Media Advisory: Foreign Policy Initiative Examines Russia Reset Policy in Advance of President Medvedev's Visiti to Washington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                    
June 24, 2010

Media Contact:
Rachel Hoff, (202) 296-3322 or rhoff@foreignpolicyi.org

Foreign Policy Initiative Examines Russia Reset Policy
In Advance of President Medvedev's Visit to Washington

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Obama Administration has touted their “reset” of relations with the Russian Federation as one of their most significant foreign policy achievements. On June 23, the day before President Obama hosted President Medvedev at the White House, the Foreign Policy Initiative (FPI) hosted a panel of experts to take stock of U.S.-Russian relations. Experts debated many of the “successes” of the “reset” that President Obama mentioned in his press conference with President Medvedev earlier today. This panel discussion was followed by keynote remarks from Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC).

Audio and a summary of the event are available on FPI’s website www.foreignpolicyi.org. Video footage and a transcript of the event will soon be made available. Prior to the event, FPI released an analysis of the “reset” that finds that “the concessions made by Washington as it engages Moscow vastly outweigh what the Kremlin has offered in return.”

Key Quotes from “Iran: Prospects for Regime Change”

“As we think about Russia, it’s important for us to think about it as a country that is a threat to many, but a protector of none.  When you think about the American role in the world, we are a protector of many and a threat to none.”

—Senator Jim DeMint

“As I look at the START Treaty, the first thing that hits me is that it assumes that there should be nuclear parity between the Unites States and Russia. That makes absolutely no sense to me today.”

—Senator Jim DeMint

“I want a good relationship with Russia, but understanding their political environment right now, the only way we can work with them is to demonstrate that we have the resolve, the commitment, and the strength to back up what we say.”

—Senator Jim DeMint

“The administration, when it first came into office, viewed Russia in instrumental terms. They wanted to repair the relationship with Russia in order to get Russia onboard on Iran, North Korea, Afghanistan and non-proliferation. My concern is that the administration has shifted and the U.S. – Russian relationship has become the end not the means to an end. It has become the goal, it has become the focus. It is touted as one of the major foreign policy successes of the administration. That sends the wrong message to Moscow. It gives them the impression that we need them more than they need us.”

—David J. Kramer, The German Marshall Fund

“I would argue that the Obama administration has gone overboard and has focused too much on trying to reset or repair relations with Russia. Despite clear messages that President Obama delivered himself in Moscow in July of 2009, that improved relations with Russia would not come at the expense of good relations between the United States and the neighboring states, this is exactly what has happened.”

—David J. Kramer, The German Marshall Fund

“There is a bit of a dichotomy in Moscow, it sees weakness and wants to take advantage of it, but it also needs to perpetuate that there are threats out there because those threats can become awfully handy when they need to justify their antidemocratic and increasingly authoritarian way of governing.”

—David J. Kramer, The German Marshall Fund

“The New START Treaty negotiations recreated the conventional Cold War dynamic. For the Russians, these negotiations were essentially Christmas Day over and over again. They kept asking for more, and they kept getting more. The more they said “no” the more concessions they got.”

—Steve Rademaker, BGR Government Affairs

“Iran is often pointed to as an area where we have received some concessions from Russia that we would not have otherwise received, particularly on the fourth Security Council resolution on Iran. I am prepared to talk about this in greater detail, but there is nothing about that arrangement with respect to Iran that can be pointed to as success of this arms control negotiation or of reset.”

—Steve Rademaker, BGR Government Affairs

“I would not say that Russia is close to being in the category of an ideologically maximalist, extremist, predatory state that is not in the swim in terms of the kinds of countries one can engage."

—Charles Kupchan, Georgetown University

“Engagement takes time. When I see an engagement with Russia that has been going for a year and a half, I see a START Treaty, I see 257 over flights to Afghanistan, I see more help on Iran, I don’t see a country that’s turning its back, I see a county that is in the midst of feeling its way forward in a new relationship with the United States.  Let’s give it time. Let’s build on the successes that we’ve had, recognizing that there are powerful domestic obstacles on both sides."

—Charles Kupchan, Georgetown University

About The Foreign Policy Initiative

FPI is a non-profit, non-partisan, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. FPI seeks to promote an active U.S. foreign policy committed to robust support for democratic allies, human rights, a strong American military equipped to meet the challenges of the 21st century, and strengthening America's global economic competitiveness. The organization is led by Executive Director Jamie Fly. Visit their website at www.foreignpolicyi.org for more information.

For additional information or to arrange an interview with Jamie Fly, head of the Foreign Policy Initiative, please contact Rachel Hoff at (202) 296-3322 or rhoff@foreignpolicyi.org.