Russian President Vladimir Putin yesterday slammed the United States for
its "almost uncontained" use of force in the world, and voiced several other
differences with the west on global security issues.
"We are witnessing an almost uncontained hyper use of force in international
relations ... the United States has overstepped its national borders in every
way," said Putin at a high-profile security conference in southern German city
of Munich.
"The legitimate use of force can only be done by the United Nations, which
cannot be replaced by EU or NATO," he said.
Putin warned that a U.S.-led "unipolar world" was unacceptable and had led to
more wars and conflicts in the world. "The unilateral illegal action has not
resolved any problem."
The U.S. policy of "uncontained hyper-use of military force" was " very
dangerous" and "nobody feels secure anymore," Putin said, adding that it drives
many countries to develop weapons of mass destruction.
Putin criticized the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe
(CSCE) for becoming a "vulgar instrument for ensuring foreign policy of one
country."
He also sharply criticized the planned development of 10 anti-ballistic
missiles systems by the U.S. in Poland and the Czech Republic, vowing that
Russia would develop cheaper, asymmetrical systems to overcome the threat.
On the expansion of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Putin said
"NATO expansion is a serious factor which reduces the level of mutual trust."
In March 2004, the three former Soviet republics -- Lithuania, Estonia,
Latvia -- joined the NATO, bringing the military alliance to Russia's gate.
Russia has the right to ask at whom NATO is aimed at as it expands its bases
and infrastructures toward Moscow when the real global threat was posed by
terrorism and weapons of mass destruction, Putin said.
Putin also spoke about the differences with the west on Kosovo. He said
Russia won't support any international solution to resolve Kosovo's status if it
is unacceptable to either Serbia or the province's ethnic Albanian majority.
"If we see that one of the sides is clearly unsatisfied with the proposed
ways to solve the situation, we will not support the decision," said Putin.
The international community, mainly the European Union and the United States,
is not in the right position to solve the problem, he said. "Only the Kosovars
and Serbs can resolve this," he said.
Speaking of the Iran nuclear issue, the Russian leader stressed that the
international community should address the concerns of Iran as it seeks a
solution to Tehran's nuclear crisis.
"We should not corner Iran into a hostile environment," Putin said.
There is no evidence, after all, that Iran is trying to develop nuclear
weapons, he said.
The Russian president said the international community should "be more
patient and work together" to solve the crisis.
Also speaking at the meeting, German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivered a
tougher statement on Iran, warning that Iran must accept western demands over
nuclear weapons or face international isolation.
"If Iran does not do so then the alternative for Iran is to slip further into
isolation," said Merkel.
The international community is "determined to prevent the threat posed by an
Iranian military nuclear program," said Merkel, whose country holds the rotating
EU presidency.
Some 250 top officials from over 40 countries, including U.S. Defense
Secretary Robert Gates, attended the 43rd Munich security conference which
opened late Friday and ends on Sunday.
Besides Putin and Merkel, the meeting was also attended by NATO Secretary
General Jaap de Hoop Scheffer, and EU chief diplomat Javier Solana.