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Russia Assails New Democracy Act
November 4, 2002
.c The Associated Press
MOSCOW (AP) - The Russian Foreign Ministry on Monday assailed what it called the ``pedantic'' tone of the newly enacted Russian Democracy Act of 2002 and said its passage suggested that some U.S. lawmakers were not aware of the changes taking place in the world.
The act, intended to strengthen civil society and independent media in Russia, authorizes more than $50 million for democracy-building programs such as investigative journalism training and cultural exchanges. President Bush signed the act on Oct. 23.
``In itself, the concern about mutual humanitarian cooperation could be welcome if it were not for the pedantic tone, bordering on interference in our internal affairs,'' the ministry said in a statement.
``It seems that some U.S. lawmakers have been so tied up with the pre-election battles in the United States that they simply haven't managed to keep up with developments in the world.''
In particular, the ministry complained, they did not notice that the two nations' presidents had signed bilateral documents that declared Russia and the United States, ``two absolutely equal, great democratic states,'' to be strategic partners.
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