Russia is not aggressive but defending its interests - Putin

Source : http://m.rbth.co.uk

Russia is not behaving aggressively on the international arena and does not claim superpower status, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.

Speaking at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on June 19, Putin said he didn't like former French Prime Minister Francois Fillon's remark that Russia is behaving increasingly more aggressively.

"I didn't like what you are saying about an aggressive nature of our behavior. We are not behaving aggressively. We've started defending our interests more and more resolutely and consistently. We calmly kept silent for a long time, I'd say for a decade, and proposed various elements of cooperation. But we were gradually pressed and pressed on and were ultimately pressed against a line we could not cross," Putin said.

"Russia doesn't claim any hegemony or any ephemeral superpower status," Putin said. "We are not imposing our standards and our behavior and development models on anyone. We want equitable relations with all members of the international community, including the U.S., the European Partners, and those in Asia," he said.

"Don't seek to reshape the world but proceed from something that already exists, treat each other with respect and look for common solutions to common problems," he said.

Russia harbors no aspirations to become superpower: Putin

Source : http://news.xinhuanet.com

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Russia is not striving to become a superpower and only seeks to develop equal relations with other countries, President Vladimir Putin said Friday.

"Russia does not claim some sort of hegemony or ephemeral superpower status," Putin told the ongoing Saint Petersburg International Economic Forum here.

Moscow has started to resolutely and persistently, rather than aggressively, protect its interests, Putin said, adding that Russia "wants equitable relations with all members of the international community."

While accusing Western countries of imposing their standards and models on others, Putin said Russia always proceeds with mutual respect and looks for "common solutions to common problems."

Referring to Russia-U.S. relations, Putin hoped that joint efforts by both countries in fighting against common threats, like terrorism, drug trafficking and so on, could serve as the foundation for restoring the bilateral relationship.

On the Ukraine crisis, Putin reiterated that not only Russia, but also Western countries should exert influence over the conflicting sides in the country, while the Minsk agreements signed in February should be fully implemented in order to settle the crisis in a peaceful and political way.

As Russia has been slapped with sanctions by the West over its alleged intervention in the Ukraine crisis, Putin insisted that political pressure should not influence business and economic cooperation.

Putin pointed out that the sanctions war is inflicting damage on both Russia and the West, however, he said that the Russian economy is not in a catastrophic state.

In the near future, Russia could ensure an economic growth at the average global rate of about 3.5 percent, an annual labor productivity growth at 5 percent and annual inflation at 4 percent, he said.

Noting that the Russian government is consistently trying to solve domestic economic problems and create a liberal and favorable business climate, Putin said Russia is ready to develop with all countries in the world on a reciprocal basis.

Putin: Russia Strictly Complies With Nuclear Non-Proliferation Commitments

Via : http://www.strategic-culture.org

 

Sputnik - Russia strictly complies with all its commitments in regard to non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, and works closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.

"We strictly comply with all issues related to non-proliferation and work closely with the IAEA," Putin said, opening a meeting with IAEA Director General Yukiya Amano.

Putin's meeting with the IAEA head was held on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.

Earlier in the day, the heads of the IAEA and Russia's state-run nuclear corporation Rosatom discussed the roles their organizations play in developing and ensuring the safe proliferation of peaceful nuclear energy.

Amano has also met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in St. Petersburg during the day to discuss the best options for monitoring Iran’s nuclear facilities.

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) is an international deal that entered into force in 1970 to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons while promoting the use of civilian nuclear technology. The treaty established a system of safeguard that falls under the responsibility of the IAEA. As many as 191 states ratified the treaty.

The NPT recognizes five states, namely the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, and China, as states possessing nuclear weapons.