Medvedev talks to western media

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has spoken with the Reuters news agency about Russia's domestic and international affairs. This is Medvedev's first interview with a Western media outlet since taking office in May.

(more)

The Russian president says poverty and corruption are the biggest internal threats to Russia's security. He said freedom, democracy and respect for private property are the foundations of the country's foreign policy, as a response to Russia's western detractors (read more).

Medvedev says Russia wants to see an agreement come out of this week's summit between Moscow and the European Union, although he admitted there were problems in the country's relationship with the EU. Medvedev believes that some EU governments are ready to improve the relationship, but other European nations are standing in the way. The president says Russia respects the fact that the discrepancy is an internal matter for the EU (Talks had been stalled since late 2006, when Warsaw objected to a Russian ban on meat imports from Poland).

Talking about his relationship with predecessor Vladimir Putin, Medvedev says a change in tone is to be expected but would not affect Russian policy.
Medvedev said, "Putin and I are good partners in dealing with the federal government's complex issues. We will work together for as long as is needed to achieve the goals which stand before us... within the framework of the law, of course."

Medvedev says he doesn't think Russia's economy is overheated, but he'll keep a close watch to make sure no problems develop. He says the real threat is international financial instability and global production problems. The Russian president says he'll do everything in his power to control inflation.