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Ever since the early 1990s, two fellow
St. Petersburgers, Vladimir Putin and Dmitri Medvedev, have worked
side-by-side. The 42-year-old Medvedev — formerly Russia's
first deputy prime minister and Gazprom Chairman — took over
from President Vladimir Putin in early May 2008. We present Medvedev's
take on the challenges that await him.
What do you view as the main
task of your presidency?
"Modern Russia has every opportunity to become a healthy, successful nation. In principle, our main desire is not to miss this, our, opportunity."
(January 2008)
What domestic challenges await you?
"What is so dear for us today? Stability, improvement of the quality of life and the hope for durable and steady development in education, health care and housing construction."
(December 2007)
How has Russia's role in the world changed over the last two decades?
"The attitude toward Russia in the world is different now. We are not being lectured like schoolchildren - we are respected and we are deferred to."
(December 2007)
How will you enhance Russia's newfound influence?
"The role for Russia in the international community is defined by the economic power and political health of Russia. If we have this combination of economic power and political health, Russia will play an active role."
(December 2007)
What goals will shape your foreign policy?
"This may seem obvious, but Russia's role in the international community depends on its economic might and a healthy political system. If we ensure both elements, Russia will play an increasingly active role in the world."
(December 2007)
How do you characterize Russian-European relations?
"Russia is part of Europe and European civilization. This does not mean that we should forget about other partners. Russia must look in all directions."
(December 2007)
Can Russia prosper without freedom?
"We are well aware that no non-democratic state has ever become truly prosperous for one reason: Freedom is better than non-freedom."
(December 2007)
But is unfettered capitalism always the best option?
"We live in a world where knowledge and information have made enormous strides, yet millions of children are not in school."
(July 2005)
Why has democracy had difficulty gaining a foothold in Russia?
"The basic values of humanity were first formulated
a long time ago, but applying them to the specificities of Russia's
situation has sometimes been a problem. And the main issue is how
to ensure that our national tradition reconciles with a fundamental
set of democratic values. This is a challenge that Russia's political
and intellectual elite have struggled with for 150 years."
(January 2008)
Do you feel Russia has successfully met this challenge?
"I believe what we have in Russia is real democracy."
(December 2007)
Last updated
August 17, 2008
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Two-thirds
of Arabs live in countries without significant oil exports. 
A
non-native speaker would need to understand about 1,000 words to comprehend
simplified English.
While
living in Indonesia as a child, Barack Obama went by the name Barry
Soetoro — using his stepfather's family name.
Youths
aged 15-24 in Asia make up 25% of the working-age population but 50%
of the unemployed.
With
115 billion barrels, Iraq has the world's third-largest proven oil
reserves, after Saudi Arabia and Iran — but ranks 13th by production.
During
the Great Depression, the number of U.S. millionaires decreased by
about 75%.
Worldwide,
producing one kilogram of grain on average requires one ton of water
for irrigation.
Hollywood
produces about 500 films a year — half the number from India
— but has ten times the sales.
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thousands of years, few people traveled more than 30 miles from their
place of birth.
This
figure, calculated from the places mentioned in the Gospels, is roughly
the farthest Jesus Christ ever traveled from his home.