(NSI News Source Info) LONDON - March 30, 2009: Russia's relations with the U.S. and the West can and should get a "new start," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in an interview Sunday. 
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (L) gives an interview to Andrew Marr of the BBC outside Moscow in Barvikha on March 29, 2009 prior to his trip to London for the G-20 summit where he is expected to meet US President Barack Obama.
"A new start is certainly possible, it is necessary. I hope our partners share that point of view," he said in a pre-recorded interview with the British Broadcasting Corp's Andrew Marr show.
Medvedev meets U.S. President Barack Obama for the first time at the Group of 20 leaders summit hosted by U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London on April 2.
He said he has so far had two "very fruitful and constructive conversations," with Obama and that he had been "surprised by the fact many of the views he outlined coincided with my own."
Medvedev said next week's G20 leaders summit needs to agree on "fundamental" reforms.
He said "the future of our countries and our people depend on it, on our determination to introduce fundamental changes to the world financial architecture."
Medvedev said the troubles in Russia's economy cannot just be blamed on foreign banks. He said some Russian companies didn't think closely enough about the loans they took on and that "this is the responsibility of the owners of those companies - and not the foreign banks."
The Russian president also pointed to "positive change" in the relationship with the U.K. after the strains of recent years, including the tensions at Anglo-Russian oil joint venture TNK-BP Holding (TNBP.RS) and the killing of Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian security agent who became a U.K. citizen.
"It's simple, clear cut. British businessmen are welcome in Russia. We believe that British businessmen have the same rights on Russian investment market as all others," he said.
Speaking later on the same program, U.K. Foreign Minister David Miliband also said he was hoping for a "new beginning" in relations. He said that was about more than the tone of relations, with ties ideally based on "hard-headed engagement."
Medvedev was also asked whether he would consider a pardon for jailed former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khordokovsky, who is set to stand trial a second time.
Medvedev said people should wait for the results of the second trial of Khordokovsky but added "a president has only one privilege, only one power - to grant pardon on behalf of the state.
"When people make such appeals, it is my duty to consider them. That's it," he said.
Russian President Dmitry Medvedev (L) gives an interview to Andrew Marr of the BBC outside Moscow in Barvikha on March 29, 2009 prior to his trip to London for the G-20 summit where he is expected to meet US President Barack Obama.
"A new start is certainly possible, it is necessary. I hope our partners share that point of view," he said in a pre-recorded interview with the British Broadcasting Corp's Andrew Marr show.
Medvedev meets U.S. President Barack Obama for the first time at the Group of 20 leaders summit hosted by U.K. Prime Minister Gordon Brown in London on April 2.
He said he has so far had two "very fruitful and constructive conversations," with Obama and that he had been "surprised by the fact many of the views he outlined coincided with my own."
Medvedev said next week's G20 leaders summit needs to agree on "fundamental" reforms.
He said "the future of our countries and our people depend on it, on our determination to introduce fundamental changes to the world financial architecture."
Medvedev said the troubles in Russia's economy cannot just be blamed on foreign banks. He said some Russian companies didn't think closely enough about the loans they took on and that "this is the responsibility of the owners of those companies - and not the foreign banks."
The Russian president also pointed to "positive change" in the relationship with the U.K. after the strains of recent years, including the tensions at Anglo-Russian oil joint venture TNK-BP Holding (TNBP.RS) and the killing of Alexander Litvinenko, the former Russian security agent who became a U.K. citizen.
"It's simple, clear cut. British businessmen are welcome in Russia. We believe that British businessmen have the same rights on Russian investment market as all others," he said.
Speaking later on the same program, U.K. Foreign Minister David Miliband also said he was hoping for a "new beginning" in relations. He said that was about more than the tone of relations, with ties ideally based on "hard-headed engagement."
Medvedev was also asked whether he would consider a pardon for jailed former Russian oil tycoon Mikhail Khordokovsky, who is set to stand trial a second time.
Medvedev said people should wait for the results of the second trial of Khordokovsky but added "a president has only one privilege, only one power - to grant pardon on behalf of the state.
"When people make such appeals, it is my duty to consider them. That's it," he said.
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