Putin's interview with Newspaper Journalists from G8 Member Countries

[Serb]

Well, after all that histeria in the western media, I think it will be good for you to read the full original text (English version):

http://www.kremlin.ru/eng/speeches/2007/06/04/2149_type82916_132772.shtml

Enjoy

[VetLegion]

Many of our agreements are being implemented. Moreover, the German G8 presidency has not forgotten about the major themes of our discussions in St Petersburg. We see clear evidence of what we discussed in Russia in the documents that are now being drafted by experts and sherpas.

In Russia, sherpas draft documents?

[Serb]

Not only in Russia

[VetLegion]

Let us not be hypocritical about democratic freedoms and human rights. I already said that I have a copy of Amnesty International’s report including on the United States. There is probably no need to repeat this so as not to offend anyone. If you wish, I shall now report how the United States does in all this.

Putin using proven internet trolling techniques

[BeBMan]

He godwinized the debate?

[Kuken]

assisting experts sent by the G8 governments are also called sherpas iirc

[Kuken]

GLOBE AND MAIL: If NATO had advantages in terms of missile defence, it could perhaps be of use? The U.S. is taking unilateral action, but if NATO were to get involved instead it would not look like an imperialist step. Everything might look different if NATO or Russia were to become involved in these missile defence plans.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: If NATO were involved this would not fundamentally change anything because we know how decisions are made in NATO. They were made in the same way in the Warsaw Pact. There was a joke in East Germany: How can you tell which of the telephones on Honecker’s desk is the direct line to Moscow? Do you know this joke?

DER SPIEGEL: No.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: The answer is: it’s the one with only a receiver and no mouthpiece. (Laughter).

The same goes for NATO, except that the telephone line goes not to Moscow in this case but to Washington, and so it would make no difference to us if NATO were heading this project.

As for the question of other countries participating, yes, we are not against this idea, but no one has asked us. We often hear talk of European solidarity and so on, but what solidarity are we talking about? Two countries – Poland and the Czech Republic - have decided to allow missile defence systems to be deployed on their territories. We are told that this is needed for Europe’s defence. But has anyone asked Europe? Was this really a common European decision? The decision could have at least been taken through NATO, if only for cover. But no one was asked. I am sure that had Europe been asked it would have given its agreement, but the U.S. did not even bother to consult with its allies in this case.

Divide and conquer
Putintroll

[Kuken]

WALL STREET JOURNAL: Continuing on from my colleague’s WALL STREET JOURNAL: Continuing on from my colleague’s question: given the level of public support for the authorities, one cannot but be surprised by the harsh reaction of the authorities to the opposition forces that take part in the ‘marches of the dissenters’ (and you said yourself that these opposition forces are only a marginal element in society). This reaction seems only to encourage sympathy for these opposition groups. Why do the authorities take such a hard line?

VLADIMIR PUTIN: Look at how the police in European countries behave: truncheons, tear gas, electric shock devices (in Germany 70 people have died as a result of these devices being used), rubber bullets. We have a proverb in Russian; you speak Russian and would understand it: ‘don’t blame the mirror if your face is crooked’.

pure gold

[Serb]

Originally posted by Kuken

assisting experts sent by the G8 governments are also called sherpas iirc

Yep.

[VetLegion]

NIKKEI: My question might seem a bit odd, but it is pertinent to the market economy you spoke about. You might be surprised to hear that the headlines of most Japanese newspapers yesterday were about Russia, about Russia’s decision to stop exporting crabs. This has taken the Japanese by surprise. They can’t make sushi without crab meat and they absolutely need Russian crab meat in order to make sushi. Does Russia really plan to stop exporting crabs?

Putin being asked on the most pressing issues of the day

[Serb]

[C0ckney]

Originally posted by VetLegion

Putin using proven internet trolling techniques

QFT.

[VetLegion]

OK, I've read the whole thing

I wasn't very up to date with this missile thing so I thought I'd catch up. Putin has a good point, missile defence in eastern Europe is pointless and can only be directed against Russia. I just hope Russia won't use many resources to counter it, as Putin said.

In general he gave pretty smart replies.

[Serb]

In Russian his replies sounds even better.
The guy has wits

[Cort Haus]

I skimmed it. Eloquent stuff from Putin.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: There was a joke in East Germany: How can you tell which of the telephones on Honecker’s desk is the direct line to Moscow? Do you know this joke?

DER SPIEGEL: No.

VLADIMIR PUTIN: The answer is: it’s the one with only a receiver and no mouthpiece. (Laughter).

The same goes for NATO, except that the telephone line goes not to Moscow in this case but to Washington