Russian bear must be modern to be attractive: Medvedev

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev speaks during an interview in Moscow July 26, 2009.

MOSCOW (Reuters) - The Russian bear needs to be attractive to be respected by the rest of the world and it cannot become stronger without good foreign relations, President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday.

"Our image needs to be comfortable for those who deal with us," Medvedev said in an interview to NTV television due to be broadcast at 1500 GMT.

"We should not be prickly and hard to approach, but at the same time we should be able to give a firm response when circumstances call for it," he added, according to a transcript provided by the Kremlin.

Asked whether he felt uncomfortable with Russia's image of a bear, Medvedev, whose own family name derives from the word "bear" said: "It's an image close to my heart."

Medvedev took over last year from Vladimir Putin, whose eight-year presidency coincided with a strong economic boom on the back of high energy prices and a rebirth of national pride in the country which lost the Cold War.

Putin's assertive foreign policy, his drive to revive Russia's military might and his stand-off with the West over a range of issues from Kosovo to Iran has revived fears of a return to Cold War-era confrontation.

The global economic crisis has hit Russia hard, driving oil prices from over $140 per barrel a year ago to just over $60 now and amplifying fears in the West that Russia could choose to isolate itself in hard times.

Putin, now Russia's prime minister, remains more popular than Medvedev and his philosophy of distrust of the West is still popular among many Russians.

In a message to nationalists at home, Medvedev said better ties with the West were in Russia's interests and prosperity at home would help the country's image abroad.

"If we want to present the right image to the world, we need to resolve our pressing problems, above all our social and economic problems," Medvedev said.

"We are striving to create a modern, competitive country," he added. "We can only create such a country if we have normal ties with the world."

LONG-TERM STRATEGY

Medvedev has made modernising the Russian economy and introducing the rule of law his top priorities. He has said the economic crisis has only emphasized the need for these changes.

He told NTV creating closer ties with the West was a long-term strategy. "We cannot produce certain technologies, certain services ourselves ... even if we create the most developed society and the most powerful economy," he said.

As part of his rapprochement with the West, Medvedev has engaged with U.S. President Barack Obama in "resetting" relations between Moscow and Washington.

Russia and the United States are working on a new nuclear arms cuts pact and cooperating in the movement of U.S. troops in Afghanistan. Medvedev has also praised better cooperation with the United States on Iran and North Korea.

But despite this new atmosphere, both sides still have a long way to go to agree on issues like prospective NATO membership for ex-Soviet states, U.S. missile defense plans in Europe and Russia's military action in Georgia last year.

In a move that has irked Moscow, U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden followed Obama's visit to Russia earlier this month with a tour of Georgia and Ukraine, pledging Washington's support to their quest for NATO membership.

Medvedev said there were limits to how far Russia would compromise for better relations with the United States.

"We watch without jealousy as other states build their relations with our international partners, including such an important partner as the United States," he said.

"But we don't think it is correct to drag other states into military and political alliances against the will of their people," he said, referring to Ukraine and Georgia.

(Editing by Philippa Fletcher)