia. The ideological and emotional approach so characteristic of the previous administration has been exchanged for a sober assessment of a number of disagreements.
“On Moscow’s part, too, there’s a desire to break the deadlock, but Russia doesn’t feel it bears any blame for creating it. A common opinion is that Americans have made a pile of mistakes, so now the ball will be in their court for a long time to come. Moscow doesn’t believe it needs to change anything, but is more than ready to respond more constructively to U.S. proposals.
“However, the more detailed and technical the discussions of strategic stability become – so too are the political and psychological difficulties that emerge. … Russians appeal to the resentment and frustration of the past 20 years and don’t believe that American politics can change in both form and content. For Americans, it is equally as obvious that to Obama – completely unlike Bush and even Clinton – this is an axiom. And Russian mistrust is perceived as obstinence – if not a desire to strengthen its bargaining position.”
By Fyodor Lukyanov*
Translated By Yekaterina Blinova
July 3, 2009
Russia – Gazeta – Original Article (Russian)
It’s difficult to recall the kind of buzz in Russian-American relations that’s taking place on the eve of Barack Obama’s visit. It has been a long time since there has been any good news between Russia and the United States, and there’s a demand for something positive. But are the parties ready for real cooperation, or will things be limited to the image-effect of the first summit?
During informal conversation, many American officials agree that Washington bears a significant share of responsibility for the stalemate in relations with Russia. The ideological and emotional approach so characteristic of the previous administration has been exchanged for a sober assessment of a number of disagreements.
READ ON AT WORLDMEETS.US, your most trusted translator and aggregator of foreign news and views about our nation.
Founder and Managing Editor of Worldmeets.US