Russia 100414 Basic Political Developments

Reuters: Russia wants U.S. to push harder for its WTO entry

http://in.reuters.com/article/marketsNewsUS/idINWAT01429820100413
Wed Apr 14, 2010 4:27am IST

WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev urged the Obama administration on Tuesday to push for swift Russian entry into the World Trade Organization and said other nations were using the issue to try to influence Russian behavior.

"They have made the WTO into a carrot to hang in front of us and say 'if you behave nicely you will get in,'" Medvedev said in an appearance at a Washington think tank after attending a 47-nation summit on preventing nuclear terrorism.

RIA: Russia's Medvedev blames Kyrgyz authorities for unrests, says civil war risk high

http://en.rian.ru/exsoviet/20100414/158570646.html
08:0314/04/2010

In his first comments on Kyrgyzstan's riots, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev blamed Kyrgyz authorities for failing to prevent unrests and said the risk of a civil war in the Central Asian country is high.

Protests against Kyrgyz President Kurmanbek Bakiyev and his government began April 6 in the country's northwest and grew violent spreading to other regions of the country, including the capital Bishkek; over 80 people were killed and more than 1,500 injured. The opposition formed an interim government. Bakiyev fled Bishkek and is in the country's south - his traditional stronghold.

"Kyrgyz authorities are responsible for the hard situation in Kyrgyzstan, which is again going through a phase of illegitimate development," Medvedev said, apparently recalling the 2005 tulip revolution that brought Bakiyev to power.

Medvedev spoke at Brookings Institution, a leading U.S. think tank, after the end of the April 12-13 Nuclear Security Summit in Washington.

Since the Tulip revolution, Kyrgyzstan's Constitution has been almost completely changed four times in bids to increase and reduce presidential powers.

In 2009, Bakiyev began amending an article which regulates the succession of presidency in case of death or unexpected resignation. Experts have seen the move as an attempt to introduce a "dynastical system" of power transfer in the country, one of the factors which fueled last week's nationwide protests in Kyrgyzstan.

Medvedev lamented that the current situation looks like the 2005 events. "At one time the former Kyrgyz president [Askar Akayev] was deposed by the opposition and he was forced to flee the country. He was blamed for economic crimes and corruption," he said.

"A few years have passed, but in essence the mottos and people are the same... It is sad because Kyrgyzstan is our close neighbor, and the last thing I would want now is Kyrgyzstan turning into a might-have-been state," the Russian leader said.

Medvedev also said he believes Kyrgyzstan is on the verge of a civil war that could split the country into north and south.

"The risk of Kyrgyzstan splitting into two parts - north and south - really exists... Kyrgyzstan is on the threshold of a civil war, and the forces in Kyrgyzstan should be aware of their responsibility before the Kyrgyz nation... and the existence of the Kyrgyz state," the Russian president said.

He urged an end to bloodshed in Kyrgyzstan.

WASHINGTON, April 14 (RIA Novosti)

April 13, 2010 20:30

WASHINGTON.Dmitry Medvedev met with President of Ukraine Viktor Yanukovich.

http://eng.kremlin.ru/sdocs/news.shtml#225352

The two leaders discussed issues related to the price of Russian gas in Ukraine. Mr Medvedev stated that the Russian side is ready to discuss Kiev’s new suggestions regarding gas prices and suggested having this matter addressed by the two nations’ specialised agencies. The President of Russia said that this topic is indeed very important for Ukraine.

Viktor Yanukovich stated that Ukraine counts on Russia’s support in its initiative to process high-enriched uranium. The President of Ukraine emphasised that the Ukrainian side has made all the necessary decisions on these issues.

Dmitry Medvedev highlighted that Russia values what Ukraine is doing in this regard and noted that Russia and Ukraine have common positions and common concerns about global developments regarding this matter, as well as a common desire to respond adequately.

President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev joined the Presidents of Russia and Ukraine as they conducted a bilateral meeting at the nuclear security summit.

April 13, 2010 20:48

Interfax: Russia ready to discuss Ukraine’s new proposals on gas price – Medvedev

http://www.interfax.com/newsinf.asp?id=158391
WASHINGTON. April 13 (Interfax) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has said that Russia is ready to discuss Ukraine's new proposals on the price of natural gas and suggested that the relevant authorities in the two countries discuss the issue.

"We will definitely discuss the gas issue among others. This is a subject that is truly vital for Ukraine" he said at a Tuesday meeting with Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych.

"Even though earlier agreements are in effect", the matter should be considered and elaborated on by the relevant authorities in each country, Medvedev said.

"I think there is reason to check approaches and initiate additional action by the relevant ministries and agencies in light of what we talked about during your recent private visit to Moscow and with the purpose of implementing the proposals that we discussed," he told Yanukovych.

That was Medvedev's response to a remark made by the Ukrainian president that he had not received any reply to the proposal concerning gas price compensation.

Yanukovych said that the question of the price of Russian gas "troubles Ukraine today." He also said that there are a number of issues "that have accumulated over the years, not only in the past five years, but older questions that require answers."

"They must be discussed and an agreement on them must be reached," he said.

In turn Medvedev noted that the leaders of Russia and Ukraine have started meeting often. "Like we promised our public, we are meeting often. I cannot help but be happy about it. Especially, as a while ago, the situation was such that I practically did not meet the Ukrainian leadership," he said.

He said that the fact that Russia and Ukraine "have developed such a speed of cooperation meets the interests of our countries and nations," he said.

Medvedev admitted that many problems have accumulated in bilateral relations, however, there are also many ideas.

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WASHINGTON. Dmitry Medvedev met with Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel.

http://eng.kremlin.ru/sdocs/news.shtml#225352

April 13, 2010 19:30
Tuesday

Dmitry Medvedev and Angela Merkel discussed progress in the work of the Washington summit on nuclear security and exchanged views on the discussion that took place at the plenary session. In addition, the leaders spoke about their bilateral agenda and schedule for upcoming political contacts.

April 13, 2010 16:30
Tuesday

WASHINGTON. Dmitry Medvedev had a meeting with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

http://eng.kremlin.ru/sdocs/news.shtml#225352
The main subjects on the agenda were bilateral relations and also relations with the European Union, of which Spain currently holds the rotating presidency.

Mr Medvedev said that bilateral relations have reached a very high level and that he is looking forward to seeing the Spanish Prime Minister in Russia soon.

Mr Zapatero expressed his condolences over the recent terrorist attacks in the Moscow metro.

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the Washington nuclear security summit.