Medvedev will be a successful President : Ivanov

Moscow, Dec 19 (UNI) Russia's First Deputy Prime Minister Sergei Ivanov today said Dmitry Medvedev will be a successful President.

'' The nomination of Dmitry Medvedev as a presidential candidate puts an end to any gambling on this issue,'' Mr Ivanov told the Rusisan Vesti-24 television channel.

'' Medvedev's nomination puts an end to such speculations and some expectations. Now, everything is extremely clear and understandable,'' he said.

Mr Ivanov pointed out that he had known Mr Medvedev very well and had worked with him ''side-by-side'' for years.

'' I am absolutely convinced that, if elected, he will be a successful president,'' he stressed.

Mr Ivanov was a front-runner for President along with Mr Medvedev before incumbent President Vladimir Putin decided to back Medvedev.

Mr Ivanov also said it was too early to figure out the structure of a Russian government to be formed when the new President takes office.

On Monday, Mr Putin said he would agree to be Prime Minister if Medevedev was elected President, in the March presidential poll.

'' The government structure is not being discussed now, and I think it would be wrong to discuss it now,'' Mr Ivanov said.

'' If it were being discussed now - and it is impossible to discuss it absolutely behind-the-scenes, because we live in the real world - there would have been information leak,'' he said.

He said he intended to continue working in the government at least until May 2008.

'' I will calmly continue performing my duties set by the President as a member of the current government,'' he said adding, '' I believe that I am responsible for quite a serious set of issues. This is not only industry but also transport, communications, space, the Military-Industrial Commission and so on. There's enough work for me.'' UNI