Putin for pragmatic foreign policy

By Vladimir Radyuhin

MOSCOW, DEC. 26. Russia will pursue a less ambitious and more pragmatic and assertive foreign policy in the coming century aimed at facilitating its economic revival, the Russian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin, has said.

``Our foreign policy priorities have been defined on the basis of domestic priorities and pragmatic interests of our economy'', he said in a wide-ranging televised interview broadcast on Monday night to mark his first year in power.

On December 31, 1999, the former Russian President, Mr. Boris Yeltsin, resigned ahead of time, handing over the reins of power to his chosen successor, Mr. Putin.

``We must get rid of imperial ambitions on the one hand, and on the other hand, clearly and precisely understand where our national interests are, to spell them out and fight for them'', Mr. Putin said.

Foreign policy has been Mr. Putin's top priority in the outgoing year. He has visited 21 countries and demonstrated that his foreign policy is different both from what it was during Soviet times and under Mr. Yeltsin.

``In the Soviet days, we scared the world so much that this led to the emergence of huge military and political blocs'', Mr. Putin said. ``Did we really stand to gain from this? Of course not''.

``But 10 years ago, for some reason, we decided that everyone so heartily loves us that all we have to do is to open our mouth to catch their cakes. It turned out wrong as well.''

Mr. Putin admitted that because of past mistakes Russia had lost positions on the markets of its former allies. He cited the example of Cuba which he visited earlier this month, to find Western companies firmly entrenched in industries set up by the erstwhile Soviet Union.

``Our recent talks showed it would be difficult to get back there'', Mr. Putin remarked. He made it clear Russia would not leave other markets, such as Iran or Iraq, because of U.S. pressure. ``We should not forget about our national interests''.

The Defence Minister, Marshal Igor Sergeyev, is currently in Iran to discuss resumption of Russian defence supplies to that country.

At the same time, Mr. Putin said he did not expect relations with the U.S. to deteriorate under the Republican administration of the President-elect, Mr. George W. Bush.

``My analysis of modern history shows that when Republicans were heading the U.S. administration, U.S.-Soviet relations were not harmed,'' he said. ``We always managed to find a common language with the Republicans.''

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Section  : International
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