Vladimir Putin gave his final annual Press Conference as Russian President on Thursday.
According to Kommersant, at more than four hours, it was his longest ever and, as usual, Vladimir Vladimirovich has thrown out plenty of media-worthy quotes to excite press interest. Some crude, some scary, some twee.
To give you a flavour of the event, I’ve compiled some of my favourite quotes from the press conference and grouped them together around a few key themes.
On political leadership
It seems as though Putin wasn’t impressed with Hillary Clinton’s recent quip about his not having a soul. When asked what he thought of Clinton he quickly snapped back:
“A state official must at least have brains.”
Current President George W Bush, on the other hand, is clearly Putin’s soulmate:
“Sometimes you have to make decisions that nobody else can make… Do you think Bush has it easy?”
In his own job, Putin confessed that he works “like a galley slave”, but didn’t ask for any sympathy:
“Heads of state have no right to whinge, or drool for any reason… If they are going to slobber and blow snot and say things are bad, bad, then that’s how it will be.”
I don’t know about you, but to me those sound like the words of a man with a cold.
On being the richest man in the world
For a while now an unsubstantiated story has been floating around about Putin’s $40 billion wealth – his alleged ill-gotten gains from 8 years in the Kremlin. Putin clearly isn’t impressed by the man who has been spreading the rumours, bringing out the snot reference yet again:
“They picked it [the story] out of their noses and smeared it on paper.”
But in one sense, he really is the world’s richest man:
“That is true. I am the richest man in Europe and the whole world. I collect emotions. I am rich because the people of Russia have twice entrusted me with the top position in such a great country as Russia. I think this is my greatest wealth.”
On the future
Of course, the main question on everyone’s lips was “So, what are you going to do after the election, Vladimir Vladimirovich, when you have to move out of your shiny Kremlin office?”
For a change, Putin was willing to talk. Here’s a collection of his comments – I’ll leave it for you to judge what he meant:
“I know how the head of state’s job is set up, and assure you that our relations will be quite harmonious. I will never step in for the head of the government. I consider that damaging and counter-productive.”
“I should not cry but be happy that I have the opportunity to work in another capacity, and in another capacity to serve my country. I will be involved in the same tasks as when I was president. I will continue working.”
“The premiership is not a transitional post,” he said. “If I can see that in this capacity I can fulfill these goals, I will work as long as possible. There is no other answer.”
“I was never tempted to stay for a third term. Never,” he said. “From my first day of work as president I decided for myself that I would never violate the existing constitution. [...]
Some are addicted to cigarettes, some, God forbid, to drugs, and some become addicted to money. They say that the worst addiction is to power. I have never felt that. I have never been addicted to anything.”
“The president is the guarantor of the constitution. He sets the main directions for internal and external policies. But the highest executive power in the country is the Russian government, headed by the prime minister”
On Foreign Affairs
As you’d expect, Putin was blunt, possibly even confrontational when stating his views on foreign policy. He certainly pulled very few punches. On US plans for a missile shield based in Poland and the Czech Republic he threw out a nuclear threat:
“Our experts believe that the system threatens our national security. If it appears, we will have to react adequately. We will probably have to retarget our missiles against those objects which threaten our security.”
In a move that will please many, Putin drew parallels between independence for Kosovo and other struggles for national liberation around the world. Surprisingly, though, he shied away from traditional examples, such as Trans-Dniester, and instead cited Cyprus:
“I don’t want say anything that would offend anyone, but for 40 years northern Cyprus has practically had independence,” Putin said. “Why aren’t you recognizing that? Are you not ashamed in Europe of the double standards you are applying to settle problems?”
“I will yet again emphasize that we consider that unilateral support for independence for Kosovo is immoral and illegal.”
The greatest disdain, however, was reserved for those who want to monitor Russia’s Presidential election for compliance with ‘democratic’ standards.
“Let them teach their wives to make cabbage soup”
Indeed. At this rate, I’m going to need to update my Putin quotes to live your life by article.
Update: A full transcript of the press conference can be found at kremlin.ru. Thanks to Ger for the link.
About Andy Young
“GER O’BRIEN Says:
February 25th, 2008 at 8:42 pm
db
I will do that. Spasibo:-)”
****
Chris Doss’ pals no doubt. We saw how he cowardly left the SL threads after making a series of repeated 100% troll posts.
Sympathty for Serbia
http://www.exile.ru/blog/detail.php?BLOG_ID=17108&AUTHOR_ID=
That’s: Sympathty
”db” is a troll, who was unable to refute the stated manner of Republika Srpska’s formation in 1995 and the fact that RS’s constitution calls itself a republic ..”
No, db is clearly not a troll. I daresay he’s actually a scientist of some description, maybe the elite type that Russia exports abroad. He’s only interested in details, and deserves admiration for it. Details and numbers are very important things, far more so than rhetoric or ‘ancient birthplaces’. Speaking of numbers….
”In the year and a half of Kosovo fighting prior to NATO’s bombing campaign, roughly 2 thousand were killed out of a 2 million Kosovo population. About 500 of those killed were Serbs, who at the time were said to be 10% of Kosovo’s population. Per capita wise, this means the Serbs were the greater victims.”
I take it that you mean 10% of the Serb population of Kosovo – apologies if I am wrong. Nonetheless, this is a misleading line of argument. It ignores the other 1,500 killed, who were murdered by the GOVERNING Serb authorities. I can see what you are trying to do – make the argument that overall the Serbs were worse done by. Proportionally, yes, but literally, no. And who could possibly blame the Albanians for retribution? Mike, in fairness I know HOW the Albanians came to be a majority was wrong, and I am aware of their total refusal to integrate with the Serbs in Kosovo over the years. But the fact is they are now in majority, and in 1998 the Serb army begun a systemic genocide, an attempt which, I daresay, was aimed at getting rid of the Albanians altogether. In that sense, Serbia, as the aggressor, should pay for its misbehaviour – and lose Kosovo. Mike, if you start rewinding history and using ancient ethnic determinism, then you’re opening up a myriad of Pandora’s boxes, the world over. At that rate, why not rewind to when the Native Americans were in a majority, and give them back the US? The only facts that are important are NOW facts, not how things were.
”How many have died since the American led 2003 attack on Iraq? Is that “genocide”?”
You are creating a straw man argument and attacking a position I never advocated. And the rights and wrongs of what happened in Iraq are not relevant to this discussion. Better ask yourself those questions -you are American, I am not. And for what its worth, yes, the Americans did break the law in 2003, though I’m inclined to believe it was for the right reasons. But the law was broken, nonetheless.
”Neither should the new world order screw ups…”
when I hear ‘New World Order’, I start to think of people who believe in Illuminati, Jewish Banking conspiracies, Freemason plots etc. My best friend is a Mason and he has convinced me that no, they arent plotting to take over the world. Funny, I believe him! I daresay the Illuminati and the Jews arent planning hegemony either.
”Chris Doss’ pals no doubt. We saw how he cowardly left the SL threads after making a series of repeated 100% troll posts.”
I have no idea what that is about. If you spoke any Russian at all, you would simply see that db extended me a courtesy, that is all.
”At play in the Kosovo independence matter is the foreign miltary beachhead being established in Kosovo.”
Yes, if you believe that the Irish Empire and Greater Germany, the lead military forces there, are planning Balkan hegemony. The reality, sadly, is that Paddies like me are paying income tax to police the place.
URA! Ireland won an Oscar, with considerable help from the Czech Republic:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XzQRuTwaFI8
In reply to the rehashed bullshit:
db” is a troll, who was unable to refute the stated manner of Republika Srpska’s formation in 1995 and the fact that RS’s constitution calls itself a republic – in addition to RS having the word “republic” in its name. Once again, the Bosniak nationalists in Sarajevo have been trying to eliminate RS altogether. The selective citing of some sources can be misrepresentative. “db” continues to show limited analytical abilities. He/she covers this up by raising nit picking points in a selective way in terms of who he/she targets.
The other troll deceitfully babbles on about matter he’s not so knowledgeable of. For whatever one might think of some (stress some) of Hayate’s views, he has these trolls down pat. Like how the troll continues to overlook prior points and misreprsenting what was said.
In the year and a half of Kosovo fighting prior to NATO’s bombing campaign, roughly 2 thousand were killed out of a 2 million Kosovo population. About 500 of those killed were Serbs, who at the time were said to be 10% of Kosovo’s population. Per capita wise, this means the Serbs were the greater victims. Furthermore, many of the Albanians killed during that period were those who showed a willingness to work within the existing Serb/Yugo structures. BTW, I was forwarded data confirming the view that the mentioned year and a half Kosovo casualty figure is on par and perhaps less the murder rate in some American urban areas like Washington DC.
How many have died since the American led 2003 attack on Iraq? Is that “genocide”? Once again, note how the troll skirted the previously mentioned way the Kurds were treated under Turkish and Arab Iraqi rule. Definitely worse than what the Serbs could be legitimately accused of doing to the Albanians. Once gain noting how the Albanians are far from virtuous.
Given the way the Kosovo demographics have changed and that land’s overall history other disputed territories: it’s faulty to have granted it independence on short notice and without full international approval. When it comes to a territory like Kosovo, taking the part of a whole and treating that part as separate from the whole is problematical in terms of how other borders could be changed.
You earlier stated how the economics regarding independence should be considered as a possible factor. On that and oher points, Kosovo isn’t really independent.
In summation:
- Albanians persecuted non-Albanians in Kosovo
- The last 100 year demographic change in Kosovo is due in good measure to terrorism against non-Albanians
- UNSC 1244 clearly recognizes Kosovo as a continued part of Serbia
- Support for Kosovo independence is based on faulty premises
*****************
Great overview:
hayate Says:
February 24th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
A comment directed at those who think the troll is “too dim” to alter a few words in an email. This same “dim” individual was “dim” enough to know how to initially get Mike to think he was a serious poster here. He also is “dim” enough to grasp the what sort of wind-up would get Mike pissed off and apply it. He’s also “dim” enough to turn a straight forward thread into an unreadable mass of “he said – she said” bickering. He is also “dim” enough to have looked up some Irish researcher’s name and background and assumed that person’s identity for posting here. He is also “dim” enough to be able to find a Russian website. He’s also “dim” enough, after having done all of this, to still have people on this blog thinking he was a serious poster.
I’ve not looked around here and am unfamiliar with whom is “boyfriends” with whom here (besides the obvious ger and db) but I’ve seen enough of these trolls to recognise their operating routine. Mike is fairly straight foreward, though a bit hot tempered (and always wrong when he disagrees with me ;D ), but anyone who would take the word of the troll over his, especially after all the crap that troll has already done, really should bring along a trusted friend when they go “bridge shopping”.
In basketball, some call it an in yo face monster jam. The closest boxing variant is a TKO.
Getting to the troll level (since it’s being tolerated and should be shown for its fraudulent manner), what’s db’s actual name? What formal posted/published commentary on SL related topic does he/she have?
The recent referencing of Chris Doss has to do with how “db” the dominant troll and Doss have worked in a tag team like manner in prior instances.
Among others, there was a recent SL thread where all of Doss’ posted comments were 100% troll – clearly designed to provoke in a non-substantive manner. The existing dominant troll didn’t protest this for obvious reasons.
Mike,
you simply replied to the points I raised by repeating yourself!:-) Great debating!:-)
Get thee to our local university or polytechnic for postgraduate studies. In the four years I have taught students, not even first years (Freshmen?) would counteract an argument by simply repeating what they’d already said.
You simply repeat points that were already addressed in full. You do it in a disingenuously troll like manner by not adressing certain specifics and repeating lies and half truths, while confusing opinion with fact.
Unlike yourself, I’m competent in debating views on the subject matter I choose to discuss.
You’ve yet to show your worth in terms of posting a solo written non-blog aricle in the area of your claimed expertise; which is in an unrelated field to the SL discussed topics.
”In basketball, some call it an in yo face monster jam. The closest boxing variant is a TKO.”
You mean the fact that you’ve been pasted again here (just like at SRB, GV, FFOE, Ukraine.com)? In hurling, the greatest sport on earth, we would call it ”beaten out the gate”
Give it a rest Mike. You arent fooling anyone.
The lying troll strikes again with unsubstantiated bullshit.
As long as he continues to troll, I’ll follow-up with either the facts and-or fact based commentary, debunking his demagogic babble.
Unlike himself, I’m competent in debating views on the subject matter I choose to discuss.
He has yet to show his worth in terms of posting a solo written non-blog aricle in the area of your claimed expertise; which is in an unrelated field to the SL discussed topics.
hayate Says:
February 24th, 2008 at 11:17 pm
A comment directed at those who think the troll is “too dim” to alter a few words in an email. This same “dim” individual was “dim” enough to know how to initially get Mike to think he was a serious poster here. He also is “dim” enough to grasp the what sort of wind-up would get Mike pissed off and apply it. He’s also “dim” enough to turn a straight forward thread into an unreadable mass of “he said – she said” bickering. He is also “dim” enough to have looked up some Irish researcher’s name and background and assumed that person’s identity for posting here. He is also “dim” enough to be able to find a Russian website. He’s also “dim” enough, after having done all of this, to still have people on this blog thinking he was a serious poster.
I’ve not looked around here and am unfamiliar with whom is “boyfriends” with whom here (besides the obvious ger and db) but I’ve seen enough of these trolls to recognise their operating routine. Mike is fairly straight foreward, though a bit hot tempered (and always wrong when he disagrees with me ;D ), but anyone who would take the word of the troll over his, especially after all the crap that troll has already done, really should bring along a trusted friend when they go “bridge shopping”.
Edit from last post:
He has yet to show his worth in terms of posting a solo written non-blog aricle in the area of his claimed expertise; which is in an unrelated field to the SL discussed topics.
”You’ve yet to show your worth in terms of posting a solo written non-blog aricle in the area of your claimed expertise; which is in an unrelated field to the SL discussed topics…”
’round and round we go again. Scientific research papers are large endevours requiring months, if not years, of lab work and validation. They are almost always published by at least two authors, and often many more – a paper could have 10 authors. Arts degree papers require digging in archives and libraries, logistically far less work usually than a scientific paper, though not always. In any case, the one paper I have is one academic paper more than you have published. Cos you’ve never been academically published. Cos, quite simply, you are a charalatan. Get over it already. The paper I co-wrote was one of the most significant and well known animal doping papers of the last ten years, and even lead to questions in our national parliament, after I’d detected real positives with the method. What contribution to your field have you managed? Not ONE print article in a decent media outlet. NOT EVEN ONE. Andy, sorry for this, but I’m being repeatedly abused here for simply challenging Mike’s Balkan views and I cant allow it to pass.
And apologies readers, I’m not sounding off, but I wont be called dim by a total fraud, who’s been ran out of more blogs than he’s had hot dinners.
Prove it troll!
In any event, it’s unrelated to the SL discussed matter.
From top to bottom in addition to other threads, it’s quite clear that I’m not a troll.
The troll initiating repeated abuse has the gall to claim getting abused.
”Prove it troll!
In any event, it’s unrelated to the SL discussed matter.’
Unless you’re thick, you’ll have noticed I provided a link to the paper, published in the Journal of Analytical Toxicology, November-December 2006. This is simply a matter of record. In any event, if you simply look above, you’ll see you brought this up again, not me. And again -answer directly- how many academic papers have you published? NONE.
”The troll initiating repeated abuse has the gall to claim getting abused.”
Again, read today’s comments -you’ll find it was you who veered into abuse, not anyone else.
There he goes again with lies and getting off topic, while misrepresenting my request to see a link of a solo non-blog written piece of his in the purported field of his expertise. Not that I really care to know, seeing how it’s unrelated to SL discussed topics and I’m not terribly interested in his apparently miserable existence. I only mention it because he abusurdly brought that matter up here.
It’s a shame that creeps like him corrupt otherwise fine venues.
This troll repeated an earlier false claim of a certain site being “clearly” anti-Semitic. In doing so, he glossed over how the very same claim could be applied to other sites on pretty much the same grounds.
”Not that I really care to know, seeing how it’s unrelated to SL discussed topics and I’m not terribly interested in his apparently miserable existence. I only mention it because he abusurdly brought that matter up here.”
I brought it up first time cos you asked. And you have repeatedly brought it back up. Well, my miserable existence includes being published professionally, having a PhD, having lived in Moscow, and not living on my own with a bald head full of conspiracy theories, and never having heard the sweet whistle of dropping knickers. By normal standards Averko you ARE A TOTAL LOSER, never mind the standards you claim to reach, which are pretty much bullshit anyhow. Any chance you’d tell us your day job? Making toupes?
Liar. You brought it up and I asked for the goods. You haven’t delivered.
Now, he discusses someone’s physical characteristic. Much like how he has said that “Lavelle is hard on the eyes”. A great scholarly attempt for a trolling freak.
I’m the loser? Vis-a-vis SL related topics, I’ve achieved things of worthyness, which he hasn’t come close to matching.
“Making toupes”? I’m not a phony and much unlike yourself, I’ve revealed what’s SL pertinent.
Andy answered your trolling point about trying to pry into someone else’s life. You’re clearly a pathetically spiteful creature.
”Liar. You brought it up and I asked for the goods. You haven’t delivered”
http://www.jatox.com/abstracts/2006/nd/663-healy.html
Scandal and government report:
http://www.google.ie/search?hl=en&q=Dalton+Report%2Bgreyhounds%2BEPO%2BGer+Clancy&btnG=Search&meta=
Media publication of scandal and parliament questions:
http://www.google.ie/search?hl=en&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=Dalton+Report%2Bgreyhounds%2BEPO%2BOireachtas&spell=1
http://www.google.ie/search?hl=en&q=Dalton+Report%2Bgreyhounds%2BEPO&btnG=Search&meta=
There’s piles of stuff to dig through, and its complicated by non-doping issues, but basically, when we found some positive samples for EPO (having developed ourselves a technique to find it in the first place), our authorities wanted to keep it quiet(it would be extremely bad press, but of course I was horrified, and was worried I wouldnt be able to publish the scientific paper at all cos of censure), but it all exploded when our CEO was fired for something unrelated. It was the first time recombinant (synthetic) erythropoietin was found in an animal athlete(horse or hound) in the world. They were mad times, and I had to give evidence for the government report, had to resist newspapers and radios for interviews, even though I’d only scientific involvement, and we usually are totally in the background. It also gutted the organisation at large -a lot of people lost their jobs, as Dublin totally took control. I often still have nightmares over it. People who had nothing to do with it, some with big mortgages, were gone. I must have went to ten leaving parties in the six months after the report was published, and got totally drunk at all of them.
”“Making toupes”? I’m not a phony and much unlike yourself, I’ve revealed what’s SL pertinent.”
I take that back -it wasnt a nice thing to say, sorry. And yes, I know, the info above aint relevant, but you did ask for it. And its an interesting story -you couldnt dream up some of the intrigue in anti-doping. And as all of this has long since been made public, I can talk about it.
I decided to try and blog again, so if anyone’s interested:
http://dopingchemistry.wordpress.com/
I wasnt going to mention it till I had a bit more done, but any visits would be most welcome(sorry for the shameless advertising Andy)
He finally posts other links besides the lone initial piece which was pooled in nature.
Regardless, it’s not SL topic related.
I saw a familiar person in media essentially outline my posted/circulated points about Russian foreign policy’s sane manner.
People do read, with some of them expressing appreciation in ways that could be more open.
OK – enough. The quote below is pulled from the Wikipedia page on trolls.
Experienced participants in online forums know that the most effective way to discourage a troll is usually to ignore him or her, because responding encourages a true troll to continue disruptive posts — hence the often-seen warning “Please do not feed the troll”.
Generally, I’m pretty easy going about how discussions pan out here.
I like you disucussing substantive issues. I don’t mind discussions about people’s previously published works and critiques of that work, although I could probably do without them. I don’t even mind the odd heated argument, provided it’s about something interesting, and tempers are held more or less in check.
But this has gone beyond the pale.
Ger took things too far earlier on, but at least had the good grace to apologise and has toned things down a bit since then.
Mike is continuing to take things too far. This discussion was effectively over when I posted about you all rehashing the same issues back on 22 Feb but Mike is continuing to bring the same issues up, and is continually resorting to simple insults – calling people liar, or troll, etc. (I count 168 uses of the word troll on this page alone, the vast majority of which come from Mike).
If you can’t hold a civil debate and refrain from calling each other names then, frankly, your comments add no value to this blog.
So, from this point on, any comment I deem to be offensive, or to be picking a needless argument will be either deleted or heavily edited.
If I need to edit more than a couple of comments, I’m going to block that person from commenting at Siberian Light.
Mike is replying ot rehashed comments about his views and himself.
Mike isn’t wrong for taking a righteous position.
When Mike apologizes, his apology has meaning.
Mike can easily show how he knows how to conduct himself in an intelligently civil manner on SL realted topics.
Mike is understandably aghast at repeated negative misrepresentative comments about his views and himself personally.
The record on this is quite clear.
It includes Mike being pretty good at backing up his claims when compared to many others.
Hayate made a spot on observation relative to this matter.
That’s: related