Medvedev says relations with US improving

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PITTSBURGH, September 25 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev said relations with the United States have improved since
President Barack Obama took office.
"A year ago I had a feeling there were in a deadend and dropped to the
Cold War level," he told students and lecturers of Pittsburgh University
on Thursday, adding "now they are better than yesterday".
"Today the past does not matter. It is comfortable for me to
communicate with President Barack Obama. We are people of one generation
and we have similar education," he said.
Medvedev recalled that he studied Obama-edited literature on law as
post-graduate student. "I did not know that he was the editor. Had I
known, I would have read it more attentively," he said.
"When I communicate with the US president I have a feeling that he
attentively listens to the interlocutor and does not act as a mentor.
Mentoring does not beautify anyone and he has no such quality, therefore
people not only in the United States, but in other countries like him,"
Medvedev said.

.Dropping missile shield plan is no pro-Russian decision - Medvedev.

PITTSBURGH, September 25 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev said the "courageous decision" of his US counterpart Barack Obama
to drop missile shield plans for Europe was conditioned by US interests
rather than plans to please Russia.
"That is definitely a decision that was dictated by his perception of
the protection of the interests of the United States of America. That is
neither a pro-Russian, nor pro-Chinese or pro-European decision. That is
an American decision," he told students and lecturers of Pittsburgh
University on Thursday.
However, "it is very important that while making the decision Barack
Obama listened to what I told him and analyzed it. That means we are
learning to listen to each other. That is extremely important," Medvedev
said.
"Sometimes it is necessary to make decisions that demand courage, and
I consider that changing the decision of the previous administration was a
courageous and difficult decision. I put myself in his place and I can say
it was not an easy decision. It deserves respect by itself," Medvedev said.
"If we treat each other so attentively, our relations have a good
future," the president said.

.Medvedev says better times in store for Russia and US.

PUTTSBURGH, September 25 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev believes Russian and US economies are heading for recovery.
"I do not think the situation is absolutely dramatic, as we feel that
better times are coming", he said at a meeting with students and lecturers
in Pittsburgh University on Thursday.
The president added Russia and the United States "are looking at the
problems of global development practically alike and react to internal
problems similarly".
"We are all different and that is good, we have common values and that
is also good," Medvedev said.
He recalled that Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visited Pittsburgh
University 50 years ago. "Our countries have considerably changed since
then", he said.


.Medvedev hopes to normalize relations with Ukraine.

PITTSBURGH, September 25 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev admitted he differs with his Ukrainian counterpart Viktor
Yushchenko in assessing the state of bilateral relations and said future
leaders of both countries have to re-build normal and constructive ties.
"The task of future leaders of Russia and Ukraine is to do everything
so that the relationship is less problematic and based on mutual benefits,
and at the same time on reciprocal sympathy, which has always existed and
will exist between our very close peoples. The main thing is to take
effort to make the relations normal, and Russia is ready for that," he
told students and lecturers of Pittsburgh University on Thursday.
Medvedev had earlier publicly blamed Yushchenko for conducting an
anti-Russian policy. "Our relations have degraded and we have to revive
them," he said.
"I know that President Yushchenko disagrees with me and believes that
everything is good. But the situation is not that easy as it may look like
from Kiev," Medvedev said.
The president said Russian relations with Ukraine and Belarus differ
although the peoples in the countries are much alike and very close.
He admitted there are problems with Belarus as well, but said the
relationship needs no reanimation.
"We truly have some disputes and we openly and emotionally discuss
them," Medvedev said, adding "we shall work to resolve existing problems
in the interests of our people."
He rejected claims Russia acts like a superior in relations with
Belarus. "Belarus is no junior sister for us, it is simply a sister,
because it is always misfortunate when someone tries to determine who is
junior and who is senior," the president said.

.Medvedev sees no alternative to UNO.

PITTSBURGH, September 25 (Itar-Tass) -- Russian President Dmitry
Medvedev sees no alternative to the United Nations and calls to strengthen
and reform the organization.
"The strengthening of the United Nations is in our (common)
interests," he told students and lecturers of Pittsburgh University on
Thursday.
"The UN is the only platform that unites all countries of the world,"
the president said adding he is aware of ideas to create an alternative
community of democracies.
"That means dividing the world into parts. That is dangerous," he said.
Medvedev said he has no readymade recipe to reform the United Nations,
but "we have to find an option".
"We are all interested in efficient functioning of the organization.
Russia is also interested. We are ready for dialogue with all responsible
members of the international community, with all members of the United
Nations," Medvedev said.
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