Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (right) and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero were united in their vision of a new greater Europe, but divided by a language barrier.
Photo: Alexander Miridonov
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Medvedev and Zapatero Meet in St. Pete
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev met with Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Zapatero at Konstantinovsky Palace outside St. Petersburg yesterday. It was their first official meeting, and it began cordially with the Spanish prime minister’s acknowledgment Spanish soccer team Real’s 2:1 victory over Russian Zenit in Russia, about which he was clearly delighted. Then there were a few kind words about Zenit, the prestige of the Spanish language in Medvedev’s student days and the rainy weather in St. Petersburg.
Getting down to business, the leaders declared that the world financial crisis had no effect on Russian-Spanish economic relations and trade turnover between the countries is growing. The meeting was plagued by translation problems, which inspired a considerable amount of laughter from the Russians.
“We are united by a common vision of a new greater Europe,” Medvedev declared, moving away from belabored attempts at conversation.
“Russia should fulfill the six points of the Medvedev-Sarkozy agreement on a settlement in the Caucasus,” Zapatero replied, adding that the European Union cannot get along without Russia.
A Spanish journalist asked whether Russia would begin a new cold war if John McCain won the U.S. presidential elections.
“I don’t think that are any enduring reasons for a new cold war at the present time,” Medvedev answered. “A cold war, as is well known, is ideological differences between NATO, on one side, and Russia on the other. We do not have them with NATO at the present time. If we are talking about deteriorating relations, it is completely possible. But I don’t see anything dramatic in that.”
The Russian president continued that, “It is not important who comes to power in the United States. Their strategic task now is to fix their economy.” He could not help but add, “Although making polemics about foreign relations is much easier than making the right economic decisions.”
The Spanish prime minister agreed and said that the U.S. has no choice but to be friendly with Russia. On that upbeat note, the press was dismissed and the leaders went to dinner.
www.kommersant.com
All the Article in Russian as of Oct. 02, 2008
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