Dmitry Medvedev is sworn in as the new
Russian President in Kremlin's throne room, to replace his long-time
mentor, the powerful Vladimir Putin, May 7, 2008. Dmitry Medvedev was
sworn in as Russian president in a solemn ceremony in the Kremlin's throne
room on Wednesday, beginning an unprecedented period of dual rule with his
predecessor Vladimir Putin.(Xinhua Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
MOSCOW, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Dmitry Medvedev was sworn in as
Russia's new president Wednesday, succeeding mentor and endorser Vladimir Putin
two months after an overwhelming victory in the country's presidential election.
Putin's eight-year presidency was characterized by a
booming economy and political stability at home, and Medvedev is expected to
continue his predecessor's policies. However, the 42-year-old new head of state
will likely also be confronted with many challenges and difficulties, analysts
say.
CONTINUITY OF
POLICY
In his speech after taking the oath during the
inauguration ceremony at the Great Kremlin Palace's St. Andrew Hall, Medvedev
spoke highly of Putin's contribution during his two terms in office and pledged
to continue his policies, which have "set up strong foundations for long-term
development, for decades of free and stable development."
"This unique chance is something we must use to the
maximum, so that Russia becomes one of the best countries in the world... This
is our strategy and guideline for years to come," said Medvedev, a former law
professor and first deputy prime minister.
"I consider my primary task to be the protection and
further development of civil and economic freedoms, and the creation of new
great opportunities for people's self-fulfillment," he said.
Medvedev also pledged to promote the rule of law,
eliminate corruption, improve people's living standards, stimulate private
investment and boost industrial and agricultural growth.
CHALLENGES AHEAD
The greatest challenge Medvedev faces on taking
office is maintaining the tempo of Russia's economic development.
Inflation in the country reached double-digits in
late 2007, according to the Federal State Statistics Service.
The inflation is pushed by a huge inflow of capital
at a time when global oil and food prices are witnessing a remarkable hike,
posing both economic and political challenges for Russia, an emerging market.
Soaring oil prices during Putin's term led to an
inflow of petro-dollars, which boosted the economy of the energy-rich nation.
However, given its heavy dependence on energy exports, there are suspicions
about how long the boom will last.
According to the Federal State Statistics Service,
the Russian economy grew at an annual rate of over 7 percent in the past five
years, except for 2005 when its GDP expanded only 6.4 percent.
The share of oil and gas in Russia's GDP has
increased from 12.7 percent in 1999 to 31.6 percent in 2007, and natural
resources account for 80 percent of its exports, according to the Institute of
Economic Analysis.
The new president is expected to reform the executive
and legal branches to better administrate the country and facilitate economic
development, analysts say.
Another challenge for Medvedev would be finding the
best way to deal with the West and some neighboring countries, ties with whom
soured over such issues as the gas price dispute, the planned U.S. missile
shield deployment in eastern Europe and the eastward expansion of the North
Atlantic Treaty Organization.
PUTIN'S ROLE
Speaking at Medvedev's inauguration ceremony, Putin
called on the Russian nation support Medvedev and continue on the path toward
national development.
"It is now very important to continue the already
chosen course of the country's development, guided by citizens' interests, which
has already justified itself," Putin told the assembled lawmakers, government
officials and foreign diplomats.
The former president's achievements during his two
terms, including the consolidation of the Kremlin's power and the improvement of
the economy, won him enormous support among Russians.
Just hours after Medvedev took office, Russia's
Viktor Zubkov-led cabinet tendered its resignation and Medvedev nominated Putin
as prime minister.
The State Duma or lower house of parliament is
expected to meetThursday to vote on Putin's nomination, said Duma Speaker Boris
Gryzlov.
It is widely believed that Putin will continue to
wield considerable influence in his new role of prime minister and, together
with strong ally Medvedev, will work to maintain Russia's stability, boost its
economy and promote its influence on the international stage.
MOSCOW, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Russia's new president Dmitry Medvedev was sworn in on Wednesday, succeeding Vladimir Putin two months after he swept the country's presidential election.
The inauguration ceremony was held at the St. Andrew Hall of the Great Kremlin Palace in central Moscow at noon and attended by senior officials as well as foreign guests. Full story
MOSCOW, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Russia's new president Dmitry
Medvedev submitted his predecessor Vladimir Putin's nomination as prime minister
to the State Duma, the lower house of parliament, the Kremlin press service said
on Wednesday.
Putin's nomination is expected to be approved by the
State Duma at an extraordinary plenary session of the house that will begin at
noon on Thursday. Full story
MOSCOW, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Russia's new President Dmitry Medvedev said on
Wednesday that he will improve the citizen's living standard, infrastructure,
boost innovation as well as stimulate private investment and the development of
industry and agriculture.
He made the remarks after swearing in as president at his
inauguration ceremony at the Kremlin. Full story
MOSCOW, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Russia's Viktor Zubkov-led
cabinet has tendered its resignation, as Russia's new president Dmitry Medvedev
took office on Wednesday, Itar-Tass reported.
Zubkov signed the order in compliance with the Russian
Constitution and relevant laws, said the Cabinet's press-service. Full story
MOSCOW, May 6 (Xinhua) -- Russia's president-elect Dmitry
Medvedev received his credentials from the country's election watchdog on the
eve of his inauguration, the Kremlin said Tuesday.
Vladimir Churov, the chairman of the Central Election
Commission, handed Medvedev the documents during a work meeting in Moscow,
Interfax news agency reported. Full story
Russian President Vladimir Putin (2nd
L), President-elect Dmitry Medvedev (2nd R) and United Russia party leader
Boris Gryzlov (L) arrive to attend the congress of the ruling United
Russia party in Moscow, April 15, 2008. (Xinhua Photo) Photo
Gallery>>>
MOSCOW, April 15 (Xinhua) -- Russian President-elect
Dmitry Medvedev on Tuesday refused to join the United Russia party, which holds
two-thirds majority in parliament.
"United Russia is of course a party of like-minded people
and a party close to me ideologically. But my direct participation would be
premature," Medvedev, who will succeed outgoing President Vladimir Putin, told
the party's congress in Moscow. Full story
MOSCOW, April 8 (Xinhua) -- Russia is ready to enter the
World Trade Organization (WTO) this year, President-elect Dmitry Medvedev said
here Tuesday.
"We are really ready to join the WTO, we are quite
capable of completing this process within this year," Medvedev was quoted by the
Itar-Tass news agency as saying, while speaking to members of the Russian Union
of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RUIE). Full story
LONDON, March 25 (Xinhua) -- Russian President-elect
Dmitry Medvedev has warned that granting NATO membership to the former Soviet
republics of Ukraine and Georgia could threaten European security, the Financial
Times reported Tuesday.
Medvedev's comments will step up pressure on the alliance
not to allow the two states to join NATO's "membership action plan" at a summit
in Bucharest next week, the newspaper said. Full story
MOSCOW, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Russia's president-elect
Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday that he would strive to improve government
structure and address the issues raised by the incumbent President Vladimir
Putin.
"I am ready to start working on the issues you
(Putin) mentioned and look at the structure of the government and deal with the
problems you raised," said Medvedev, Russia's first deputy prime minister, who
has won the country's fifth presidential election by a landslide. Full story
MOSCOW, March 3 (Xinhua) -- Russian presidential
candidate Dmitry Medvedev pledged to establish "friendly and partnership
relations" with incumbent President Vladimir Putin, hours after official figures
show that he has won the state's fifth presidential election.
"I would say that my relations with Putin should be
based on several elements. The first element is that these should be fully
friendly and partnership relations based on the fact that we have been working
together for a long time and trust each other," he told a press conference in
Moscow early Monday morning. Full story
