MOSCOW. (RIA Novosti political commentator...

The need for change was the recurrent theme of Medvedev’s address. The president clearly said that we must not wait for change but work to bring it about. He said the time is right for turning Russia into “a fundamentally new global power” and prodding it up “on the civilization ladder.” The country needs “comprehensive modernization based on democratic values,” he said.

The trouble is that Russia can no longer develop on the basis of past achievements in the field of oil and gas, nuclear weapons, or industrial infrastructure. The accomplishments of Soviet professionals are “still keeping the country afloat but their value has depreciated both morally and physically.”

Consequently, we must encourage economic and political reform, even though not all sectors need to be changed radically.

Medvedev said that the development of Russia’s multiparty system is complete and the existing parties have “passed

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