#10
BBC Monitoring
Russia's Putin says US strikes beyond Afghanistan must
be sanctioned by UN
Source: Russia TV, Moscow, in Russian 0800 gmt 5 Dec 01
[Presenter Yelena Vykhodtseva] Russian President Vladimir Putin has given an interview to Greek journalists on the eve of his visit to Greece. The main themes were the prospects for the international antiterrorist coalition, the expansion of NATO and cooperation between Moscow and Athens. Igor Korzhevin has the details.
[Correspondent] The Greek journalists first asked about the prospects of the international antiterrorist coalition. They asked about the goals of the coalition. Putin answered that the effectiveness of the struggle with terrorism depends directly on whether the international community is able to stand up to the so-called global terrorist Internationale. Geographically it stretches from the Balkans to the Philippines.
[Putin] As for the presence of our American partners in Central Asia, this is first and foremost an issue which the USA and the Central Asian states must resolve on a bilateral basis. As far as I know from conversations with the leaderships of the Western countries, including the leadership of the United States, the States does not intend to stay there long-term.
[Correspondent] As a continuation of the theme, [the journalists asked] what Putin thinks about the effectiveness of the antiterrorist operation in Afghanistan. Putin highlighted that a local operation in a specific country is being implemented, but that the problem is a much broader one. The tragedy of 11 September is first and foremost a failure of Western foreign policy: the real threats were underestimated.
[Putin] The international community is entitled to expect more cooperative and more effective joint work both with the leadership Saudi Arabia and that of other Middle Eastern countries - the Gulf states, for example - on halting the financing of the activity of various fundamentalist groups.
[Greek journalist, uncaptioned, in Russian] Could you specify what you mean, Vladimir Vladimirovich. I haven't understood. Will you support possible bombings of specific countries?
[Putin] You didn't understand because I didn't answer. And I didn't answer because you didn't put the question to me that way. As for possible strikes on other countries, then we have to understand what exactly is being proposed and then discuss the issue within the framework of the UN.
[Correspondent] The Greek journalists asked what has become a traditional question for these interviews - about the ABM treaty. Putin stated that Russia's position hasn't changed: the 1972 treaty is the foundation of international security. International, rather than Russian.
[Putin] We have enough weaponry - weaponry of such a level and quality that no national system of missile defence, at this point in time, can stand up to. That's the first thing. Secondly: our position is that the main threat today is not intercontinental ballistic missiles, biological weaponry, chemical weapons and other types of weapons of mass destruction. That is what we must be thinking about today, it seems to us.
[Correspondent] The interview was given on the eve of Putin's visit to Greece. The main theme will be economic cooperation and whether Greece can become Russia's strategic partner, first and foremost on the energy sector.
[Putin] As far as I know, some of our companies are even now examining the possibility of investing in the Greek economy in energy facilities. We are ready to consider projects with gas supply.
[Correspondent] And to conclude, one more question. Might it not transpire that Russia will have to choose where its main strategic interests lie - in Europe or in Asia? Putin said that Russia is experiencing the consequences of the break-up of the Soviet Union, and is re-acquiring the status of a country that brings influence to bear on political and economic processes all over the world.
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