President Medvedev: two years in office.

By Itar-Tass writer Veronika Romanenkova


MOSCOW, May 7 (Itar-Tass) -- President Dmitry Medvedev will mark two
years in office on Friday, which is a half of his four-year term at the
helm of the country.
The two years were not easy as there were numerous misfortunes that
began with the Georgian aggression against South Ossetia followed by
deteriorated relationship with Ukraine, the economic crisis, and a series
of terrorist acts and disasters. Even sport luck has turned its back on
Russia, which failed to qualify for the UEFA World Cup in South Africa and
poorly performed at Vancouver Olympics.
"I would have been glad to share responsibility with someone else in
the most dramatic moments like in August 2008 during the conflict in the
Caucasus. But I have to make the most important and difficult decisions
myself," said Medvedev, who turned 45 in 2009 and is a new-generation
leader and advocate of modern outlooks.
He still has to constantly explain who is at the helm in the ruling
Medvedev-Putin tandem. "I am a little bit tired of saying who is in charge
of the country. The decisions are made by he who is empowered by law to
make them. In the sphere of domestic and foreign policy, defense and
security it is only the president and nobody else," he said.
In the past two years Russia has embarked on a new quality course. It
recognized the independence of South Ossetia and Abkhazia, resumed
cooperation with Latin America, "reset" relations with the United States
and Ukraine, promoted the idea of a new European security architecture,
and has nearly resolved half a century-old border dispute with Norway in
the Barents Sea. The apotheosis was the signing of a new strategic arms
reduction treaty with the United States in April.
At home Medvedev sticks to his own computerized, technological and
rule-of-law style of governance. He works as a modern manager, pragmatic
technocrat, and all his political steps and initiatives are clear and
transparent.
He has replaced a third of regional governors, created a young
personnel reserve, made public his incomes and ordered all state officials
to follow suit. He proclaimed a fight against corruption and "legal
nihilism", works to modernize the country and promote private enterprise.
Medvedev leaves most economic tasks to the government. But when he
interferes, the result exceeds purely economic framework. He agreed with
new Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovich to grant a 30-percent discount
on Russian gas, which helped Russia resolve a vital issue and extend the
lease of the Crimean naval base for the its Black Sea fleet for another
quarter of a century.
"The price is high, but not exorbitant," Medvedev said.
By his first presidential decree signed on May 7, 2008 Medvedev
ordered to provide housing to all World War Two veterans. By the eve of
the 65th VE-Day anniversary nearly 30 thousand veterans received new
apartments.
The main question in the remaining two years will be whether Medvedev
will run for the second term of office or step down to let Putin back. So
far he was evasive saying he would agree with Putin on who will run at the
2012 election. The intrigue continues.

.Putin to inspect Novorossiisk facility for Black Sea fleet.

MOSCOW, May 7 (Itar-Tass) -- Prime Minister Vladimir Putin will visit
Novorossiisk on Friday to inspect the Military Harbor port, the
construction of which was launched when Ukraine threatened to expel the
Russian Black Sea fleet after the lease of the Crimean naval base expires
in 2017.
However last month Russia and Ukraine agreed to extend the lease for
25 years up to 2042.
The Military Harbor port has been under construction since 2005 in
compliance with the federal program for Black Sea fleet deployment on the
Russian territory.
-0-nec


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