Putin Lashes Out at Baltics and Georgia By Oksana Yablokova Staff Writer
President Vladimir Putin on Monday lashed out at the Baltic states over disputed territorial issues and at Georgia over its demands for a speedy withdrawal of Soviet-era military bases.
Putin, in wide-ranging remarks during a meeting with Komsomolskaya Pravda's editorial staff to celebrate the newspaper's 80th anniversary, ruled out the possibility of holding negotiations about the return of Baltic territories seized by the Soviet Union.
"They are going to get a big goose egg rather than Pytalovo district," Putin said, referring to a Pskov region border district in northwestern Russia.
Moscow's relations with the Baltic states have been strained in recent months amid disputes over borders and past history. Latvian politicians have voiced land claims, while the leaders of Lithuania and Estonia skipped Victory Day celebrations in Moscow on May 9.
The Baltic nations maintain that the Nazi defeat 60 years ago was the start of years of Soviet occupation for them.
Turning to Georgia, Putin took a milder stance, saying Tbilisi has no reason to demand the immediate and speedy withdrawal of Russia's two bases.
Tbilisi has demanded that Russia withdraw as early as 2006, three years before the deadline sought by Moscow.
A fresh round of talks on a withdrawal timetable started Monday in Tbilisi, with Georgian officials saying their deadline for a complete pullout was the end of 2008.
Putin said Russia had the right to use "if not a friendly, then a partner-style approach" in solving the issue.
"Exerting pressure to lead talks does not look well grounded to me," Putin said, Interfax reported.
He said Russia feared Georgia would allow U.S. bases in after Russia left. Tbilisi says it does not want any foreign bases on its soil, U.S. or otherwise.
"Politically, it is not very good that our neighbors do not want our military presence," Putin added. "This affects our security, and I believe that the Georgian side understands this."
Shifting to domestic issues, Putin said the government was drafting measures to regulate the largely chaotic local alcohol market. He said he had discussed the measures with Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Zhukov, but did not elaborate.
Putin also said he opposed the privatization of forest resources, and called for local companies and neighboring countries to pay market-based prices for electricity and fuel.
Finally, asked about his Labrador dog, Connie, Putin said his pet was doing well but gaining weight because he likes to spoil her.
He also said Connie was a bit lazy but "has a remarkable character."
"I do not even know whether she is a dog really," he said.
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