In general, the subjects raised by the First Deputy Prime Minister at first sight did not relate very much to the agenda. He spoke mainly about “new Russia” and economy. Nevertheless, the attendees listened to Ivanov speaking fluent English very attentively. The new Russian vision of European security was worth such listening.
As quoted to Ivanov, it is high time to shift from the security based on enhancement of defense potentials to a system where the economy plays a leading role. The country with developed industry, power engineering, and transport infrastructure does not need to be engaged in rattling to prove its sustainability and power. Russia has an ambition to occupy an appropriate place in international politics but it does not intend to meet this challenge by establishing military blocs or engaging in open confrontation with our partners.
Ivanov reminded in his address that the Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty-1 effective since 1994 wil expire in 2009. The First Deputy Prime Minister emphasized that it is necessary to replace it with a new regime providing for maximum predictability in this area vital for the whole mankind, moreover, the provisions of this new regime should be legally binding upon the states. Only is this case proliferation and reduction of weapons of mass destruction may be effectively controlled on a multilateral basis.
"The talks between Russia and America on ABM systems and strategic offensive arms are in progress. We are not pressed in time”, Ivanov said. He also claimed that if the US ABM systems are deployed in Poland and Czechia, the Russian response will be more cost-effective. “If this decision (the construction of the ABM systems) is taken, the response of Russia will be more effective, adequate and much cheaper that the construction of the third (US) ABM deployment area”, the First Vice-Premier said.
Speaking on the US plans to deploy the ABM systems in Poland, Sergey Ivanov claimed that Iran has no missiles that can reach Poland. In so doing, he paid attention to the fact that the launch of a new Iranian missile to carry space satellites, does not increase confidence to this country.
Speaking on the proliferation problem, Sergey Ivanov noted that this problem is far beyond the framework the Iranian nuclear programme. “All these talks on Russian secret supplies of highly enriched uranium, technologies and missiles (to Iran) are well-known, and we are used to them long ago , it’s a rusty propaganda of the Cold War”, he said. “Yesterday we head a very interesting address of the IAEA Director General, and applauded to it more and longer than to others. It is quite explainable. Everything he said is objective, well-judged and correct”, the First Vice-Premier complimented. In his opinion, “the problem of proliferation is far beyond the framework of the Iranian nuclear programme”. Ivanov reminded that “after utilization the fuel supplied to Iran by Russia will be repatriated to Russia”. “Thus, Russia demonstrates that we are serious partners, we are capable to provide Iran with the fuel”, Sergey Ivanov explained.
The First Deputy Prime Minister separately mentioned Kosovo. “If the independence of Kosovo is recognized without the consent of Serbia, it will be done out of the framework of the international law, it will create a dangerous precedent and will open a Pandora box”, Ivanov said. “The Russian leadership repeatedly expressed our vision of this complicated problem. Our stand remains unchanged. First of all, we expect that the two parties of the conflict should reach an agreement”, Ivanov emphasized. “Many people somehow believe that Russia came down to the Serbian side at a breakneck pace and does not want to hear the opinion of the world community”, the First Vice-Premier noted. According to him, there is a confusion that Russia will exploit this decision to recognize independence of Abkhazia and Southern Ossetia. “I can assure you that it is not correct. We will not recognize them the next day. The problem is much wider”, he explained.
Ivanov made no direct thrusts at the West, therefore against the background of the tough speech of Russian President Vladimir Putin made last year at the same Conference, the address of the First Vice-Premier was rather moderate. Ivanov made only one covert reproach towards the United States: “The terror is an enemy number one for the civilized world, however there is no need to implement own geopolitical and economic interests under the pretence of the war on terror”.
“We respect the values cultivated by America and Europe for centuries, the First Vice-Premier said. – However we can hardly accept there is a kind of a universal experience or idea that can serve a master standard for all nations a kind of “troy ounce” to measure political structures, national cultures, religions, convictions and mentality. As distinct from the said United States our perception is based on a notion of development model diversity as well as variety of ways for understanding and attaining harmony in the society”.
He summarized: “Surely, seeking the personality of Russia is not an end in itself. There no need to convince the Russian people that the economic laws are unified for everybody, and one or another social policy may only back market principles”.
“The state-private partnership is a key mechanism in the development of Russia. Not everybody in the West likes it, and they even try to stick a label of “state capitalism” on us”. Ivanov reminded to the attendees during the last nine years the GDP of our country has increased by 80 per cent, which is nearly twice as much comparing to the average world indicators. And the currency reserves have approached 500 billion Dollars.
Sergey Ivanov also answered a question on possible developments after the presidential election on March 2. He said that the linkage “Modvedev – the President, and Putin – the Premier” will provide for sustained democratic development of Russia. Current Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to head the government provided First Vice-Premier Dmitry Medvedev wins the election. “If this scenario is successfully implemented, the country will progressively develop in cooperation with the world community without any socks that we witnessed in the century-long history of our country” , Sergey Ivanov said.
