Press releases

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U.S. Is Russia's Best Friend. By Grigory Yavlinsky.

The Moscow Times, February 19, 2013. Vedomosti, January 28, 2013.

U.S. President Barack Obama took his second oath of office on Jan. 20. The following Sunday, also in Washington, Metropolitan Tikhon was enthroned as the primate of the Orthodox Church in America.
A second major phenomenon largely overlooked by the media is that 1 million Orthodox Americans affirm the importance of upholding their faith in that multicultural "melting pot" — even though most speak English and were not raised according to traditional Russian customs. Although many American Orthodox believers are not Russians or Europeans, and some are not even direct descendents of Russian and European immigrants, they often had an even stronger personal connection to the Russian emigres and anti-Bolsheviks of the 18th and 19th centuries and responded more passionately when the Russian Orthodox Church was driven partly underground...

Alexei Arbatov, foreign policy expert: Russia has obviously taken a course towards alienation from the USA and Western Europe

Radio Liberty/Radio Free Europe, September 28, 2012.

A nervous reaction displayed by the Russian authorities for the PACE resolution on the implementation of Moscow’s obligations on the democratic development [of Russia] which has not been promulgated yet, is caused, according to experts, by two main factors. First, the Kremlin reorients its foreign policy and foreign economic strategy from Europe to Eurasia. Secondly, the recent repressive policies towards the civil society will inevitably affect [Russia’s] behaviour on the international arena. Alexei Arbatov, international relations expert and Director of the Center for International Security of the Russian Academy of Sciences, talks about this in his interview to the Radio Liberty...

Grigory Yavlinsky discussed with US Vice President Joseph Biden the prospects of a joint Russia-NATO ABM system and political situation in Russia

Press Release, March 10, 2011.

Development of Russia-US strategic relations on the basis of the mutual assured destruction (MAD) concept had become outdated already long ago, such a statement was made by Dr.Grigory Yavlinsky, member of YABLOKO’s Political Committee, during the meeting with US Vice President Joseph Biden.

According to Yavlinsky, we should all abolish the old view on the Russia-US relations as a zero-sum game, when a success of one of the parties means a defeat of the other one...

On Iran’s Nuclear Problem

Resolution by the Political Committee of the YABLOKO party. October 6, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO expresses its deep concern in view of the new aggravation of the situation around Iran’s nuclear problem.
A secret construction of the second Iran’s uranium enrichment plant, which the world public has learned about, shows that Teheran continues its course towards challenging the UN, as well as regional and global security. New tests of ballistic missiles, including medium-range Shahab-3, have shifted the crisis into a dangerous phase...

Iran’s procession of nuclear weapons presents considerable threats for the national interests of Russia, the USA, the EU countries and the entire civilised world. Russia can not allow being turned into a target of nuclear blackmail from another neighbouring state...

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO thinks that it is high time for Russia to take a principled position, stop lulling itself about Iran’s intentions, as well as break Iran’s tactics of playing on discrepancies between the great superpowers and using Russia in its own interests contradicting to the international security goals...

YABLOKO’s Political Committee determined the tasks of the responsible opposition in modern Russia

Press-Release, September 26, 2009

A meeting of YABLOKO’s Political Committee took place on September 26. The Committee developed the goals of the party in modern Russia.

YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin indicated in his report to the Committee that a system of bureaucratic cronyism developed in modern Russia. Its goal is to maintain in power one and the same ruling group for an unlimited period of time.

“Supporting a number of President Medvedev’s recent statements on the need of modernisation in Russia YABLOKO states that their realisation is incompatible with the real goals of this system,” Mitrokhin said.

Mitrokhin expressed his certainty that this system “can lead Russia to stagnation reminiscent of the stagnation of the Brezhnev period in the USSR, when the political elite lost the chance to conduct modernisation of the USSR, thus dooming it to disintegration”.

According to Mitrokhin, the task of the opposition is to offer an alternative to the political course of the country present leaders, such as building of a modern state based on democratic institutes and procedures.

On the need of further steps for creation of a joint Russian-European ABM system

Statement by Chairman of the Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO, September 21, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO considers that urgent conclusion of multi-lateral agreements on creation of an anti-ballistic missile defence (ABM) system for Europe jointly with the USA, NATO and the European Union is a challenging and strategically important task for Russia.

Implementation of this project is of global significance. At the expected rates of nuclear missile proliferation, the number of potential threats of missile attacks against Russia, the US, Europe and any country of the world will only broaden. A joint ABM system of the technologically developed states and Russia as a country with one of the largest nuclear missile potentials will become the most important element for protection of the planet from nuclear threats in the 21st century. For Europe creation of ballistic missile defence (BMD) jointly with Russia will represent the first large step towards creation of such a system and will be also important for raising the efficiency of nuclear non-proliferation policy.

YABLOKO supports the decision of US President Barack Obama not to deploy ABM system in the Czech Republic

Press Release, September 18, 2009

The Russian United Democratic Party YABLOKO thinks that the statement made by US President Barack Obama on abolishing of the plans to deploy elements of the ABM system in the Eastern Europe opens new opportunities for the Russian-American strategic partnership.

“This is a correct decision made by President Obama, it wipes away the issue which has been continuously producing unnecessary tensions and makes space for constructive cooperation between Russia and the USA in strengthening of the European security,” that is how Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the YABLOKO party, commented on the US decision to abolish plans on stationing US radar in the Czech Republic.
Sergei Mitrokhin also noted that “signs that the approach of the new US administration as regards deployment of the ABM system in the Eastern Europe would be rational” appeared during President Obama’s visit to Moscow in July.

Sergei Mitrokhin and Barak Obama discussed the Russian ABM system
Press Release, July 7, 2009
“I am currently reconsidering the issue of ABM deployment in Europe. I can not rule out joint actions with Russia in this field. But that will be another security architecture,” that’s how US President reacted on the proposal of YABLOKO’s leader Sergei Mitrokhin to abolish plans of unilateral deployment of ABM systems in Europe and consider organisation of a joint Russian-American ABM system.

YABLOKOs leader proposes a joint Russia-US BMD project at the meeting with Barak Obama
Press Release, July 7, 2009
Strategic partnership and a joint Russia-US BMD system were the key points of Sergei Mitrokhin’s speech at the meeting with US President Barak Obama which took place in Moscow today, on July 7.

Speaking about the possibilities of implementation of the strategic partnership idea Sergei Mitrokhin noted that “today we have a favourable moment for supporting the idea with real actions”.

From a joint ABM system to strategic partnership
Press Release, July 7, 2009
Supporting declarations of strategic partnership by definite actions and improvement of understanding of each other represent the urgent tasks of Russia-US relations from the point of view of the YABLOKO party. Such statements are made in the document handed by Sergei Mitrokhin, YABLOKO’s leader, to President of the USA Barak Obama during their meeting on July 7.

Position on Some Important Strategic Issues of Russian-American Relations
Moscow, July 7, 2009
Certainly, there are prerequisites for full-scale cooperation, as both Russia and the USA largely belong to the European culture and civilization. The tragedies of the 20-th century have split our world, however, the policies of the 21st century have to bring it together again on the basis of shared values. This requires much effort, but the result is worth it. The good will of our society (rather than a history’s whim or a blind chance) made possible the deconstruction the totalitarian system. This fact demonstrates that freedom and democracy are as important for the Russian citizens, as for the Americans. Whatever complicated situations we have to face in the future, it should be borne in mind that Russians are the people capable of understanding Americans. The main thing which the US President can do here is to try to understand Russia and its people.

SERGEI MITROKHIN’S SPEECH AT THE MEETING WITH US PRESIDENT BARAK OBAMA Key Notes
Moscow, July 7, 2009
Discussion of strategic partnership between our countries has been held for a long time, however, little has been done for realization of this goal. Today we have a favourable moment for filling the idea with real actions. Cooperation in solution of international and global problems in many fields is on the agenda now. We think that such cooperation could become a real alternative to the neoimperialist projects and approaches that are today “en vogue” with the Russian political and military elite.

Vladimir Lukin advocates development by Russia of an Euro-Atlantic integration policy
Press Release, May 30, 2002
Deputy Speaker of the State Duma from the Yabloko faction Vladimir Lukin, thinks that the recent summit meetings between Russia and the USA, NATO and the European Union represent a "step forward rather than a breakthrough."

Grigory Yavlinsky: implementation of the agreements between the US and the RF presidents will open doors to Europe for Russia
Press Release, May 28, 2002
The leader of the Yabloko faction of the State Duma of the RF Grigory Yavlinsky thinks that the agreements reached during the Moscow summit of the US and the RF presidents "will open doors to Europe" for Russia.

Grigory Yavlinsky stresses the importance of the Russian-American agreements signed in Moscow

Press Release, May 16, 2002
Grigory Yavlinsky, leader of the Yabloko faction of the State Duma of the Russian Federation, thinks that the fact that agreements signed during the Moscow summit of presidents of the RF and the USA Vladimir Putin and George Bush are subject to mandatory implementation represents "a victory of the Russian diplomacy".

Grigory Yavlinsky expresses his concern with the criticism by the Russian "military-and-political bureaucracy" of President Putin's foreign policy
Press Release, April 24, 2002
The leader of the Russian Democratic Party YABLOKO Grigory Yavlinsky thinks that pressures on President Putin's foreign policy imposed by certain political and bureaucratic forces aimed ensuring changes to the present course have increased recently.

Russian Opposition Leaders Give Details Of Meeting With US Vice President

Interfax, March 10, 2011.

...Grigoriy Yavlinskiy discussed with Biden the prospects of setting up joint Russian-NATO missile defence, and the internal political situation in the Russian Federation, the Yabloko press service has told Interfax.
"Yavlinskiy regards joint missile defence as the most substantial and promising aspect of Russian-US security cooperation, which is importance not only for the two countries but for the whole world," Yabloko press secretary Igor Yakovlev said.
Touching upon the internal political situation in Russia, the former party leader said that its main difficulties, including the lack of vital democratic procedures, had long been known. In this context, he believes that it is important to realize that the issue that has to be tackled is the replacement of the system created back in the 1990s, and this is a much more complex and in-depth process than the change of personalities in power...

Grigory Yavlinsky: no discords in the tandem

Grigory Yavlinsky’s interview to the Radio Liberty
www.svobodanews.ru
September 22, 2009

Radio Liberty: Many Russian politicians are enthusiastic about Barack Obama abolishing the plans of deployment of the elements of the American ABM system in Central Europe. Do you share such feelings?

Grigory Yavlinsky: No, I don’t, as these missiles and the decision of deployment of the ABM system adopted by President Bush did not threaten Russia in any way. It had a symbolic meaning. What Barack Obama did, was done because he was amending an error made by george Bush, rather than yielding to Russia, as President Bush’ decision was absolutely inefficient - technically, economically and strategically. He had enough courage to shelve the erroneous plan created by George Bush.

R.L: How do you assess the reaction of the Russian politicians who are speaking about this as of a large diplomatic victory of Moscow then?

G.Y.: As immature, it stirs pity. Such a reaction can not serve as a basis for further development of reasonable, earnest, and, if we further elaborate on this thought, grownup relationships with the developed countries. In general this is a trade-in approach – if you give something to me, then I give something to you, if you take away your missiles, we shall help you or will not help you somewhere in Iran – such an approach to the world politics is extremely primitive. Such approaches proved leading to deadlocks and inefficient, but, unfortunately they have been widely spread not only in Russia, but in the West too...

Yabloko leader meets with president Obama
Liberal International, Newsletter No 143, July 13, 2009
During the visit of US president Barack Obama to Russia this week, Sergei Mitorkhin, the leader of Russian LI Full Member party Yabloko had an opportunity to meet with the American president to speak about a variety of issues, primarily discussing cooperation in constructing a joint Russian-American anti-ballistic missile system (ABM).

Enemy Around - A view on the present conspiracy theory by Boris Vishnevsky
Fontanka.ru, June 30, 2009
The Soviet Union collapsed due to “ecological horror stories” of 1980s that provoked “artificial schizophrenic attitudes”: thus, a fear of salmonellosis led to a situation when Soviet citizens stopped eating chicken and the corresponding ministry responsible for provision of poultry collapsed, and a “horror story” on nitrates filling vegetables grown in the USSR killed our agriculture. After this the country was crammed with US poultry and imported fruit and vegetables.

Mitrokhin: Obama admits conflict-prone nature of the American ABM
ITAR TASS, July 8, 2009 00:09
US President Barack Obama admits that deployment of the US ABM system in Europe is prone of conflicts, said Sergei Mitrokhin, leader of the YABLOKO party, after today’s meeting of Barack Obama with the Russian oppositions.

Grigory Yavlinsky, "It’s good that Barak Obama and Dmitry Medvedev have begun talking, however, I don’t think that they can reach any special agreements here”
Inopressa.ru after ABC.es, July 6, 2009
ABC.es, Spain, published an interview with economist and member of the liberal Yabloko party Grigory Yavlinsky.

Cooperation With U.S. Called Key to Fighting Terror
By Simon Saradzhyan, The Moscow Times, April 23, 2004
Russia and the United States need to institutionalize their efforts to disrupt agents of international terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction before they link up to carry out attacks of catastrophic proportions, top security analysts from both countries said Thursday.

Vladimir Lukin: A merger between Russian and foreign companies during Russia's integration into the world economy is inevitable
FMBusiness, October 20, 2003
"When a new partner appears the world arena, problems always occur: there is always some inferiority complex, there are always problems with existing market proportions, money flows and the system of current personal relations - this problem should somehow be transformed and changed. I think this is just a matter of time," said Lukin.

"The Defeat of the USA is Our Defeat."
By Kseniya Veretennikova, Vremya Novostei, September 25, 2003
According to Yavlinsky, the defeat of the coalition troops in Iraq would mean Russia's defeat, as it would incite terrorism and extremism on a global level.

Patching Things Up at Putin's Picnic
By Grigory Yavlinsky, The Moscow Times, June 6, 2003.
The top-level meetings held in St. Petersburg last weekend produced positive results for Russia, Europe and the entire world.

Potemkin Democracy
Editorial, Washington Post, May 30, 2003
But while Russia is a far more open society than it used to be, many of the media are still controlled, the judicial system is still corrupt and opponents of the president find it ever harder to maneuver. If the administration believes this is full democracy, then it has been fooled by a barely plausible facade.

Russia, U.S. Remain Divided, Despite Healing of War Rifts
By Gregory L. White, Wall Street Journal, May 28, 2003
But as the two presidents meet in St. Petersburg this weekend for the first time since the war, there's still little sign they will be able to get the strategic partnership, stalled by the war, back into high gear soon.

Liberal Leader Expresses Satisfaction With U.S.-Russia Summit Results
Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, May 25, 2003
Yabloko faction leader Grigorii Yavlinsky told RFE/RL's Russian Service on 25 May that he considers the declaration on Russian-American strategic cooperation signed last week by Presidents George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin an even bigger achievement than the new strategic-arms reduction treaty that they also signed.

For Russia, Cold War Relic Becomes a Game of Chicken
By Jeanne Cummings, Wall Street Journal, May 27, 2003
When President Bush heads to Russia for a fence-mending trip this week, he won't be carrying with him one thing President Vladimir Putin badly wants: freedom from the so-called Jackson-Vanik rule, a Cold War relic that ties U.S. trade relations to the former Soviet state's treatment of Jews.

A Nuclear Bomb in Stars and Stripes. Deputies Ordered to reduce them
Interview with Alexei Arbatov by Marina Ozerova, Moskovskiy Komsomolets, May 15, 2003
Yesterday the State Duma ratified the Treaty on the Reduction of Offensive Potential, which was signed a year ago by Presidents Putin and Bush.

Analysts Warn Against Knee-Jerk Anti-Americanism
By Sarah Karush, The Associated Press, April 17, 2003
Moscow was right to oppose Washington over Iraq, but Russian leaders must be cautious not to fall into Soviet-style, knee-jerk anti-Americanism that might not always serve the country's interests, leading politicians and experts said Wednesday.

Vladimir Lukin: "Don Rumata is Doomed…" Literary and psychological analysis of the Iraqi crisis
Interview with Vladimir Lukin by Alexander Nikonov, Ogonyok, No 13, April 2003
...The regime is bad and no one will argue with that statement: however, from the viewpoint of international law, this does not give anybody the right to bring troops there...

The War against Terrorism and the Transformation of the World Order, three perpesctives
By Alexei G. Arbatov, CEPS Commentary, November 2001
...two months later after the "Black September", the weaknesses of the coalition and deficiencies of the operation are becoming more and more evident, as well as the confusion and inconsistency of the United States and other major players in adopting a new security strategy and still less in implementing it... (Archive)

Top Russian MPs advocate early ratification of the US arms reduction treaty
ITAR-TASS, April 8, 2003
There is no point in delaying ratification of the Strategic Offensive Reductions Treaty [SORT], also known as the Moscow Treaty between Russia and the United States, irrespective of developments in Iraq, according to prominent members of the State Duma, or the lower house of Russian parliament.

Russia-U.S. ties strained by war
By Anthony Louis, UPI, April 2, 2003
MOSCOW, April 2 (UPI) -- Russia-U.S. ties were further strained by the war in Iraq Wednesday when the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Ambassador Alexander Vershbow to protest the continued bombing of an area of Baghdad, this time near the Russian Embassy.

War Shows Fragility Of U.S.-Russia Links
By ALAN CULLISION and JEANNE WHALEN, Wall Street Journal, April 1, 2003
"Even during the Cold War, when Moscow and Washington hated each other, "ordinary people" really liked Americans. Now, the sincere feeling on the street ... is taking on a bright anti-American character." says Alexei Arbatov

Putin, Bush ties expected to survive
By Alice Lagnado, THE WASHINGTON TIMES, April 1, 2003
"The war in Iraq will not be the transition to a cold war between Russia and the USA, nor will it ruin the Russian-American strategic relations. This is not in our interests..."

Russian liberal politician concerned by attacks on Putin's foreign policy views
Interfax, April 24, 2002
Moscow, 24 April: The leader of the Russian liberal party Yabloko, Grigoriy Yavlinsky, expressed his convern that the foreign policy pursued by President Vladimir Putin has been under pressure from certain circles in the political and bureaucratic establishment aimed at revising this policy.

NEW RELATIONSHIP
pbs.org, May 22, 2002
"SIMON MARKS: In Moscow this week, the hottest ticket in town is not for Friday's state dinner at the Kremlin with President Bush, it's for "Star Wars. " The new American blockbuster opened here this past weekend, and is playing on every big screen in the city. 11 years after the fall of the Soviet Union, Russian moviegoers are much like moviegoers everywhere else, captivated by Hollywood and the U.S. entertainment industry. But stop some of them after the show, and you'll find that many distinguish between U.S. fiction and their perceptions of fact."

A Forum Argues Over Russia's Place
By Gregory Feifer, The Moscow Times, May. 31, 2002
Experts gathering Thursday on the heels of three major international summits said the West's leading policymaking institutions must include Russia in a broad strategic framework if they want to successfully tackle the top global priority: terrorism. Despite that general consensus, there was stark disagreement on specifics at the two-day conference on Euro-Atlantic integration, organized by the Washington-based Euro-Atlantic Institute of International Integration Studies.

Nunn and Lugar Look To Safeguard Weapons
By Vladimir Isachenkov, The Associated Press, May 28, 2002.
Worried about the apocalyptic prospect of international terrorists obtaining nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, U.S. and Russian officials and analysts met Monday to help draft possible new safeguards. Former U.S. Senator Sam Nunn and Richard Lugar, a U.S. senator from Indiana -- who together launched the decade-old U.S. effort to help contain the threat of weapons of mass destruction in the former Soviet Union -- described the threat of "catastrophic terrorism" as possibly the gravest challenge to global security.

Putin's wager
By Robert Cottrell, The Financial Times, May 21 2002
Russia and the US will be doing everything possible to ensure that the May 23-26 summit between George W. Bush and Vladimir Putin looks good and sounds good. On the Russian side this will be a relatively easy task, since the government controls the national television channels from which the great majority of Russians will get their information about the meetings in Moscow and St Petersburg.

The Door to Europe is in Washington
Grigory Yavlinsky Obschaya Gazeta, May 16, 2002
After September 11, 200, Russia's foreign policy abruptly changed. Despite the policy carried out in summer 2001, symbolised by Kim Chen Ir's travel by armoured train across Russia, despite the opinion of the so-called political elite, Vladimir Putin unreservedly supported the USA in their fight against Ben Laden's terrorists and the Taliban.