PUTIN: SOME VIEW STRONG AND REVIVING RUSSIA AS A THREAT
By Petros Keshishian

AZG Armenian Daily
29/06/2006

Speaking at the council of Russian ambassadors on June 27, president
Vladimir Putin of Russia touched upon Russia’s role and place in a
monopolar world and CIS.

In the presence of 200 diplomats Putin advised the USA to treat Russia
as an equal partner, not to build up new walls in the place of the
"iron curtain" and think over prolonging the ban on assault weapons
production.

In Putin’s words, some states still live with prejudices of the
past. They "view strong and reviving Russia as a threat." Some are
ready to accuse Russia of "new imperial ambitions and energetic
terror."

Moscow will continue its peacekeeping mission in Abkhazia "despite
clear provocations." Hinting at Ukraine, Putin expressed surprise
that passing to market prices for Russian gas can meet such a fierce
opposition.

Reminding that the West used to urge the USSR to remove the "iron
curtain" – the obstacle to human contact – Putin called on USA and
other states to build relations with Russia based on honesty and give
up any pretence of privileged position in these relations.

The Russian president thinks that after the collapse of bipolar
world order new improbabilities have emerged. Underscoring Russia-USA
relations for strategic stability, he called for a joint fight against
terror and building relations based on mutual respect.

"Russia does not need any kind of clash. And we will not take part
in any ‘holy treaty’," Russian president stated.