Vladimir Putin yesterday brushed off efforts by Nicolas Sarkozy to persuade Russia to be more co-operative in its dealings with the world. He notably stuck to his refusal to put more pressure on Iran over its nuclear plans.
President Sarkozy, on a two-day «tough-love» mission to Moscow, was visibly embarrassed when his Russian counterpart failed to share in his upbeat account of the rapport that the pair had struck at a private dinner at Mr Putin’s home.
Talking in formal, deadpan tones in the white-and-blue splendour of the Catherine Hall, in the Kremlin, President Putin said nothing to substantiate the French President’s claim on Tuesday night of a Russian change of heart over Iran. «We do not have information that Iran is trying to create a nuclear weapon,» Mr Putin said. «We operate on the principle that Iran does not have those plans. But she shares in the concerns of our partners.»
Iran had already co-operated with the United Nations and Russia would continue to co-operate with the UN, Mr Putin said. The remarks amounted to a straight putdown for Mr Sarkozy, after he had indicated on Tuesday that the Russian leader was now amenable to joining the Franco-American push for more sanctions against Tehran.
Mr Sarkozy, 52, had made Iran the focus of a trip to forge a more realistic Franco-Russian link after seven years of unquestioning friendship between Mr Putin and Jacques Chirac. He also sought and failed to obtain a shift in Russian opposition to independence for the Serbian province of Kosovo.
The super-salesman of French politics felt that he could win over Mr Putin, whom he admires as a pragmatist, with a couple of the high-intensity heart-to-heart sessions that are his forte. Repeatedly emphasising his respect for Russia’s renaissance, he argued that Mr Putin should be open to well-intentioned advice over democracy, human rights and his increasingly assertive conduct abroad. «France does not want to give lessons to anyone,» Mr Sarkozy said, after telling Mr Putin in private and public that failures over human rights damaged the standing of Russia in the world.
Mr Putin offered no warm words but instead a cool list of the business links between Russia and Europe, including the gas supplies upon which the EU depends for 25 per cent of its needs.
Total, the French oil conglomerate, has been promised but not yet guaranteed a large share of the big new Shtokman oilfield in the Barents Sea. Mr Sarkozy staked a French claim to reciprocity, saying that France should be able to buy into Gazprom, the Russian energy giant.
Mr Putin returned none of the voluble warmth that the French President showered on «Dear Vladimir» at his Kremlin news conference. «It’s like he thinks he’s dealing with a schoolboy,» said a diplomat who contrasted Mr Sarkozy’s ebullient bonhomie with the cooler distance that Angela Merkel, the German Chancellor, strikes with the Russian leader.
Mr Putin, 55, who officially retires from office early next year, did not smile when Mr Sarkozy announced that he had invited him to Paris for his «first visit to Europe as ex-President». Mr Putin confirmed to Mr Sarkozy that he is considering staying in politics, possibly by seeking the post of Prime Minister. He is to decide by December, the French leader said.
"The Times"
