Obama may have a grudge against Russia

Russia’s President Dmitry Medvedev congratulated Barack Obama on his victory in the presidential election. Medvedev said in his telegram that he was hoping for a constructive dialogue to be based on mutual trust and mutual interests, Itar-Tass reported with reference to the press service of the Kremlin. Medvedev previously delivered his first annual address to the nation, which many already described as revolutionary. Medvedev particularly offered to extend the presidential term from four to six years.

Photo: Obama may have a grudge against Russia

“The US-Russian relations have been an important factor of stability in the world. They may have a considerable and, at times, a key significance for the solution of many contemporary international and regional issues,” Medvedev wrote in the telegram for Obama.

“Not only is Russia certain in the necessity for the gradual development of cooperation between our countries, but we believe that we must promote the bilateral cooperation in all fields,” Medvedev wrote.

It is an open secret that Obama has been friendlier towards Russia than McCain, although his remarks about Russia have not been positive all the time. Commenting on the presidential election in Russia in March of this year, Obama stated that the Russian presidential election was neither free, nor honest completely. He continued with saying that the press was not free enough in Russia and that opposition and political party leaders were subject to oppression in the country.

Obama harshly criticized Russia in connection with the military conflict in the Caucasus in August of this year. He urged the USA and its allies to form the joint alliance to deprive Russia of its ambition to become a superpower in the 21^st century. Obama added that Russia had taken illegal actions to defend the South Ossetian population.

Obama also condemned Russia’s recognition of the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. He also urged all other countries to consider Russia’s decision illegitimate.

Barack Obama also said during his pre-election debate in October that Russia was not the USSR and that he could see very dangerous nationalist impulses there. He added that the United States would strive for its independence on the energy resources of other countries, including Russia, which, as he said, was gaining profit from high prices on oil.