Putin: No return to Cold War rivalry with US
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-19 09:44

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a U.S. television interview broadcast Sunday that a return to Cold War rivalry with the United States would be impossible, AP reported.

"We are not adversaries. We are partners in many areas of international activities," he told Fox News Sunday in an interview, a transcript of which was posted on the Kremlin's Web site.

But in comments certain to displease the U.S. administration, he reiterated Russia's opposition to referring Iran to the U.N. Security Council over its nuclear program and said he thought the United States should pull its troops out of Iraq within just over a year or 24 months.

Putin, who was in the United States to attend the U.N. General Assembly and hold talks with U.S. President George W. Bush, gave the taped interview on Friday and it was broadcast on Sunday.

The Russian leader, who has been criticized in the West for rolling back democratic freedoms by imposing state control of national broadcasters and scrapping elections for regional governors, warned against trying to lecture Moscow.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, speaks with Chris Wallace, host of 'FOX News Sunday with Chris Wallace', during an interview to Fox News in Washington, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2005. [AP]

"I am convinced that democracy cannot be exported from one country to another. Just as you cannot export revolution, you cannot export ideology. We're not prepared to listen to teaching or tutoring. That is inadmissible," he said.

However, he repeated his pledge not to change the Russian Constitution to allow him to stand for a third consecutive term in 2008 presidential elections.

"Under no circumstances am I prepared to change the constitution," Putin said.

On the sensitive subject of Iran, where Russia is building an atomic power plant despite U.S. concerns that Iran may be pursuing a nuclear weapons program, Putin brushed aside calls for possible sanctions against Tehran.

"Today, the Iranian side is working sufficiently in cooperation with the IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and (U.N. nuclear chief Mohamed) ElBaradei has told us so. So, let's proceed from the today's realities," said Putin.

The 35 board-member nations of the IAEA are expected to make a decision on whether to haul Iran before the U.N. Security Council at a meeting opening Monday in Vienna.

The threat of referral follows Iran's rejection of economic and other incentives offered by European negotiators seeking a freeze on Iran's uranium enrichment activities.

The Europeans and Americans are up against tough opposition from countries led by Russia, China and India.

Putin, whose government fiercely opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq, said the coalition military presence in the country was fueling the insurgency and a date should be fixed for the withdrawal of foreign troops.

"In our opinion, the fact of their presence there pushes the armed opposition to perpetrate acts of violence," Putin said.

The Russian president acknowledged that fledgling Iraqi security forces needed time before they could take over from U.S.-led forces but said a timetable for a pullout was essential to "make everybody move in the right direction."

"I believe it should be within just over a year or within two years, something like that. It will all depend on the situation in that country," he said.

Putin began his interview by offering his condolences over Hurricane Katrina.

"I would like to express my most sincere condolences regarding the tragedy which just happened in Louisiana. We sincerely grieve with the American people regarding all those victims and from our very hearts we feel compassion."

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