Putin Denounces US Missile Shield
Jose Manuel Durao Barroso, President of the EU Commission, Russia's President Vladimir Putin and Portuguese Prime Minister Jose Socrates, from left to right, arrive for a news conference at the end of the EU/Russia summit in the library of the 18th century Mafra Palace Friday, Oct. 26, 2007, in Mafra, north of Lisbon. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)26 October 2007
By MIKE ECKEL
MAFRA, Portugal -Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday compared the U.S. proposal to build a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe to the Cuban missile crisis of the 1960s.
"Analogous actions by the Soviet Union, when it deployed missiles in Cuba, prompted the 'Caribbean crisis,'" Putin said at a news conference at the end of a European Union-Russian summit in Portugal, using the Russian term for the Cuban missile crisis.
"Such a threat is being set up on our borders," he said.
At the same time, Putin suggested the tension was much lower that during the Cuban missile crisis because Russian-U.S. relations have moved on since the Cold War.
He also said he believes the United States is listening to Moscow's concerns about its missile plans. Putin said his relationship with President Bush helps iron out problems in relations with the U.S., calling him a friend.
Turning to his future in Russian politics, Putin said he would not assume presidential powers if he became prime minister after finishing his term in the spring.
"If someone thinks that I intend to move, let's say, into the government of the Russian Federation and transfer the fundamental powers there, that's not the case," he said at a news conference. "There will be no infringement on the powers of the president of the Russian Federation, at least while it depends on me."
The popular Putin is barred from seeking a third consecutive term in the March presidential election, but has strongly indicated he would seek to keep a hand on Russia's reins after he steps down. He has left the door open to becoming prime minister, recently announcing that he will head United Russia's election list in the December parliamentary elections.
By MIKE ECKEL
MAFRA, Portugal -Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday compared the U.S. proposal to build a missile defense shield in Eastern Europe to the Cuban missile crisis of the 1960s.
"Analogous actions by the Soviet Union, when it deployed missiles in Cuba, prompted the 'Caribbean crisis,'" Putin said at a news conference at the end of a European Union-Russian summit in Portugal, using the Russian term for the Cuban missile crisis.
"Such a threat is being set up on our borders," he said.
At the same time, Putin suggested the tension was much lower that during the Cuban missile crisis because Russian-U.S. relations have moved on since the Cold War.
He also said he believes the United States is listening to Moscow's concerns about its missile plans. Putin said his relationship with President Bush helps iron out problems in relations with the U.S., calling him a friend.
Turning to his future in Russian politics, Putin said he would not assume presidential powers if he became prime minister after finishing his term in the spring.
"If someone thinks that I intend to move, let's say, into the government of the Russian Federation and transfer the fundamental powers there, that's not the case," he said at a news conference. "There will be no infringement on the powers of the president of the Russian Federation, at least while it depends on me."
The popular Putin is barred from seeking a third consecutive term in the March presidential election, but has strongly indicated he would seek to keep a hand on Russia's reins after he steps down. He has left the door open to becoming prime minister, recently announcing that he will head United Russia's election list in the December parliamentary elections.
Labels: Bush, Cuba, European Union, Russia, United States
posted by HRM Deborah of Israel and the Messenger of Peace at 6:10 PM
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