Bush Congratulates Russian President-Elect

WASHINGTON — President Bush has called Russia's new president-elect and has said he hopes to establish a close working relationship that will help them deal with important world issues.

Dmitry Medvedev, the hand-picked successor of Vladimir Putin, won Russia's presidential election with just over 70% of vote, according to final preliminary returns. A White House statement about the telephone call described Mr. Bush as saying that he had read with interest recent remarks by Mr. Medvedev about personal freedoms, independent press, rule of law, and fighting corruption. The statement said that Mr. Bush wished Mr. Medvedev and his family all the best in the lead up to his inauguration in May.