Medvedev disagrees with Putin over pace of modernization

"As far as modernization matters are concerned, I may be taking a somewhat different position than the prime minister because, as I understand, he says he believes that the upgrade is quiet, gradual movement, but I think we have a chance and the strength to do this upgrade faster, without harm to what has been done, and to achieve good results, to make a qualitative step forward," said the president. "But for this we are to work hard."

Speaking about the strategy, which the president and prime minister adhere to, Medvedev said that "we have similar or identical positions with Prime Minister Putin."

"We do have the same general education - law, and the set of values that ··we have is very similar," said the head of state.

"We both really want our country to be modern, to be effective, to look good, to let the people live normally, to take reasonable, executable decisions, to secure rights and to have a diversified, modern economy," he said.

"But this does not mean that we have absolutely identical positions regarding the tactics," Medvedev said, noting that "the truth must always be born as a result of collisions of some positions."

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