Zee Beam News

Sep. 18, 2008 - Kommersant - William Burns, former U.S. ambassador to Russia and current under secretary of state for political affairs, appeared before a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday. He told the hearing that the Russian political leadership is highly unified and the Kremlin and government have a firm consensus on issues of national interest. He added that the Russian political system is complex and does not lend itself to easy analysis. Burns noted that any Russian president has considerable authority, particularly in issues of national security and foreign policy, and that applies to Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, regardless of the influence and former president and current Prime Minister Vladimir Putin retains. Burns characterized the two leaders’ relations as “shared power” in many aspects. The former ambassador recommended maintaining close relations with both leaders, noting that Putin’s economic role will also play a part in the relations between the two countries. In spite of the unity of the Russian political leadership about Georgia, Burns opined that internal dissent occurs in Russia. He noted that such debates are practically undetectable from the outside. He thought it possible that Russian leaders will begin to “rethink” some of their recent political moves with time, especially after the consequences of their actions become more apparent. "In many ways the most damaging consequences thus far for Russia have been self-inflicted economic and political wounds," he noted. Nonetheless, he acknowledged that the Russian political leadership is enjoying high popularity at home at the moment.