Russian President Vladimir Putin: Promising trouble if sanctions
continue and
warning Americans not to get carried
away with the idea of 'exceptionalism.'
Putin
Interview: 'West's Attempt to Blackmail Russia is Futile' (Politika, Serbia)
"President
Barack Obama stood before the U.N. General Assembly and included 'Russian
aggression in Europe' as one of the three major threats facing humanity today,
along with the deadly Ebola virus and the terrorist group the 'Islamic State.' On
top of the sanctions the U.S. has imposed against entire sectors of our
economy, it is an approach that would be difficult to describe as anything but
hostile. … We hope that our partners come to understand the futility of
attempts to blackmail Russia and remember the consequences that discord between
major nuclear powers can bring when the strategic stability of the world is at
stake."
-- Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation
This translation was
provided by the office of the Russian president and checked for accuracy by Worldmeets.US.
In his first interview with
media in the post-Yugoslav space, the President of the Russian Federation,
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, stressed the significance of holding celebrations
for the great anti-fascist anniversaries like the 70th anniversary of the liberation
of Belgrade. In comments on contemporary politics and relations with the United
States, Putin said that belief in its own exceptionality could lead to horrific
consequences.
This is not the first time
the Russian president has though foreign media criticized the American belief
in its own exceptionalism. He did just that a year ago in The New York Times. Never
before, however, has he put "belief in their own exceptionality" on par with
the criminal ideology which was demolished seventy years ago [fascism].
Due to his busy schedule,
Vladimir Putin answered the questions of Politika electronically, as has been
his custom in recent years when giving interviews to the print media.
POLITIKA: What
are your views on Russian-Serbian relations today? What has been important in
this area over the past 20 years, and what are your expectations for the
future?
VLADIMIR PUTIN: Serbia
has been and remains one of Russia's key partners in southeastern Europe. Our
countries combine centuries old traditions and fruitful cooperation. Developing
relations contributes to our common interests politically, economically and
culturally, as well as in other spheres of life. Today, Russian-Serbian
relations are on the rise. In 2013, President of Serbia Tomislav Nikolik
and I signed the Interstate Declaration on Strategic Partnership reaffirming
our shared intention to promote large-scale collaboration in all key areas.
This provides for a common focus on comprehensively developing our cooperation
in key areas. We support
maintainingpolitical contactfor confidence building and discussing
currentbilateral andinternational
issues. We agree onjointpracticalsteps, and our countriescooperate closelyin theU.N., OSCE,Council of
Europe andmanyother
organizations.
POLITIKA: Are you
satisfied with the current level of cooperation between Serbia and Russia?
We are pleased with the consistent development of our economic
ties, which are bolstered by the existing free trade regime between our
countries. In 2013, our mutual trade grew by 15 percent amounting to $1.97
billion, and, in the first six months of 2014, it has already increased another
16.5 percent to $1.2 billion. We expect it to reach $2 billion by the end of
this year.
These positive dynamics are reflected in the investment sphere
as well. The overall scope of Russian investment in Serbia has exceeded $3
billion. A fundamental share of these resources has been invested in the
strategically-important energy industry. The best example of our successful
cooperation is energy giant Petroleum Industry of Serbia, which has turned from
a loss-making enterprise into a key contributor to the Serbian state budget. Implementation
of the South Stream
project will provide Serbia with more than €2 billion in new investment and substantially
enhance Serbian energy security. Serbia's rail infrastructure is being rebuilt
and upgraded with the participation of Russian Railways and our support in the
form of loans.
POLITIKA: There
is currently a great deal of speculation regarding a possible reduction in Russian
gas supplies to Europe because of Ukraine's debt. Should European consumers prepare
for a cold winter? What about the future of the South Stream project, which is
of great interest to Serbia?
VLADIMIR PUTIN:
First of all, I want to stress that Russia is fully complying with its
obligations in connection with the delivery of gas supplies to European
consumers. We are focused on deepening our cooperation with the E.U. in the
energy sector, where we are natural partners on a transparent and predictable
basis.
Since 2000, together with our European partners we have
successfully implemented a number of major projects. This includes Nord Stream, which enables
us to minimize transit risks and ensure uninterrupted gas supplies to Europe.
Over recent months, Gazprom has been rapidly boosting gas supplies for Europe's
underground storage facilities. These measures are taken to prevent interruptions
of supplies due to transit disruptions and meet peak demand in winter. Naturally,
we have taken into account the risks associated with the Ukrainian crisis.
We were forced to cut gas supplies to Ukraine in June
because the Kiev authorities refused to pay for gas that had already been
delivered. In late summer and early fall, we held a series of intensive consultations
at a trilateral forum including Russia, the E.U. and Ukraine, where we
discussed mutually acceptable solutions to the problem of settling Ukraine's
gas debt, resuming gas supplies to Ukraine, which had been halted by the
Ukrainian side, and providing for stable hydrocarbon deliveries for Europe. We
are ready to continue constructive talks on these issues. However, as for the
future of Russian gas exports to Europe, it is obvious that the problem of
transit across Ukrainian territory still exists. One of the more obvious
solutions would be to diversify the supply routes. In connection with this, we
hope the European Commission will quickly decide to use the OPAL gas pipeline to its fullest
capacity.
POLITIKA: What is
the future of the South Stream project, the realization of which Serbia is
keenly interested?
We need to resolve the deadlock over South Stream. We are confident
that this project will significantly contribute to overall energy security in
Europe. That will benefit everyone, Russia as well as European consumers,
including Serbians.
POLITIKA: In your
opinion, what is the ultimate objective of the economic sanctions that the E.U.
and United States have imposed on Russia?
VLADIMIR PUTIN:
This question would more appropriately be addressed to the United States and E.U.,
whose logic is difficult to understand. To anyone without preconceived ideas,
it wasn't Russia who staged a coup d'état in Ukraine, which led to an immediate
and grave internal political crisis and a schism in civil society. An
unconstitutional seizure of power was the starting point for subsequent events,
including those in Crimea. The people of Crimea, seeing the complexity and
unpredictability of the situation and in order to defend their rights to their mother
tongue, culture and history, decided, in full compliance with the U.N. Charter,
to hold a referendum and rejoin Russia. Therefore, our partners must clearly
understand that attempts to pressure Russia with illegitimate unilateral and
restrictive measures will not bring about a settlement, but impede further
dialogue.
How can we talk about de-escalation in Ukraine while decisions
on new sanctions are introduced almost simultaneously with the achievement of
an agreement to initiate a peace process? If the main goal is to isolate our
country, it is an absurd and illusory goal. It is obvious that such a thing
will be impossible to achieve, although the economic health of Europe and the
world can be seriously undermined.
POLITIKA: How
long do you think sanctions on Russian will last, and how much harm will they
do?
VLADIMIR PUTIN: With
regard to the duration of the restriction measures, that also depends on the
United States and European Union. For our part, we will adopt a balanced
approach to assess the risks and impact of sanctions and respond proceeding
from our national interest. It is obvious that the decline in mutual confidence
is bound to have a negative impact on both the global business climate in
general and the activities of European and American companies in Russia, which
will find it very difficult to recover from reputational damage. At the same
time, it will make other countries think carefully about the wisdom of investing
their funds in the American banking system and increasing their dependence on
economic cooperation with the United States.
POLITIKA: How do
you see the future of Russian-Ukrainian relations?
VLADIMIR PUTIN:
As for Russia, relations with Ukraine have always been and will continue to
be
of
great importance. Our people are inextricably linked by common spiritual,
cultural and civilizational roots. For over a century, we were part of a single
state, and that vast historical experience and millions of intertwined destinies
cannot be dismissed or forgotten.
Although this is a difficult stage in Russian-Ukrainian
relations, we are interested in progressive, equitable and mutually-beneficial
cooperation with our Ukrainian partners. In practice this will become possible
after achieving a stable peace and sustainable of the situation in Ukraine.
Therefore, we hope overcome this deep and prolonged political and economic
crisis.
Today there is a real opportunity to end the armed
confrontation, which in fact amounts to a civil war. The first steps in this
direction have already been taken. The launching of a genuine intra-Ukrainian
dialogue as quickly as possible involving representatives from all regions and
political forces is vital. Such an approach was documented in the Geneva
Statement of April 17. Within the framework of such a nationwide dialogue, it
will be necessary to focus on Ukraine's constitutional structure and the future
of the country, where all the citizens without exception will be able to live
comfortably and in safety.
POLITIKA:Will Russiaandthe United States resume astrategic
partnership afterall that has happened, or will relations be placed onsomeother basis?
As for the prospects for Russia-American relations, our aim
has always been to build a relationship of open partnership with the United
States. In return, however, we have seen various complaints and attempts to
interfere in our domestic affairs – and what has happened since the beginning
of the year is even more disturbing. Washington actively supported the Maidan
protests, and when its charges in Kiev, motivated by unrestrained nationalism and
provoking the resentment of a significant portion of Ukraine, plunged the
country into civil war, it began to blame Russia for provoking the crisis.
Posted By Worldmeets.US
Then President Barack Obama stood before the U.N. General
Assembly and included “Russian aggression in Europe” as one of the three major
threats facing humanity today, along with the deadly Ebola virus and the terrorist
group the "Islamic State." On top of the sanctions the U.S. has imposed
against entire sectors of our economy, it is an approach that would be
difficult to describe as anything but hostile.
In its public statements, the United States went so far as
to suspend cooperation in the conquest of space and nuclear energy. The
Americans have suspended the activity of the Russia-U.S. Bilateral Presidential
Commission established in 2009, which is composed of 21 working groups which
are dedicated, among other things, to combating terrorism and illegal drug
trafficking.
At the same time, the current chill in our relations is not
the first. We hope that our partners come to understand the futility of
attempts to blackmail Russia and remember the consequences that discord between
major nuclear powers can bring when the strategic stability of the world is at
stake. For our part, we are ready to develop constructive cooperation based on
the principles of equality and genuine respect for one another's interests.
POLITIKA: You are
coming to Belgrade to take part in celebrations commemorating the 70th
anniversary of the city’s liberation from occupation by Nazi Germany. Why, in
your view, are such commemoration events important today?
VLADIMIR PUTIN:
First of all, I would like to thank the Serbian leadership for the invitation
to visit Serbia and take part in the celebrations commemorating the 70th
anniversary of the liberation of Belgrade from occupation by Nazi Germany.
We are truly grateful to our Serbian friends for the way
they treasure the memory of the Soviet soldiers who fought alongside the
National Liberation Army of Yugoslavia against Hitler’s occupation troops.
During World War II, over 31,000 Red Army officers and soldiers were killed,
wounded or went missing on the territory of the former Yugoslavia. About 6,000
Soviet citizens fought the invaders in the ranks of the National Liberation
Army. Their courage brought our common victory over Nazism closer and will
always be remembered by our peoples as an example of bravery, unyielding
determination and selfless service to one’s homeland.
It is hard to overestimate the importance of the upcoming
events. Seventy years ago, our nations, for humanity's sake, joined forces to
defeat the criminal ideology of hatred that threatened the very existence of
our civilization. And today it is also important that people in different
countries and continents remember what terrible consequences may result from
the belief in one’s exceptionality, attempts to achieve dubious geopolitical
goals, no matter by what means, and disregard for basic norms of law and
morality. We must do everything in our power to prevent such tragedies in the
future.
Regrettably, in some European countries, the Nazi “vaccine”
created at the Nuremberg Tribunal is losing its effect. This is clearly
demonstrated by open manifestations of neo-Nazism that are already commonplace
in Latvia and other Baltic states. The situation in Ukraine, where nationalists
and other radical groups provoked an anti-constitutional coup d’état in
February, causes particular concern in this respect.
Today, it is our shared duty to combat the glorification of
Nazism. We must firmly oppose the attempts to revise the results of WWII and
consistently combat any forms and manifestations of racism, xenophobia,
aggressive nationalism and chauvinism.
I am sure that the anniversary celebrations in Belgrade,
which are to become another manifestation of the sincere friendship between our
nations based on the feelings of mutual affinity and respect, on spiritual
kinship, on brotherhood in arms in the years of WWII, will also contribute to
addressing these challenges. We hope that the preservation of historical memory
will continue to help us strengthen peace, stability and welfare of the common
European space together.
