Medvedev Hopeful That Obama Will Thaw Relations

Russian prez cites 'great aspirations'
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Nov 16, 2008 11:17 AM CST
Medvedev Hopeful That Obama Will Thaw Relations
Former US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, right, and Russian President Dmitry Medvedev speak at an event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations Nov. 15, 2008 in Washington.    (AP Photo/Vladimir Rodionov)

Russia’s president believes Barack Obama’s presidency “will act to overcome problems which have accumulated” between his country and the US, he said in Washington. “We have great aspirations” for Obama’s White House, Dmitry Medvedev added. Former secretary of state Madeleine Albright, who moderated the meeting, agreed, citing a “huge opportunity” for relations under the two new, young leaders, the Wall Street Journal reports.

After warning last week that he might install Russian missiles on European borders, Medvedev said Russians “really don’t want to deploy anything. We will not do anything until America makes the first step” by finishing its own missile-defense shield in eastern Europe. The Russian president said he hoped Obama would be willing to discuss the matter and “not just rubber stamp” President Bush’s policies.
(More President Obama stories.)

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