The Russia House Holds a Panel Discussion On Reset in the U.S.- Russia Relations at the World Russia Forum 2010

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The Russia House Holds a Panel Discussion On Reset in the U.S.- Russia Relations at the World Russia Forum 2010

THE RUSSIA HOUSE HOLDS A PANEL DISCUSSION ON RESET IN THE U.S.-RUSSIA RELATIONS AT THE WORLD RUSSIA FORUM IN 2010

APRIL 26, 2010

SPEAKERS: EDWARD VERONA, PRESIDENT, U.S.-RUSSIA BUSINESS COUNCIL

ARIEL COHEN, SENIOR RESEARCH FELLOW, HERITAGE FOUNDATION

DONALD DEVINE, VICE-CHAIRMAN, AMERICAN CONSERVATIVE UNION

ARKADY DUBNOV, VREMYA NOVOSTEI

ANDREW KUCHINS, DIRECTOR OF THE RUSSIA AND EURASIA PROGRAMS, CENTER FOR STRATEGIC AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES

ANDRANIK MIGRANYAN, PRESIDENT, INSTITUTE OF DEMOCRACY AND COOPERATION

REP. DENNIS KUCINICH, D-OHIO

[*] VERONA (?): OK. Well, this will be our last panel today. And pretty exciting. We specifically invited people with different views to make it a lively discussion. And especially happy that Ariel Cohen showed up, because last time he told -- he said in his article that Russians are coming to take over Capital Hill -- something like that. No? Close.

(UNKNOWN): (OFF-MIKE)

VERONA (?): Yes, this movie -- "Russians are Coming."

COHEN (?): You're making it up as usual.

(UNKNOWN): (OFF MIKE)

VERONA (?): OK. OK. (Inaudible). In keeping with producer (inaudible) with "Russians are Coming," you probably know this film. OK.

So we have very distinguished panel today. And I think everyone will have 10-12 minutes, and then we have discussion.

So maybe Ariel should start. And -- and then maybe I think -- I'm pretty sure that his speech will generate this lovely discussion I just mentioned before.

Ariel we -- for all panelists, you came in late. We decided today not to waste time on introductions, because all of you are very well known people. If you go on Internet and get your name, you'll get thousands of links and all that stuff. So, I would only mention name, and (inaudible). So, Ariel Cohen, Heritage Foundation, I want to say that I'm very happy that Heritage Foundation has office in Moscow next to mine.

So we have very good lively exchange not once a year, but almost every day.

Ariel, please?

COHEN: Thank you very much.

VERONA (?): You can use podium. COHEN: OK.

(UNKNOWN): He is a modest guy.

COHEN: If you insist. Thank you very much again. It's great to be here. I see a lot of familiar faces. And I think Ed wants me to sort of kick off a discussion -- a real debate, which I'll be happy to do.

We've been watching for over a year the administration pushing the reset button and reaching out to Russia -- reaching out to other countries. And the question is what is the balance sheet? And I think it's clearly too early to review the whole administration's four years because we're not there yet. But the beginning part we can review indeed.

And the first point I would like to make is that the administration after 20 years of the post-Cold War world put these strategic nuclear issues -- the treaty in the center of their relationship. By that it's re-militarizing their relationship and puts something that was the defining feature of the Cold War front and center in their relationship. And the question is, why do we have to do that more than 20 years after the Berlin wall went down?

I do not think that the main challenges of U.S.-Russian relations ...

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