Some escalation in rhetoric here between the two sides... Putin: arms race with US is not over http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/mai...putin.xml&sSheet=/news/2006/05/10/ixnews.html Vladimir Putin has pledged to build up Russia's military to rival "fortress" America, and insisted the Cold War arms race is far from over. In an unexpectedly belligerent state of the nation address on Russian TV, the Russian president accused the US of putting its own interests before its democratic ideals, and compared the country to a voracious wolf. "We are aware what is going on in the world," he said. "Comrade wolf knows whom to eat, he eats without listening, and he's clearly not going to listen to anyone." He added: "It is premature to speak of the end of the arms race. It is in reality rising to a new technological level." Mr Putin's combative speech comes days after Dick Cheney, the US vice-president, accused Moscow of rolling back democracy and threatening its ex-Soviet neighbours. Last month US senators visiting Moscow said Russia's slide towards authoritarianism and stance on the Iranian nuclear crisis may undermine the country's bid to join the World Trade Organisation. In his speech, Mr Putin said the government would strengthen the nation's nuclear deterrent as well as conventional military forces without repeating the mistakes of the Cold War era, when a costly arms race against the US drained Soviet resources. Russia's military budget is 25 times lower than that of the US. "We need a military that is able simultaneously to carry on battle in global, regional and, if need be, several local conflicts," he said. The president also pledged action to counter Russia's acute demographic crisis, calling on members of parliament to vote money for more generous birth bonuses and childcare subsidies. He said: "I am convinced that with such an approach, you will earn words of gratitude from millions of mothers, young families, all the citizens of our country." Russia's population dropped by 4 per cent to 142.7 million between 1993 and 2006, according to the Health Ministry.
Putin calls for defence boost http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2006/s1635648.htm TONY JONES: The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, has called for a massive boost to Moscow's defence spending to bring it into line with other nuclear powers. In a sweeping state of the nation address, Mr Putin also spoke of tackling corruption, economic reform, and even doubling the nation's baby bonus to stop a spiralling population decline. But it was the call to arms which is likely to raise eyebrows internationally, as Moscow correspondent Emma Griffiths reports. EMMA GRIFFITHS, RUSSIA CORRESPONDENT: In the Kremlin's marble hall the Russian president outlined his priorities. Vladimir Putin now leads a country awash with money from its massive oil and gas reserves. He wants to spend some of it on better defending the nation. VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (TRANSLATION): Our defence forces have to be able to react adequately to current threats and have to be capable at the same time to deal with global and regional and sometimes with local conflicts. They have to be capable of reacting at all levels. EMMA GRIFFITHS: Last year Russia allocated $20 billion for its military - a figure 25 times lower than the defence budget of the United States. Mr Putin wants to bridge that gap. VLADIMIR PUTIN: In the defence area we say our house - our home is our fortress. We have to create our house, our fortress: strong, secure. EMMA GRIFFITHS: But Fortress Russia not only needs protecting - it needs populating. Vladimir Putin says Russia's population is falling at the staggering rate of 700,000 people every year. He says it's reached a critical stage and he's announced more spending to encourage women to have a second child. VLADIMIR PUTIN: We have to speak about love, about the women of Russia and about our children, about the family. And about the most serious problem of Russia today, which is our demographic situation. EMMA GRIFFITHS: The Russian president was expected to focus on foreign policy in this speech. While there was little direct mention of his foreign policy goals, Vladimir Putin made a strong statement against the use of force - a reference to the simmering tensions surrounding Iran. VLADIMIR PUTIN: We unequivocally stand for strengthening the regime of nuclear non-proliferation - without any exceptions - on the basis of international law. It is known that power methods rarely bring about the sought result, while their consequences become worse than the original threat. EMMA GRIFFITHS: Mr Putin also took a slight swipe at the United States. Last week Vice-President, Dick Cheney, accused Russia of restricting human rights and using its energy supplies as a diplomatic weapon. The Russian president says America is harbouring outdated prejudices.
