MOSCOW, Nov 16 (RIA Novosti) - "With Powell's resignation and Condoleezza Rice likely to be appointed to this post, succession in the U.S. foreign policy will be preserved 100%," State Duma international committee chairman Konstantin Kosachev told reporters Tuesday.
Mr. Kosachev stressed that in his opinion, Mr. Powell's resignation from the post of State Secretary was not connected with U.S. problems in Iraq. "Staff decisions on this account are yet to be seen," believes the deputy.
Noting that Mr. Powell's resignation was "an evident loss for international policy," Mr. Kosachev said he believed Ms. Rice to be one of the most experienced and well-trained experts in the George Bush Administration as regards foreign policy.
At the same time, the deputy did not rule out that Mr. Powell's resignation and Ms. Rice's appointment to the post of State Secretary might intensify radical approaches in the foreign policy of the new U.S. presidential administration.
