Doesn't Medvedev need Obama?
The President of the Russian Federation needs no Americans to get in touch with Russian civil society," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said when commenting on his refusal to attend the joint forum of Russian and American civil society representatives in Moscow.
The official Kremlin gave the explanation after Barack Obama criticized the scandal over Khadarkovski.
Anyway, U.S. President Barack Obama is due in Moscow today for the first time. During the official visit the U.S. President is expected to have a number of non-official meetings.
Tomorrow Barack Obama will meet with representatives of the economic school and businessmen, leaders of political parties and NGOs.
An armored Cadillac with two machineguns will ensure President Obama's security in Moscow. Some 10 000 policemen will control the road from the airport to the Kremlin.
Before Obama's trip to Moscow, Russian centers conducted a survey among political figures, NGOs and intellectuals. "What demand will you set before Obama?" was the question.
Most respondents found it senseless demanding anything from Obama saying the latter represents another country.
Only chairperson of the Moscow Helsinki Group Ludmila Alekseeva demanded that during the meeting with his Russian counterpart Barack Obama be more consistent in view of the human rights protection in Moscow and recommend that Dmitry Medvedev be more tolerant to people like him.
Writer and publicist Victor Shenderovich said: "Let Americans set their demands before Obama. We had better make Medvedev meet our demands though, unlike Americans, we do not have a chance as we are deprived of feedback. Americans are lucky in this sense as they can pose their demands to a president elected by the public. We didn't elect Dmitry Medvedev."
Minister of the Economic Development Elvira Nabiullina urged U.S. President to review U.S. foreign policy and reset relations between Russia and America.
"Send back the 200 Russian trainers and sportsmen working in the USA," said President of the Figure Skating Federation Valentine Piseev.
