Russia's next president, Dmitry Medvedev, staked his authority over Russia's foreign policy on Sunday, answering burning questions about how he would divide power with his mentor Vladimir Putin, who has promised to become prime minsiter. ( dpa )
"It's quite simple. In short the constitution leaves the president in charge of foreign policy," Medvedev said in his first meeting with reporters after news of his win in Sunday elections.
He said he would assert " Russia's independence in foreign politics and Russia's right to protect its interests," in his strongest foreign policy statement since the beginning of a campaign built on domestic issues.
Medvedev also said his first visit as president would be to the Commonwealth of Independent States, as the former republics of the USSR are known, because they were a priority in Russia's foreign policy.