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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPresident Obama on U.S.-Russia relations and Putin
THE PRESIDENT: Good. I think theres always been some tension in the U.S.-Russian relationship after the fall of the Soviet Union. Theres been cooperation in some areas; theres been competition in others.
It is true that in my first four years, in working with President Medvedev, we made a lot of progress. We got START done -- or START II done. We were able to cooperate together on Iran sanctions. They provided us help in terms of supplying our troops in Afghanistan. We were able to get Russia into the WTO -- which is not just good for Russia, its good for our companies and businesses because they're more likely then to follow international norms and rules. So there's been a lot of good work that has been done and that is going to continue to be done. What's also true is, is that when President Putin -- who was prime minister when Medvedev was president -- came back into power I think we saw more rhetoric on the Russian side that was anti-American, that played into some of the old stereotypes about the Cold War contests between the United States and Russia. And I've encouraged Mr. Putin to think forward as opposed to backwards on those issues -- with mixed success.
And I think the latest episode is just one more in a number of emerging differences that we've seen over the last several months around Syria, around human rights issues, where it is probably appropriate for us to take a pause, reassess where it is that Russia is going, what our core interests are, and calibrate the relationship so that we're doing things that are good for the United States and hopefully good for Russia as well, but recognizing that there just are going to be some differences and we're not going to be able to completely disguise them.
And that's okay. Keep in mind that although I'm not attending the summit, I'll still be going to St. Petersburg because Russia is hosting the G20. That's important business in terms of our economy and our jobs and all the issues that are of concern to Americans.
I know that one question that's been raised is how do we approach the Olympics. I want to just make very clear right now I do not think it's appropriate to boycott the Olympics. We've got a bunch of Americans out there who are training hard, who are doing everything they can to succeed. Nobody is more offended than me by some of the anti-gay and lesbian legislation that you've been seeing in Russia. But as I said just this week, I've spoken out against that not just with respect to Russia but a number of other countries where we continue to do work with them, but we have a strong disagreement on this issue.
And one of the things I'm really looking forward to is maybe some gay and lesbian athletes bringing home the gold or silver or bronze, which I think would go a long way in rejecting the kind of attitudes that we're seeing there. And if Russia doesn't have gay or lesbian athletes, then it probably makes their team weaker.
<...>
THE PRESIDENT: Keep in mind that our decision to not participate in the summit was not simply around Mr. Snowden. It had to do with the fact that, frankly, on a whole range of issues where we think we can make some progress, Russia has not moved. And so we don't consider that strictly punitive.
We're going to assess where the relationship can advance U.S. interests and increase peace and stability and prosperity around the world. Where it can, were going to keep on working with them. Where we have differences, were going to say so clearly. And my hope is, is that over time, Mr. Putin and Russia recognize that rather than a zero-sum competition, in fact, if the two countries are working together we can probably advance the betterment of both peoples.
<...>
THE PRESIDENT: I dont have a bad personal relationship with Putin. When we have conversations, theyre candid, theyre blunt; oftentimes, theyre constructive. I know the press likes to focus on body language and hes got that kind of slouch, looking like the bored kid in the back of the classroom. But the truth is, is that when were in conversations together, oftentimes its very productive.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/08/09/remarks-president-press-conference
It is true that in my first four years, in working with President Medvedev, we made a lot of progress. We got START done -- or START II done. We were able to cooperate together on Iran sanctions. They provided us help in terms of supplying our troops in Afghanistan. We were able to get Russia into the WTO -- which is not just good for Russia, its good for our companies and businesses because they're more likely then to follow international norms and rules. So there's been a lot of good work that has been done and that is going to continue to be done. What's also true is, is that when President Putin -- who was prime minister when Medvedev was president -- came back into power I think we saw more rhetoric on the Russian side that was anti-American, that played into some of the old stereotypes about the Cold War contests between the United States and Russia. And I've encouraged Mr. Putin to think forward as opposed to backwards on those issues -- with mixed success.
And I think the latest episode is just one more in a number of emerging differences that we've seen over the last several months around Syria, around human rights issues, where it is probably appropriate for us to take a pause, reassess where it is that Russia is going, what our core interests are, and calibrate the relationship so that we're doing things that are good for the United States and hopefully good for Russia as well, but recognizing that there just are going to be some differences and we're not going to be able to completely disguise them.
And that's okay. Keep in mind that although I'm not attending the summit, I'll still be going to St. Petersburg because Russia is hosting the G20. That's important business in terms of our economy and our jobs and all the issues that are of concern to Americans.
I know that one question that's been raised is how do we approach the Olympics. I want to just make very clear right now I do not think it's appropriate to boycott the Olympics. We've got a bunch of Americans out there who are training hard, who are doing everything they can to succeed. Nobody is more offended than me by some of the anti-gay and lesbian legislation that you've been seeing in Russia. But as I said just this week, I've spoken out against that not just with respect to Russia but a number of other countries where we continue to do work with them, but we have a strong disagreement on this issue.
And one of the things I'm really looking forward to is maybe some gay and lesbian athletes bringing home the gold or silver or bronze, which I think would go a long way in rejecting the kind of attitudes that we're seeing there. And if Russia doesn't have gay or lesbian athletes, then it probably makes their team weaker.
<...>
THE PRESIDENT: Keep in mind that our decision to not participate in the summit was not simply around Mr. Snowden. It had to do with the fact that, frankly, on a whole range of issues where we think we can make some progress, Russia has not moved. And so we don't consider that strictly punitive.
We're going to assess where the relationship can advance U.S. interests and increase peace and stability and prosperity around the world. Where it can, were going to keep on working with them. Where we have differences, were going to say so clearly. And my hope is, is that over time, Mr. Putin and Russia recognize that rather than a zero-sum competition, in fact, if the two countries are working together we can probably advance the betterment of both peoples.
<...>
THE PRESIDENT: I dont have a bad personal relationship with Putin. When we have conversations, theyre candid, theyre blunt; oftentimes, theyre constructive. I know the press likes to focus on body language and hes got that kind of slouch, looking like the bored kid in the back of the classroom. But the truth is, is that when were in conversations together, oftentimes its very productive.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/08/09/remarks-president-press-conference
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President Obama on U.S.-Russia relations and Putin (Original Post)
ProSense
Aug 2013
OP
I think he should have stopped right after "oftentimes, they're constructive."
Amonester
Aug 2013
#3
NYC_SKP
(68,644 posts)1. Recommended. (nt)
JaneyVee
(19,877 posts)2. Russia has a serious case of USA envy. And it's destroying their egos.
Amonester
(11,541 posts)3. I think he should have stopped right after "oftentimes, they're constructive."
Would have been enough.
Would have been Presidential.
The rest is bull (IMHO) and might end up not being constructive at all...
madrchsod
(58,162 posts)5. google putins images...
there are pictures where he does look like a kid and there are pictures of his macho man image. the most interesting is the use of his dogs. i can't find the one of bush,putin and his dogs but it`s a classic. merkel`s picture is downright crude.
ProSense
(116,464 posts)4. Kick! n/t
Cha
(297,191 posts)6. THe main thing is now.. they're stalled and that's why
the summit was canceled. As was stated.. they "don't do summits just to be doing summits".
Prez has pootie's back on the "slouching" lol