Michael McFaul who is considered to be one of the ideologists of the 'reset' policy with Russia have recently moved to Russia as the new American ambassador.
Taking into account complicated and contradictory relations between Russia and the United States (the situation with Russian elections, issues on missile defense, disagreement over sanctions against Iran), the appointment of Ambassador McFaul gives us the hope that he would contribute to the "reset".
"I think we stick to our policy, which is to say we're going to engage with the Russian government on mutual interests and in parallel and at the same time we're going to engage - and I hope to be a part of this as ambassador - to deepen our engagement with Russian civil society" - McFaul said.
McFaul arrived to Russia with a positive attitude to the mutually beneficial cooperation between two countries he said this in his welcome video posted on the Internet and in his blog on LiveJournal.
But his good intentions and willingness to a constructive dialogue were mistrustfully perceived by Russian television (VGTRK) and by some personalities in social networks. McFaul is accused that he had come to teach us democracy.
Yes, Americans got used to consider their country as an ideal of democracy and to provide their ideas by rather peculiar ways. Nevertheless the appointment of Mr. McFaul as the American Ambassador to Russia is another step taken by President Obama to improve U.S.-Russian relations. But Russian media as usual feels the need to immediately start an anti-American rhetoric.
Perhaps such a reaction of the official television (VGTRK) followed partly due to the fact that besides officials McFaul has already met with representatives of the Russian opposition.
"The most important part of my job will be to foster more contact between the people of the United States and the people of Russia. I'm interested in not only meeting government officials, but people from other political parties and movements, businessmen and women, civil society activists, and regular Russians just like you" - wrote McFaul in his blog.
The significant progress that has been achieved in recent years was discussed at these meetings: a new START treaty, cooperation in the Afghan sector that meets the interests of both countries, cooperation in the field of nonproliferation of nuclear weapons, the positive experience of cooperation for struggle drugs and terrorism, Russia's accession to the WTO. McFaul supports the lifting of Jackson-Vanik amendment against Russia this year.
It is obvious that as a representative the United States McFaul supports the efforts of Russian middle-class to strengthen the supremacy of law and democratic institutions and their wish to be involved in decision making process, to fight corruption and injustice, and he believes this is a step towards building a prosperous and democratic Russia which its citizens try to achieve.
There is a freedom of speech in Russia and everyone can express his opinion, of course, but such sentiments seem to me a relic of the Cold War and the habit of finding conspiracy theory in any America's action.
McFaul promises to contribute to development of American-Russian relations as relations between two strong partners based on mutual interests and respect. This doesn't mean that Russia and the U.S. will not have disagreements between them. We should understand that partnership between Russia and the United States is not only a benefit for our two countries but for all international community.
'I look forward to all that the coming weeks and months have to bring. I'm very excited to be here in Russia in this new job to continue and strengthen the reset. As President Obama told me last week on my last day at the White House, we have entered a new phase in our bilateral relations with some new challenges. But new challenges also create the opportunity for doing important work. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now!'
Therefore, arrogantly criticizing this beneficial for Russia event Russian media present themselves not in the best light.
