RIA NOVOSTI: RUSSIA, US ENTER NEW PHASE OF RELATIONS

“A new atmosphere of relations has been created,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in London after talks between Russian President Dmitry Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama. “There is mutual interest and, most importantly, readiness to listen to each other, something we had lacked for many years.”

In a joint statement issued after their meeting, which took place ahead of the G20 summit on the global economic crisis, the leaders pledged “to move beyond Cold War mentalities and chart a fresh start…We today established a substantive agenda for Russia and the United States to be developed over the coming months and years. We are resolved to work together to strengthen strategic stability, international security, and jointly meet contemporary global challenges,” the presidents said in a statement. The sides agreed that the talks had opened up the route to cooperation in nuclear nonproliferation, the fight against terrorism and extremism, resolution of Middle East conflicts, and efforts to improve economic stability. However, the leaders admitted that crucial differences remain on some issues, in particular Georgia and the U.S. missile shield plans for Central Europe.

Question to the Blogosphere:  The relations between the US and Russia have been very fragile, especially since the rise of Vladimir Putin and the disintegration of democracy in Russia.  Today, the Russians warned the US about supporting Georgia in the U.S. ally’s efforts to rebuild its military following last year’s war.  To what extent could the issue of Georgia derail the search for common ground between the US and Russia?  Do you think the US and Russia will ever be able to work together unless there is a common enemy, whether it be the expansion of Nazism in Europe or the expansion of financial crises around the world?  Do you think the leadership in Russia and the US has changed enough to have hope in the new efforts for cooperation?