QUESTION: The United Nations resolution has been adopted. This theme was actively discussed and is going to. Now what next with this issue - not from the viewpoint of a token decision, but in practice?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: Well, no one knows what'll be next. But what one would wish, I can say. One would wish that based on the adopted resolution, work would proceed in a sufficiently collective manner with all the parties to this process, with every member of the Security Council of the United Nations - and it is, I think, a very balanced, good document that was adopted - so now one would wish that on the basis of the resolution of the Security Council the new Iraqi leadership, the new government of Iraq would gather momentum as soon as possible, would gain authority among their own people and use the possibilities that this resolution provides in order that, in the shortest possible time, conditions should be created for holding truly free elections in that country.

Only after this has happened will it be possible to say that the phase of a definitive settlement of the Iraq crisis has set in. But, I repeat it, the UN Security Council resolution has created the conditions for that.

QUESTION: What is the attitude of Russia to the idea of a Greater Middle East? What kind of a new geographical notion is this - GME?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: The idea itself was discussed by us even during my trip to Camp David, where President Bush shared these ideas. And I have to say at once that I did like the idea as such, I support it and consider it timely. The question is how to implement it and what final aims we are to set for ourselves in the course of this work. And, of course, the conceptual apparatus needs specifying. I agree with you, Greater Middle East - what is it? It is necessary to grasp what this is. This in part was the topic of our discussions in the course of the summit held. To us it is obvious that the idea has by itself arisen as a result of the fact that we have all encountered one of the most serious threats - international terrorism. We are all perfectly aware that the chief reasons for terrorism are poverty, want and inequality. But there are attendant factors too, which help terrorism develop, among other things it is the uncontrolled huge resources that accumulate in the hands of private individuals. These huge monetary resources are comparable with revenues of whole states and in the conditions of an absence of democracy are uncontrollable. They create in certain instances the very financial base for international terrorism which we are so often talking about. In this connection democratization is a move in the right direction. It is only important that both the idea itself and the instruments which conceivably will be created for its realization should not be used for interference in the internal affairs of other countries. Now this is the major criterion for us in the joint work to develop this initiative.

In this connection I told my colleagues that the fund which is expected to be set up to realize this initiative - we so far will not take part in its filling until we see how decisions will be made there. If Russia has a real part in decision making, then we are going to work there actively. If not, we shall refrain for the present. But I do not rule out that we shall join in on a full scale. I repeat it, only when we do see that we can influence the processes taking place there and the decision making.

Russia has always pursued, and intends to so do in the future, an independent foreign policy, including that in the Middle East. And we shall be doing it jointly with our traditional partners in the Middle East. I want to remind you that we are developing our contacts with the Organization of the Islamic Conference, that we are aware of our responsibility as an associated member. And therefore all these facts in their totality will be considered by us in the course of the joint work on the realization of the idea of Greater Middle East.

QUESTION: From the viewpoint of foreign policy, Russia's interest in being a party to the Big Eight is indisputable. But in terms of domestic policy - what benefits are there for Russia?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: Yes, there are I believe, and considerable at that. First and foremost, the G8 is the place where the positions on the key global issues of today are being coordinated. For Russia the most important are two questions: that of international security, to which about seventy percent of our entire work was devoted, and the question of economic cooperation and world economic development. I shall not go into detail now, but I think you will agree with me that these are the most important questions for Russia. And, finally, we met and exchanged views on the state of the economies and on the plans for economic development in our countries - to Russia it does make a difference to know what is being planned in the largest economies of the world. Because this will directly influence the development of the economic situation in the Russian Federation itself. Finally, there are things of an applied character. You know that we discussed not merely the problems of the Middle East, which is by itself of no small importance to Russia (I mean our interests in this region of the world), and not merely Iraq. We know how acutely all those things go there and reflect on the entire complex of international relations. Say, we discussed the problems of Afghanistan, the problem of drug traffic from Afghanistan. All this has a significance of an absolutely applied character for us. There are also more mundane things, say, the global initiative under which it's contemplated to allocate to us pretty large sums of money to eliminate decommissioned nuclear submarines. We have already got down to this work. By the way, Russia has allocated 470 million dollars for these purposes. It's our own allocation, and we've received 200 million from our partners already. In the course of the work here we finalized our positions, signed an appropriate document with the Canadian partners. I think that our other colleagues too now understand better how we can further implement this joint work. And, from the ecology point of view, it seems to me, there's no need for long explanations here: ever since the late 60s of the last century our decommissioned nuclear submarines have been at the bases of storage. For us this is a very urgent task.

Now this is an incomplete list of what gives full grounds to assert that the G8 is a thing not useless to us.

QUESTION: Global Partnership - is this a myth or reality? Will there ever be any practical effect?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: We are already working with the Federal Republic of Germany. The Germans have expressed an intention to take part in the work in the Northwest. And with the Japanese - in the Far East. One submarine has already been disposed of. Now we are embarking on another contract. Concrete work has already begun.

QUESTION: Some experts hold that the idea of the G8 has outlived itself: not binding decisions are being taken. How do you feel about this?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: Binding decisions have never been taken at the G8. Recall the G8 in Cologne, where the decisions were taken to write off several billion dollars of Russia's national debt. But nothing was ever done. This drawback was always intrinsic to the G8 forum. But it is not becoming less attractive because of that. And it is only reasonable for Russia to participate in it.

QUESTION: What is your attitude to the proposals from some of your colleagues to invite China and India for work in the G8 among others. Is that realistic?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: Positively. Because, apart from the fact that these are huge countries with a huge population, they are huge economies as well. Moreover, very energetically and intensively developing ones. Besides, they are our traditional partners in very many areas of cooperation. Therefore I believe that this merits attention.

In practical terms this so far wasn't discussed, but the thought was voiced that it is necessary to enlist our friends from India and China in joint work.

QUESTION: You did not have an official meeting with the interim president of Iraq. But did you manage to meet with him and have a talk?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: No. We only conversed at the lunch. He produces the impression of a man of substance who knows both the situation and his country and of a person who is obviously disposed to get his country out of the crisis and understands the measure and degree of his responsibility. This produces a good impression.

QUESTION: As regards Iran, last year saw a rapprochement of the Russian-American position; increasingly there is caution as to what is happening in Iran. Nevertheless, Russia so far has not given up the construction of a power plant in Bushehr. In what format was this question raised at the meeting with George Bush and are there conditions in which Russia may give up work at Bushehr?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: Russia will give up work at Bushehr if Iran ignores the demands of the world community for transparency of its nuclear programs and for its broader cooperation with the IAEA. So far that does not happen, so far Iran has been fulfilling all its obligations to the IAEA, and we see no grounds for ending this cooperation.

QUESTION: Japan is preparing for the next, anniversary year - the year of the anniversary of the Treaty of Shimoda, which established diplomatic relations between our countries and determined the borders for the first time. Your visit to Japan coincides with this anniversary. Is that a coincidence or not? And how will this coincidence influence the content of your visit?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: It is, of course, a coincidence. Mr. Prime Minister and I discussed the possibility of my visit. We shall yet see each other at the APEC summit in Chile at the end of the current year. Both of us would want that my visit to Japan next year would be filled with specific content. I must say that our dialogue is now on a good level. We are also discussing the problems of a peace treaty, we are not forgetting this theme. We are talking about expanding economic cooperation and about our interaction in the political sphere on the international scene. We have something to discuss, we have something concrete to fill the content of this visit with. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will be working on this visit and I hope that this visit will be not only festive and anniversary related, on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Japan and Russia, but also useful.

QUESTION: Could you tell us a little about the informal atmosphere, not the one when you were meeting at the round table. We saw you stroll with Schroeder and Chirac? Was there more common understanding between some and less between others there?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: No. Moreover, I can tell you that it was thanks to President Bush (I said about this when we were already parting today, finishing our work) that a relaxed, a very frank atmosphere was created in the discussion of practically all the questions. Even beyond the agenda. I must say the truth, we had disputes too, we do not see eye to eye completely on all the issues. We would just discuss a problem, packaged in a little box. We spoke broadly, we philosophized, argued. And the atmosphere was very friendly, comradely, benevolent. In general, it seems to me that the summit has been a success, and I would congratulate the American side both on the organization and on the substantive part of our work.

QUESTION: I talked with US administration officials who told me that Mr. Bush raised the question of free press in Russia. What was your answer?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: We back at Camp David discussed problems related to the press in general and to the fact that we will be striving to create conditions in the Russian Federation for the mass media in which they can rest on their own economic base. It is my belief and I have repeatedly stressed it that the press can be really free only if it is independent in the economic meaning of the word, it was in this context that the President and I discussed this problem, and spoke about continuing our work on this question, within the group that we have. We discussed this topic in just these terms of applied significance.

QUESTION: I want to return you to economics and politics. America suggests writing off Iraq's debts. Iraq owes us a considerable sum. Perhaps something can be done here unilaterally, without the participation of G8 members?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: Unilaterally we will do nothing. We are members of the Paris Club. We, by entering there, agreed to some costs. We are interested in seeing the conditions of the Paris Club observed, and that it would be written down in the final documents of the discussions held that the problem of Iraq's debts will be tackled in the framework of the Paris Club. We would like this problem to be solved in 2004. This does not mean that it should necessarily occur in 2004, but we will strive towards this. This is the first point.

Second, we really think that Iraq should be helped. The write-off amount will be determined after consultations with the Iraqi government and after a study of the relevant documents. The final G8 document, signed by Russia, has no mention of a writing-off amount. We will tackle it in the course of the negotiating process.

QUESTION: How do your G8 colleagues evaluate Russia's progress towards entry into the WTO? Did you discuss this topic?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: We did not merely discuss this topic. I informed all the colleagues about the state of the Russian economy, told them about our plans both in the economy and in the social sphere, because all this is interrelated. The results of the country generally depend on the various fields of activity. And I once again confirmed our firm desire to enter the WTO on acceptable terms for Russia. But there was not a single one of the participants in the meeting who would object or come out against. On the contrary, all said they support Russia in this striving and will help it in every way.

QUESTION: In one of the summit documents there is a special point where it is said that the G8 welcomes the progress achieved by Russia before entry into the WTO, and it reflects the consensus which has evolved in the organization.

PRESIDENT PUTIN: I thank our European colleagues, of course, for the positive results of the work on the appropriate document on Russia's accession to the WTO, on the final protocol of the European Union. I express the hope that our talks with the United States and our other partners will develop in the same spirit.

QUESTION: Russia will be the G8 president in two years' time. But work is already beginning now. Are there any plans as to where you are going to receive your friends? Will Russia put forward any new ideas in connection with this event?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: So far it is too early to speak about this. There is still comparatively much time ahead. We have yet to gather in Britain. We will see how the situation evolves in the spheres which are the main ones and most sensitive for us all. We will try our best, first, to create good conditions for work and, second, to concentrate the attention of all our partners on key problems of concern to all the participants of this forum. Life will tell what they are going to be in 2006.

QUESTION: In relation to the various publications that appeared in the American press during the work of the summit, that supposedly Russia is not worthy of being a member of the G8, is it possible to consider Russia a firmly established G8 member now?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: I ignore publications of this kind, because they are triggered by internal political events in the United States itself and attempts to exert pressure on President Bush in particular questions. I heard that his political rivals are often attacking him in the course of the election campaign for the situation in Iraq. In my opinion, I am deeply convinced of this, they have no moral right to do so, because they pursued exactly the same policy. It is enough to recall the events in Yugoslavia. They did the very same things. And now, you see, they don't like what Bush is doing in Iraq. You know our position on Iraq. This is a separate theme. I am now saying that a part of the materials coming from both sides are dictated by considerations of an internal political character. As far as Russia is concerned, we aren't dying to be anywhere, nor are we running away from anywhere. Russia, as is known, is one of the major nuclear powers in the world. It was such and will remain in the foreseeable future, so long as international conditions and the considerations of our national security require it. And to tackle the problems of, say, nonproliferation of nuclear weapons and those of nonproliferation of weapons of mass destruction generally - this was one of the key topics for the G8's discussion - without Russia, it seems to me, is simply not serious.

Russia has a developing market, a developing economy. I hope that the efforts we are taking and exerting in the sphere of easing the situation in energy markets are not just interesting, but extremely vital for all our G8 partners. There are other components too, which, in my view, make Russia's participation in the G8 attractive not only to us, but also to all of our other colleagues.

Well, as to whether it's necessary or not - this is a separate topic. We also have our own views on various international forums, including this. I already mentioned the G8 in Cologne. They wrote down in their time to write off Russia's debts - several ten billion dollars. Now where is all that? Therefore one must take an easier view of such things, it seems to me.

QUESTION: The US President at a bilateral meeting said it would be quite good if the guys from NATO set about helping the Iraqi people. In principle, this idea contradicts the idea that the guys from United Nations should be helping. This immediately became front-page news, television releases began with it. What do you think in this connection?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: I already said that not on all the positions our opinions coincide. Generally, if NATO takes this up, it will be bad. There will appear an enemy for them. I think that from the outset a steady enemy will appear, an enemy for many years. There will be something to be concerned with. And well, perhaps, this also will ease the situation in certain fields for us. But, if we really want to tackle the problem, then it seems to me that it's best to tackle it within the United Nations. And, strictly speaking, the result of the work on the resolution, which was recently signed, indicates that for now, all agreed with this approach exactly.

QUESTION: You were invited for the funeral of Ronald Reagan and for the 80th birthday of Bush the father? And was a drink taken for remembrance of the former and to the latter's health?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: We express condolences to the entire American people over the death of former President Ronald Reagan. He was an outstanding politician of the last century. The former President of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Sergeyevich Gorbachev, will represent Russia at these sad observances. I spoke to him by telephone. He was in Europe. Today or tomorrow he is due to arrive in Washington. And this sad event we, of course, reminisced and talked about precisely in the spirit in which I now said: Reagan was an outstanding political figure.

QUESTION: You were tired, got a chance to bathe?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: I am afraid of sharks.

QUESTION: What generally remains in your memory? You did an enormous journey, such a marathon, 24,000 kilometers - Normandy, Mexico?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: Everything remains in my memory. There was actually not a single hour spent uselessly. I think that the observances in Normandy were the right, timely, necessary thing to do. Everybody realizes that after the Iraq events this uniting observance once again reminded us of when practically all mankind united in the struggle against nazism. Now problems also abound. And there is a need to recall this at present and to combine efforts in the struggle against the threats of the present day. And in this sense this observance was timely. We view this in the context of the future year - the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Second World War. For us it is the 60th anniversary of the victory in the Great Patriotic War. Significant was the participation of the FRG Chancellor. If you remember, back in Normandy, while meeting with our journalists, I said, by the way, bearing in mind the thoughts of our veterans, with whom I am in continual contact, that our first allies in the struggle against fascism were precisely the German antifascists. We should not forget about this. This is the first point.

The second point is, we often hear from many friends that there goes the revival of Russia, that Russia is needed on the international scene, and so forth. I would also say the same thing about Germany. An enormous country of 80 million cannot be disfranchised for all the remaining life. We should never forget about the tragedy of the 20th century - the Second World War. Never. We should draw conclusions and do everything to prevent anything like that happen in the future. We should proceed from the realities of today and look to the future. Germany is our largest trade and economic partner. We are developing relations in all areas. After all, we are in Europe, and certain processes are taking place in it now. One cannot pretend that Germany is a second-rate country or that it has no right to something because of what happened in the 20th century. That would be a mistake.

The presence of the Chancellor exactly draws the line under all those events of the last century. It seems to me that this is serious, it is important and useful.

As to Mexico, it is one of our partners in the field of energy. Mexico, as you know, is one of the largest producers and exporters of energy raw materials. Now the Mexican government is studying the possibilities of liberalization in this sphere, with regard to both oil and gas. And our companies and specifically Gazprom have a great interest in cooperation. And in Mexico this was the most important thing.

QUESTION: Gastronomically, what do you remember best?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: Didn't pay attention to this. Honestly, as in Moscow, I eat porridge here from the morning.

QUESTION: You invited all of your colleagues for the 60th anniversary of Victory?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: We will see in what format to do all this. But we are going to observe this anniversary by all means. We should objectively look at the second front that began not in Normandy. It had existed even before that. The United States' assistance to the Soviet Union during the Second World War had been considerable from the very beginning. Even though the canned Spam was called "second front," without the Spam it was bad likewise. And there had been the aircraft and motor vehicles. The northern convoys, the British hero sailors who were getting killed there, come to mind. It was a very tough and heroic job for the British sailors. All of these are the elements of the Second World War, elements of our cooperation. And there should be no forgetting this. I already related, when George Bush right in the course of the observance in Normandy got up and said that nothing of this would have been possible without the involvement of Russia. This is also an acknowledgement of the actual role of the Soviet Union and Russia today. If we, in this partner spirit, go on building relations, this will benefit everybody.

QUESTION: From your answers it is noticeable that your philosophy is after all the achievement of unity, not playing on contradictions. Right?

PRESIDENT PUTIN: Of course. That's what we talked in detail yesterday and the day before yesterday about.