Obama's
Big Reset in Russian-American Relations Bears First Fruits
While Obama has faced perhaps
the biggest test of his presidency with crises in the "Gulf of Oil,"
formerly the Gulf of Mexico, and the new controversy surrounding the
firing of his Afghanistan Commander, General McCrystal, over a number
of disrespectful remarks made about him and his national security team,
there is a bright spot for the President – the investment he made
in resetting perhaps America's most important relationship in the
world today – the Russian-American relationship.
What began as a newly chartered
course of strategy, away from the Cold War-like confrontational approach
of the Putin-Bush Administrations, has now developed into a big reset
of Russian-American relations. People complained that giving up our
ABM sites in Eastern Europe would remove Russia's largest fear - that
the US would once again surpass them in high technology that would negate
their strategic missiles and thus remove the one US bargaining chip
in promoted by the Bush/Rice strategy team. Those fears faded today
in the West and East Wings of the White House as Russia is finally coming
around to the US position, thanks to the Barack/Hillary team. American
leadership is now earnestly working with the Russian leadership on a
whole host of issues ranging from North Korea, Iran, and wars in the
Middle East, to the international drug problem as well as a whole host
of other issues.
As President Dmitry Medvedev
met Barack Obama for what was an important meeting before the G-20 Summit
in Canada today…they stood together…perhaps more firmly than ever
could be imagined. Outlining the truly remarkable steps they have achieved
in the past year and the vehicle for that change – the development
of new Presidential Commissions in bilateral relations which produces
collaboration and support between top Russian-American officials in
achieving the first steps in building positive relations between their
two nations.
What was the success…a new
poultry agreement that would be favorable to exporting US chickens to
Russia - this would create thousands of jobs for America workers. It
was on hold for a number of years. After the press briefing, both Presidents
set out to visit a US-Russian Business Conference hosted by the American
Chamber of Commerce to see what other areas could bring US-Russian economic
progress. They highlighted the fact that they will push through the
ratification of a new US-Russian arms control treaty in the US Senate
and the Russian Duma shortly. Dmitry Medvedev especially came to San
Francisco to talk to CEO's in Silicon Valley in order to enlist their
support in helping create a new Silicon Valley in Russia. This is another
potential area that can create thousands of jobs for both nations, unleashing
the great brainpower of American and Russian computer software and hardware
engineers, venture capitalists, and high-tech companies on both sides
to collaborate on a level that would be unprecedented in the two nations'
histories.
President Obama on his part
was very honest in committing to help Russia obtain membership within
the World Trade Organization – as soon as possible. In his own words,
he explained that his team would tell the steps that Russia would need
to take to gain accession to the WTO and then they would have to act
to modify existing laws and activities within Russia to conform to the
WTO standards.
Unfortunately, the cloud of
the Afghanistan war did not leave the room, as the controversy of President's
Obama's firing of General McCrystal could not be avoided. President
Obama spent too much time explaining why he fired McCrystal in the question
and answer period of the press conference rather than spending more
time highlight the fruits of a new relationship and how they were just
beginning to benefit our two nations. President Medvedev for his part,
understood that it was not his position to offer any advice to Obama
in managing the war. Medvedev did offer the hope by wishing for a stable,
secure government within Afghanistan which could address the needs of
the people rather than continuing to feed them a diet of terrorism and
hunger (the Taliban agenda). Whereas in the past, the Russian strategy
was designed to foil American inroads in Central Asia and the Middle
East, the Russians now support American efforts to bring economic progress
and security to this troubled region.
What was truly remarkable during the Presidential Press Conference in the East Wing of the White House was not only the level of friendship and trust that both leaders exuded as they discussed the most troubling and dangerous issues of our world but the way in which they discussed those issues. Both leaders explained how they were both trying to achieve solutions to complicated problems in a way that would benefit not only their nations but other nations in the world. Not only may I say that I was truly proud to understand that President Obama is uniquely capable to grasp and respond to the important issues of our day – war, building positive international relations, building a positive economic environment for all nations to benefit during this Great Recession, and stopping terrorism at its roots, rather than letting it grow and thrive. I was also impressed with his counterpart, Dmitry Medvedev, who is, in my opinion, is coming to his own, stepping out of the shadow of Prime Minister Putin, and becoming a leader who seeks a better path for Russia. Let us wish them well at the G-20 and building those steps necessary to having a mutually beneficial relationship for our peoples, but also that of our children and future generations.
Dr. Gerard Janco, President of The Eurasia Center
Your special
invitation to the
2010 World Russian Forum
The Eurasia Center & the Eurasian Business Coalition
in cooperation with: Dr. Edward Lozansky, President, Media Kontinent Group & The American University in Moscow
and the Discovery Institute
Invite you and your colleagues to the
new:
2010 World Russian Forum
America and Russia:
Building a Positive Relationship for the Future
Commemorating the 65th Anniversary of the Elbe River Linkage leading to Victory in World War II (special Russian Military Band performance on the National Mall, April 25th)
April 26-27, 2010 Washington, DC
United States Congress
including Special
Russian Receptions
at the Embassy of the Russian Federation,
and the Russian Cultural Center
For Monday, April 26 and Tuesday, April 27, 2010, The Eurasia Center and the Eurasian Business Coalition invite you to attend the 29th Annual World Russian Forum. Proposed to be held in a United States Congressional Office Building, you are invited to participate in a challenging agenda featuring topics on politics, economic and security. Other presentations will include the topics of high technology, finance, international trade, and economic development. This event will allow you and your colleagues to interact with those in Russia and Eurasia seeking to expand two-way trade, direct investments, business opportunities and open communications with your counterparts. The focus of this year’s Forum will be the focus of a new opportunity for change in the America’s relationship with Russia given the new change in leadership both here and abroad.
US Undersecretary of State William Burns, speaking about building positive economic relations at last year’s World Russian Forum.
The World Russian Forum is a premier gathering of business leaders, government officials, public policy scholars and experts and it has become one of the premier catalysts for opening discussions and building positive relations between Russia and America. This year’s Forum will follow Presidents Obama and Medvedev’s important meetings and summit which have contributed towards the common goal of building better relations between the two countries.
Vadim Gluzman, President and CEO, Lukoil Americas Corporation,
speaking at the opening of an earlier World Russian Forum.
Participants at the 2010 event will be able to speak with members of the American Senate and House of Representatives, the Russian Duma, leaders of Russia’s NGO communities, along with officials of numerous American governmental agencies including the Departments of Commerce, State, and International Trade. Other beneficial relationships will be initiated with leaders in investment, high technology, banking, international trading, economic development, professional services firms along with federal, state, and local government officials.
Please see the Corporate Sponsorship Form concerning details for two day event. This series has grown out of 20 years of successful working relationships between Russia, Eurasia, and America. This televised event features speakers, topics, and interactions among the 59 Eurasian nations invited for the event.
During the breaks and meals formal introductions can be arranged along with business card exchanges and informal discussions. For two days, you will have the chance to interact with experts, and to hear and discuss specific proposals from leading American and Russian political leaders, businessmen, experts, and scholars on how to reset course from confrontation toward economic and security cooperation.
Integral to this entire effort will be extensive television coverage. The Forum's proceedings and receptions are covered by the U.S. and International Media with such stations as NTV America, Russia Today and C-Span. SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES FOR NETWORKING AND SPECIAL RECEPTIONS at the RUSSIAN EMBASSY that follows the presentation will feature special foods, beverages, music, and art work of Russia.
Early Registration Discount by April 23rd
TO PREREGISTER FOR THE WORLD RUSSIAN FORUM ‘CLICK’:
WORLD RUSSIAN FORUM REGISTRATION FORM
2010 SPONSORS: The Eurasia Center, The Eurasian Business Coalition, Cisco Systems, Inc., Chadbourne and Parke, LLP, Jones Day, White & Case, LLP, IBS Global Consulting, RussianDC.com, Baltika, & The Coca-Cola Company.
PREVIOUS SPONSORS of our Events: 3M Corporation; CitiBank; U.S. Department of Commerce; Russian-American Chamber of Commerce; United Technologies; The Ford Motor Company; The Coca-Cola Company; General Electric; ConocoPhillips; Coors; Baltika; The Intel Corporation; Lockheed-Martin; Seagrams; LUKOIL Oil Company; Pepsico; DuPont; Goodyear.
TO BECOME A SPONSOR OF WORLD RUSSIAN FORUM ‘CLICK’:
WORLD RUSSIAN FORUM SPONSORSHIP BENEFITS
WORLD RUSSIAN FORUM SPONSORSHIP FORM
PRELIMINARY AGENDA WORLD
RUSSIAN FORUM JUST ‘CLICK’:
WORLD RUSSIAN FORUM 2010 PRELIMINARY
AGENDA
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The Eurasia Center
has been an important hub of activity and a meeting place for networking, scholarship, publishing, and business development. The Center promotes the exchange of ideas among diplomats, government officials, business leaders and citizens on issues concerning investment, economic development, education, health care, and environmental sustainable development. Leaders are engaged to promote the ideals of peace, security, democracy, and economic cooperation.
The Eurasia Center is a 501(c)(3) federally recognized non-profit organization promoting positive relations between America and the 59 nations of Eurasia through progressive programs and activities. Sustaining sponsorships, memberships, and program participation are welcomed and are 100% tax-deductible.
The Eurasia Center & The Eurasian Business Coalition
4927 Massachusetts Avenue ,
NW, Washington , D.C. 20016
Tel: (202) 494-0773 Telefax: (202)
237-1452
Email: President@eurasiacenter.org
Web: www.eurasiacenter.org www.eurasianbusiness.org