December
02-08-2008, 05:32 PM
08/ 02/ 2008
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/01/31/vladimirputin_narrowweb__300x358,0.jpg
MOSCOW, February 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that a new arms race had begun, but that Russia would not allow itself to be drawn into it.
"It is clear that a new arms race has been unleashed in the world," Putin said in a speech to the State Council, comprising ministers, governors and lawmakers.
"The developed countries...spend huge amounts of funds, many times as much as we spend, on developing weapons systems," the president said adding Russia should show restraint and not permit itself to be drawn into costly confrontation.
"We must not allow ourselves to be drawn into this," he said.
Putin also said the policy of 'containment' pursued by some countries toward Russia was driven by their desire to gain access to its natural resources.
"God did not begrudge us natural riches," he said. "Many conflicts, political decisions and diplomatic stunts have the smell of oil and natural gas about them."
Putin is to step down after the March 2 presidential election. He is widely expected to be succeeded by a current first deputy prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, hand-picked by the Russian leader "to ensure policy continuity."
Putin blamed the West for unleashing the arms race. "We are not to blame, we did not instigate it," he said.
He said Russia had seen no real steps from its Western partners towards a compromise on the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty.
The Cold War-era Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, which regulates the deployment of non-nuclear weapons between the Atlantic and the Urals, has become a source of tension between Russia and NATO, with the Western alliance refusing to ratify its updated version and Russia subsequently imposing a moratorium on the treaty.
READ MORE - http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080208/98758020.html
http://kremlin.ru/dyn_images/img159560.jpg
President Vladimir Putin addressed the expanded meeting of the State Council on Russia's development strategy through to 2020.
Taking part in the State Council’s expanded meeting were regional governors and the heads of regional legislative assemblies, State Duma deputies and the heads of both houses of the Federal Assembly.
http://kremlin.ru/eng/sdocs/news.shtml#159470
http://www.smh.com.au/ffximage/2008/01/31/vladimirputin_narrowweb__300x358,0.jpg
MOSCOW, February 8 (RIA Novosti) - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday that a new arms race had begun, but that Russia would not allow itself to be drawn into it.
"It is clear that a new arms race has been unleashed in the world," Putin said in a speech to the State Council, comprising ministers, governors and lawmakers.
"The developed countries...spend huge amounts of funds, many times as much as we spend, on developing weapons systems," the president said adding Russia should show restraint and not permit itself to be drawn into costly confrontation.
"We must not allow ourselves to be drawn into this," he said.
Putin also said the policy of 'containment' pursued by some countries toward Russia was driven by their desire to gain access to its natural resources.
"God did not begrudge us natural riches," he said. "Many conflicts, political decisions and diplomatic stunts have the smell of oil and natural gas about them."
Putin is to step down after the March 2 presidential election. He is widely expected to be succeeded by a current first deputy prime minister, Dmitry Medvedev, hand-picked by the Russian leader "to ensure policy continuity."
Putin blamed the West for unleashing the arms race. "We are not to blame, we did not instigate it," he said.
He said Russia had seen no real steps from its Western partners towards a compromise on the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty.
The Cold War-era Conventional Forces in Europe treaty, which regulates the deployment of non-nuclear weapons between the Atlantic and the Urals, has become a source of tension between Russia and NATO, with the Western alliance refusing to ratify its updated version and Russia subsequently imposing a moratorium on the treaty.
READ MORE - http://en.rian.ru/russia/20080208/98758020.html
http://kremlin.ru/dyn_images/img159560.jpg
President Vladimir Putin addressed the expanded meeting of the State Council on Russia's development strategy through to 2020.
Taking part in the State Council’s expanded meeting were regional governors and the heads of regional legislative assemblies, State Duma deputies and the heads of both houses of the Federal Assembly.
http://kremlin.ru/eng/sdocs/news.shtml#159470