Leaks expose U.S. cynicism, says Medvedev

Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW: Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev has accused the U.S. foreign policy of “cynicism” as revealed by leaked diplomatic cables but made clear they would not affect Moscow's ties with Washington. “These leaks are telling: they show the full measure of cynicism in assessments and judgments that prevail in the foreign policy of… the United States,” said Mr. Medvedev.

“When such judgments become public, they can harm relations with other countries,” he said at a joint press conference with visiting Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.

In the leaked cables, U.S. diplomats described Mr. Medvedev as playing Robin to Prime Minister Vladimir Putin's Batman, and labelled Russia a “mafia state”.

However, Mr. Medvedev shrugged off the unflattering remarks as “nothing dramatic” and said characteristics U.S. officials are given in Russian diplomatic and secret service correspondence are just as critical. “They'd have a whole lot of fun reading them, too.”

Mr. Medvedev ruled out any Russian backlash. “We are not paranoid, and we do not link Russian-American relations with any leaks,” he said.