Originally posted by the Voice of America.
Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America,
a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in
the public domain.


                   Russia Criticizes US Envoy for Accusation

   by VOA News

   Russia has lashed out at U.S. Ambassador Michael McFaul regarding his
   comments that Russia offered Kyrgyzstan money in a bid to shut down a
   U.S. airbase in that country.
   In a statement Tuesday, Russia's Foreign Ministry said McFaul's
   comments were bewildering and misrepresented some of Moscow's foreign
   policy positions.
   The ministry said this is not the first time the envoy has made such
   puzzling remarks.
   McFaul responded on the social network blogging site Twitter by saying
   he is still learning "the craft of speaking more diplomatically."
   The U.S. envoy told a group of students last week at a university in
   Moscow that Russia tried to bribe Kyrgyzstan to close a U.S. military
   base. The United States uses the base to support operations in
   Afghanistan.
   McFaul took over the Moscow post in January. He was one of U.S.
   President Barack Obama's top foreign policy aides, playing a key role
   in the administration's so-called "reset" of ties with Russia. His
   tenure in Moscow has been challenging, due in part to his lack of
   actual diplomatic experience.
   Russia's criticism of McFaul coincides with President Vladimir Putin's
   stepped-up anti-U.S. rhetoric during his recent successful election
   campaign. Putin was elected to a third presidential term in March.
   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.
     __________________________________________________________________

   [1]http://www.voanews.com/content/russia_criticizes_us_envoy_accusation
   _regarding_kyrgyzstan_/1120666.html

References

   1. http://www.voanews.com/content/russia_criticizes_us_envoy_accusation_regarding_kyrgyzstan_/1120666.html