EU-DIGEST

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev insisted Russia's military action in Georgia was necessary to protect the safety of its citizens, after talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Black Sea resort of Sochi Friday. "It was appropriate and necessary to protect the security of our citizens," Medvedev told a joint German Russian press conference after the meeting. He described Russia as "the guarantor of security in the Caucasus and the region" and said Russian troops would remain in Georgia. Medvedev said the main issue was to "restore peace and to ensure that nobody again has such idiotic ideas," in a clear attack on Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.

Merkel stressed the need to implement a six-point plan put forward by President Nicolas Sarkozy earlier this week under France's presidency of the European Union. Russian troops should withdraw from central Georgia, where they have taken up positions around the city of Gori, she said, although she acknowledged some Russian actions were reasonable. She stressed the need for both peacekeepers and observers to be stationed in the crisis region.

Labels: Georgia, Medvedev, Russia

Bush: "Russia's new president is 'smart guy'" - by Deb Riechmann

Like former Russian President Vladimir Putin, still the top powerbroker in Moscow, Medvedev remains critical of the West, in particular the United States. He has shown no sign of softening opposition to U.S. plans for missile defense facilities in Europe or to NATO's promise to eventually invite Georgia and Ukraine in. Personal relations between the two appear warm, but Bush didn't go as far as to repeat what he said about Putin when he first met him in June 2001. Then, Bush said he looked into Putin's eyes and "was able to get a sense of his soul".

"I'm not going to sit here and psychoanalyze the man, but I will tell you that he's very comfortable, he's confident, and that I believe that when he tells me something, he means it," Bush said. The two, however, are at opposite ends of their political lives. Bush is on his way out and Medvedev just took office in May. This is Bush's eighth and final G-8. This is Medvedev's freshman year at the summit. Note EU-Digest: A friendly statement by Mr. Bush about Mr. Medvedev, but nobody seems to care what Bush his opinion is as he prepares to leave office, which actually could also be a dangerous situation?

Labels: Bush, Medvedev, Russia

Russia' s Medvedev vows to turn Russia into stronger economic power

During the 12th St. Petersburg International Economic Forum running from June 6-8, thousands of representatives of the global elite discussed economic issues ranging from the national economic interests to the future development of Russia. As a major economic forum held annually in the region, the year's forum also marked the first post-inauguration international event for Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, who pledged to turn his country into a stronger economic power.

"Russia is a global player today. Understanding our responsibility for the fate of the world, we wish to participate in forming new rules of game, not because of the notorious imperial ambitions, but because we have official opportunities and resources here," he was quoted by the Itar-Tass news agency as saying. He also said the role the United States has played in the world economy does not correspond to its true capabilities, describing this as one of the key reasons behind the current global financial crisis.

Labels: Medvedev, Russia

Without doubt, the European Union, Russia's main trading partner, which is currently engaged in a dialogue with Russia over a "common economic space", would benefit enormously from the WTO-based attempts to harmonize Russia's semi-market economy with international standards, just as Russia is keen on more tangible results from the on-going energy dialogue with the EU, given the fact that EU's imports from Russia are mainly energy (67%). Although WTO negotiations do not cover the energy field, the mere issue of state subsidy of the agricultural sector's energy needs alone points at the need to link those negotiations with price regulatory mechanisms on the domestic market, impacting the large state-owned enterprises who often enjoy monopolistic rights.

Since WTO accession fosters greater economic transparency, it is hardly surprising that some of the biggest irritants to this issue have come from the state enterprises. Medvedev's hand may soon show in this area, by accelerating the privatization of various state sectors, such as telecommunications, by liberalizing the structure of private investments in those sectors. Indeed, Medvedev's top priority is to improve the country's investment climate, given the positive recent improvements in foreign direct investment, by promoting trade, providing better protection of property rights, infrastructure development, and improving the financial services.

Labels: EU, Medvedev, Russia

Medvedev wins landslide in Russian election: early results

Dmitry Medvedev, President Vladimir Putin's handpicked successor, won a landslide victory in Russia's presidential election Sunday, early results showed, as opponents charged the result was rigged. Medvedev -- a 42-year-old bureaucrat who says he will name Putin prime minister -- had 66.5 percent of the vote, according to the early figures. Communist Party leader Gennady Zyuganov was in second place with 19 percent, the Central Elections Commission said after counting ballots from a third of polling stations. Nationalist Vladimir Zhirinovsky got 11.7 percent and the almost unknown Andrei Bogdanov 1.46 percent. Exit polls also predicted a crushing Medvedev victory.

Independent observers highlighted a stream of violations, however, saying the media was censored, people were pressured to vote, absentee ballots were abused, and monitors were refused access to polling stations.

Labels: Elections, Medvedev, Russia

Medvedev-US threatens Europe stability

"The US is putting Europe in a very difficult position by supporting Kosovo, it is far away and is not facing any risks, but Europe could go ablaze", First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev said Wednesday in a campaign speech in the Russian city of Nizhny Novgorod. Medvedev who is likely to become Russia's next president also said that Kosovo's independence has "jeopardized security and stability of the whole region.'' Russia backs its ally Serbia in opposing Kosovo's independence and has warned Western states that recognizing Kosovo could set off a chain reaction of separatist unrest throughout Europe.

Labels: EU, Kosovo, Medvedev, Russia, US