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UPDATE 1-Medvedev says Romney's anti-Russia comment smacks of Hollywood

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Tue Mar 27, 2012 3:19pm EDT

* Medvedev says Romney's remark evokes Cold War

* Foreign Ministry dismisses it as campaign rhetoric

* Lawmaker: US Republicans reviving anti-Russian themes (Adds remarks by Russian foreign ministry, lawmaker, context)

By Alexei Anishchuk

SEOUL, March 27 (Reuters) - Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday a comment by U.S. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, branding Russia the "number one geopolitical foe", smacked of Hollywood.

Romney was speaking on CNN in response to a conversation in Seoul on missile defence between Medvedev and U.S. President Barack Obama.

"Regarding ideological clichés, every time this or that side uses phrases like 'enemy number one', this always alarms me, this smells of Hollywood and certain times (of the past)," Medvedev said at the end of a nuclear security summit in the South Korean capital.

"I would recommend all U.S. presidential candidates ... do two things. First, when phrasing their position one needs to use one's head, one's good reason, which would not do harm to a presidential candidate.

"Also, (one needs to) look at his watch: we are in 2012 and not the mid-1970s."

Obama made clear on Tuesday that it is highly unlikely the United States and Russia will bridge their differences over U.S. plans for a European missile shield before the U.S. presidential election, staunchly defending remarks caught on camera the day before with Medvedev.

Obama was overheard assuring Medvedev, who will hand over the presidency to newly elected Vladimir Putin in May, that he would have "more flexibility" to deal with arms-control issues after the Nov. 6 presidential ballot, drawing sharp criticism back home from his Republican foes.

Romney called Obama's comments "alarming and troubling".

"AMERICAN HEGEMONY"

Medvedev and Obama signed a landmark nuclear arms reduction treaty in 2010, part of a "reset" in relations, but the former Cold War foes are at odds over the U.S. plans for a European anti-missile shield.

Russia says the United States is pushing ahead with its plans despite promises of cooperation. Moscow is pressing for a legally binding guarantee that the system would not be aimed to undermine Russia's offensive nuclear arsenal.

That demand is a non-starter because of opposition in the United States, particularly among Republicans in Congress, to any restrictions on U.S. missile defences.

In Moscow, Russia's Foreign Ministry dismissed Romney's remark as campaign rhetoric.

"It's perfectly clear that these statements are dictated by ... the political struggle that is going on now in connection with the upcoming elections in the United States," ministry spokesman Alexander Lukashevich said.

A senior lawmaker from Putin's ruling party said Romney's remark went "far deeper" than political posturing, warning a Republican win would likely revive a "line of confrontation with Russia" rooted in the administration of George W. Bush.

"It's clear that this is a new edition of the old doctrine of American hegemony, and Romney is not alone in this approach," said Alexei Pushkov, chairman of the international affairs committee in the State Duma, the lower parliament house.

"There is a whole group of senators who specialise in promoting the idea of U.S. domination of world affairs and ... in anti-Russian themes," he told a news conference.

"The Republicans are going with the ideology of George Bush and John McCain, in essence, and on this basis they want to return to power. And that's the problem." (Additional reporting by Steve Gutterman in Moscow; Writing by Nick Macfie; Editing by Ed Lane and Alessandra Rizzo)

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Comments (3)
verycold wrote:
Two things about this blunder. Why on earth would ANY president say such a thing to another leader? Why is Obama hampered at this time to say what he plans to do later? If he thinks he is right, and can defend his position, please let the voters know now instead of later being honest when we can no longer vote if we do not agree with his position.

Russia has YET to once back the US when it matters. They never will. That doesn’t make them an enemy of the US, but clearly not a friend. It is what it is. The US always gets the short end of the stick because we back down with Russia letting them have their way believing they are our friend. That is pure nonsense.

Mar 27, 2012 5:03pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
LAUGHSALOT420 wrote:
I did not realize they still remembered Reagan and Hollywood in Russia. Last time I checked, they, the Russians, still had nuclear missiles pointing at us. Or did they all go somewhere else, and no one told us?

Mar 27, 2012 10:02pm EDT  --  Report as abuse
Medvedev’s arguments are valid. It is quite disturbing that Romney should try to appeal for votes by depicting Russia in an incorrect, old world way of thinking. It seems as though the Republicans would find any excuse to go to war with anybody rather than trying to engage in conversation and improve relations- especially with Russia in order to tackle difficult issues such as nuclear weapons or the Syris crisis. On that subject- Romney should re think his statements as Russia said it’s ready to support a United Nations resolution endorsing Kofi Annan’s plan for settling the Syrian crisis and they will provide any assistance at any level. Please visit www.russia-insights.com for more comment.

Mar 28, 2012 7:48am EDT  --  Report as abuse
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