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INTERVIEW:
VLADIMIR PUTIN
"It
would be too narrow to call this just a new deal"
 He
has the nimble stride of a judo master and his muscular frame makes him
look larger than he really is. At a fit 47 years, Russian President Vladimir
Putin appears a strong and determined man. He prides himself for being
just an ordinary person who has a huge responsibility thrust on him. When
Boris Yeltsin pulled Putin out from relative obscurity and put him in
Russia's hot seat, few thought the former KGB spy would live up to the
job. Putin was known for his diligence and tenacity but was never in the
running for what is arguably one of the toughest jobs in the world-pulling
Russia out of the morass that it has sunk into after the dismantling of
the Soviet Union.
In the
months since he was formally elected President, Putin has shown what quiet
determination can achieve. He is beginning to bring some semblance of
order into the federal chaos that Russia has descended into, is trying
to break the back of the new oligarchs that have a stranglehold over the
economy, reign in the mafiosi and curb corruption. It is a tall order.
Yet till the way he handled the sinking of Russia's Kursk submarine he
was wildly popular. Last week at the Representative Hall in Kremlin, the
emerald green-carpeted chamber where he usually plays hosts to visiting
foreign ministers, he granted Deputy
Editor Raj
Chengappa
an exclusive interview that extended to 50 minutes. Also participating
was Ajay
Goyal,
editor-in-chief of the Moscow-based The Russia Journal. A dozen Kremlin
clocks periodically chimed but Putin's concentration didn't waver. He
may have the image of an iceman, but his blue eyes are alive and warm.
And he can be extremely communicative when he wants to. Excerpts:
Q. You
said recently that you are India's best friend. But for much of the 1990s
Russia ignored India. How do you explain your comment?
A.
We have a Russian saying: one old friend is better than two new ones.
It's true that my visit to India will be the first visit at this level
in the past eight years. But that doesn't mean Russia no longer values
cooperation with India. It's simply that domestic circumstances prevented
more such visits. When I said that I'm India's best friend in Russia,
what I meant was that firstly, India has many friends in Russia, and I
am just one of them. But by virtue of the office I hold, I'm also in some
way India's principal friend in Russia.
Q. How
will the new strategic partnership agreement that you plan to sign differ
from the Indo-Soviet Treaty of 1971? Will it be a successor agreement
or will it contain some completely new elements?
A.
In some respects, the document will, of course, be a successor document,
but it's clear that both we and our Indian partners have to take into
consideration the fact that the world has changed, Russia has changed,
the balance of force in the world has changed and so have some of our
priorities. All these will certainly be reflected in the agreement we
hope to sign. And we hope that this agreement will become the foundation
upon which we can build further relations.
Q. Strategic
is a word heavy with meaning. What exactly do you mean by it? Do you have
a military alliance in mind?
A.
Strategic doesn't mean creating some kind of military alliance or bloc.
When we say strategic, we mean long term, a partnership in keeping with
the pragmatic national interests of our two countries, especially in this
time of globalisation and increasing competition on the world scene. I'm
not talking about military competition, but economic, scientific and technological
competition.
Q. Can
the upcoming agreement be described as a new deal between the two countries
A.
It would be too narrow to call it just a new deal. It wouldn't be enough.
You're talking of full-fledged relations between two countries that have
many mutual interests and many areas in which they can effectively help
each other achieve national interests. This is more than just business.
This could be called destiny.
Q. So
what is the role you see for India?
A.
We take the long-term view that as one of the largest countries in Asia
and in the world, India is a crucial factor in stability in the region
and in the world as a whole. Russia would like to see India play a genuinely
important role in international affairs. We would like to see this because
this is in our national interests. And I have no doubt that this approach
is also in India's national interest. I want to stress here that our cooperation
is not directed against anyone, but is for India and for Russia. It acts
in the interests of both countries, of course, but is also completely
consistent with the broader interests of the international community.
Q. There
is a new closeness between India and the US, especially after the successful
visits by the respective heads of government. How does Russia view this
bonhomie?
A.
The
collapse of the Soviet Union changed the ideological foundation of our
state. The communist ideology no longer dominates in Russia and our priorities
have changed. Russia today does not see the US either as an enemy or an
opponent. For Russia today, the US-one of the world's major nations-is
a partner. We have different views when it comes to the resolution of
certain conflicts. We are in favour of a multi-polar world, of respect
for sovereignty and territorial integrity. We are holding discussions
with our American partners on many of the issues. So, we welcome the fact
that India is developing its relations with all countries, including the
US.
Q. Over
the years, trade with India has dropped considerably. What are the reasons
for this and what can be done to change the situation?
A.
Yes, I know. It is precisely for this reason that we are drawing up a
whole programme of joint activity in development and cooperation in modern
computer technologies. This is of great importance to Russia with its
underdeveloped communications and transport infrastructure, coupled with
a vast territory. Modern communications technology, the Internet and new
computer technology are priority. But for us to be full partners in these
areas, Russia still has a long way to go in getting the country computerised.
Q. Former
prime minister Yevgeny Primakov spoke of a possible strategic alliance
between India, China and Russia. Do you think that in the near future,
there could be any such alliance between the three countries?
A.
We give priority to bilateral relations on the one hand, and building
an international security architecture, in Asia as well, that will take
into account the interests of the concerned countries. India, China and
Russia are indisputably countries that could participate. Everyone will
understand us if we say that India, China and Russia, as countries located
in this region, have particular interests which we wish to tackle together.
I don't see anything unusual or dangerous in this. The only thing is,
we need to ensure that all our proposals on cooperation, both bilateral
and multilateral, are open to all our partners and are clear and transparent.
I think that we can achieve this.
Q. Russia
largely considers itself a European power. But Asia is an immensely complicated
region with economic rivalry between China and India and issues such as
terrorism and fundamentalism. How do you see Russia's role in the region?
A.
Geographically, Russia lies both in Europe and Asia. A very large and
resource-rich part of Russia lies in Asia. So, it's only natural that
we should have our interests in the region. It is in our interest that
this part of the world be stable and prosperous. That's very clear. Our
cooperation with India is not directed against any "third countries".
It is in our interests to have a strong, developed and independent India,
an India that would be a major player on the world scene. We see this
as one of the balancing factors in the world, and we will do all we can
to ensure this doesn't change. This is where the strategic sense of our
partnership lies.
Q. Were
the nuclear tests which took place in India a surprise for you? And will
you urge India to sign the CTBT?
A.
We have been working very fruitfully with India in the atomic-energy sector
for a long time now, on peaceful nuclear technologies. We think it would
be the right thing for India to regulate its nuclear issues with the international
organisations that control this sector, especially with the International
Atomic Energy Agency. We have some agreements with the Indian leadership
on this. All Russia's plans are strictly in keeping with its commitments
under relevant international agreements.
Q. Do
you think India is now a responsible nuclear power and can even be termed
a nuclear weapons state?
A.
I already said that India should coordinate its activities in this sphere
with the international community. We don't think that if we were to recognise
new nuclear powers, it would have any beneficial consequences for the
states that want this recognition. We call on all countries active in
this area not to do anything hasty. We ask them to reflect together with
the international community on the consequences these countries would
face, from the point of view of their domestic interests, their relations
with neighbours, and also from the point of view of the international
community's reaction.
There are
good reasons to weigh all the pros and cons, keeping in mind, of course,
the question of creating an international security architecture that would
guarantee all countries' and the region's territorial integrity, sovereignty,
and would guarantee their national interests. With effective international
cooperation, there are possibilities for this to be achieved.
Q. As
you know, India wants to become a permanent member of the UN Security
Council. Does Russia support this?
A.
My
personal view is that the UN Security Council is the principal organisation
that guarantees world peace and resolves conflicts. This is a major international
body and is the heritage of decades of work. Now we have inherited it
and we have to use it wisely and effectively. The UN also deals with large-scale
issues that affect the interests of a vast number of participants in the
international community. It was set up after World War II and reflected
the balance of power in the world at the time. But life changes and the
international scene has also changed. If the UN is to work effectively,
it must adapt. We understand this, and we think that we must work in this
direction and take decisions. In this connection, we also need to work
on increasing the number of permanent members in the Security Council.
As one of the world's leading nations and one of our leading partners,
India is a prime candidate for a place in the Security Council.
Q. What
lessons would you say you have learned from the heavy criticism over your
handling of the Kursk submarine disaster?
A.
This was a real tragedy that came as a shock to the country and to me
personally. Unfortunately, it's not the first tragedy of its kind. We
know that other countries have also lost submarines and ships. The Americans
have lost two submarines, but no one talks about it. As for us, it's our
fourth such loss. It's a deeply saddening event, a difficult loss because
it was also the first time that we, or any other marine power that has
gone through a tragedy of this sort, have been so open with the public.
It has raised many issues. The armed forces, for example, and the relations
between the authorities and the public. It has caused us to think once
again about our responsibility to the country. It provides a good reason
to take practical decisions.
Q. You
once said that judo is like a philosophy for you. Can you elaborate on
that?
A.
Judo promotes several values which I would call universal values. They
are connected not just to sport, but can also be a basis for relations
between people. Above all, they involve respect for one's partner, for
any partner. Respect for one's elders and teachers. Judo provides an approach
which is based on professionalism rather than on brute force, on tactical
skill and of course, on the strength of will of the person wanting to
learn the art. When you look at all these things together, I think it's
enough to be able to say that judo is not just a sport, but to a certain
extent a philosophy as well.
Q. What
qualities do you think a leader should have most?
A.
Sincerity, decency, patience. And professionalism.
Q. What
are your associations with India?
A.
I'd remember an artist well known in both Russia and India-Nikolai Roerich.
Roerich's life was an amazing life, a marvel of creativity and astonishing
example of spiritual closeness which perhaps doesn't lie on the surface,
but which is, nevertheless, the spiritual closeness that binds all peoples.
Everyone in Russia, even the young generation, has seen the film Awara
and knows the famous and talented Indian actor, Raj Kapoor. We are also
interested in Indian religions and closely follow political events in
India. We in Russia have very warm feelings for India and for the Indian
people.
(Putin spoke
in Russian and the interview was translated into English by Tara Warner
of The Russia Journal)
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