Difficulties in the relations between Russia and the West, particularly the United States of America often remain unsettled. We have discussed how all this will affect further cooperation between the sides with Director General of the Center for Current Politics in Russia Mikhail Vinogradov.

Vinogradov: Recently, the have been prerequisites for the improvement of Russia-USA relations and resolution of contradictions that exist between Russia and European states. Several issues have not been settled still. One of the most topical of them today is Anti-Ballistic Missile defense expansion and the possibility of placing missiles in Eastern Europe. The dispute around Kosovo has not been settled as well, and here Russia has very strict stance opposing to the majority of western states. Nevertheless, after Russia won the Olympics 2014 bid, the intensity of the conflict between Russia and western states reduced. For the Russian president today it is highly important to create favorable conditions for the Games in Sochi to run smoothly. These conditions have to be prepared today because the political heritage that Vladimir Putin is about to hand down will determine the nature of Russia’s foreign policy. We have seen that the recent conflict between Russia and GB over Andrei Lugovoi exhausted relatively quickly and reduced to traditional for international diplomacy exchange of diplomats, dispatch of diplomats but did not spur any kind of “cold war” or isolation.

Host: So, you believe that it was a sports subject but not a political topic that reduced the tension?

Vinogradov: Yes, that’s what I think. Despite that problems and contradiction between the states remain, the style of the relations changed – it has become milder. Possibly, the situation will change as elections in Russia approach. Many in Russia believe that it would be much more interesting to take advantage from anti-west, isolationist sentiments. However, despite the problems, it seems that Vladimir Putin will not narrow down opportunities for political maneuvering, will not bury the partnership – relations between Russia and the USA and the European Union.

Host: Do you think that this situation may last until the Olympic Games in Sochi?

Vinogradov: There is much time before that. As I already said, now we see a short-time factor working: Vladimir Putin today is at the peak of his influence at home and clearly Russia’s opportunities in the global arena in 2008 will be smaller and the platform of foreign policies for the nearest 18 months is being built today. Of course, the relations between Russia and the West will change before 2014. I think that there will be moments of more tension, however, the danger of Olympic Games frustration that was sensed in 1980 after Soviet troops entered Afghanistan will make Russian elite cautious and the “i’s” in the conflicts with the EU, USA will not be dotted. But dynamic of the relations will of course remain.

Source: The Voice of Republic of Iran, August 17, 2007