Russia leaders optimistic about US ties

Hurriyet Daily News with wires

refid:10510908 ilişkili resim dosyası

Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said Moscow welcomed what he described as positive signals from Washington. He indicated that Moscow is encouraged by what it sees as Obama's skepticism about U.S. missile defense sites in Europe - a system Moscow sees as a threat.

"If it's not just words, if they are transformed into practical policy, we will respond accordingly, and our American partners will immediately feel that," Putin said during a nationally broadcast, live question-and-answer session, reported The Associated Press.

Putin's protege and successor as president, Dmitry Medvedev, issued a similar statement in an interview with Indian Broadcasting Corp. Doordarshan that was posted on the Kremlin Web site yesterday. Both leaders have expressed hope that Obama's administration would scrap the missile plan. Bush's administration has insisted it poses no threat to Russia and is meant to protect Europe from possible attacks from the Middle East.

Early elections
Russian prime minister also ruled out early presidential elections, saying the next presidential ballot in Russia would be held as scheduled in 2012.

"The next presidential election will take place in 2012.... For now, everyone must fulfil his duties in his place," Putin said, responding to a question on speculation he was planning an early return to the Kremlin. Referring to President Medvedev, he added: "We have a very effective tandem. We have worked together for several years," according to a report by Agence France-Presse.

His comments came amid mounting speculation in Moscow political circles that Putin was determined to return to the Kremlin and that he wanted to do so as soon as possible -- well ahead of the next planned presidential elections.