Posted on 09/05/2005 8:20:43 PM PDT by Wiz
LONDON (Reuters) - Foreign pressure for reform in former Soviet Union states risks turning them into chaotic "banana republics," Russian President Vladimir Putin said in comments published on Tuesday.
He said Western governments may have been mistaken in backing non-governmental organisations pushing for change during last year's "Orange Revolution" in Ukraine.
"We are not against any changes in the former Soviet Union," Putin was quoted as saying by Britain's Times newspaper at a briefing with Western academics and journalists.
"We are afraid only that those changes will be chaotic. Otherwise there will be banana republics where he who shouts loudest wins."
President Bush has been trying to encourage former Soviet states to build the institutions of stable democracies without antagonizing Putin.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
ping
Ping
We don't particularly want or need more mud from Elbonia. Who is he kidding?
Full Text:
LONDON (Reuters) - Foreign pressure for reform in former Soviet Union states risks turning them into chaotic "banana republics," Russian President Vladimir Putin said in comments published on Tuesday.
He said Western governments may have been mistaken in backing non-governmental organisations pushing for change during last year's "Orange Revolution" in Ukraine.
"We are not against any changes in the former Soviet Union," Putin was quoted as saying by Britain's Times newspaper at a briefing with Western academics and journalists.
"We are afraid only that those changes will be chaotic. Otherwise there will be banana republics where he who shouts loudest wins."
President Bush has been trying to encourage former Soviet states to build the institutions of stable democracies without antagonizing Putin.
Putin said it was no surprise that Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko's chief of staff quit on Monday to protest what he said was rising corruption among top officials.
"We said this before and no one wanted to listen to us," Putin told the briefing, according to the Guardian newspaper.
Some Russian officials have said pro-democracy movements in ex-Soviet states are a Western plot to undermine Moscow's influence.
Putin, however, rejected that view.
"I don't think any Western countries, either European or the United States, are working against the Russian Federation," he said, according to the Guardian.
The Times said he poured scorn on Ukraine's new government, saying it had caused the collapse of an agreement for a new Russian gas pipeline to Western Europe.
Putin said he was not planning to stay in office when his current term expires in 2008.
"No, I am not going to run for president in 2008. No, we are not going to amend the constitution," he said.
thank you"Wiz"
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"I have been preoccupied with situation in New Orleans of United States of America eto fore situation with one of my dear friend on this website and plus situation in Israel. I will respond to his statement accordingly. Putin is a moronic despot one to one he is of imbalance of having too much of KGB drugs in him. On serious note; I know what bothers him; of it seeing my neighbors live in peace and being able to stand up for themselves especially Ukraine and soon Belarus will follow Ukraine foot steps. Look outside of the box and you will see a clown whom is having a fits. I sincerely hope someone upstairs can get a chair and hit themselves in a head and put nice pajamas. Putin needs to take a deep breath within mental hospital property; et fore it will not be a danger of others assuming they are not in a way:}}}}}}}}}. Lets face it something will never change.”
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thank you all
I disagree. Wiz was wrong in not posting the complete article, and I want to thank FairOpinion for his part in posting the article so one can see the correct context as to what Putin was stating.
If a hurricane struck Ukraine the MSM would applaud Russian intervention.
If he wants to see a banana republic, let the democrat party of New Orleans and Louisiana run these countries.
Who cares if we antagonize Putin! Ronald Reagan destroyed the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact by being aggressive, he knew the only thing they respected/feared was power (economic and military).
My comments to you were in no way said in anger.
So I will warn Putin as well, “stay out of the Eastern Europe , you commie bastard!”
But Lukasz, Putin is a reformed "christian" how dare you criticize this man! /GarySpFc mode
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