#9
BBC Monitoring
Liberal MP links future of Russian democracy to US
investment
Source: Ekho Moskvy news agency, Moscow, in Russian 1920 gmt 12 Nov 01
[No dateline as received] If during these days of the summit in the USA no progress in our relations, including economic ties, is achieved, this may lead to a change in Russia's domestic and foreign policies, head of the Union of Rights Forces faction in the State Duma Boris Nemtsov said in a live interview to the Ekho Moskvy radio.
He said the future of freedom in Russia depends on how efficient Russia's cooperation with the West and the US will be. "The danger that democracy may be wound up still exists," Nemtsov said.
"All this talk of ABM and WTO is nothing in comparison to what needs to be done in reality. We need investment, including private investment; we need Eximbank accounts to be unfrozen; we need large-scale projects with the USA. If Putin comes back with at least one project in his hands, it would be a far more powerful argument in favour of cooperation with the US. If Putin comes back empty-handed, he may give up cooperation with the West, which would create a huge problem," Nemtsov said.
He added that now was "the moment of truth when the direction for Russia's development for many years to come is determined. Europe and the USA have to clearly state where they stand."
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