Do you imagine your life without being a president?
By the way, it's quite frequent question.
Actually, it's like a canary in a coal mine, so to say.
That's what I think.
If a person is able to go back to live in a regular apartment
instead of enjoying palace interior
in this case, I think that he didn't lose connection with "external world”.
I can easily imagine my life without being in this high position.
It has happened on August 7th, 1999... "
In the heart of events."
CAUCASUS NEWS.
Basaev is commanding militants in Dagestan".
for keeping it short
I am not going to sit down for keeping it short.
Situation is very serious now in Dagestan and in Caucasus.
I just came back from there.
It's really difficult situation.
Real serious.
Probably, we can really lose Dagestan...
Coordination is very bad, so far.
And for some reason everyone is asking for political..
I was forced to go there yesterday and tell that I am taking full responsibility.
And now about the current events.
I have met with the President this morning.
He signed my resignation
Thanked me for good work
And dismissed me
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin is appointed as interim
He is the Secretary of Security Council and head of FSB.
Descent and honourable person I think.
I would like to wish him luck.
Luck only,
cause all the rest he already has.
August 9th, 1999
The man, whom Boris Yeltsin has chosen
to be the head of his obsolete government
was practically unknown former spy
and head of Security Council: Vladimir Putin
Even more remarkable was Yeltsin's statement
that it was Putin who ought to become a president of Russia
after Yeltsin's retirement next year.
People had absolutely no trust to the government.
Caucasus war was going on.
The war was not only in Caucasus but everywhere in the country.
You might remember those terrorist attacks etc.
It was not so long ago
just 14-15 years ago.
Caucasus war came to Moscow"
Chechen trace?"
August 14th, 1999
This conflict became the first serious test
for acting Prime Minister Vladimir Putin.
Putin stated that Russia will be able
to take situation in Dagestan under control in less than 2 weeks.
I wasn't really able to make decisions at that moment.
I was forced to deal with it,
though I didn't have full powers.
It was clearly a huge responsibility.
It was a matter of course
and I have had onl one question,
I am not even going to talk about it on camera now.
In case if I won't manage to finish this task,
then what should I do and how should I live further?
I have decided for myself that it's the only option.
I should go till the end.
I never heard of name Putin back then.
It was in August-September of 1999.
Experience of the previous 1$t Chechen campaign was pretty hard.
There was a long line of misfortunes
and often even betrayals.
And in 1999 when Chaban Makhikov...
during that Khattab's assault on Dagestan,
that’s when I first heard the name of our president.
Vladimir Ivanov, our platoon commander, said.
We got a new one."
He came into some general's tent
and they raised a toast to future victory.
I would really like, in accordance with Russian tradition
and tradition of holy Dagestan land where we are today,
to raise this glass
and drink to the memory of those who died.
A second, just a second
I would like to raise a glass
to the health of ones who are wounded
and to wish happiness to everyone present here.
But we have a lot of problems ahead of us
and important tasks you know that very well.
You do know what enemy is planning to do.
All of us know that
What provocations are to be expected in the nearest future,
in what regions etc.
We don't have a right
to allow ourselves a single moment of weakness.
Not a single moment.
Because if we will,
then those who died, did it for nothing.
That's why I’d like to propose the following.
we will absolutely raise our glasses to them,
absolutely.
But we will do it later.
Later.
When this task, the crucial task you all know about, will be completed.
That's why I propose to grab a bite of food now
and go back to work.
He put glass on the table and I remember surprise of our platoon commander
and his respect.
He said that probably it will work differently than during the previous campaign
cause this glass he put back on the table,
in his man's view, it had some good special meaning.
And after that couple of days later,
when military jets flew to Khattab’s units and started shelling them on territory of Chechnya,
it became clear then that this glass returned on the table
had very obvious meaning
It meant that everything will be the right way.
We will be chasing terrorists everywhere.
and if we find them in the toilet, pardon me,
We will rub them out in the outhouse!
The end, issue closed!
What's going on in Chechnya,
is caused by the fact that Russia is not willing
to solve these issues in political way,
by talking to the Chechen leaders.
There are two categories of Russian soldiers on the territory of Chechnya.
those who lie in coffins and those who WILL lie in coffins.
There was no other solution than suppressing this terrorism.
It was impossible to come to an agreement
I remember very clearly and I told about that before, I think,
that while I was head of FSB I was reading different investigative documents
including ones of international terrorists, what they were writing to each other.
It's a unique historic occasion today.
We have a chance to tear Caucasus away from Russia.
Today or never."
But it was clear for us as well.
either we'll hold it today
or we'll never have another chance to save the country.
Well, at that moment practically everyone, except only us maybe,
cause an average citizen didn't go into details, and wasn't much aware of what was happening,
but for anyone in the world,
as many of my colleagues, presidents and prime ministers, were telling me later,
it was a sure thing that Russia will seize to exist in its current borders.
The only question was when it will happen and what will be the consequences,
considering that it was a large nuclear power.
On December 31st, 1999, at 10 am
I got a phone call from Boris Yeltsin office.
And I was told that I have to be in his office in half an hour.
I was invited into his office.
We were standing there, witnessing the power transfer,
including the transfer of nuclear suitcase too, by the way.
I remember this day very well.
On December 31st we were invited for breakfast with the President.
We were about 8 people.
I saw that someone was carrying a TV.
If you remember, TVs used to be thick, chubby ones back then.
They placed the TV there.
Boris Nikolaevich and Vladimir Vladimirovich came over.
They sat down and turned on TV.
I am... leaving
Leaving before... the end of the term.
I realized that it's what I have to do.
Russia has to start a new Millennium
with new politicians, new faces.
With new clever, strong, energetic people.
That's where we heard that Boris Nikolayevich has left
and has passed his president duties to Vladimir Vladimirovich.
After that Vladimir Vladimirovich invited me to his office in Kremlin
and told me that it would be a good idea to congratulate our Army Forces.
Spiritual welfare of the Army Forces was quite bad.
It was necessary to bolster morale of the servicemen,
make them believe in themselves.
At the same time, we had to ensure security of this event,
cause we were flying in the combat zone.
It was worrisome of course, the president is flying, weather is terrible,
by the helicopters.
Our helicopter was shelled
and we were forced to go back to Makhachkala.
By this time we prepared the cars
which we used to get to Gudermes.
I was in Gudermes.
My father knew that he is coming over
don’t know where he knew this from.
It was a secret.
Nobody believed it even myself.
Fighting is going on everywhere but Putin will come,
in a civil car to Dagestan...
We arrived to Gudermes somewhat around 4:30 pm
and we met New Year's Eve already with the servicemen.
Guys, our congratulations on the New Year.
We wish you happiness and all the best for the new year!
Good health to everyone and happy family life!
I would like you to know
that Russia highly appreciates what you do.
And country really needs what you do. Really needs it.
I am not only talking about restoring of country's Honour and Dignity.
No I mean much more serious things by that.
I am talking about putting an end to the demise of Russia.
This is your main goal.
Setting up a goal always meant for Putin
having a concrete result after a specified time.
And when Putin said that problem has to be resolved in 2 weeks,
in 2 weeks it was resolved.
A lot of hard work was done with the locals.
As the result of it, enormous number of local Dagestan residents
with weapon in their hands took side of Federal Forces,
fought with the terrorists and won over them eventually.
The same story was in Chechnya.
We have to act very carefully,
in a way that we wouldn't cause damage to the civilians.
Because there are... there are...
besides the armed militants and bandits there are also women, children
elderly people are there too.
There are veterans of the Great Patriotic War there too by the way!
Whom all of us own the victory over fascism,
they were taking part in it.
And we treat them as family
Sorry. I can't walk all the way through...
The very same Akhmad Hadzhi Kadyrov,
he actually believed Putin, believed this work.
He followed Putin
and hundreds and thousands of other Chechens did too after him.
This was a surprise
a feeling that a strange, new person has appeared.
I met both his mother and father.
The war for Vladimir Vladimirovich, is the same as for me, probably.
It's not only the heroism of people,
but also a personal tragedy which will never die.
On Piskarevskoe cemetery, in one of the mass graves,
his older brother is buried.
He was practically a child when he has died.
His father was heavily wounded in Nevsky Pyatachok, it was a miracle he survived.
He came back home from the hospital
right at the moment when our future President mother was carried out of the apartment.
Medics were loading her in a truck as a dead body.
He chased them away, using his crutches.
She was washed out but he nursed her back to life.
When he came to Moscow for work,
his parents were already pretty old,
they had to be looked after.
And using every chance, Putin was travelling there in order to see them,
to talk to them and to provide with any help they needed.
We used to talk about different topics.
When we were talking in a close circle,
we were remembering our mothers, childhood.
I was saying that it's really strange
that we don't appreciate our moms while they are still alive,
can't find time to come over spend time with her,
listen to her give her a hug.
And then he was also taking a walk down memory lane.
I could feel that he was moved deeply.
March 25th, 2000.
Cold St Petersburg was founded by the great Russian Tzar Peter I,
who built city on the sea and made it the capital.
From these times it was representing the best of the country,
but sometimes the worst of it too.
But along with its glamour
we also met the hard realities of Russia today.
Maria Semyonova, who is 80 years old,
is forced to live in a communal apartment together with 30 other people.
The fair people should be In power
so that we could see at least a bit of fair and honest life.
Putin is better, he is better!
By what?
By everything! Everything!
He'll do everything in a fair way,
unless they'll wipe him out.
Maria was planning to give her vote to the communists,
but like many others she trusts Putin.
I couldn’t imagine in my worst nightmare
that I'll be ever running for president
Cause I think it's absolutely dishonest thing.
Don’t faugh, It's all about making promises,
better than the ones of your competitors.
The way election campaign was run,
the way I managed to structure it.
relieved me from this necessity to mislead large amounts of people.
And I am glad about it.
That's why tomorrow a normal working
We'll have a meeting tomorrow, at 10 am...
He called me and asked to come to work.
I was telling him honestly that I won't manage, I am afraid...
Are you afraid so much that your will is paralysed and you can't do anything?
I am afraid too!'' - he said.
It's a huge responsibility, I am afraid that I won't manage,
but someone has to take care of this
We were given this opportunity,
let's try to give a boost to this country"
I think that the most important question we started to ask ourselves
was "what are we going to do next?"
This was a serious question with no answer.
Nobody was fully understanding what to do.
Very often
from the most ordinary people on the streets of our cities
I heard very simple words but ones very important for me.
They were telling me. We believe you,
we are counting on you.
Just please don't betray us."
I can assure you,
that I will act solely in country's best interests.
Probably I won't avoid mistakes
but what I can really promise,
that I'll be working openly and honestly!
[President of Russian Federation Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin]
We made the first attempt to analyse the situation
in economy, finance, social services,
judicial and legal system.
I remember how we were gathering sometimes in the evenings
and... and somebody said
It seems that we have Chechnya everywhere".
Chechnya wasn’t a geographical thing,
in reality Chechnya was practically in every field of work.
Weakness of the state and authorities in 90s
was causing a fear that the new authorities won't manage either
and will be easily manipulated, by the oligarchs in particular.
When you became a president,
Russia was ruled by the powerful oligarchic clan.
They were looking at you and thinking: "We'll eat him up".
Yes.
We'll make a deal".
And among all these wolves
who used to define the authorities
and everything happening in the country in 90s,
they not only needed to be taken down a notch but to be torn apart
all opportunities being taken away from them.
Well some of them when I was the Chairman of the Government,
and after Yeltsin declared that I'll be running for president
couple of them came to my office in the White House.
they sat down opposite of me and said.
You should understand that you'll NEVER be a president here".
I answered them: "Well, we'll see".
That's the kind of scenes I was having In this very White House.
And how did you manage to take them down a notch?
In different ways, using different means.
I remember very vividly that summer meeting in 2000.
This was actually a first meeting of president Putin
with business representatives a large scale meeting.
It was very important for us to hear
what kind of a country Putin is building.
And for Putin is was crucial to explain
what kind of behavior he was expecting from us as businessmen.
He told us right away: "No guys, it won't be possible to deny the heritage".
I just wanted to draw your attention to the point
that it was you who have been creating this state.
Mainly though political and para-political structures under your control.
That’s why you should have a better look in a mirror.
Putin didn't have any aggression he was very calm.
But the system will be built in a different way now.
And everyone has to contribute to this system.
What kind of contribution?
Your business has to be transparent,
you have to pay taxes
you shouldn't sweat your workers
but you should pay them reasonable salaries instead.
In different words,
right to existence and right to respect
you will have to earn
considering the mess you created by now.
The biggest part of economy at that time
was not even in grey, but in black zone.
Salary in the envelopes
not paying taxes.
criminal outrage.
Average pension in 2000
(many people forgot about it already)
was bit more than 800 rubles.
And people weren't paid even this kind of pension for half a year.
They weren’t paid salaries for half a year.
Lots of people, even the majority of the country,
was busy just trying to survive
By the beginning of the 2000s many strategic enterprises
were taken from the state control.
Unemployment was high, there was large shady employment.
This was happening around year 2000.
Country he took into his hands,
it was in a state of melting ice not even a ship
which was slowly falling into oblivion.
Kursk" is in trouble.
We are talking about lives of 116 crew members...
It seems that 7th compartment is drowned.
It makes evacuation more difficult.
We were sitting in a hall and waiting for Putin.
I was sitting in the 2nd row,
together with mariner's wives.
Frankly speaking, I thought they will simply tear him to pieces.
I was wondering how did he dare to come here?
Didn't he realize what they will do to him?
They were expecting that "Kursk" submarine will be recovered, saved.
And at the same time they were realizing
that it was probably hopeless.
There was such energy there...
a bundle of hate... and despair... and pain...
Never in my whole life I felt anything like this.
Every question was directed to this single man.
Let her speak don't stop her.
The question is.
that it was hard to imagine, for me as well, I am frank with you,
we didn't know that our country is in such a tough situation,
that our Army Forces are in tough situation,
that our fleet is ...
is in breakdown state or in tough situation at least.
So, everything is in such a state, that I could never imagine.
Everything is ruined! Not a damn thing left!
A woman next to me fainted
few minutes after this conversation started.
She was yelling something,
they were interrupting him in the beginning.
Clearly they were more eager to speak up than to listen to him.
And... at some point he even fell silent
and was only listening to them talk.
But then he started to respond after all.
If I only could, you know, I would get in there myself!
I was getting in there before. as you already know.
None of our or foreign specialists can reach 8th compartment.
In order to... for lifting it up...
I am taking responsibility for my words,
I could tell you lots of things and run away.
I am telling you how things really are.
This is the bitter truth but it's TRUTH.
The way it really is.
At some point I realized
that together with him all of them crossed the line
which was separating their husbands lives from death.
Together with him they crossed it over and moved on.
We mapped out plans then,
which were aimed at... I'd describe it with one word.
glueing the country.
Because at that moment, excuse my French,
country was scattering like porridge.
It was in fashion then to disparage Federal centre and central authorities.
Back then any governor could take the liberty
to ignore president's invitation.
Head of Sakha Republic announced
that we should lease out all our treasures to Japan,
just let them pay to every Yakut some amount of dollars
and everything is going to be all right.
At the time when every region was governing itself
making its own laws and controlling execution of its own laws,
these were the signs of losing the country,
as a sovereign state.
At that moment our Republic
wasn't fully in legal framework of the Russian Federation.
And Vladimir Vladimirovich said very calmly.
Tatarstan has to be fully incorporated in legal framework of Russian Federation".
Wash out Putin in Hague Tribunal!" No Tatatarstan’s bread for empire's suckers!"
It would be fair to adopt a special program on social and economic development of Tatarstan
under conditions of full incorporation into legal framework of Russian Federation.
And he said: "This is correct presentation of the problem".
I must say that it was done in couple of months.
First winter, the first president's winter,
in the Russian Far East.
There were left without heating
250 thousand, then 300, 400 thousand people,
entire cities and villages.
Hospitals weren't functioning because of cold,
no heating at all.
Complete chaos...
vertical power structure, putting it mildly,
is probably not restored yet
the way Putin needed.
Everything is working dreadfully.
Mine workers are on the street.
There is no work mines are closed.
At the same time in Central Siberia
large piles of coal are lying at the harbors.
Coal which is already sold and awaiting the shipment
to the buyers outside of Russia.
And then president made the decision
that it should be stopped immediately,
coal should be sent to the boiler stations on the territory of Russia.
Putin could solve this problem by manual control only.
Radiators, iron radiators,
were transported by airplanes
This was absurd, indeed in regard of effectivity and costs.
However, it was absolutely justified
in regard of preventing people from freezing.
Heads of 24 cities and regions were fired.
By president's order they were rousted from warm beds at night
and forced to write resignation letters right at the doorstep.
Criminal charges were brought.
One way or another, they started to wake up somehow,
those who retained their job positions.
This was an important and serious example
and both authorities and the president showed that there is power in the country,
strong power.
January 20, 2001
When George Bush became President
he started making some strong statements on human rights issues
favourite passages about democracy, Chechnya, freedom of the media
a standard set of criticisms.
And for a half year or so, there was a sort of ping-pong of harsh statements.
Washington raised the temperature.
Moscow raised the temperature too.
For a long time Washington made it clear
it was not prepared to talk to Moscow face to face.
But now the situation has changed.
Today George Bush and Vladimir Putin shook hands for the first time
in the Brdo Castle 40 km from Slovenia's capital - Ljubljana.
The President listens carefully to our arguments and hears them.
Can you trust Russia? I'm not going to answer this question.
I'll ask you the same question.
I'll answer this question. I looked the man in the eye.
I found him to be very straightforward and trustworthy.
I was able to get a sense of his soul
a man deeply committed to his country and the best interests of his country.
We can guess that this phrase was not prepared in advance
but was his spontaneous improvised reaction
to his first impression of talking to the Russian President,
which is confirmed by the fact that within 7 years they met 18 times!
In terms of personal relations, Bush and Putin got on really well.
They joked and laughed a lot
But by that time the USA were already convinced
that Russia had entered a mode of some colonial democracy,
that we were firmly on the IMF hook,
that we should continue to get instructions from foreign experts
on how to develop our economy on where to pump our oil to...
But from the outside, everything looked very correct
pats on the back words of encouragement guys, you're on the right track, and so on.
At that time, we all had illusions.
It seemed to us that after the Soviet Union had collapsed
and after Russia had voluntarily agreed I'd like to stress it
voluntarily and consciously agreed to absolute historic limitations
the renunciation of its own territories, production assets
and so on and so forth...
It seemed to us that after the disappearance of the ideological component
that used to separate the former USSR from the rest of the civilized world,
The prison walls would crash... Content, At door would freedom wait to meet us,
Our brothers, hastening to greet us, To us the sword will glad present." [Pushkin]
By "brothers" we understood those abroad.
But the "brothers" were not only in no haste to present the sword to us,
but would have been glad to take the remnants of the USSR military might.
There is a lot of disillusion in your words.
Yes as I said, for almost 20 years I worked for the KGB, in foreign intelligence.
And even I believed that once the ideological barrier had fallen
and the Communist Party no longer had a monopoly on power,
everything would change fundamentally.
No. There hasn't been any fundamental change.
Because, as it turns out
such simple things but they don't occur to you at once
there are also geopolitical interests, that have nothing to do with any ideology.
And our partners should have realised that such country as Russia
has - and cannot but have its own geopolitical interests,
and that we should treat each other with respect
and seek mutually beneficial solutions.
But respect is based on strength and fairness of your position.
Yes, yes... One well-known person once said.
You can get much farther with a kind word and a Smith & Wesson
than you can with a kind word alone.
Unfortunately, he was right.
You had the kind word, but not the Smith & Wesson.
And you had to restore the army to a large extent,
to revive the economy to save the military-industrial complex...
Yes, it’s true...
But we had to start with the economy, of course.
We had large debts.
I remember, the January of 2001 was the most difficult time.
We got together in the first days of January
and discussed if we were able to carry on servicing our external debt,
if we were up to it.
The debt was 140% of GDP. That was the worst-case scenario.
The interest on debt gobbled up a third of the budget, roughly speaking.
So that was the debt that Putin got in the situation the country was in
When got the picture, more or less,
that we were entering a completely new phase
we realised we didn't have any new mechanisms, this is first,
and second, we unfortunately didn't have enough people
who could come up with some suggestions in the situation.
Putin was on very good terms with president of the World Bank - James Wolfensohn.
We made an agreement with Wolfensohn
that he would bring in a number of world's leading specialists.
So we would meet with those outstanding world's leading experts
and Vladimir Vladimirovich would spend 3-4 hours talking to them.
He asked a lot of questions
He was keen to learn about other countries' experience,
about possibilities that we had.
The first four years, we didn't have the majority in Parliament.
We had to work hard with different fractions to get one or another decision through.
We were making reforms with massive support from Putin.
It was enough for us to feel that he was behind us
and we knew that he would support us if need be.
We adopted a 10-year development programme for the country.
If we look at the facts, before Putin, even in the new Russia,
there wasn't anything similar to this 10-year programme.
I heard a loud bang, the windows were smashed,
I saw people jumping out of the windows, they tried to survive.
My God. it was so terrifying.
September 11, 2001. I remember it as if it were yesterday.
My assistant rushes in and tells me to turn on the TV quickly.
I turn on the CNN and see that terrible footage.
President Putin was the first to call President Bush.
That call was the natural reaction of the President
who totally understood what the international terrorism is.
Russia has first-hand knowledge of terrorism.
That's why we can best of all
understand the feelings of the American people.
Addressing the people of the USA on behalf of Russia
I would like to say that we are together with you.
I call the President and he asks me What are your first suggestions?
I say, I've got one first suggestion
Our nuclear forces are due to hold drills on September 12, which was planned earlier.
So what do you suggest he asks.
It's up to you to decide, I say. But I think we should cancel these drills.
Good, he says. I support your suggestion.
Let's not get on the nerves of Americans. Why to get on their nerves at such a moment?
there was fighting going on in Chechnya
and the terrorists who were taking part in it
including foreigners from many different countries
were referred to by Americans as freedom fighters" or "insurgents" at best.
Once our special services documented what were simply direct contacts
between militants from the North Caucasus
and representatives of US special forces
in Azerbaijan.
They helped even with transport.
And when I spoke about that to the then President of the US,
he said - sorry, I will speak plainly I'll kick their asses".
But 10 days later, my subordinates, the FSB heads,
received a letter from their colleagues in Washington.
We have had and will have relations with all the opposition forces in Russia.
We consider we have the right to do this and we will do this in future.
On no account, never and nowhere must you even try to use terrorists
to solve your transitory political and even geopolitical tasks.
Because if you support them in one place they will raise their head in another.
And they will inevitably strike those who supported them yesterday.
But you did warn the Western partners.
You told them - why are you supporting terrorists; it will come back to you.
Yes of course. But some people thought
especially those in special forces of Western countries
that if someone is working to destabilise their main geopolitical opponent
which as we realise now has always been Russia in their minds
then it is generally to their benefit.
It turned out that's not the case
We continue to live in the old system of values.
we are talking about partnership,
but in reality we have not yet learned to trust each other.
In spite of a plethora of sweet words,
we are still surreptitiously opposed to each other.
Today we must say once and for all. the Cold War is done with!
Today we must say that we renounce our stereotypes and ambitions
and from now on will jointly work
for the security of the people of Europe and the world as a whole.
Today decisions are often taken, without our participation
and we are only urged afterwards to support such decisions.
After that they talk again about loyalty to NATO.
They even say that such decisions cannot be implemented without Russia.
Let us ask ourselves: is this normal? Is this true partnership?
After 11th September, 2011, the USA began to assert that their activities in the world...
is explained by the struggle with the international terrorism.
This was illustrated most brightly by the situation with Iraq.
Side by side, the Premier Minister and Russian President look quite natural in Putin's country
Despite the cold weather, the meeting turned warm.
to freeze. - I hope, no.
This is a very beautiful place. Thank you.
The friendliness of the two leaders didn't help to remove the controversy on Iraq problem.
The President Putin rejected the document of the Britain government on massive weapon...
which was named "propaganda" by the Russian foreign minister.
The two leaders agreed on the necessity of check out the weapon.
Maybe, there is another point of view concerning the question...
to what extent we may be sure in existence of massive weapon in Iraq.
There is one reliable way to learn this: to permit observers to do their job.
The support of Russia, the permanent member of the UN Security Council,...
of a new important UN resolution on Iraq will be significant success.
But this advance is very slow.
Russia intends to protect its interests in Iraq.
Diplomats have a lot of work.
Everybody understood the highest responsibility of the moment...
for Iraq, for the region, and for the international system as a whole.
The State Secretary of the USA again accused Baghdad that it still had an arsenal...
of chemical and biological weapons and means of their delivery.
To emphasize the threat from Iraq, Colin Powell demonstrated a "real evidence".
One teaspoon of the dry-powder anthrax was enough to close the US Senate in autumn of 2001.
We've received information from our American colleagues that Iraq authorities are linked with al
Our American friends have recently announced this at the UN Security Council.
I've been in politics not so long. Before, I worked in secret service.
I believed I knew everything from "inside".
When I came to politics, I understood that my Russian colleagues and I,...
and French, and other colleagues from special agencies are just children compared with
The route Moscow - Berlin - Paris is considered to be symbolic.
The three countries still have a consolidated approach to the solution of the Iraq problem.
Along with France, Germany, and overwhelming majority of participants of the international
that the Iraq problem may be and should be resolved diplomatically.
Despite active resistance of the international community, the USA launched this war.
I was summoned by President Putin. Bombardments had already begun.
At that time, there were 3,500 of our specialists there.
They were not allowed to be evacuated.
I addressed insistently to Saddam Hussein referring to the errand of my President.
Saddam allowed doing that according to a special time-table
Our specialists were evacuated, nobody suffered.
President Putin had regular meetings with President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder.
They discussed global problems.
It was absolutely clear that the configuration of the world was changing.
If Europe was united and large, it could have its own opinion, it would only won.
The concept of big Europe from Vladivostok to Lisbon was aimed at serious interaction.
This responded to requirements of the XXI century.
Unfortunately, this mechanism was not brought into
after the retirement of President Chirac and Chancellor Schroeder.
It seemed to have been very promising.
I have not met such hard-working people.
He goes to bed very late and may ring up early in the morning. When does he sleep?
He can focus on one subject and, after a short time, on another.
He has an important property, the ability to listen.
He listens to everybody, he provides possibility for everyone to speak out, sometimes more than
Due to this, conferences can test for many hours, breaking a schedule very often.
He is often late. This problem actually exists, also for journalists who write about Putin.
We have gone through much In this sense.
I was a witness a couple of times why these delays happen.
For example, I asked an additional question at a meeting with journalists, already when leaving.
He says: "And you, Andrei, stay here."
And I understood at once what happens with him in real life.
He has infinite calls.
I saw how he was diverted from the conversation with me.
The Minister of Finances, Alexei Kudrin, rang up.
And there was an intensive conversation with him for about 20 minutes.
He surely had to be late somewhere else due to
Kudrin believed that it was necessary to give 11 billion dollars to the Paris Club.
This was a difficult and a sort of historical solution.
I asked: "What have you decided?" - "Maybe, we'll give."
About a week later the news said.
Russia returns debts to Paris Club."
Putin's position was that debts of Russia had to be as small as possible.
He believed it was necessary to reduce dependency of Russia on IMF.
He understood that Russia had to be an independent country.
It would be difficult to o and be in a critical situation.
We were absolutely import-dependent country until 1998.
I remember how 2,000 people In Krasnoufimsk stood and yelled: "Give us insulin!"
I think, it was necessary for someone.
The new president gave me a hope and a message.
it's time to stop buying-selling and to take up production.
We decided: let's build a pharmaceutical European standard plant.
Our goal was to achieve a very high level.
It was a direct interference of Vladimir Vladimirovich in a foreign lobby against its pressure.
Everybody told me: "Five teams have failed! What do you want to do?"
I'm an ordinary man; Putin just helped me to implement my idea.
We created 300 working places for young jobless girls.
We understood that along with economical problems, we resolved a greater problem.
Today, we have insulin much enough to assure the drug safety of Russia.
There are supplies to other countries and supplies to the EC are under preparation.
It is a victory, isn't it?
What moments do you have in memory as the most tragic and difficult?
Of course, these were the terrible terrorist acts.
The terror attacks on the school in Beslan on the Dubrovka Theatre in Moscow.
Those were perhaps the most tragic moments
which all our people had to go through.
Do you remember the Nord-Ost? That was not an ordinary terror attack.
The seizure of the building the seizure of hostages.
I kept Putin informed on a non-stop basis, day and night.
At that time he didn’t leave his workplace.
A lot of people thought that the main task was to destroy the terrorists.
No, the main task was to save the people.
It was night already.
I was cut off from my security guards and let in there.
I met the leader of those terrorists ovsar arayev.
He was without a mask, but there were masked gunmen around.
I tell him, let the women and children go
Nowhere in the Koran does it say that you can fight with women and children.
And he replies, if there is no order to pull the troops out of Chechnya
he meant the Russian troops
from 10 o'clock in the morning
every half an hour,
I will shoot one person.
after that I went to Vladimir Vladimirovich.
Of course he was worried and you could see his jaw muscles move.
Of course...
He didn't tell me that there would be a raid at 4 o'clock.
Careful! Don't touch the wires
It was a severe test.
He's had too many of them during his time in office.
No President in no country have met with so many adversities.
Not a one
And every of them, naturally,
is a heavy burden on his shoulders, on his mind, on his heart.
It was the most terrible day for me.
I couldn't imagine myself without Akhmad Kadyrov.
After Akhmad-Khaji died, he invited me to his office.
The President of Chechnya Akhmad-Khaji Kadyrov
served his people with dignity and courage.
Throughout all these years, he covered Chechnya and the Chechens with his own body
and he firmly led his republic to peaceful life.
Akhmad-Khaji Kadyrov departed this life on the 9th of May,
on the day when all our nation celebrate Victory Day.
And he left undefeated.
In the first Chechen campaign, I fought against the federal centre, it's no secret.
We remember how we took Grozny.
Then we left Grozny.
We remember what was the position of the federal centre.
That's why there was mistrust towards the federal centre.
And the majority of young people went to the woods to the mountains...
I was 17 I was young.
Everyone was called to war. So I went too.
There were different people there
Arabs, people from Jordan, from Africa too.
Well, mercenaries. They came to fight for money.
We were not paid.
We thought we were fighting for our people for freedom.
In 1999 the second campaign began.
The federals had me on their wanted list.
So I couldn't stay at home I went to the woods again.
There were guys who had been granted an amnesty.
As soon as Akhmad-Khaji died the gossip was spread
that they would be persecuted.
There was panic in the republic.
When I was on a visit in Moscow, I went to President.
I told him about our situation
and said that we need an opportunity to legalize them somehow.
They were ready to fight for Russia for our people.
I remember how difficult it was to make that decision.
In the end, we granted an amnesty to over 7 000 people.
President Putin, we are with you and with the people.
That way not 7 000 but 70 000 lives were saved.
The Chechen Republic of today is a peaceful and flourishing land.
The people live differently, they see life differently.
I'd like to say something which might be a bit unexpected
The Orthodox Christians, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists
people belonging to traditional religions,
that is to those religions that have always existed on the territory of Russia
they all belong to one civilization.
One distinctive feature of this civilization
is the ability to see people of a different religious tradition
as one of theirs.
And the President - an orthodox Christian who goes to Orthodox church
treats people of other religions as his brothers.
He wishes them happy holidays.
He gives them cooperation and support for the issues they raise.
When Kazan turned 1000 years we gathered in the theatre to celebrate it.
Vladimir Vladimirovich went on stage to congratulate us.
Suddenly he started speaking in Tatar.
If you'd heard the roar of applause he got!
People were smiling.
They just didn't let him continue his speech.
But he came up with a quick answer
He said, hold on it's not all yet.
This is not all I can.
And he went on speaking in Tatar and people applauded even louder.
For those...
For those who are only beginning to learn the Tatar language
and haven't understood everything I said,
I'd like to point out one thing
Kazan has really played a unique historic role
in building a united nation of Russia
in creating a united and solid people of Russia.
The ability to find understanding
a common language with the public,
for a leader of any rank and especially for a leader of a country,
I must say, this is a gift, it is not simple at all.
I don't think we can talk about one particular achievement.
He's achieved the most important thing.
He came and started running the country...
I remember the regions which may not be leaders but live well now,
for example, Kursk, Tambovsk Regions, Voronezh Region...
They used to be on the brink of ruin.
In the 2000s, wherever you went, to whatever regional capital...
There was darkness... Egyptian, puddles, mud, smashed roads...
And look how things are today.
People live in the country and earn good money, very good money.
They can provide for themselves.
Besides they provide for Moscow and half of the country
at least half of the country.
After the institute I wanted to try myself, to work in my profession exactly.
When I saw everything here for the first time
I was both amazed and excited.
We love all these cows very much.
In these conditions, they ought to live long and happily and to give us milk.
I came here two years ago.
I've got a flat, a regular job and a regular income.
If everyone does the job they like and can do,
the country as a whole will grow it all depends on us.
This is very important. This is the food security of the state.
We are surrounded by countries with developed economies.
We must frankly tell: they press us out from the perspective markets where it is possible.
Their visible economical advantages give a reason for a rise of geopolitical ambitions.
All our decisions, all our deeds must become subject of the idea that in the nearest future
Russia would secure a place among really strong, economically advanced and influential countries of
In a decade we must at least double GDP.
Many people doubted that it was possible
Somebody even laughed at it, said: Well, it is not difficult to double it from zero.
First of all, we set a clear and understandable system of taxes for minerals extraction.
The state started to receive income from gas and
And before this it was not significantly less, it was not clear, extremely not clear, not fair.
In 2003 a problem with Yukos appears.
As for Khodorkovskiy, he was our colleague.
How did it happen that such story took place is now hard to explain
And frankly speaking, besides a purely humane commiseration for Khodorkovskiy
who 10 years, maybe best 10 years of his life spent where he spent (prison)...
It is like in a family when children are explained that something is forbidden
they start to check whether it is really forbidden or is allowed a little.
It was not only Yukos who went the way of reducing taxes, tax avoidance.
Other companies also. Yukos more.
And after tax police finished investigating Yukos case,
many companies also paid significant money to the budget
as a result of extra charges after court decisions.
All your friends say that the main problem with Putin
is that he finished faculty of Law and likes it very much.
He always acts within the boundaries of the law.
It is impossible to make Putin breach the law.
It is right. I had very good teachers, very good, I'm very thankful to them.
They hammered some principles, some fundamental things into our heads,
which I consider not only correct from book's point of view, but correct and necessary by life.
I don't remember if I told already or not.
When I came to work in Leningrad department of KGB, and we planned some...
I don't remember a small operation
and one of our veterans proposed to do something.
And he said that we needed to do this and this. There were quite many people there.
I told him: "Listen, I think it is illegal."
Next is an interesting thing.
He looked at me with a surprise and said: "What?
We have a certain instruction and said the number of this instruction of KGB USSR."
I said: "If it exists, then it must be cancelled,
because it contradicts to this law, that law, contradicts the Constitution."
This is not a joke, I didn't make it up. It was in reality. I was young, I just came from the university.
They just laughed at me, thank, God, it was already 1976,
it was far from the time of repressions there were completely different times.
This place is called Russian Calvary - Butovskiy training area, area of death.
Here the authorities killed its own people without charge or trial.
The brotherhood grave with length of more than 1 km, dead bodies are set in several layers.
Most of the killed are simple people, arrested for being late for the work,
accident damage of factory equipment or non execution of the workday norm.
I was shocked by the story of Butovskiy training area.
I went the whole way together with him and understood what was going on with him.
And I could hear him saying: "God, what did they
Honestly speaking, I haven’t written till the present moment about all what he said then.
Because at a certain moment it seemed to me that it was a too personal of a story.
He saw the lists of the killed, the gravestone, and the most important,
he walked on this ground in which these people lied, where they were shot down.
At this moment it seemed to me that the ground was burning under his feet.
And this was not an exaggeration.
President Putin, after meeting him, after talking with him, I realized,
that he may look like extremely cold cool-headed and cold-blooded.
And he behaves correspondingly.
But I thought that inside of him, in his heart there is a warm blood
A person who doesn't like to live skilfully, handily.
So, such a person, that if he will need to make some actions for getting some profit, money, some
and these actions are not acceptable for him, he will never make such actions.
He had such a great teacher as Rakhlin.
And when he taught judo to the President, he didn't in a ou e uca ion o a rest en .
He wanted to make one more man by means of judo.
A person who firmly stands on his feet.
I always say, you know: there are two origins in every person
There is a personal energy, a personal origin, emotional, intellectual, and so on.
And there is an energy of the place energy of the chair.
And they always collide. If the energy of the chair is stronger, the person is significantly distorted.
If the human origin is stronger than the energy of the chair energy of money
the person remains the same.
Putin has such powerful human energy that it overcomes stages of his career,
He invited us to Zavidovo. I remember it was August.
We sat down in a small pavilion several people, and he presented the idea of national projects.
National projects concerning the project of education, medicine,
agriculture and housing projects.
When perinatal centers started to work in Russia the perinatal center in Yaroslavl,
we felt it. Birthrate has increased significantly here.
Andrey and Aleksandr. This is the second delivery
The elder is a girl, 3 years.
He smiles, look, take photo.
Every year the number of births in the perinatal center increases.
And this year this number was 500 more than last year.
Take the matter of mother capital.
This is not just a propaganda of family values, not just a propaganda that a big family is good.
This is real state policy directed to support the birth of children.
This is a world view approach, and this is the most important.
You know, presidents must solve many-sided tasks.
And economy, and politics, and medicine, and education
and infrastructure, and oil, and gas, whatever, international relations.
But no one teaches you to be like this, you become
He has an exceptional capability to grasp the subject
Himself... he has such an expression: ''I will get inside it, and then we will talk."
He wants to master something new all the time, and he masters it.
Invisibly for everybody, he mastered English - bang! and Putin speaks English
Don't forget that he doesn't have neither days-off nor vacations.
He does it from 1 till 2 at night, or from 7 till 8 in the morning. He doesn't have another option.
And he does it anyway.
He had never skated.
Now he plays hockey.
He doesn't speak loud, doesn't yell at anyone. And thus hides his inner character.
In the beginning skiing for Putin was an intensive practice
That's why when you see him on a mountain, for hours uphill and downhill...
He comes for 2.5-3 hours,
and during this period neither a cup of tea nor break for talking, just uphill and downhill.
I don't know where and how he learnt to play piano.
I know only that he did it consistently.
In the beginning, we witnessed how he started to play with one finger, one hand.
Then, in several days the second hand was added.
He is in fact from a usual working family.
The same way like millions of others.
Millions of his compatriots, like me, like you.
- Vladimir Vladimirovych, I need your help. - I listen to you. - My son is under arrest.
please, help, take care of it.
He was brought up in a multifamily flat.
And indeed this influence was serious.
a crack, water was flooding in in winter.
Look, in principle, no matter how paradoxically it is, 80% of people can hear him and understand
than 20 % of officials and the intellectuals.
It seems to me, he feels his role, first of all, as a defender of simple people.
People pass him some notes all the time, some pieces of paper,
something is written by pencils with uneven handwriting.
He take it by himself, or when he has full hands, he passes to someone of assistants.
And the most awful for assistants is when in two hours he asks: Where are these pieces of papers?
I say: Which? He says: An old woman gave me, we stopped in the street.
The telephone rings, he says: During some trip, an old woman approached me...
a certain family applied to me.
In my trip there was a corresponding manager,
he has all original information how to find this person, call him and solve the question.
The winter started. - Yes. Welcome. - Thanks.
We decided to look, with Yevgeniy Stepanovych, how your medicine, culture works...
You are interested in what people tell you.
You look at people with whom you talk and want to listen.
Why? Because you want to find another source of information? A tuning fork?
No. In general I don't try to find some extra sources, tuning forks...
I don't need to search for it, I have it all.
I don’t even know why. It is even hard for me to tell, you understand?
I say that not to make myself look good I just feel myself as a part.
A part of our country, our people. Certainly it is important for me, when we meet with people...
These signals come to me immediately, when I feel that people are not satisfied with something,
anxious about something, worried about something.
Certainly, such feedback is necessary, but it can be like hitting a wall.
But can reach.. Thank God, this feeling is not lost yet, and I manage to feel it at once.
It is precisely that... I have never been in so called elites. This is really good indeed because...
when people live in another stratum... are born there,
it is also not bad thank God, there are own big advantages there too.
when people are born, live, brought up in a certain elite society, there are also advantages.
But I have been watching for a long time...
I highly respect such people, and envy a little, because initially,
from first steps of life they manage to absorb many important useful things,
which help to achieve big results in various fields.
But for the person who deals with work which I do now and the previous years,
this link and feeling of fellowship with people, usual people are highly important and helps in work.
My mother told me: Be afraid of those for whom the power is a dream.
Go to those for whom the power is a cross.
I came to Vladimir Vladimirovych and said: Vladimir Vladimirovych, we must rebury lllyin.
Illyin is a genius Russian philosopher, this is a person who
all his life tried to explain himself and others and to understand what is going on, why it takes place
Illyin died abroad, in Switzerland.
In short, the lease of the land for IIlyin's grave came to the end.
And according to Swiss laws another person could be buried there if this grave is not looked after,
if there are no relatives.
And then Vladimir Vladimirovych heard that and took closely to his heart and personally.
And the decision was made to rebury Illyin on the cemetary of Donskoy Monastery.
Brothers and sisters! Today we are participants of a historical even
Co-memorable sons of Russia come back to the native land.
general Anton Ivanovych Denikin and philosopher Ivan Aleksandrovych lllyin together with their wives.
This is not just a physical transfer of remains of two great persons to our land.
I hope this is the beginning of the end of the dreadful civil war.
Reburial of lllyin, reburial of Denikin, and before that reburial of Shmelyov, our brilliant author,
these all are fragments directed at consolidation, at stopping of the civil war in heads.
The motion to gather that spiritual strength
earned by these great Russian people throughout all their lives
devoted to thoughts and deeds concerned with Russia.
If you see the scale of a country and try to make this atmosphere common,
only In this case 80% can tell you: Yes, we are together with you.
At the same time, people who not just live, live not well,
who have problems, who have big claims to local authorities and to supreme power
but when they understand that there is a person above them for whom the power is a cross and he
and he consolidates the society, and only national interests become his personal interests
when he bears responsibility for everyone, including the whole country,
only in this case people who not just live, can say. Yes, we are together with you, we will be patient.
At that moment young Russia had no large-scale projects and large-scale victories,
which would allow to show the whole world that
we are not a shatter of a great empire, but we are an independent,
big, serious state with our own achievements, ambitions.
And in 2005 the application for winter Olympic games was made.
Frankly speaking, I'm a sinner.
I didn't believe that we would be given the right to organize winter Olympic games.
On the eve of a session of International Olympic committee in Guatemala,
where the question was whether Putin should go to Guatemala or not,
what if we suddenly lose, I told him: "Vladimir Vladimirovych,
if you don't go, I guarantee that we will lose.
But if you do go, then there is a risk that we will lose anyway."
But without you going we stand no chance.
When Vladimir Vladimirovych arrived to Guatemala within 2 days
there were 30-40 meetings with key members of the International Olympic committee.
It lasted non-stop day and night.
And there was a rehearsal at which he arrived.
And we rehearsed the entrance, he participated in it ry disciplinarily.
But for us the most important thing was to determine the chronometry.
And he took out his precious papers and I was full ears.
He says: Are you ready? I say: Yes.
He says: Let’s go. I turned on.
And nothing happens. He reads to himself.
He says: That's all. Stop.
Dear President! Members of the International Olympic committee! Ladies and Gentlemen!
I ask you to support Olympic dream of millions f Russians who are waiting for our decision with a
Thank you.
It was like an explosion, like a bomb We needed to show,
like they say now, respect to the International Olympic committee.
So that they would understand that they were given a gesture of real respect.
These two phrases in French - bang! And it happened.
Olympic games are ours, that's it.
The question of the country is perhaps the major value
Then perhaps, a question of family, personal relations and friendship, maybe.
He always shows devotion of such friendly relations.
I know how hard he suffers personal betrayal.
I know people with whom he had good relationships.
After they made some deeds which didn't comply with his idea of peace and decency,
he just cut them out and never met with them again.
Personal contacts, personal contacts exist exactly to be kept in private.
But I can tell several things.
Some time ago a CD was made... in 1999, I guess...
The CD is called "Songs of the country which doesn't exist any more".
Very good songs, good singers and words, and music.
Sometimes we sing.
They say: We choose our enemies and friends by ourselves, but neighbours are God given.
We are neighbours given by God.
I think that there are no more such close neighbour
allied relations like between Russia and Kazakhstan.
It is objective, let no one get offended, we are the closest countries.
Now we are talking about Eurasian Economic Union.
This project is proposed by me. Now they say that Russia is making a new Soviet Union.
Everybody is called... I proposed it because if European Union is made, it is normal, right?
And if we start to say something it is bad.
This is a usual approach to such questions.
Desperate attempts of some countries to save their role of the only development center,
the only center of the world control
have resulted in erosion of the international law, the notion of the international security,
European security. The erosion of Yalta system has started
of the unipolar conditions,
and tendency to the world supremacy.
Whatever has happened in the history of the mankind.
However, what is the unipolar world?
However this term is decorated, it finally means in practice only one thing.
this is one center of power, one center of force, one center of decision making.
This is the world of one master of one sovereign.
I was surprised by the reaction of German and other foreign journalists.
They forgot that they were journalists.
They stopped taking notes, they were sitting with their mouths open
watching and listening what he was saying
One-sided, often illegitimate actions haven’t solved any single problem.
Moreover, they have become the generator of new human tragedies and trouble spots.
From one side - shock, from another - hidden dissatisfaction They came to me: Why so sharp?
I say: What was sharp?
Speaking about this issues as an old soldier of the Cold War, I would like to draw your attention
that one of the speeches almost caused a nostalgia about those less complicated times.
Almost.
Many of you have big experience in diplomacy or politics.
I, like one more speaker, have completely different experience - experience of intelligence activities.
I suppose that old spies have a habit of blunt speaking.
Fine, I will then answer on that I can read by myself.
And if I don't answer, you will remind me your questions.
What would be with Kosovo and Serbia?
Only Kosovans and Serbians can know it.
And let's not decide for them
how they should make their life.
One should not make himself a God and solve all problems for all peoples.
We can only create conditions and help people to solve their problems.
We got acquainted with Putin in one very small department of one very big organization.
Big organization is certainly KGB of USSR,
and small department, it's really a small department, of foreign intelligence.
We served as young officers, senior lieutenants, captains.
At that time there were illegals in our department
Those who came back to the motherland after... 20 years of illegal work in the West.
We recall them with Vladimir Vladimirovych, when we have some free time to reminisce.
People served, you understand by yourself, not for money.
They risked hugely.
And whatever happened to them - these are illegals.
They were a live example.
They worked for the country, for the motherland
This is the essence.
Without any political colour, ideology and so on
After serving in KGB and intelligence, his entrance in democratic life,
meeting new rules of life, possibilities took place precisely during the work with Sobchak.
It was Sobchak being a bright character and one of the leading activists,
accelerated his understanding of all events.
We all went out of the country, we considered that the country had to prevail over everything.
And, to my mind, Sobchak taught us all how we can keep balance,
where we can see new possibilities of democratic country democratic order
freedom of opinion discussion defense of opinion political competence.
in 2008, after serving two terms of presidency, Putin had an incredibly high rating.
The question arose and it was the main question.
would Putin stay for the third term or finally according to the Constitution
would leave this position, the most important for the country which didn’t get strong yet
to another leader. This question bothered everybody.
Thoughts and talks were only about it.
Vladimir Vladimirovych, during last 2-3 years appeals to you
to stay for the third term sounded more and more often.
More likely, a part of your team also tried to influence you in this matter.
How big was the temptation to consent to these suasions and to stay for the third term? Thanks.
I had no temptation to stay for the third term.
Never.
From the first day of work as the President of Russian Federation, I decided at once
that I would not breach the working Constitution.
I got this vaccination during the work with Anatoliy Aleksandrovych Sobchak.
And I think it is an important signal to the society in general.
Everyone must obey the working law, starting with the head of the state.
To your mind, what was your main success, main achievement at the position of the state head?
And what has gone wrong? What do you consider as your main failure during these years? Thanks.
I don't see any serious failures. All set goals were achieved, tasks - completed
I'm not ashamed in front of people who chose me twice for the position of the President of Russian
All these 8 years I worked hard like a slave galley, from the morning till night.
And did it with full force.
I'm satisfied with results of my work
Hundreds of thousands of tourists and heads of 40 countries of the world are guests.
All at 300th anniversary of Saint Petersburg.
Veteran of the war, Mayerbeck Dzgoyev was one of the first to get a course at the multifaceted medical
Unique equipment is installed here.
A tanker of ice class is commissioned.
Prayer towers can be seen from any point of Groznyy, even at night.
The heart of Chechnya already claims for the title of the biggest mosque in Europe.
The North pole is ours.
We have it, friends. - It goes, it goes...
Hello, Russia Hello, Moscow.
We have a chance to develop like we did it last years.
And I am sure we have to choose this way. We have all chances for this.
Did you get cold? - No.
Can you give me one minute? - Yes.
Elections of the President of Russian Federation took place.
In 2008 when Putin started to work as the Prime Minister
It seemed that it would be... the time of resting on your laurels.
I.e. he was the head of the state, he saved the country from collapse.
He set it on trajectory of stable development.
He paid all debts.
With external, with internal.
He raised the living standards of the population
and he raised it not for the future generations, but for the present.
This never happened in the history of our country
And in theory, he had to enter the this wonderful white house at Krasnopresnenskaya quay,
sit down in the cabinet and say: Thanks God.
And the world crisis broke out
In fact, it was 45 Everybody was scared nobody lived in such a strong stress of the world scale.
And again, what has Putin done?
He went to the public and said: I bear responsibility that 1998 would not repeat.
I bear personal responsibility
Turn up his sleeves, and kept on rowing his galley from dusk till dawn.
The fate of tens of thousands of people was at stake.
If the state didn't help they would just go to streets and became unemployed.
How many people worked here?
Around 3 000 people worked here before the crisis.
At this enterprise? - Yes. Now 2 345.
Are listed? - Right. Among them 2 thirds are in down time.
At one working site there were three joint stock companies.
And at a certain point we got messed
so that we couldn't find a solution which would allow the work of the company.
I don't see your signature. Come here and sign.
Come to me.
Here is the agreement.
Give me the pen back.
I consider that you made thousands of people as hostages of your ambitions,
on-professionalism or maybe obvious greed.
It is absolutely unacceptable.
And where is that social responsibility of business?
Where is it?
Here, you know, the matter is not in offence.
You can discuss it for a long time.
You can remain in stupor, let's say.
Not solving some problems. He understands that he is the last person who has to make this
So that these matters would not be discussed but some actions started.
Now as for administration.
Nobody will persuade me that the management of the region and other levels
as done all what depended on them in order to help people.
When I said that was going to come here, what did they replied?
No need, let's go I will show you another company which is recently built.
Certainly, well done that you built a new enterprise.
Why did you start to run about like cockroaches just before my arrival?
were there no people earlier who were able to make decisions?
All salary debts must be paid.
This is 41 242 000 RUB. The deadline is today.
Thanks. Good luck.
During the crisis, when job cuts started,
the complex launched such a huge project as 5000 rolling mill.
It saved people from absence of work.
Now, tubes which we produce, are used for complicated pipelines like North Stream.
Now for the Power of Siberia for production of submarines
This naturally results on salary, i.e. lately the level of life risen significantly.
We can see real changes. What is used in Russia?
To believe people in practice but not in words.
On August 8th 2008, if you remember, it was the opening day of Beijing Olympic games.
We appeared in the same residency.
And in one room we were sitting and talking, at that time his telephone rang,
I said: I will go. He said: No. stay here.
At that moment he was informed what events took place in North Ossetia
And he listened, listened, put down the receiver, and was very upset.
I asked: What happened? I thought something happened at his home,
something special. I have never seen him like that.
And he says: Can you imagine? Our peacekeepers were attacked,
and several soldiers were killed. What did they do? What did they do?
The situation developed dramatically for 17 years.
Russian Federation performed peacekeeping functions for 17 years.
It helped to keep peace and calm there
It prevented murders which took place from 90s.
And tried to keep the unity of Georgian state.
Nonetheless after the aggression and genocide which was started by the regime of Saakashvilli
the situation changed and our main task was to prevent humanitarian catastrophe,
to save lives of people for whom we bear responsibility.
He made decision at once to fly from Beijing to Ossetia.
And he goes straight to people, certainly. This is typical.
I.e. all what is concerned with military actions, he was informed during the flight, and he goes at
Camps of refugees hospitals where the wounded stay.
It is a genocide. - A real genocide. They kill the wounded.
My child of 5 months who wasn’t even born, left, he didn't even see his father, why... I don't know.
He was accompanied his personal photographers, his personal cameraman.
I don't know how my father-in-law is, who left in the village, old man, ill old man.
And then he quite toughly gave command to stop recording because these ladies really had a
And it was utter darkness, cameraman just lit the way with this light so that no one would stumble.
You have like Presidency of trials. You overcome something, another thing falls on you.
Chechnya campaign, terror acts, the crisis, Ossetia.
It goes in a long line, it seems that you solved, and there is again and again.
As a manager, at what moment do you feel more comfortable.
when there is a war or when it is peace and everyday routine?
I worked as the chairman of the government.
I like this job very much.
It is definite, clear... not clear, but anyway it is...
more concentrated at certain questions.
And one can see the result at once.
what you did right, what wrong, where you made a mistake.
When the task has a more global character,
then the result can not be understood at once what it would be in certain time.
However, indeed, I have never thought about it. I always start from what I have,
and I solve those tasks which are set for me.
In the beginning of 2009 I was at the meeting with Putin in Sochi,
when the fate of Olympic infrastructure was discussed.
In the course of the meeting Putin called many times so that the budget money would be saved.
Because on the one hand we needed to build beautifully, awesome,
and on the other hand, there is the crisis,
there is little money in the budget and we should save.
At certain moment after reminding about saving again, he said: Money is people's.
And he said it so quietly, without pathos.
But the voice quaked and it was seen that he was worried personally about it.
He really considers that the money is people's, i.e. earned by the whole country.
And thus it must be spent assiduously.
Such quantity of trips like at that time to enterprises, factories, Rosselmash, Avtovaz, he has
Besides that this was the summer when awful fires took place.
And we went right the other day to this burning villages, met with people
who sometimes were ready to tear apart any representative of the authority who would .
we are dying, help us, Vladimir Vladimirovych, help us...
Why did no one do it? Why did you refuse from everything?
We stood for you... - Who stood for us?
We will restore nothing from these firebrands.
We will build new houses.
Why did he allow it? - Now, now, wait a second.
I want everyone to hear this, can everyone hear me well?
Until winter all houses will be built.
Our village will be restored, do you promise us? Yes, I promise, your village will be restored.
These trips covered with smoke and flame of that Premier-Minister time come to mind first.
Then it was a real toil: everyday, getting deep into the soil.
It was a work on a field.
Then I remember how we went to the same places, but with new houses built
I invited you for house warming. Let's go inside.
The heating is at the minimum.
As for the gas, the governor told me: We will not finish in time.
Finished in time. - In time.
Considering the proposal to put my name at the top of the party list,
to get involved in party activities
and in case of successful elections,
my readiness to take over practical work in the government
I think that it would be fair
if Congress would support nomination of Vladimir Putin, Chairman of the party,
as a president of the country!
When Medvedev proposed Putin and Putin proposed Medvedev,
it did seem to everyone quite arrogant so to say
towards their voters.
that there weren't actually any real elections.
And those who didn't make their choice in Putin's favor
during the presidents elections
those were the ones who came over.
They came to Bolotnaya Square
to say that they had different opinion.
I came to Bolotnaya to see all this.
But they occupied the podium
and immediately took the charge of who is allowed to stand on it or not.
Later I was sitting in the bar in the neighborhood
and listening to their ridiculous talks
that they will overthrow Russian government,
that they won, they spoke up. I found it extremely funny.
I had very thorough conversation with Putin.
I told him that probably I will go to Sakharov Avenue
I’m not going to say what he told me,
but there weren't any restrictions at least.
I simply thought that
for the first time on Sakharova Ave
will be those representatives of middle class who were never out on protests.
We have to organize platform for a dialog!
Otherwise there will be a revolution!
Otherwise we'll lose the chance we are having today.
I tried to give authorities and Putin a push
and to find the grounds for such dialog with people
who sincerely care about situation in the country.
But since these people got very much mixed up
with more radical groups and with nationalists.
that's why I noticed later
that Putin doesn't see any representatives for a dialog there.
In Putin's opinion, they have crossed the red line then.
They started to beat up policemen.
He's killed!
It was decided that investigation will take place
and if information will be confirmed,
that this man hit the policeman, he'll be put in jail then
And it did happen.
Most important is that
it was not only in accordance with the laws of Russian Federation
but also with internal morals of Putin.
They are out flying the hang-glider.
Out flying it and falling to the right, the left of the wing.
Good birds!
Beautiful guys, cute ones.
Kseniya Sobchak, your consistent opposer,
projected this whole situation
on election statistics.
I don't know if you heard about it.
So, 63% of the cranes followed Putin,
the rest have chosen to fly to the South
and only a small group stayed to make nests on squares and boulevards.
Thus, not all cranes flew after Putin.
Why don’t I hear applause?
That's true.
Not all cranes flew... right away.
Only the weak cranes didn't fly.
And only on the first try. On the 2nd try everyone flew!
Even though.
I have to admit, I have to tell you honestly,
a reason that not all cranes flew right away,
it was also their leader's.
Cause in certain moments,
I mean bad weather and strong side wind,
pilot is forced to gain height and speed quickly.
Otherwise the system can turn over
What else can I add?
There are little birds indeed,
who don't fly in a flock at all,
they prefer to make their nests separately.
Well, what can we do?
This is a different kind of problem.
Even if they aren't part of the flock,
they are still part of our population
and we should treat them nicely.
There were people,
Khodorkovsky and Berezovsky, for instance
who took absolutely intransigent aggressive stand against him.
Vladimir Vladimirovich,
one year ago you pardoned Khodorkovsky.
He promised you to stay away from politics.
But now he is even announcing his presidential ambitions!
I have a question in this regard. don't you regret...
And where is he going to run for president?
Mr Khodorkovsky appealed to me for a pardon,
he has sent a relevant paper at least.
And it seemed that he wasn't planning to go in politics.
But when I was making a decision about pardon
I wasn't considering whether he will do it or not,
whether he'll go into politics or not.
It's his choice.
I was considering humanitarian grounds instead.
He was writing me then that his mom was seriously ill,
mom is a holy cause you know!
am saying this without any sarcasm.
And he served most part of his punishment in places of imprisonment.
What would be the point of keeping him there,
considering that he could miss saying goodbye to his mom?
Mother played a part there of course
because humanity is very important.
Berezovsky wanted to return to the country.
And Berezovsky was talking about his love to the country etc.
That's right.
He was writing that he has made many mistakes,
caused damage.
He was asking to forgive him and allow him to come back to Motherland.
He was ready to allow him to come back to the country.
He is a strong enough person
to forgive those who are unforgiving to himself.
September 5th, 2013
Last night Barak Obama flew across the Atlantic
in order to launch a diplomatic offensive.
And I also look forward to discuss situation in Syria.
I think that we should take seriously
our joint recognition that chemical weapon use in Syria
is not only a tragedy,
but also a breach of international law.
Barak Obama flew from Stockholm to G-20 Summit in St Petersburg,
though one-on-one with Vladimir Putin was not in his schedule.
Earlier they were ready
though in Syria regard there were preferences only.
If M Obama is not able to persuade world leaders
that military response is the only option
then convincing Congress and Americans
on primary voting held next week
will be even more complicated.
Couple of days prior to making a decision
in regard to begin to bomb Damascus
in order to overthrow the regime
under the pretence that Syrian government used chemical weapon,
though no evidence was ever presented.
On G-20 Summit in St Petersburg Putin made a proposal.
He simply said: "Since you are so worried about chemical weapon
let's work on convincing Syria
to sign convention on the prohibition of chemical weapon
and promise to destroy them.
There is no need to bomb.
if it's all about the chemical weapon and nothing else.
In this case we are ready to use our influence
to convince Syria to join convention
on the prohibition of chemical weapon
and would sign with a relevant organization
agreement on its destruction.
I would like to remind you, that using force against a sovereign state
is solely allowed in case of the self-defence,
and as we know, Syria isn't attacking USA,
and secondly,
by the decision of UN Security Council.
As one of the summit participants said yesterday,
Those who act otherwise, put themselves outside of the law."
In the beginning there wasn't any dialog.
There was a handshake on the meeting ceremony.
Some people said it was cold,
others that it was timid or aggressive
Next morning totally unplanned contact took place.
Every participant of G-20 was witnessing
that they started to talk.
Putin and Obama.
They started this conversation on foot
and then sat down in a corner of a small hall.
It was continuing for few minutes at first.
All country leaders were standing there and waiting.
Five, ten minutes have passed.
They weren't paying attention of course to what was happening around.
I guess that in terms of the protocol
there was an awkward pause.
But it didn't really hang in the air,
cause all leaders of the countries
were glancing into the corner where two presidents were sitting
and we could feel the complete understanding
of how important this talk was for the whole world.
Of course Putin and Obama didn't succeed
in solving Syria’s problem.
However...
disposal of the chemical weapon stocks
which Syria had back then
did take place and it is completed.
And who knows,
if they wouldn't reach an agreement then on disposal of the chemical weapon
what could have happened today
if it would get into the hands of ISIS?
Into the hands of people who are cutting off heads
burning people alive etc.
He was urging his partners to make agreements
not for a half-step ahead, not for a period of 2-3 years
when on the next elections
they'll need to impress the voters with a new glamorous victory,
no it should be a bit further
Looking beyond the horizon.
You see that's the thing
which really differs our Western partners from Putin.
So, you are proposing this concept of the fair world order,
but you suddenly find out that the world isn't willing to listen to you.
They are calling black white and vice versa.
Do they fear the role Russia began to play in the world?
When from practically failing state
it suddenly became a powerful political player?
When you became if I may say so
the leader of the conservative part
of both European and American society?
Well, you are digging too deep.
Sometimes I get a feeling
that they like us only when we need humanitarian aid from them.
Everything is good then, they are sending potatoes,
and I'm very thankful for that no kidding,
many people were doing this sincerely,
ordinary people in particular
However so-called establishment,
political and economic elites of these countries
they only like us when we are poor and standing with a begging bowl.
As soon as we start talking about our interests
and they start feeling sort of geopolitical competition,
they don't like that.
Well, would you like if a new guy comes to your TV channel,
strong, powerful and young,
with good manners and encyclopedic education
and will be slowly pushing you out?
You'd be struggling too and start fighting him.
You know that's the human nature.
Same story for international relations.
I am strongly convinced
that we aren't breaching any game rules.
By the game rules
I mean primarily public international law,
UN Charter and everything associated with it.
It concerns our relations with Ukraine
it concerns situation in Crimea,
it concerns how we position ourselves
in other regions of the world,
in regard to fighting international terrorism.
It concerns our problems in the field of global security.
By that I mean for instance
our position on USA withdrawal from the crucial treaty
on the limitation of Anti-Ballistic Missile Systems.
When we start bringing this up,
when we mention for instance that there is a threat
of NATO expanding to the East
and military infrastructure approaching our borders
That's how you go out for confrontation.
And at this moment
as we can see, it took the form of so-called sanctions.
I was mentioning it in my address already,
that it's no more than the attempt
to restrain Russia's development.
We see such attempts during all Russian history,
from the tzar's times.
This attempt of restraining Russia
it's a policy known for centuries.
There is nothing new.
However, we shouldn't be too worried.
was hoisted and I was singing really loud.
Almost shouting.
Because country under this flag won
and I just wanted to sing very loud and to shout
During Olympics and all these events in Kiev and Ukraine,
when anti-Putin propaganda (or even hysteria) started in Kiev,
Putin is here, he is killing Maidan,
Putin is shooting our children."
That's what was happening
and from a private matter it became public and even national one,
and disability to control the situation
and the way Western partners were acting.
And when I saw Putin gritting his teeth
I suddenly realized that some new strategy will be launched now.
Cause there wasn't anything said,
no glass was returned on the table this time
everything was very peaceful and quiet.
It was clear though that he saw himself as representative of Russia,
which was not respected and they tried to push away and insult.
It's a feeling of adequacy to the country,
to the history of this country,
it's a feeling of a certain mission.
You start understanding that this is history.
The most important for us was to understand
what do people living in Crimea want.
Do they want to stay in Ukraine or to be with Russia?
And if people do want to return to Russia
and don't want to be under the rule of neo-Nazi,
extreme nationalists and banderovites,
we don't have a right to desert them then.
And this is absolutely a matter of principle.
That's what I was telling to my partners back then.
I was telling them
that this was a crucial issue for us. people.
I don't know what kind of interests you will be defending,
but we'll go till the end defending ours.
And this is extremely important.
Not because we want to get a piece of the pie.
And not even because Crimea's strategic importance in Black Sea region.
But because it's an element of historical justice.
I believe that we did the right thing.
And I don't regret anything.
We flew to Crimea for referendum.
It’s incredible feeling!
We saw families going out with balloons,
kids with flags of Russian Federation.
And all of them are going to elections
with happy faces.
I saw sober guys crying on the square in Simferopol
Not drunk!
Crying from the feeling of incredible happiness,
that finally they have returned home
There was a performance on the fly and we sang.
Russia,
from Crimea to Yenisei."
From Crimea to Yenisei...
They were so incredibly happy!
Everybody I have seen.
After a long hard and exhausting voyage
Crimea and Sevastopol
are returning to the home harbor
to the home shores
to the permanent registration harbor. to Russia!
RUSSIA! RUSSIA! RUSSIA!
Great! He is simple, cool. I like him.
I think he is tough enough, but... I think if you are a president of a big strong country
you must be big and strong the same way as the country.
How many pull-ups do you do?
50. - Really?
preparing the same way. - These are our people.
That generation which grew up during Putin times is the majority of our society
which will lead Russia further next 50 years.
This is the generation which step by step have learnt to say the word 'patriotism',
This is the generation which have learnt to wear dresses with Russian flag, and be proud of it.
This is the generation which knows that this, this and this in our country
is much better than anywhere else in the world.
What was 15 years ago? Disbelief and ruins in heads
Then a hope, and today unlimited trust that we are building the state correctly
For these 15 years not simply many things have changed.
We have changed completely.
Our society has become different.
We can see a new, powerful, independent Russia able to protect itself.
I went to Vladimir and to Suzdal to see the sights.
And in one of Suzdal monasteries I wrote a note for health.
I was recognized.
Mother Superior of the monastery came up to me,
and says: Aleksey Borisovych, do you know that for the last year
a number of notes for health of President of Russian Federation Putin increased drastically?
She says: They write like this in notes for health President of Russian Federation.
Vladimir Vladimirovych Putin visited our monastery on September 9th 2005.
It was the first visit of head of Russian state in the history of Athos.
After the ceremonial welcome in the capital city of Athos, Karyes,
Vladimir Vladimirovych took the driver’s seat
and drove to Iveron monastery.
And just at the exit there was a mule of Athos standing
First there was a police car. then I drove on my car, and after me President drove
And just before him this mule, for some reason, ran out to the road and ran strictly in the middle of the
He tried to take to the left, and the mule took to the left, to the right - and that to the right, such
So, the President understood that something was wrong, and he followed the mule.
I must tell you: there was nothing like this in Athos.
So that a mule or a donkey, as we call it, ran in front of any car and didn't allow to bypass...
there was no such case, never.
But when on the way back we were driving, a car of police passed by, then I drove by,
we saw that the mule stayed at the same place and watched us, as if waiting for us.
It passed us by without problems, like nothing happened.
We stopped and looked back what would be next
As soon as the car of Vladimir Vladimirovych appeared from the turn,
this mule, as if was waiting, ran out to the road at once, turned around
police car and my car were watching it,
and it started to run uphill which is harder.
Again the same way, in the middle of the road ahead of the President's car.
When going uphill, the mule, maybe because of fatigue, slacked down
Vladimir Vladimirovych slacked down, he didn't bypass it. But the mule broke in pace.
And it could be seen that it ran out, Vladimir Vladimirovych took a little to the left.
started to bypass it, reached it and stopped near it, it was recorded from the car.
And the mule also stopped stone-still at once.
And several minutes, I can’t tell you exactly, I didn't count... we saw that they were standing.
Honestly saying, I can’t explain it.
Certainly, I want to notice one thing: if it happened it is a certain sign of Holy Mother, patroness of
It was a certain sign to the President. But I think it is easier for him to understand it.
He never comes unprepared for any events.
When he comes to such events like a press conference or live stream,
he prepares for many many days.
He has 100% concentration, 100%. Every time... tension..
maybe it has to do with inner concentration
Because Presidents come to speak such Presidents like Putin,
the price of his words is too high.
Vladimir Vladimirovych, things that happen to our economy now is a payback for the Crimea,
maybe it's time to tell frankly about it?
No, it is not a payback for the Crimea.
This is a payback... or to be precise, it is a payment for our natural wish
to save ourselves like a nation, like a civilization, like a state.
I made an example at so called Valdai club and recalled our most recognized symbol
a bear, who guards its taiga.
You know what if I continue such analogues... the idea comes to my head as well.
maybe our teddy-bear must sit calmly, not run pigs and gilts around taiga
and eat berries, honey, maybe it will be left alone. They will not leave it alone.
Because they will always try to enchain it.
And as soon as they enchain it, they will tear away both teeth and claws.
And then, after this, as soon as tear away teeth and claws, the teddy-bear is not required at all.
They will make a stuffed animal, that's it. That's why the matter is not in the Crimea.
The matter is that we protect our independence, our sovereignty and the right for existence.
This is what we all must understand.
When the Crimea started and when the spirit of patriotism appeared
it suddenly turned out that we have an army.
It suddenly turned out that we have a military industrial complex.
It suddenly turned out that despite all statements, including liberal members of your team,
that we shouldn't spend money for defense, it was unexpectedly, unnoticeably
that the military industrial complex was formed again to be proud of?
If we didn't have the military industrial complex and army
we couldn't overcome all problems concerning fight with international terrorism.
Even at the most difficult times from the point of view of economy in the beginning of 2000s,
we did not simply gather an army, and then, I have already told about it,
with total number of 1 million 300 thousand people I hardly gathered 50 000...
I took troops from the Far East, marines from the Northern fleet, we made up 50 000 ready for fight.
Now it is a completely different story.
Material conditions of the armed forces until present was just poor, both moral, and material.
You know, concerning this, I would like to use this opportunity, as they say in such cases,
again to say thanks to all our soldiers who at that time difficult for the country
saved the country on their shoulders, with empty pockets,
and I would say in miserable conditions of the armed forces. I highly appreciate it!
the famous 6th squadron of 76th air assault division...
in 2000 around our 100 troopers against 1000-1200
At that time there were such gangs in Chechnya.
The fight was completely unequal.
My son was a commander and guys told that they heard all messages.
His last words were: Drawing the fire on me. Farewell, pals.
Their fight lasted around one day and ended with 6 alive from 90 guys, and 84 were lost.
We made the decision, President made the decision to visit this place.
We didn’t control this area at that time.
When the President flew away, it was still calm.
But when special forces were leaving this altitude, fighters moved towards this attitude.
It was not your fault that the country appeared in such conditions that it is now.
But we are happy that there are such people whom you raised, with whom you lived.
Who stood on the way of further collapse of the country.
And anyway somebody had to do it.
After the 10th anniversary I phoned everybody, found all addresses.
Found out all problems, of all, what and who had, what and who needed.
It was a set of papers this thick.
In ten days I received a phone call: this set of papers got to Vladimir Vladimirovych.
He wants to meet you.
And every governor visited personally in each family, found out all problems, everything was solved,
so that everything was made before this meeting which was appointed with the President in Moscow.
Here, you know, the attitude to those parents who are left without their children.
Our children, they all gave the oath, that's why they knew how it could end.
This famous fight.
To my mind, it was already crucial in many aspects The the course of Chechen campaign.
Because fighters, terrorists, who fought against us, I think, after this fight, understood
that they would fail to break the fighting spirit and the will of our army.
Today army is certainly far from what it was 15 years ago.
The President announces and gives command to make a spot check, for example, Far Eastern
And we raise 156 000 soldiers within hours.
This is thousands of armored vehicles, hundreds of air crafts and ships.
Number of exercises increased manyfold
In one word: the shell took off.
The army felt itself like army. Officers started to respect themselves.
The contract service has become attractive and prestigious.
If there is no army, strong army, all the rest may not be required.
And this will be not our country.
Moments of absolute happiness?
Oh, it’s hard to tell you.
I can tell that in general we managed..., and everything together.
All together it may cause some satisfaction
when you understand where we were and what we have done.
Well, let’s start with the country: we saved the country.
Raised GDP 2 fold.
In comparison with 1999, the expenses of the Federal budget have risen 22 times,
if we look at 2014.
Real income of the population risen 3 fold.
The number of our people who lives behind the poverty line was almost 42 mln people.
And now we have almost in 3 times, 2,8 times less of people living behind the poverty line.
All this together allowed us to solve one more very complicated task.
Look, in 1999 and in 2000 the natural decrease of the population was 929 000 people, to my mind.
I.e. almost 1 million.
The difference between deaths and births was 1 million in favour of the first.
If we lost 1 million every year, i.e. Russia, it is a catastrophe.
Russia would slowly stop to exist.
We did not only stabilize and break this situation,
and two years in a row we have the natural increase.
Nobody believed in it.
This is not due to mother capital and other systems of maternity and childhood support.
This is due to the general situation. I repeat it gives more confidence to people
in that they can have more children, raise and educate them, and so on.
This is some kind of a multiplier indeed of what has been done.
Maybe, all this together, when thinking about, when analysing it, this can't but bring satisfaction.
For citizens of Nagin in Northern Ossetia
the commissioning of a new sports complex became a real holiday.
The platform is 130 m above the sea level. This is like two Spasskiy towers.
The area is just a bit bigger than of a standard football field
Specialists say: There is no such center with such equipment in Europe
The new hydro-electric power station on the Angara has become the most up-to-date hydro-energy of
Besides, all equipment is produced by national companies.
From today the Russky island is called student's capital of the Far East.
The Northern stream starts from here. The big road of Russian gas to the West starts from here.
Russia, in Olympic Sochi, at Olympic level, meets Formula 1.
The legendary auto race took place for the first time in Russia.
Today here there are the best pilots of the world.
- The church has its understanding of what authority must be.
At the same time, this understanding is expressed not by my close predecessors, not by me.
It exists during the whole history of the church.
The church associates the authority, especially the top representatives of the authority,
with the must-have requirement.
full devotion of themselves to that service which they are are called for.
You can't say that this person is working as a President.
He serves in his country as a President. I think it speaks for itself.
Vladimir Vladimirovych, 15 years of Presidency,
what does a person who decides to be a President have to give up?
Some normal everyday life.
It is inevitable. It is impossible to live like a normal person.
You can’t go to the cinema, can’t go just like this to the theatre, can't go shopping
which is also not deprived of certain sense and satisfaction.
But these are not big losses in comparison with...
what the fate and the people give to those persons who appear in my place.
And this is to make maximum contribution, everything what depends on me or on us
or those who work at such positions for one’s own country, people.
It compensates everything.