-Caveat Lector-
WJPBR Email News List [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Peace at any cost is a Prelude to War!
Wednesday July 18 3:38 PM ET
Putin: NATO Should Be Replaced
By VLADIMIR ISACHENKOV, Associated Press Writer
MOSCOW (AP) - Days before meeting President Bush (news - web sites) and other
Western leaders, President Vladimir Putin (news - web sites) said Wednesday
that NATO (news - web sites) should be disbanded and replaced by a new
security organization in Europe that would include Russia.
Alternatively, he said, Russia could be allowed to join NATO - but he
stressed that Moscow was not pushing for that option.
``We do not see NATO as an enemy,'' Putin told reporters at the first
full-scale news conference in his 19 months as Russian leader. ``We do not
see a tragedy in its existence, but we also see no need for it.''
Russia has vehemently objected to NATO's eastward expansion, which began two
years ago with the incorporation of former Warsaw Pact members Poland,
Hungary and the Czech Republic. Moscow has pushed for the 54-nation
Organization for Security and Cooperation (news - web sites) in Europe or
some other umbrella group to take the lead in providing security in Europe
instead of NATO.
Putin said NATO, founded as a Cold War entity to oppose the Soviet bloc,
doesn't reflect Europe's new realities.
``We will never achieve unity in Europe until we create a single security and
defense space,'' he said. ``If we fail to do that ... we will continue to
mistrust each other.''
Putin also said that Russia did not plan to formulate a joint response with
China to the U.S. plans to construct a missile defense system. Both Moscow
and Beijing have objected vigorously to the Bush administration plans, which
they contend will throw the world's strategic stability off balance and spark
a new arms race.
Putin and Chinese President Jiang Zemin (news - web sites) signed a
friendship treaty this week that was seen as an attempt to counter what both
see as U.S. hegemony.
``Russia isn't planning any joint action in this sphere with China or any
other nation,'' Putin said. ``Russia has enough means of its own to respond
to any change in the field of strategic stability.''
Putin has previously said that Russia might put multiple warheads on its
nuclear missiles if Washington goes ahead with the missile defense shield.
Some high-ranking defense officials have warned that U.S. withdrawal from the
1972 Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty would spark another arms race.
But Putin refrained from outlining any military responses to U.S. moves
toward a missile defense system.
The press conference for 500 reporters was a first for Putin at the Kremlin.
Usually he gives more restricted interviews with Russian journalists at which
his aides often pre-screen questions, and Wednesday's appearance was a chance
to show his growing confidence.
Putin was at ease responding to the journalists - even throwing in a joke
after a question from Radio Liberty, a U.S.-funded station his government has
differed with in the past.
But he grew visibly irritated when asked about alleged abuses by Russian
soldiers in Chechnya (news - web sites) and, with a stony glare, insisted
that the military had put an end to lawlessness in the breakaway republic.
``Say 'thank you' to us for that at least,'' he said.
``Did you know that the (rebel) fighters have killed 40 district heads and
imams - old people? Why don't you ask me about that? Why don't you ask me how
we are fighting those criminals?'' he said.
Putin said he was looking forward to meeting with Bush at this weekend's
Group of Eight summit in Genoa, Italy. He and Bush developed a good rapport
during their first meeting last month in Slovenia, Putin said.
``He is a rather warm person, pleasant to talk to, and I would even say,
maybe I shouldn't say this, but he seemed to me a little sentimental,'' Putin
said.
On domestic policy, Putin voiced respect for the Soviet legacy but said he
was intent on ridding Russia of some of the worst Soviet excesses, including
``super-centralization'' and excessive military budgets.
Putin also said he opposed the removal of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin's
body from its mausoleum in Red Square for burial. Communists and their
supporters vehemently object to the possibility, while their opponents say
leaving Lenin in a place of honor undercuts Russia's young democracy.
``Many people connect their own lives with the name of Lenin,'' Putin said.
``Burying Lenin would mean ... that they had lived in vain.''
``I'm trying not to do anything to disturb civil peace and the consolidation
of society,'' he said.
*COPYRIGHT NOTICE** In accordance with Title 17 U. S. C. Section 107,
any copyrighted work in this message is distributed under fair use
without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest
in receiving the included information for nonprofit research and educational
purposes only.[Ref. http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml ]
Want to be on our lists? Write at [EMAIL PROTECTED] for a menu of our lists!
<A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/";>www.ctrl.org</A>
DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER
==========
CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic
screeds are unwelcomed. Substance—not soap-boxing—please! These are
sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, mis-
directions and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with
major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought.
That being said, CTRLgives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and
always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no
credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply.
Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector.
========================================================================
Archives Available at:
http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html
<A HREF="http://peach.ease.lsoft.com/archives/ctrl.html";>Archives of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]</A>
http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/
<A HREF="http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/";>ctrl</A>
========================================================================
To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email:
SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Om
