Medvedev - state interests and liberal values
-I am a supporter of the values of democracy, new Russian President Dmitrii Medvedev highlighted in this weeks interview with the Financial Times. He also underlined that his economic policy will be based on the priorities of market values and property rights
-The main challenge now is to translate economic success into social programmes to show that developing the economy improves the lives of every Russian citizen, new Russian President Medvedev said. He especially highlighted the importance of continuing a “full-scale modernising of work in healthcare and education”.
Asked by his stance in democracy issues, Medvedev said that “I am a supporter of the values of democracy in the form that humanity has developed them over the last centuries. He added that “Russia is a European country and Russia is absolutely capable of developing together with other states that have chosen this democratic path of development.”
-I think Russia has every opportunity to build a developed democratic society and a full-fledged democratic state, he stressed. He also reiterated his statement made at the recent economic forum in Krasnoyarsk, saying that “freedom is better than non-freedom and I do believe that it is the all-important principle of life of any society and any political system”, thus leaving hope for the development of civil society in the country. The Krasnoyarsk speech as previously been commented by BarentsObserver.com
Commenting on his economic policies, Mr. Medvedev said that “a modern head of state should conduct an absolutely objective and balanced, and as far as possible effective economic policy based on the priorities of market values and property rights. At the same time he underlined that it will be Russian national interests which will be the basis for all his focus.
In his Krasnoyarsk speech on February 15, Medvedev made rather sensational statements about state officials moving out of the boards in state-owned companies. In the interview with FT, Medvedev repeated this position. “I think it is absolutely reasonable to increase the number of independent directors in these companies who will represent the interests of the state as the shareholder.”
At the same time he underlined that the powerful Russian oil industry is less state-owned that for example in Norway.
Analysts have expressed scepticism about Mr. Medvedev’s relations with Vladimir Putin and the latter’s upcoming work as prime minister. To the Financial Times Medvedev leaves no doubt that the president will remain the Head of the Russian state.
-It is the constitution itself that predetermines the answer to the question of who takes decisions on what issues. It is the president who sets out the main directions of domestic and foreign policy. He’s the commander in chief, he makes key decisions on forming the executive. He’s the guarantor of rights and freedoms of Russian citizens. The government has its own very extensive area of competence.
