In the Kremlin

The results of the week. Under caviar with marmalade

July 10, 2009 Alexander Golts

“It could have been worse” - in recent days, it was these words that I had to hear from Russian and American experts who discussed Obama’s visit to Moscow. In fact, this is nothing that the results of the summit are not too impressive, the main thing is that the scandal was not arranged. Meanwhile, he could well have happened. On the very eve of the visit, the American president noted that "Putin with one foot is on the old path of dialogue between countries, and the second - on the new one." The Nationalist's reaction was not long in coming. Vladimir Vladimirovich instantly pretended that Obama’s words do not treat him personally, but to all of Russia. And he acted as a defender of the Fatherland, saying that "we can’t stand in a rash."

However, upon the arrival of Obama, Putin chose to change anger to mercy. He portrayed himself as a bakery Russian master (communication with Nikita Mikhalkov did not pass, as is visible, for nothing). It seemed a little more, and the owner of the Russian land will complain to the overseas arap of a village of souls for two hundred. However, the American president had to pay for caviar with sterlet: they say that Putin explained his views on international politics and relations between Russia and the United States for about an hour without stopping. Obama remained to chew caviar with marmalade. Actually, the whole visit has turned into such a wild mixture, which, according to Putin restaurateurs, is a typical Russian breakfast (especially during the crisis).

The results of the visit are the same strange mixture. Yes, the results of negotiations on the reduction of strategic offensive weapons are negligible. The parties could not resolve relatively simple issues - for example, about the number of carriers. To much more difficult issues - about the rules for offsetting warheads and carriers, about the relationship between the reduction of nuclear weapons and the deployment of missile defense, it seems, the hands have not yet reached. But on the other hand, Moscow and Washington signed a transit agreement to Afghanistan. If we keep in mind that for a year it is supposed to make four and a half thousand flights, 10-15 flights a day, we are talking about a real “air bridge”.

In the end, it can be stated that the parties have long and persistently argue only on issues that are more likely symbolic significance, such as maintaining nuclear parity. Moscow is concentrated on artificially returning to the style of negotiations of the 80s. And thereby regain the situation of superpower. At the same time, however, it is obvious that negotiations are conducted after sleeves, Ponaroshka. After all, you agree to Soviet negotiators to limit the carriers to a level, the upper boundary of which differs from the lower one by half, they would not only be fired, but also suspected of relations with the CIA.

Obama attempts to “restart” relations not only with the Russian authorities, but also Russian society are equally mixed feelings. On the one hand, the US president devoted half the visit to this. He met with representatives of real but not made by the Kremlin technologists of the opposition (which they were afraid of in the Kremlin). But it turns out, they were afraid in vain. Nothing but some common phrases, the American president did not squeeze himself out. Of the same general phrases about the charms of democracy, his speech was in the Russian Economic School. So Medvedev also used to say that freedom is better than a lack of freedom.

At the same time, as Masha Lipman, Obama ended up in a kind of “liberal ghetto”, is completely right in Washington Post, specifically arranged for him. He was not given a chance to turn to the Russian people, his audience was limited by several hundred people (plus the unknown number of spectators of the Vesti channel, not the most common in Russia).

Given all this, the American president began to treat Russian partners, as they sometimes treated by badly educated children. He began to seek out something good in Russian reality in order to orient partners on a positive approach. Obama continuously spoke of Medvedev’s bold steps to combat corruption and the approval of the rule of law.

From all this, there was some strange taste. Caviar with marmalade.

Photo by RIA Novosti