Meet the Russian 'Tony Snow'
Russian spokesman shows an openness to the press.
KENNEBUNKPORT, Maine, July 1, 2007 — -- Maybe it is because I lived through the Cold War, but this morning when I met Vladimir Putin's spokesman for the first time, I was stunned. I was expecting someone grayer, grimmer and far less gregarious than Dmitry Peskov.
I first spotted Peskov making the rounds in front of the cameras out on a grassy perch overlooking the water. Tall and slim with a broad and constant smile, I first mistook him for White House spokesman Tony Snow. As Peskov moved closer, I could see he was a blonde and sported a moustache, quite unlike Snow. But the similarities between the two men far outweighed the obvious differences.
Peskov told me right away that President Putin wanted to "discuss the potential positive elements" of the relationship with President Bush. "Let's not forget that they do exist. So we're not, let's say, having only bad things in our relationship."
This was already starting to sound like a White House briefing. It continued. The Russian spokesman thanked Bush for hosting Putin, and he lowered expectations for any kind of a breakthrough during the meetings.
But then, a remarkable thing happened. Peskov actually started giving me some interesting details about how Putin's domestic agenda sometimes influences what he says on the international stage. Anyone who has covered world leaders knows this is true, but they rarely admit it.
"It happens sometimes," said Peskov, "that bilateral relationships are being victimized for the sake of domestic interests during election campaigns."
Could it be possible that I was getting more openness from the Russians than the White House? Or maybe it is just that the Russians aren't nearly as good at briefing reporters as the White House?
Oh, well, they'll learn.
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