Putin to West: Drop 'Silly Atlantic Solidarity,' Cold War Attitudes

Drop your silly Atlantic solidarity and support us, Putin tells West

Michael Binyon in Sochi

President Putin called on the West yesterday to drop its “silly Atlantic solidarity” if it wanted improved relations with Russia.

He accused America and some of the countries of the EU of harbouring outdated Cold War attitudes that led to distrust, particularly on issues such as energy security and trade. Such stereotypical positions were “absolutely inappropriate” in the economic arena, he said, insisting that one source of friction – Russia’s decision to build a pipeline bypassing Poland – was not infringing anybody’s rights.

He also warned the West to stop giving Russia blanket lectures on democracy. “We will participate in any debate with our partners, but, if they want us to do something, they must be specific. If they want us to resolve Kosovo, let’s talk Kosovo. If they are worried about nuclear programmes in Iran, let’s talk about Iran, rather than talking about democracy in Russia.”

Neither would he take lectures over Russia imposing higher gas charges on Ukraine after years of Western preaching about the need for market prices. “If the West wants to support the Orange movement, let them pay for it. Do you think we are idiots?”

At the same time, he sounded a more conciliatory note, sayinmg: “We in Russia and you in Europe and the United States should be more patient. We should not be faultfinding in our relations and we should look for positive things. We should engage in friendly relations and support each other.”

He made his comments in a long and forthright session with Western reporters at his holiday residence overlooking the Black Sea in Sochi and gave the first inkling of his thinking about his successor and what role he saw for himself after he leaves office in March next year. “I have no interest in a weak president after me,” he said. His successor had to be “a self-sustainable and efficient individual who will serve the people”.

But Mr Putin gave a blunt warning that he had no intention of leaving the political scene. He was young and fit still, and wanted to continue serving his country. “This will be a factor with which any future president must reckon and we must agree how we will function.” He said that he would do what he could to help his successor and he had no intention of allowing all the achievements of recent years to be wiped away.

Mr Putin defended his authoritarian style, making clear that he thought a strong president was essential for many years to come as the country had not developed strong enough political parties for a Western-style democracy. Otherwise, he said, there would be chaos. Even in Germany, the system could misfire, as it did after the last election, and the Czech Republic, he said, had been without a government for months.

Mr Putin said that, after he had stepped down, he would not disappear or take up residence in another country. He loved his country and felt rooted to it. But he all but ruled out any return to power for himself in 2012. “In 2012 I hope to find a place where I will be comfortable instead of reading in the Western press nasty things about becoming the new president.”

In a three-hour meeting, the fourth he has held with the same group of Western academics and journalists, Mr Putin demonstrated an extraordinary grasp of detail and statistics and ranged across domestic policy, Iraq, Afghanistan, investment policy, macroeconomics and the future of the various political factions in the Duma.

He began by defending his choice and timing of a new prime minister, which stunned Russia this week, saying that he had to change the Government now because people had begun to cast around for other jobs in anticipation of change.

He said it was not his idea but that of Mikhael Fradkov, the former Prime Minister, to dissolve the Cabinet and reform the Government under a different leadership. Mr Putin praised both the outgoing Prime Minister and his successor, Viktor Zubkov, who he said had a fine record of service. He said the 65-year-old new Prime Minister might himself want to run for president, just as Mr Putin did when appointed Prime Minister in 1999, but he would first have to prove himself.

He spoke at length on the need to strengthen multiparty democracy in Russia, saying that he would like to see a proper, modern, left-wing social democratic party that could be an alternative to United Russia, the ruling party, which supports him.

He did not see United Russia as a permanent party of government, but it was vital in securing a parliamentary majority so that he and his successor could enact necessary legislation. It was no use having only a “holdover from the past, such as the Communist Party”, as the only real opposition.

Mr Putin also sought to quash Western fears that Russia would use its vast foreign currency reserves, the result of the high oil price, to buy up vital Western industries or undermine the Western economy. If there was any idea that Russian would improperly invest in foreign economies, that was wrong.

He also told the United States that it should set a timetable for withdrawal from Iraq as this would spur the Iraqi Government into meeting its own security needs. Without a time-frame, he said, there would be no pressure for the necessary political and security measures.

Overall, the President appeared remarkably confident about the legacy he will leave and made much of the huge rise in living standards, in health, education and housing, which he said most Russians saw as the key factors in their lives. This, he said, was vital in creating a confident and stable middle class, which must be the backbone of the new democratic Russia.