NW RUSSIA REACTIONS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VISIT

UNCLAS ST PETERSBURG 000094


E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: RS OPRC PREL
SUBJECT: NW RUSSIA REACTIONS TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S VISIT


1. (SBU) Summary. Reaction to President Obama's recent Moscow
visit generally has been positive in Northwest Russia, despite
some lingering apprehensions about the future course of
U.S.-Russian relations. Local polls show the general attitude
towards the United States in St. Petersburg following the visit
improved slightly, although that improvement varied depending on
the demographic category. Most Russians we talked to here after
the visit viewed it positively as an important bridge-building
step. Some local contacts, however, expressed doubts about
whether the visit would produce any substantive, positive
changes in U.S.-Russia relations. End Summary.


2. (SBU) We recently discussed President Obama's July visit to
Moscow with a well-respected political science professor from a
university in the Arkhangelsk region. The professor said
Russians thought President Obama's visit had provided a useful
foundation for improved bilateral relations. It was evident
that President Obama had forged a closer relationship with
Russian President Medvedev than he had with Prime Minister
Putin, he added, although some Russians thought that President
Obama did so in order to drive a wedge between the "power
tandem" of President Medvedev and PM Putin. Nevertheless, the
President's visit also firmly demonstrated that the United
States wanted a strong ally to work with on an array of issues.


3. (SBU) In our post-visit discussion with a group of local
academics, some analysts stressed that while it appeared a
positive relationship had developed between President Obama and
Medvedev, PM Putin still held the key levers of power when it
came to substantially reshaping foreign policy. This was
problematic, they said, since Putin had used the United States
to his advantage in the past as a foil in order to justify his
tightened grip on domestic policy and developments. As a
result, regardless of any genuine desire on either side to
improve cooperation, Putin would not likely support
significantly improved bilateral relations unless they would
provide substantial benefit to Russia, while allowing his
government's current internal policies and grip on the "vertical
of power" to remain intact.


4. (SBU) Most of the Consul General's contacts, including
prominent cultural figures, academics, and other members of the
local intelligentsia, were positive about the visit. The
majority, including some supporters of PM Putin, expressed the
hope that it would lead to a more productive, balanced
relationship. Business leaders said they were hopeful a more
balanced relationship would also lead to improved trade and
investment ties between the two countries.


5. (SBU) A prominent opposition political leader in St.
Petersburg said he believed President Obama was a leader with
strong and sincere beliefs regarding the positive role democracy
could play in Russia. He also viewed the Obama administration's
"reset" as a refreshing departure from past USG approaches to
Russia. That said, he expressed disappointment with the
President's remarks on civil society, asserting that they
appeared to fall short in comparison to his remarks on other
topics. In addition, the President had not, in his view,
emphasized strongly enough the need for greater Russian
adherence to international human rights norms. Although he
believed the "reset" between the United States and Russia was an
important step forward, he also said much work remained to be
done to reform Russian internal policies - which he hoped the
United States would actively support.


6. (SBU) Media coverage specific to President Obama's visit was
generally limited in St. Petersburg, although it did provide
interesting insights into Russian perceptions of the visit. One
prominent analyst noted with approval that it was apparent
President Obama purposefully had refrained from making his
relationship with the Russian leadership personal, and had
instead stuck to a clear focus on accomplishing concrete goals
at the summit. The analyst further asserted that it appeared
President Obama genuinely wanted to improve the tone of
U.S./Russia relations, and that his actions would in time
positively alter the Russian public's perception of America.


7. (SBU) Several discussions we had with typical St. Petersburg
citizens, as well as a poll performed by the regional polling
company ASI, suggested the visit only marginally affected the
average Russian's opinion with respect to the United States.
The positive impact of the visit was much more notable among
younger demographic groups, with an increase of 20-30 percent
expressing a favorable view of the U.S., according to the poll.
These results were mirrored in our discussions with local
citizens. One journalism professor at a local university told
us that the visit had been positively received by the majority
of his students. Older members of local families we talked to,
however, were much more restrained in expressing positive
feelings about America in general. While most interlocutors
noted a positive difference in the tone of US foreign policy
under the new administration, most were personally ambivalent
about Russia's relations with the US, and believed that
political developments in Russia were best left to the
politicians and intellectuals to guide and shape.


8. (SBU) Comment. The general feeling towards the United States
among contacts in our district, and especially among younger
Russians, seems to have improved following President Obama's
visit. Though this is a move in the right direction, some
Russians in our district continue to view the U.S. either with
ambivalence or negatively, in large part due to the deep seated
and long-standing cynicism regarding what America's real
intentions are towards Russia - a cynicism aided and abetted by
anti-American content in some local and regional press.


GWALTNEY