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Putin Hits U.S. Over Unilateral Approach
Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, glances at U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates during the security conference in Munich, where Putin said the United States "has overstepped its national borders in every way." The White House said it was "surprised and disappointed" by Putin's comments.
(By Frank Augstein -- Associated Press)
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Putin called on the West to resist pushing Russia to be more democratic and more respectful of human rights. "Russia is constantly being taught democracy, and the people who try to teach it don't want to learn it themselves," he said.
Putin ended his critique of the post-Cold War world by attacking the West's view of international relations. Stability and economic justice, he said, should be "not only for the chosen ones, but for everybody."
During Putin's 32-minute address, several members of the U.S. delegation frowned or looked away. Gates, a professional Sovietologist, stared down at notes he was writing. Asked for comment afterward, Gates smiled and shook his head.
After speaking, Putin took questions from the audience, elaborating on several points but backing down from none of them. Explaining his view that the world is now more dangerous than it was during the Cold War, he said that back then, "it was a fragile peace, a scary peace, but it was fairly reliable, as it turns out. Today it is less reliable."
In his one peace offering, Putin called Bush "my friend." Bush is "criticized for everything he does, but he is a decent man," Putin said.
Putin also alluded to Russia's indirect cutoff of crucial energy supplies to Europe twice in the past two years, insisting that Russia's actions are simply intended to put its energy exports on a transparent, market-based system built around long-term contracts.
Some European diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity, saw his attack on the United States as a preemptive measure to deflect criticism of Russia that has been building in European capitals. In addition to an ongoing crackdown on pro-democracy groups and political opponents, Russia has antagonized some in Europe with its use of energy as a tool of foreign policy.
NATO Secretary General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, who also attended the meeting, said he was disappointed by Putin's remarks. He said NATO and the United States had been forthright in their communications with Moscow on the eastward expansion of NATO and had made clear that such moves should not be interpreted as a security threat.
Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman (I-Conn.) said that much of Putin's address was "Cold War rhetoric" and that his comments about Iran were "outrageous" and "provocative."
Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) added, "If you're waiting for Russia to be constructive on Iran, forget it." Putin "did more in a single speech to unite Europe and America than anything we could have done in a decade," Graham said, referring to tensions over the war in Iraq.
Staff writer Peter Baker in Washington contributed to this report.
