Russia not afraid of a Cold War: Medvedev

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says Russia neither fears nor seeks a new Cold War, but it depends on the West whether such a war will break out again.

Russia neither fears nor seeks a new Cold War, but it depends on the West whether such a war will break out again, Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Tuesday.

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"We are not afraid of anything, including the prospect of a new Cold War, but we don't want one, and in this situation everything depends on the position of our partners," Medvedev told the Russia Today television.

They (Western countries) have to understand Moscow's position on Abkhazia and South Ossetia (Georgia's breakaway provinces), if they want to maintain a good relationship with Russia, he said.

Medvedev said the US presidential candidates may make use of the current situation in their election campaigns, but "voters are indifferent to events abroad".

The president said recognising the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia was in line with the international law.

"Each case of recognising independence is a special case," Medvedev said, noting Kosovo was a special case (West supported it as a special case) during its independence debate.

The move has been criticised by some Western countries, saying it will further strain its ties with Russia, already deteriorated due to the recent clashes over South Ossetia.