MOSCOW, September 12, 2009 – Vladimir Putin, Russia's current premier and former president gave the clearest signal to date that he may return to his old job, saying that he and his hand-picked successor President Dmitry Medvedev, will decide who runs in 2012.

Supremely confident in a two and a half hour question and answer session with the Valdai Club, an annual meeting of some 45 Russia experts from around the world, Mr. Putin also gave his most detailed assessment of relations with the U.S. since President Barack Obama visited Moscow in July. Mr. Putin said he was "mildly optimistic" over the so-called reset in relations between the two countries, but was waiting to see concrete measures.

The 56-year old premier and judo enthusiast said he and Mr. Medvedev would decide together who should run for president in the next elections, due in 2012, taking into account the situation in the country at the time, their own personal plans, and the United Russia party, which Mr. Putin heads.

After two terms in office, Mr. Putin was obliged by the terms of Russia's constitution to step down in 2008. The constitution has since been changed to extend presidential terms to 6 years each. That means that if Mr. Putin were to return to office, he could potentially remain until 2024.

Mr. Putin rejected any suggestion that such a process would be undemocratic. He compared it favorably with the recent transfer of power in the United Kingdom, where then Prime Minister Tony Blair handed over to Gordon Brown without an election. Under Britain's parliamentary system, prime ministers are chosen by the winning political party, and not by direct election.

Calmly dismissive, Mr. Putin also stamped on suggestions that there is friction between the two men. "Was there any competition [between them] in 2007? Then there won't be any in 2012," said Mr. Putin.

In a national address published on his website and in national newspapers this week, Mr. Medvedev delivered a withering assessment of Russia's oil-dependent economy, rampant corruption and "weak democracy." But he called for a go-slow approach to reforms. Since he came to power last year, Mr. Medvedev has sought to create an image as a liberal modernizer, but the 43 year-old is widely viewed as the less-powerful partner in Russia's ruling duo.

Mr. Putin opened the session at his leafy residence outside Moscow with a tribute to those who died in the Sept. 11 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States. He also said he had been "impressed" that when he met the new U.S. president, he and Mr. Putin had agreed in their assessments of "mistakes" the administration of President George W. Bush had made.

Despite that, Mr. Putin showed a deep distrust of U.S. policy, repeating a litany of past affronts to Russia. Among the complaints: in arms control negotiations, the U.S. warehoused weapons instead of destroying them; that it had pressed Greece not to buy more Russian gas; and that for seven years the U.S. administration promised to let Russia in to the World Trade Organization, only not to deliver.

"How can you work with such people after that?" asked Mr. Putin.

Mr. Putin made no such complaints about the new U.S. administration. But he appeared cautious about how much the switch to Mr. Obama could achieve, noting that while U.S. presidents are powerful they are hemmed in by Congress and advisers.

The U.S. has been hoping the reset might secure Russian backing for Western efforts to pressure Iran over its nuclear program, as part of the reset. But while Mr. Putin said Russia opposed nuclear proliferation in the region and called Iranian statements about eliminating Israel "unacceptable" and "dangerous," he did not address whether Moscow would support a new round of United Nations sanctions against Iran.

He did, however, criticize continuing U.S. development of ballistic missiles tipped with conventional weapons, which he said might be used to attack such hard to reach targets as Osama bin Laden, holed up in mountain caves. But with Russia having only minutes to decide whether to respond to a launch of any ballistic missile, he said they risk creating a bigger threat than bin Laden.

"Will we have a reset here or not?" said Mr. Putin.

The Russian premier also said European countries and companies should cooperate in defense projects with Russia, such as military transport aircraft or the next generation of Russia's sophisticated S300 air defense system, rather than shying away as in the past. He noted that Russia is now willing to build and buy equipment made to NATO standards, and that European defense companies should combine with Russian ones to stand up to "scary" U.S. competitors, rather than listen to U.S. misgivings over such joint ventures.

"Why should you be afraid of that?" he said.

—Gregory L. White contributed to this article.

Write to Marc Champion at marc.champion@wsj.com

Source: WSJ, Sept. 11, 2009

Home | Contact us | Links | Archives | Search