In a confidential report, Russia outlined a shift toward a more pragmatic foreign policy aimed at building closer ties with the United States and Europe to help modernize its outdated industries. The program detailed a shift away from the more confrontational line the Kremlin had taken in past years. It singled out the Obama administration for praise for its more cooperative approach to Moscow. A Russian official confirmed the authenticity of the document, which was addressed to President Dmitry Medvedev by Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. It was first reported by Russian Newsweek, which ran the document's full text on its website. A Kremlin spokesman said the program has not been officially approved. But some elements, such as a deal with the US to reduce nuclear weapons, have already been implemented. Its spirit was reflected when US and European troops for the first time marched alongside Russian forces during Moscow's annual military parade marking the end of World War II. The report also includes insights into Moscow's relationships with former Soviet republics. It calls for taking advantage of the global financial crisis to acquire industrial and energy assets in the Baltics, Belarus, Ukraine and Central Asia -- all areas where Russian influence is a sensitive political issue.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703565804575238291897667152.html
