Thursday, February 15, 2007

RUSSIA: Putin Adress at Munich Conference

The Guardian: Unilateral force has nothing to do with global democracy
by Vladimir Putin

The US has overstepped its borders in every way. We must build a new world order to ensure security and prosperity for all

The universal, indivisible character of security can be expressed as the basic principle that "security for one is security for all". As Franklin D Roosevelt said at the onset of the second world war: "When peace has been broken anywhere, the peace of all countries is in danger."

"These words remain relevant today. Only two decades ago the world was ideologically and economically divided and it was the huge strategic potential of two superpowers that ensured global security. This global standoff pushed the sharpest economic and social problems to the margins of the world's agenda. And, just like any war, the cold war left behind live ammunition, figuratively speaking. It left ideological stereotypes, double standards and other remnants of cold war thinking."

ISN: Russia: New behavior for a great power

Putin's accusations that the West is plotting to become the world's 'single master' are a taste of what is to come as Moscow asserts itself as a great power that will not allow a bipolar order.

"Yuri Sharandin, head of the Federation Council's Constitutional Law Committee, said Putin's remarks reflected the true state of global affairs and offered the international community a chance to stand back and view its own reflection.
Kremlin-connected analyst Gleb Pavlovsky said that far from being confrontational, Putin's speech would likely be received at home as "diplomatic" due to increasing anti-Americanism in Russia. Putin suggested continued dialogue but made it clear that Russia was prepared for any eventuality, Pavlovsky said."


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