Original source URL: http://www.businessday.co.za/articles/topstories.aspx?ID=BD4A231976 Posted to the web on: 13 July 2006 Putin warns 'colonialist' critics to lay off Russia at G-8 meeting MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin accused foreigners who criticise his democracy record of echoing colonialist rhetoric and singled out US Vice-President Dick Cheney for personal attack. His comments in French and US television interviews yesterday appeared to be a warning to western powers not to lecture Russia at this weekend's meeting of leaders from the Group of Eight (G-8) industrialised states in St Petersburg. Russian opposition groups have urged western leaders to condemn Putin's record at the G-8 meeting. Cheney has been an outspoken critic of Putin. He said in May that Russia was backsliding on democracy and using its vast energy resources to blackmail neighbours. Putin told US channel NBC he would not allow the issue to be used to interfere in Russia's internal affairs and called Cheney's criticism "a failed hunting shot". Cheney accidentally wounded a friend during a quail hunt in February. Putin, who will host US President George Bush and the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Canada, Japan and Italy, together with the heads of five leading developing states - including President Thabo Mbeki - said Russia was ready to listen to "well-intentioned" criticism. He said, however, it would "object to using all possible levers, including the idea that our society needs democratisation, for interfering in our internal affairs". On France's LCI television, he accused critics of employing a "colonialist" tone and said different countries had different standards that had to be respected: "If you look at newspapers of 100 years ago, you see how, at the time, colonialist states justified their policies in Africa or in Asia. "They talked of their civilising role, of the white man's mission. If you change the word 'civilising' to 'democratisation', you find the same logic Š in the press of today. "There are differences between countries and it could be very dangerous to ignore these," he said. Western leaders are expected to raise concerns at the summit about Russian moves that are seen as anti-democratic, including a new law placing restrictions on nongovernmental organisations, tightening state control of news media and making the upper chamber of parliament an appointed body instead of an elected one. Russia, in setting the agenda for the G-8 summit, has made energy security one of the top issues. However, Russia this year unsettled Europe when a dispute with Ukraine over natural gas prices resulted in a temporary reduction of Russian natural gas deliveries to Europe. Most of Russia's Europe-bound gas transits Ukraine. Despite his sharp comments on Cheney's statement, Putin said Russia was not being obstinate to criticism. "I am glad that we have critics. It would be worse if there were one voice, as it was in the time of the Soviet Union at meetings of the Communist Party. "If we hear both critical and positive observations, it means that we have the possibility of better orienting ourselves toward what we'redoing," he said. Reuters, Sapa-AP BDFM Publishers (Pty) Ltd disclaims all liability for any loss, damage, injury or expense however caused, arising from the use of or reliance upon, in any manner, the information provided through this service and does not warrant the truth, accuracy or completeness of the information provided. Copyright © 2004 BDFM Publishers (Pty) Ltd. All Rights Reserved Site Feedback | Privacy Policy -- -------------------------------------------------------- Escaping the Matrix website http://escapingthematrix.org/ cyberjournal website http://cyberjournal.org subscribe cyberjournal list mailto:•••@••.••• Posting archives http://cyberjournal.org/show_archives/ Blogs: cyberjournal forum http://cyberjournal-rkm.blogspot.com/ Achieving real democracy http://harmonization.blogspot.com/ for readers of ETM http://matrixreaders.blogspot.com/ Community Empowerment http://empowermentinitiatives.blogspot.com/ Blogger made easy http://quaylargo.com/help/ezblogger.html
