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Medvedev to continue reforms he’s started - Dvorkovich

“He will continue them for many years, possibly, in the next fifteen years or even longer than that,” Dvorkovich said

MOSCOW, October 9 (Itar-Tass) — Russian presidential aide Arkadiy Dvorkovich believes that Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will go ahead with reforms, which he has started in Russia in recent years.

“He will continue them for many years, possibly, in the next fifteen years or even longer than that,” Dvorkovich said in a conversation with famous American TV journalist Larry King on Ekho Moskvy radio station.

Dvorkovich didn’t specify in what capacity Medvedev would continue his reforms for the next 15 years. However, other participants in the discussion thought that his response might indicate that the incumbent head of state would again run for president in 2018 or 2024.

Late in September, Medvedev suggested nominating Vladimir Putin as a presidential candidate in 2012 at the United Russia Party congress. Putin thinks that if United Russia wins the Duma elections, Medvedev should head the new cabinet of ministers. After the elections, the incumbent president is ready to work with a fundamentally renewed government on a practical modernization course.

Arkadiy Dvorkovich also hopes to work in this new government. “If President Medvedev becomes prime minister after the elections I hope that he will offer me to continue working with him in the government. It’s highly probable that I am going to accept his offer,” Dvorkovich went on to say. He made it clear that he had no plans to become the next president’s aide.

However, Medvedev thinks there should be no rush in building plans with regards to who’s going to head the government after presidential elections in March 2012.

“Let’s not put the cart before the horse. So far I have another job. If all of us perform well at the elections, then we will be able to talk about that,” Medvedev said at a meeting with United Russia activists in Krasnodar on Saturday.

American TB journalist Larry King would also like to interview Medvedev. King is staying in Moscow these days. He’s interviewed Vladimir Putin twice but he’s never talked to Medvedev. Larry King is planning to visit Moscow again in May 2012 shortly after the presidential elections in Russia.