The U.S. has “a powerful interest in Russia's continued economic resurgence and in its integration into the global economy”, said William Burns, U.S. ambassador to the Russian Federation. On October 23, 2007, he gave a keynote speech at the annual meeting of the U.S.- Russia Business Council (USRBC). Expert Online was granted exclusive use of the text of his speech “Russia’s Economy and Prospects for U.S.-Russian Economic Relations”
Òhank you for that kind introduction. And thank you for this opportunity to speak to a group for which I have enormous respect, about a subject which matters enormously to the future of Russia and relations between our two countries. This year marks the 200th anniversary of our formal diplomatic ties, and it is a natural moment to take a step back, and reflect on where we've been, and where we're going.
That is not exactly an easy thing to do these days. In our broader relationship, mutual frustration often obscures mutual interest. Russians think that Americans tend to take Russia for granted, and are too quick to lecture, and too prone to double standards. Americans think that Russians tend to assume the worst about American motives, and are too consumed with the centralization of power, and too quick to see enemies at the gate.
In our thinking about today's Russia, both Russians and those of us who care about Russia and recognize its importance in the world, tend naturally to focus on the "who" questions: Who is going to succeed President Putin? Who is going to occupy what positions after the Duma and Presidential elections? Who is going to prevail over whom?
While the answers to those questions obviously matter greatly, for all sorts of reasons, it seems to me that it is the answers to the "what" questions that will shape Russia's future beyond the 2008 transition, and determine whether Russia will grow and prosper, or whether its current excesses will eat up its successes. What is Russia going to do with its hard-won stability? What is to be done? What is Russia going to do with the moment of energy-driven economic opportunity that lies before it? What is it going to do with the chance to diversify beyond oil and gas? What is it going to do to anchor its economic progress in the rule of law and the modern institutions needed to sustain it? What is it going to do with its reborn role in the world? Only Russians can answer those questions, but how they do so will have profound implications for the rest of us.
William J. Burns Photo: ITAR-TASS
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