No return to a Cold War with West - Putin

MOSCOW, May 13 (Reuters) Russia will build its ties with the West slowly and carefully and will not allow a return to a period of stand-off, President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying today.

Quoted by RIA news agency, he said: ''We will build up ties with Western colleagues patiently and calmly. I already said that we will not return to the period of the Cold War.'' He was speaking a week after US Vice President Dick Cheney lambasted Russia for backtracking on democracy, in Washington's strongest criticism of Moscow since Putin came to power.

Reuters SY RN2059