Medvedev Hails Comrade Obama

Australian

RUSSIA'S Dmitry Medvedev has hailed Barack Obama as "my new comrade" after their first face-to-face talks, saying the US president "can listen" - even if little progress was made on substance.

The Russian president today contrasted Mr Obama as "totally different" to his predecessor George W. Bush, whom he blamed for the "mistake" of US missile shield plans fiercely opposed by Moscow.

Mr Obama agreed to visit Moscow in July after his talks with Mr Medvedev yesterday on the sidelines of a G20 summit in London aimed at fixing the battered world economy.

"I believe that we managed to establish contact. But Moscow lies ahead. I cannot say that we made much progress on the most serious issues," he said, adding: "Let's wait and see."

"I liked the talks. It is easy to talk to him. He can listen. The start of this relationship is good," he said, adding: "Today it's a totally different situation (compared to Bush)... This suits me quite well."

Makes one feel all warm and fuzzy inside....not.

Crossposted at Jawa Report