Russian pundits differ over Medvedev's possible concessions at Obama meeting
Interfax
September 22, 2009
One should not expect compromises from Russia on tightening sanctions against Iran at the upcoming meeting between Russian President Dmitriy Medvedev and US President Barack Obama, Sergey Karaganov, the head of the Council on Foreign and Defence Policy, has said, as quoted by Russian Interfax news agency on 22 September.
Medvedev and Obama are due to meet in New York on 23 September.
"The USA of course has a right to hope for various compromises on this issue, but I do not think Russia will make them.
We are not interested in spoiling relations with the rising power of the region (meaning Iran - Interfax)," Karaganov was quoted as saying.
"Breakthroughs cannot be expected yet," he added.
However, Karaganov said that the upcoming meeting would give an opportunity to expand the sector of Russian-US cooperation, which until now had been focused on strategic issues.
At the same time, the head of the Centre for Political Technologies, Igor Bunin, thinks that Medvedev will have to make some compromises with the USA, the report said.
"Barack Obama has made compromises with Dmitriy Medvedev to some extent, and Medvedev will have to make compromises with Barack Obama.
The first step has already been made," he was quoted as saying.
The two countries' leaders will probably touch upon the issue of Russia joining the WTO at the meeting in New York, Bunin said.
"Apparently, the WTO (World Trade Organization) and the possibility of correcting some mistakes that we have already made will be discussed at the meeting," he said.
