Putin hails domestic progress, stands firm against West at Kremlin press event

www.chinaview.cn 2008-02-15 00:42:48

MOSCOW, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) --

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday expressed optimism about his country's future development and stood firm on some of the disputes with the West in his annual press conference in the Kremlin.

The Russian leader, who is set to leave office in May, said he is satisfied with his eight years in office.

"I am sure I do not feel ashamed before the citizens who twice voted for me as president of the Russian Federation. All these eight years I have been dedicating all of myself to this," Putin told some 1,400 journalists attending the event, which may be his last Kremlin set piece to the press.

Putin said he managed to avoid major mistakes and achieved the goals he set for himself during his presidency, adding that the year 2007 was a "very successful" year for Russia economically.

"Russia's economic growth hit 8.1 percent last year and its purchasing power ranked seventh among world economies," he said.

"We have restored the foundations of the Russian economy on an entirely new market base and are steadily turning into one of the economic leaders," he said.

Asked about his possible role as prime minister after he leaves office as president, Putin said Russia will properly arrange relations between the president and government.

The president will set outlines and directions for national development while the government will be responsible for substantial work such as drafting budgets and carrying out social projects, Putin said.

The Russian leader said his preferred successor, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, will be an "effective" president.

Putin, who has agreed to be prime minister if Medvedev wins the election, said he's not addicted to power and will abide by the constitution, which bars him from seeking a third consecutive term.

"I was never tempted to run for a third term. I decided on the very first day of my presidency that I would not breach the Russian constitution," he said.

But he indicated he would still have a strong role in Russia for the years to come.

"I will be involved in the same tasks as when I was president," he said. As long as Medvedev is president, "I will continue working."

　　NO APPETITE FOR CONFRONTATION

While commenting on Ukraine's possible accession to NATO, Putin warned Russia may target its missiles at Ukraine.

"We will have to target our missiles at sites which, in our opinion, may threaten our national security," he said.

Putin, however, said Russia does not intend to seek confrontation with any country and does not want a repeat of the Cold War.

"We will never slide into a confrontation, but we believe it will be right to fight for our interests just as our partners do," he said.

"The presumption that we want to return to the Cold War era is a very bold presumption. We are not interested in this," he said.

On the status of Kosovo, Putin said that support for its unilateral declaration of independence is "immoral" and "illegal."

Putin called on the concerned parties to abide by U.N. resolutions and urged the European Union not to adopt double standards over Kosovo.

Russia strongly opposes the unilateral proclamation of independence by Kosovo, a breakaway Serbian province mostly Albanian in ethnicity.

Kosovo, which has been administered by the United Nations since1999, is expected to unilaterally declare independence after talks failed to resolve its future status.

　　RUSSIA-CHINA RELATIONS

The Russian president hailed the partnership between Russia and China as a key factor in ensuring strategic stability in the world.

"An important interaction factor is the fact that the partnership between Russia and China is an important stabilizing factor in the world," Putin said.

China, as one of Russia's strategic partners, is enjoying fast economic growth and the increasing trade and economic cooperation between the two countries has boosted bilateral ties, Putin said.

Bilateral cooperation will expand in fields such as trade and economy, science and technology, aviation and space research, and environmental protection, he said.

"China is one of the few countries with which we have very close and long-term cooperation... I simply have no doubt that we will keep this high level of trust between our two countries and will achieve new successes, primarily in the economic area," said Putin.

Putin vows to develop ties with next U.S. president

www.chinaview.cn 2008-02-14 21:29:58

MOSCOW, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- President Vladimir Putin on Thursday pledged Russia's efforts to continue developing a "partnership dialogue" with the United States.

Regardless of who wins the U.S presidential election, Moscow "will respect the choice of the American people and will cooperate with any president, if he wants it," Putin said at his annual press conference in the Kremlin.

"Whatever they say during the election campaign, the fundamental interests of Russia and the United States will inevitably push the leadership of both countries towards developing a positive and, at least, partnership dialogue," he said.

Three U.S. presidential hopefuls -- Democrats Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and Republican John McCain -- are leading the ongoing presidential nomination races.

Putin is expected to step down after the March presidential election due to a constitutional ban on a third consecutive term.

Ties between Moscow and Washington dipped in recent years due to an array of disputes, including U.S. plans to deploy elements of its missile defense system in eastern Europe.

Nearly 1,400 domestic and foreign journalists attended the three-hour news conference, possibly Putin's last press briefing as president.

Putin says Russia to take counter measures against U.S. missile defense

www.chinaview.cn 2008-02-14 17:51:41

MOSCOW, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia "would have to take counter measures" against a U.S.-planned missile defense system in Ukraine.

"Russia would have to take counter measures ... and target those which we think will pose threat to us," Putin said at his annual and maybe the last press conference before he steps down after a March 2 presidential election.

The marathon conference in Kremlin is attended by nearly 1,400 domestic and foreign journalists and expected to last for three hours.

Washington has pledged to base missile interceptors in Poland and a radar station in the Czech Republic as part of a project to extend the missile defense system to Europe.

Moscow strongly opposes the plan, saying it poses a threat to its security while Washington says the system is aimed at states and groups in the Middle East which are seeking weapons of mass destruction, not against Russia.

"By fanning anti-Russian sentiments in Poland, it's easier to pass a decision on fielding missiles in that country. What should Russia do? In that event, one will have to re-target parts of our missile systems at the facilities which, as we believe, will be a threat to us," Putin said.

"The level of security in Europe will be decreased. I don't understand why ... We now live without any re-targeting. Why change the situation for the worse?" he said.

Speaking after talks with Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenkoat the Kremlin last week, Putin told reporters that Russia, in response to a possible deployment of elements of the planned U.S. missile shield in Ukraine, "would have to target its offensive rocket systems at Ukraine."

Editor: Yao Siyan

Putin says relations between president, gov't to be properly arranged

www.chinaview.cn 2008-02-14 20:31:45

MOSCOW, Feb. 14 (Xinhua) -- President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday Russia will properly arrange relations between the president and government, indicating his new role as prime minister after the March presidential vote.

The Russian leader, who is due to leave office in May, said his endorsed successor, First Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, will be an "effective" president.

Putin, who has agreed to take the post of prime minister if Medvedev wins the election, said he's not addicted to power and will abide by the constitution, which bars him from seeking a third consecutive term after eight years in office.

He also slammed the refusal by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe to send observers for the upcoming election.

"We will fulfill obligations to international organizations...but we will not do as the others tell us to," Putin told his annual press conference at the Kremlin.

Editor: Yao Siyan

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