Can the United States expect Russia to help Washington approach the Iranian regime – and if so, what can they do for us? In an attempt to answer these questions, we’ve posted this Iran-centric interview with Victor Kremenyuk, the deputy director of the Institute of the USA and Canada at the Russian Academy of Sciences.
In regard to the election outcome in Iran, Kremenyuk tells Gazeta:
“There were hopes that Moussavi, considered to be the least ideological candidate, would win. Perhaps it would have been easier and more convenient to have congratulated him on his victory as a way of improving relations. But the winner was Ahmadinejad. Therefore efforts must be directed at him, he must be offered something. But the intervening factor mixed into this is instability in Tehran, and as far as that goes, the wisest decision on the part of the American president would be to wait and see how the opposition’s challenges [to the results] play out.”
In regard to what America can hope for, Kremenyuk says in part:
“Russia doesn’t have complete freedom of action: we have various types of relations with Iran. We have economic relations, relations on energy – and a partnership within the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. For Russia, friendly relations with Iran must be preserved. Therefore, we’re more limited – we have less freedom on the Iranian question than the United States.”
Both we and the United States are at the stage of determining the entire range of relations at a number of levels: strategic, regional and bilateral. It is very important to maintain a balance, so that this time, it doesn’t work out as though we’re conceding something. For instance, for withdrawing troops from Europe, we would see in exchange a halt to NATO expansion. This is a complicated and delicate question. We can take a step toward the United States, and help them, but at the same time we must under no circumstances do so in way that damages our own interests.
Interview with Victor Kremenyuk
Conducted by Svetlana Yaroshevskaya
Translated By Yekaterina Blinova
June 27, 2009
Russia – Gazeta – Original Article (Russian)
In regard to the possibility of improved relations between Iran and the U.S. and what role Russia might play, Victor Kremenyuk, the deputy director of the Institute of the USA and Canada at the Russian Academy of Sciences, spoke to Gazeta.
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