The Russian Prime Minister was presented with the Order of Saxon Gratitude in Dresden
Before launching marathon talks in Moscow on the gas problem Vladimir Putin visited Germany, where he attended a glittering society event, the famous Zemper Opera Ball at Dresden's Opera. At the ball the Russian Premier was presented with the Order of Saxon Gratitude in the "Politics" category. The order is traditionally conferred on outstanding personalities for services to Germany. The order has the picture of St George on horseback. In line with protocol, Putin arrived wearing a dinner jacket and a bowtie.
Putin then went to the Kempinsky Hotel to meet the chief editors of leading German newspapers. For almost three hours, the editors grilled the Prime Minister with questions, mainly about the gas conflict with Ukraine. "Is there any question that causes doubt?" Putin inquired. The Germans left that question unanswered as they busily scribbled notes. "I don't know what you will write," Putin said eyeing them, "you can write what you like, but our position is absolutely right." The Germans did not challenge that.
The Germans eventually got bored with the gas issue and moved to their pet topic of democracy - or rather lack of it -- in Russia. They suggested that Russia was reverting to the old times.
"Do you have the death penalty?" Putin startled the Germans with the question. "No. Nein," he repeated in German. "Well, in the U.S. they have it, but that says nothing about unanimity or divergence in the humanitarian sphere. It does not prevent the majority of European countries from considering themselves to be key allies of the U.S. I can cite examples of partial or total divergence between European countries and their allies. The same is true of Russia. If some people think that Russia does not meet certain standards, you have the right to analyze. These differences do not prevent us, however, from examining the standards that you espouse. Every country has its own path of development. Russia lived under tsarist rule and then under a Communist regime; it was only fifteen years ago that we started moving towards a more civilized form of government. None of the country's leaders want to revert to the old forms of government in the country's development.
Mr Putin cited the example of Dagestan, which is inhabited by dozens of different nationalities. Traditionally, in order to keep the political balance, the Republic's President is a Dagestani, the Prime Minister is represents another nationality, and the Parliament Speaker yet another. It is impossible to apply traditional democratic measures to that complicated republic.
"I would look and see how much success you would achieve," Putin challenged his audience. Toward the end of the meeting the Germans asked the Russian Prime Minister how many hours a day he slept.
Putin looked at his watch and said: "I have three and a half hours left. But in general I get six hours of sleep a day."
Dresden
Larisa Kaftan