Medvedev congratulates Obama on Independence Day

Russian President Dmitry Medvedev sent a message to his U.S. counterpart, Barack Obama, on Monday congratulating him on Independence Day, which the United States celebrates on July 4. "Russian and American relations are traditionally a key factor for the maintenance of security and stability in the world," Medvedev said in his message. "Our countries have recently progressed in the development of constructive and mutually beneficial cooperation in various spheres from offensive arms reduction and to interaction in the spheres of high technologies and innovations," the president added. Medvedev also said he hoped that in the course of the contacts through the year, including Obama's visit to Russia, that both countries will manage to find solutions to a number of key issues that pose interest not only to Russia and the United States, but for the whole world as well.