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Journalism of Courage
In his annual state of the nation speech, which was delayed two days by the death of his predecessor, Boris Yeltsin, President Vladimir Putin on Thursday declared that he will not seek a third term. However, he refused to suggest a successor and said nothing to quell speculation that he seeks to remain in power behind the scenes.
“My term will come to an end in the spring of 2008, and another head of state will make the next state-of-the-nation address,” Putin said.
He slammed those who recently accused him of backtracking on democracy and press freedom, describing them as “extremists”.
“There is a growth in the flow of money from abroad for direct interference in our internal affairs.” However, he did not cite specific countries as sources of the funding.
“Let us face it, not everyone is pleased with our country’s stable, ongoing development. Some elements are disingenuously using pseudo-democratic rhetoric and would like to put the clock back — some, to continue plundering our national wealth as they did in the past, robbing the people and state, and others to deprive our country of its economic and political independence,” he said.
“Some elements are resorting to the dirtiest technologies in an attempt to fuel inter-ethnic and inter-religious discord in our multi-ethnic and democratic country,” Putin said.
He also urged the Federation Council to speedily approve amendments to the law to toughen punishment for extremist activities.
He also accused NATO signatories of non-implementation of arms treaty. He proposed that Russia should unilaterally suspend the implementation of the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe until other parties to the treaty ratified the document.
“I think it is necessary to announce a moratorium on Russia’s implementation of the CFE treaty until all NATO countries ratify it and start to strictly adhere to it, as Russia does today unilaterally.”
—With Agencies
