IN HIS OWN WORDS: PUTIN ANSWERS TO THE WORLD’S MEDIA
St Petersburg Times, Russia
Feb 6 2007
President Vladimir Putin began his annual news conference with more
than 1,000 national and international journalists on Thursday with an
introductory speech putting his administration’s achievements into
context. Then Putin opened the floor and took questions. Beginning
with the words: "Thank you for your attention. I am ready now to
answer your questions." What follows is an edited transcript of some
of Putin’s answers.
G. FEIFER (National Public Radio, USA): Last year marked a turning
point for Russia’s foreign policy. Moscow demonstrated that it will
use its energy resources in its own interests. At the same time,
relations with Western countries are at their worst levels since 1990,
perhaps even since 1985.
You said recently that the term ‘superpower’ is an outdated notion
from the Cold War era, and you said that it is other countries that
seek to portray Russia as the enemy. Could you please name these
countries? Does this include Washington and London? If not, who is
it specifically that is trying to damage Russia’s image?
VLADIMIR PUTIN: We are constantly being fed the argument that Russia
is using its current and emerging economic levers to achieve its
foreign policy goals. This is not the case. The Russian Federation
has always abided by all of its obligations fully and completely,
and it will continue to do so.
But we have no obligation to provide huge subsidies to other countries’
economies, subsidies as big as their own national budgets.
No one else does this, and so why are we expected to do it? That is
the first point.
Second, our actions, and the agreements we reach with the transit
countries, are aimed above all at ensuring the interests of our main
consumers. I can assure you that the experts understand this full
well. Just recall how it was when we signed a contract each year
with Ukraine for both gas supplies to Ukraine and for gas transit to
Western Europe, and our consumers in Western Europe always depended
on us being able to reach an agreement with our partners in Ukraine.
But now we have separated these two aspects and created market
conditions for transit.
As I just said, the experts understand this situation very well;
thanking us would be more appropriate, but instead, we see a dishonest
attitude to the interpretation of events taking place. This is,
of course, the work of Russia’s ill-wishers.
I am not suggesting that this is something going on at a state level,
but there are people out there who do not wish Russia well. The people
who write these kinds of things, it’s them who are our ill-wishers. So,
if you write these kinds of things, then you are among their number,
but if you give an accurate and objective portrayal of events, then
you are not included in this category.
YELENA GULSHAKOVA (RIA Novosti): In your opinion, what have been the
past year’s main foreign policy results? Several experts believe that
Russia has created a ring of unfriendly neighbors around itself. Do
you agree with this opinion?
VLADIMIR PUTIN: We are building partner relations with all countries
and of course we have closer relations with several countries – for
example with the CIS as a whole – though there are some problems
there. We admit that in the last little while we have in no way
been able to regulate our relations with Georgia. But we have the
Eurasian Economic Community where integration processes are developing
intensively and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation.
As to our relations with other countries, as a whole we are satisfied
with their development. And you know that praising or taking pleasure
from the fact that you are being praised as you betray national
interests is very simple, but to construct pragmatic, business-based
relations while defending your national interests is not always
possible without a certain amount of tension and problems.
But in those cases I always remember a well-known old saying: "If
you become angry then it means that you are not right". We do not
want complications with anyone. When I hear, as you said, that we are
surrounding ourselves with a ring of malevolence, then it is not so.
Last year, at the beginning of the year, Russia had tense relations
with our Ukrainian friends and partners because of energy, because
of energy transport. One – well, I actually remember who, but I am
not going to say so now – of my European partners said: "Look, there
will be political changes in Ukraine. Yanukovich will come to power,
you shouldn’t then change your energy policy." I said: "we are not
going to do this. We made an economic decision, not a political one."
Last year Ukraine received energy and gas for $95 and this year
for $135 despite the fact that well-known, significant political
changes took place in Ukraine. But our relations with Ukraine did
not deteriorate because of this – they became better, stronger and
more reliable, both for us and for Ukraine. We are always ready to
help the Ukrainian people, the Ukrainian government and the Ukrainian
President if they ask for our help and, in this case, in the energy
sector. They know this. We said that we are always ready to help if
necessary, even if it is not compatible with market principles.
But the most important thing we did was agree that our relations
would be market-based. We signed documents on a soft transition to
market-relations with all countries that transport our energy. This
is what we are referring to. This does not depend on our political
relations with these countries. For example, we have very stable and
not simply trusting, but also strategic relations with Armenia. Yet
Armenia pays market prices.
This year we had well-known difficulties with Belarus but we
nevertheless signed an agreement on transport and on energy changing
prices in the future to have entirely market-based relations. And in
the end this is the most important thing. It is not even important how
much Belarus pays today, rather it is important that we have determined
the stages of a transition to market relations in documents. But we did
this softly – over four years – and in an absolutely friendly way. Of
course, [they] might hope for everything that they had before in the
future, but to have the same is not possible. This is not possible
if we are different states. Do you understand?
Belarus and Russia intend to nevertheless continue to build a Union
State – we are very happy with and welcome the changes that the
Belarusian leadership has made to work out common tariffs on crude
oil and oil products. This is a real step towards creating a fully
operational customs union.
We believe that all is not lost with respect to having one currency.
I am confident that our Belarusian partners are in a position to
analyse reality, able to understand the reliability of the Russian
economy and the Russian currency, and perhaps introduce a common
currency. Not the Russian ruble or the Belarusian ruble but perhaps,
as we had initially planned – because we planned to do this – to
first of all use the Russian ruble. This is all possible.
MARINA LAPENKOVA (France Presse): Do you agree with [Moscow Mayor]
Yuri Luzhkov’s opinion that the gay parade is the work of satanists?
VLADIMIR PUTIN: With regards to what the heads of regions say,
I normally try not to comment. I don’t think it is my business.
My relation to gay parades and sexual minorities in general is simple
– it is connected with my official duties and the fact that one of
the country’s main problems is demography. But I respect and will
continue to respect personal freedom in all its forms, in all its
manifestations.
OLGA SOLOMONOVA (Gudok): Please tell us how you rate Sochi’s chances of
hosting the 2014 winter Olympics? And considering the latest reports
[on power cuts], it will probably be difficult and do we really
need this?
VLADIMIR PUTIN: I have already said many times that the 2014 Olympics
would be a good excuse for us to develop southern Russia, Sochi and the
nearby regions. What happened now, a failure in electrical supplies,
happens every year.
When I used to work in the Supervision Directorate of the Presidential
Executive Office, I went to Sochi for this reason, when there was a
power failure. Every year the same thing happens: the wires ice over,
the wires fail and so on. But this should in no way affect our plans
to host the Olympics.
As I already said in my opening address, we are now in the position
to carry out large-scale regional investment projects that we couldn’t
even dream out before. And Sochi is one of these projects.
The planned investments amount to 314 billion rubles [$11.8 billion]
and perhaps even more. If the Olympics take place then it will be
a bit more. And if they do not take place then the amount would be
a little less, because then we won’t need, say, to build two ice
palaces in Sochi – that would simply be superfluous.
But in any case we are going to carry out that investment project
for us, for Russian citizens, so that people have the opportunity
to vacation in their own country, to ski, to relax on the Black Sea
coast. At present we have few opportunities of this kind. And in any
case, we need to develop this. Not only for those who live in Sochi.
For the whole country. And I have no doubt that if the International
Olympic Committee decides in favor of Sochi then we shall certainly
be able to prepare all necessary facilities in time.
STEVEN GUTTERMAN (Associated Press): After Anna Politkovskaya’s murder
you said that there are people hiding from Russian justice who would
like to damage Russia’s reputation. And after Alexander Litvinenko’s
death your aide Sergei Yastrzhembsky said that this could be part of
a plot with that same goal. Can you now tell us a few more details,
several months after the tragedy, or say more precisely who you think
is behind these murders? Do you think they are foreigners or Russians
living abroad? And if yes, then who? Can you name them?
VLADIMIR PUTIN: Only an investigation can determine whoever is behind
these murders. And, moreover, only a court can do so, because at the
end of the day it is the court that, having weighed all the pros and
cons – both the prosecutors’ arguments and the defense of the accused –
makes the final decision.
As to prominent murders, then it is true that the problem of the
persecution of journalists is a very acute problem both for our country
and for many other countries. And we acknowledge our responsibility in
this. We shall do everything possible to protect members of the press.
I recall not only Anna Politkovskaia – she was quite a sharp critic of
the authorities and that is a good thing. I recall other journalists
as well, including Paul Khlebnikov. And not long ago one of our
American partners said something very true: "Paul Khlebnikov died for
a democratic Russia, for the development of democracy in Russia." I
completely agree with him. I fully agree with this evaluation.
As to other well-known crimes, you know that just recently the
investigation into the murder of the Vice-President of the Russian
Central Bank has been finished. I very much hope that the law
enforcement agencies will manage to find the criminals who have
committed other, no less prominent crimes, and ones that are no less
harmful to our country.
With regards to Litvinenko, I do not have much to add here, except
what I have already said. Alexander Litvinenko was dismissed from the
security services. Before that he served in the convoy troops. There he
didn’t deal with any secrets. He was involved in criminal proceedings
in the Russian Federation for abusing his position of service,
namely for beating citizens during arrests when he was a security
service employee and for stealing explosives. I think that he was
provisionally given three years. But there was no need to run anywhere,
he did not have any secrets. Everything negative that he could say
with respect to his service and his previous employment, he already
said a long time ago, so there could be nothing new in what he did
later. I repeat that only the investigation can tell us what happened.
And with regards to the people who try to harm the Russian Federation,
in general it is well-known who they are. They are people hiding from
Russian justice for crimes they committed on the territory of the
Russian Federation and, first and foremost, economic crimes. They are
the so-called runaway oligarchs that are hiding in Western Europe or
in the Middle East. But I do not really believe in conspiracy theories
and, quite frankly, I am not very worried about it. The stability of
Russian statehood today allows us to look down at this from above.
ALEKSEI IAUSHEV (Internet newspaper Fontanka.ru, St Petersburg):
Vladimir Vladimirovich, St. Petersburg’s citizens are divided about
the construction of the Gazprom City tower at the mouth of the Okhta
River. As is well known, it will be more than three hundred meters
high. What is your opinion on constructing a tower in the center of
St Petersburg?
VLADIMIR PUTIN: First of all, I would like to say that it is the
business of the regional authorities – the governor and the deputies
of the legislative assembly.
The second is that you know where they are going to build this tower
(and as far as I know it is not just one tower – they are also planning
other buildings and installations, and talking about constructing a
so-called Gazprom City); they are going to build it by the Okhta River.
I lived there for almost five years, literally close by, and I know
what architectural jewels there are there. These buildings were built
by captured German soldiers after the Second World War, so-called bulk
buildings. I remember the first time I tried to hammer a nail in the
wall, it just fell out! The walls are bad quality, and though from
the outside these buildings do not look bad – they look quite solid –
in general they do not have any value.
I understand the concerns of those who say that it is very close
to the historic center. I basically share these concerns. It is
also certainly true that in earlier generations Petersburg became
an outstanding center for world culture and architecture but our
generations have done almost nothing. And, of course, we need some
fresh air here, we need some centers that would stimulate development,
including business activities.
I repeat once again that I do not confirm that this is the very best
decision and, moreover, I do not want to influence decisions made by
the city authorities. It is certainly true that such buildings would
not damage the city. But where to build them – and I would like to
repeat this once more – is a decision that must be taken at the level
of the city authorities. It is not necessary to give these decisions
to me, I have enough of my own problems.
BBC Correspondent: We would like to know your view on the Iranian
leader’s proposal to create a gas consortium or some kind of
organization similar to OPEC. You are going to visit Qatar and Saudi
Arabia soon, and these are both countries that also have large gas
reserves. Is this visit about energy cooperation between Russia and
these countries?
VLADIMIR PUTIN: A gas OPEC is an interesting idea and we will think
about it. In this initial stage we agree with the Iranian specialists,
with our Iranian partners and with some of the other countries that
are large suppliers of fossil fuels, above all gas, to world markets,
and we are already trying to coordinate our activities on the markets
of third countries.
We have no plans to create some kind of cartel, but I think it would
be a good idea to coordinate our activities, especially in the context
of achieving our main aim of ensuring certain and reliable supply of
energy resources for our main consumers.
The original English-language transcript of the press conference was
taken from
www.kremlin.ru