Russian President Outlines Achievements

Dmitry Medvedev speaks during his first full press conference as Russian president at the Skolkovo centre outside Moscow on May 18, 2011. Medvedev on Wednesday refused to say if he intended to seek a new mandate in 2012 but said an announcement on the decision should be expected soon.

[Photo:Xinhua/Reuters]

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev detailed his administration's past achievements but declined to disclose his decision on running for a second term during a press conference attended by some 800 journalists from around the world.

MEDVEDEV RELUCTANT TO REVEAL HIS POLITICAL FUTURE

Medvedev declined to say whether he will compete in the 2012 presidential election, saying he would unveil his decision in "near future, anyway."

The president also faced a string of questions on his relations with Prime Minister Vladimir Putin, the former president of Russia.

"My relationship with Vladimir Putin is not just a tandem. It has lasted for 20 years, we are like-minded people strategically," he said. "Otherwise we could not work together. I expect we are responsible before the country and the people."

"We know each other quite well and we have very similar approaches towards to key issues regarding the country's development," Medvedev said. "But that does not mean that I coincide with him on everything."

Meanwhile, Medvedev noted that if he runs for president again, he would like to rely on some political parties.

"No one stays in power for ever. And if anyone has that kind of illusion then they will end badly," he said. "When I quit from presidency, which will happen sooner or later, I'd like to become a professor as I really like it."

SLOW PACE OF MODERNIZATION

The town of Skolkovo, where the press conference was held, has been dubbed Russia's Silicon Valley. It was selected by Medvedev to highlight the focus of his presidency: to modernize the Russian economy and society.

Russia has not achieved any breakthroughs in the modernization process,yet the direction was right, the president said.

He said that his major success as president so far was that Russia is still on its right track of development against the global financial crisis.

Meanwhile, the president assured that transport strategy remained a focus of his government.

Medvedev vowed to revive the regional railway and air transit and referred to China's rapid railways as an example for Russia to follow.

With regards to fuel prices, Medvedev said prices have not been completely depended on the government's will and promised that Moscow would prevent "conspiracy" in the market.

Speaking about the recalling of Sergei Mironov from his position as chairman of the Federation Council, or the upper house of parliament, Medvedev said there was nothing dramatic.

"This is just a political competition. Mironov should accept it calmly," Medvedev said about the recall, which occurred at the very hour the press conference was being held.

RUSSIA'S INTERNATIONAL STANDING "STRONG AND BALANCED"

During his talks, Medvedev stressed that Moscow's foreign policy has been strong and balanced and Russia has been able to protect her interests.

The president said Russia-NATO relations have been his daily concern, stressing that Russia will suspend the new Russian-U.S. strategic arms reduction treaty should its cooperation with NATO fail.

"I hope that they (NATO) would respond to the questions put forward by (U.S.) President Barack Obama and me, and we will be able to forge a missile defense cooperation model," Medvedev said. "If we don't, then we will have to take retaliatory measures."

The president also warned that if cooperation fails, "it would be a very bad scenario, which will take us back to the Cold War era."

Speaking of Russia's relations with China, he said the prospects for bilateral cooperation were bright.

"I think our relations are excellent. As my Chinese partners' saying, we might have never had such advanced and good relations," Medvedev told Xinhua correspondents. "We hope our relations will continue boosting in the next years and decades."

Meanwhile, the president said Russia would not support a UN Security Council resolution on Syria if it is similar to the one on Libya. However, the president did not say whether Russia would veto a proposed resolution.

"Every country must be given a chance to resolve its internal problems domestically," he sai.

In addition, Medvedev expressed skepticism over Ukraine's intention to join the European Union instead of joining the Customs Union that comprises three former Soviet republics - Russia, Belarus and Kazakhstan.

"(Ukraine) must decide it....It is impossible to sit on two chairs at once," Medvedev said.

The president also guaranteed that Russia was not going to abandon its seat in the European Human Rights Court and would push for a visa-free regime with the EU.


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