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The Eve of the U.S. Elections
Most Russian politicians say a win by Democrat Barack Obama would be preferable for Russia. But they warn that no possible outcome is likely to improve Russian-American relations notably. “A Democratic win is preferable, if only because of the absence of openly Russophobic rhetoric in their policies. It has been noted repeatedly in the Republican camp,” commented deputy speaker of the State Duma and member of the Just Russia Party Alexander Babakov. He also thought Obama was the best hope for a solution to the world financial crisis and an end to the war in Iraq.
“Obama is young, promising and a true democrat,” observed LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky. He predicted a win for Obama by a margin of 10 percent. The first task of any new president will be to solve domestic economic problems, he added.
Communist leader Gennady Zyuganov does not expect Russian-American relations to improve after the elections. “The White House will continue the same unfriendly policy as in recent years toward our country no matter who wins,” he said. American support for the expansion of NATO is a key element in that policy, Zyuganov said, as in support for “the criminal Saakashvili regime in Georgia.” However, “the failure of the American liberal market model today may lead the future president of the country to more realistic relations with Russia,” he added.
Leonid Gozman, acting head of the federal political council of the Union of Right Forces, said that the candidate that could improve the situation in the United States the most was the best for Russia as well. “The economic crisis and crisis of trust in America is dangerous for us as well,” he explained. Our interests coincide, and it is not possible for them to elect someone who is worse for America but better for us.” Gozman thought the election of Obama would be a landmark in world history. “The election of a dark-skinned president just two generations after there were benches for Blacks and benches for Whites in the American South is an optimistic fact for the whole world,” he said.
Yabloko leader Sergey Mitrokhin thought it would be easier for Russia to work with Obama. He said Obama stood for “renewal, progress and a new situation,” while McCain would worsen both military and international relations. “McCain is the conservation of what brought the world to crisis,” he opined.
www.kommersant.com
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