Russia's Putin slams 'arrogant world powers'

[Zabaniyah]

by Staff Writers
Moscow (AFP) Nov 7, 2011

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin lashed out Monday at "arrogant world powers" as he hosted his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao for a regional security summit Moscow bills as a counterpart to NATO.

Russia's likely new head of state after next year's presidential elections accused Western nations of hypocrisy for backing revolutions in North African countries that previously enjoyed their strong support.

"It really is just like you said -- these are arrogant world powers," Putin said in response to remarks from Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi made during the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in Saint Petersburg.

"They also supported the old North African regimes," news agencies quoted Putin as saying in a clear reference to European powers and the United States.

"But what is interesting, they also supported the North African revolutions as well, the ones that overthrew the old regimes."

Russia strongly opposed NATO's air campaign in Libya and has warned the West against acting tough towards its close Soviet-era ally Syria.

The 10-year-old SCO joins Russia and China with the four ex-Soviet states of Central Asian in a loose security union that Moscow hopes to develop into a more powerful force rivalling the Brussels-based NATO bloc.

Iran is one of three nations along with Pakistan and Iran to have applied to join the organisation. Mongolia also has observer status. Monday's summit brought together mainly prime ministers from the SCO's member and observer states.

But the group made no formal decision on expansion at Monday's meeting and was short on other concrete results.

"Russia would welcome the positive review of applications to join our organisation in one form or another from any interested nation," Putin was quoted as saying.

Pakistan's application has been under review since 2006 and some analysts question the nation's actual ability to closely coordinate their policies on major international security issues such as Afghanistan.

Source: Russia's Putin slams 'arrogant world powers'

 

[regular]

Pakistan is a real credible country to join SCO...it will give a real boost to the goals of the organisation....

 

[RockyX]

Putin is very sensible and diplomatically correct leader. He plays his card very well.

2 biggest power Russia and U.S. were always against each other for last 60 odd years. We did incredible job by keeping balance and good relation with both (Although more with Russia in past and even today we give more importance to Russia)

 

[Safriz]

the russian bear is coming out of its hibernation..i dont know if its good or bad..
but the imbalance of power in the world isnt doing any good either..if you know what i mean.

 

[Zabaniyah]

Putin is very sensible and diplomatically correct leader. He plays his card very well.

2 biggest power Russia and U.S. were always against each other for last 60 odd years. We did incredible job by keeping balance and good relation with both (Although more with Russia in past and even today we give more importance to Russia)

True. But it isn't sustainable in the long term. You can't keep two heads happy for too long. One day or another, you have to make a choice.

Russia and China has given so much commitment into the SCO

 

[joekrish]

It is a very delicate situation for India, in between two cross roads and my heart says Rusia and my head USA.

 

[oyea]

But the group made no formal decision on expansion at Monday's meeting and was short on other concrete results.

That might be coz of this:

Unsurprisingly, the latest from Moscow is that India’s SCO membership goes into the backburner until Russia and China can be sure that India won’t turn out to be the US’s Trojan horse.

India’s SCO dilemma - Indian Punchline

Russia and China should be wise and not accept India into the SCO.

 

[joekrish]

Self delete

 

[RockyX]

True. But it isn't sustainable in the long term. You can't keep two heads happy for too long. One day or another, you have to make a choice.

Russia and China has given so much commitment into the SCO

If we did for last 60 years then I am sure we can do for long time to go. Even we did, When we needed to choose 1 side. Today, we have liberty to be with both side. I don't think, India will ever choose one side since it gave us lots of success.

Although, Russia will remain more important than U.S. for us. SCO is irrelevant as it's not against NATO and just for business and some drug trafficking. We already have big trade with China and Russia.

 

[Pukhtoon]

It is a very delicate situation for India, in between two cross roads and my heart says Rusia and my head USA.

They Say Dont put yr legs in two boats the result will be scary

 

[RockyX]

They Say Dont put yr legs in two boats the result will be scary

I don't think so. It worked for us for last 6 decades. We have good relation with both Russia and U.S. (more with Russia). Both Russia and U.S. understand this. We should continue same diplomacy in future also

 

[Zabaniyah]

If we did for last 60 years then I am sure we can do for long time to go. Even we did, When we needed to choose 1 side. Today, we have liberty to be with both side. I don't think, India will ever choose one side since it gave us lots of success.

Although, Russia will remain more important than U.S. for us. SCO is irrelevant as it's not against NATO and just for business and some drug trafficking. We already have big trade with China and Russia.

Yes, India's defense programs with Russia will go for as long as 2040 or 2050 according to estimates. They are worth a lot of money. And of-course, both China and Russia are big trading partners.

If we look at the POV of the US, they even asked India to back away from the SCO. And even offered India as a part of the JSF program. And still trying hard to sell the F-35. Man, considering India was a Cold War foe, it speaks volumes!

The SCO is slowly growing in scope. At the moment, it is limited to border control and counter-insurgency. And for some strange reason, the US don't like it.

Does the US and Russia have their own respective interests that conflict with one another? If we look at the global scale - the answer is yes.

Again, one can't keep two heads happy in the long term. And if it is Russia that is preferred, better if it is that way.

 

[lem34]

Compared to american leaders like bush and obama Putin comes over as staright forward and relativly honest I would say.

---------- Post added at 08:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:14 PM ----------

They Say Dont put yr legs in two boats the result will be scary

I dont think the indians will have a choice. They will have to come into one camp or the other

 

[RockyX]

I dont think the indians will have a choice. They will have to come into one camp or the other

Trust me it won't happen. It takes many decades to build a relation. We will maintain very good relation with Russia as well as good relation with U.S. (Earlier we had neutral relation with U.S.), Recently we had deal worth 35 Bn $ with Russia for 250-300 5th generation fighter jets PAKFA which will continue till 2035-2040. We rejected F-35. Also, We bought 22 C-130J/C-17 worth 7 Bn $ from U.S. and some 10 Bn $ worth more deals in next 1-2 years. We can definitely do that.

 

[roadrunner]

when afghanistan and pakistan join sco, the great game will be over.

it's possible all the dithering between trying to remain neutral or one nation siding with russia, the other with the americans is what caused the mess that is southwest asia in the first place.

if sco was formed 100 years ago, it's quite possible the soviet-afghan war wouldnt have occurred, bin stupid wouldnt have been in afghanistan, there wouldnt have been any foreign influence in the area. inept decision making.

i think india is dithering now.