Putin wants businesslike G8 summit to entrench rule

MOSCOW, July 9: It will be the high point of Vladimir Putin's rule and mark Russia's resurgence as a global player, but he will not expect a hearty slap on the back when he hosts Western leaders at a Group of Eight summit.

Despite an unparalleled Kremlin charm offensive, including a televised question-and-answer marathon by Putin himself, Russia goes into the St Petersburg G8 summit on Saturday still the odd man out in the elite club of industrialised nations.

Washington and its allies have questions over the state of Russia's democracy, its policies towards former Soviet allies and its conduct as a huge world supplier of oil and gas.

But commentators say merely staging the summit will give Putin what he wants recognition Russia has recovered its self-confidence after the chaos of the post-Soviet years and is ready to be a major world player again.

''I believe the future of our country can be ensured only if we feel fully-fledged and equitable members of the world community and the European family,'' Putin said in a two-hour TV appearance on Thursday fielding questions via the Internet.

Yuri Fyodorov, visiting professor at London-based Chatham House, said the outcome mattered little: ''In a way, the process of the summit is more important for Russia than its results.'' Resigned to what could be a difficult encounter, Kremlin officials are signalling the 53-year-old ex-spy with the low key style will strive to put the accent on business-in-hand, try to play down controversy and would settle for a muted affair.

President George W Bush, whom Putin described on Thursday as a ''decent'' friend, says he does not intend to lecture the Kremlin leader. But if challenged by Bush or other G8 leaders Putin will dish back as good as he gets, they say.

''He'll not be pushed into a corner by uncomfortable questions,'' Kremlin first deputy spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Six years in power and due to bow out in 2008 to a successor he has yet to name, Putin will want the summit in his home town to showcase the stability he feels he has brought.

And while approval for his policies from Bush and the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Canada and Japan may not be in the offing, he will settle for grudging acknowledgement of Russia's new clout on the world's energy scene.

Moscow's suspension of gas supplies to Ukraine in a January pricing row saw it lose diplomatically as Europe suffered too. But the mere fact energy security is the main theme at the July 15-17 gathering will fix Russia's role of energy superpower in the popular imagination. Chairing discussion of the Iran and North Korean nuclear issues will only add to the gravitas.

CHALKING OFF PROBLEMS

In preparation, Moscow has steadily ticked off the points that set Russia apart from other G7 members.

A rush of last-minute activity included steps to make the Russian rouble convertible and signature of a 22 billion dollars deal with the Paris Club to pay off the entire Soviet-era debt.

Just last week Putin met heads of Moscow-based non-governmental organisations (NGOs), a prudent move to pre-empt criticism of Kremlin moves to curb their activity.

The Kremlin under Putin has tightened its grip on the media, neutralised liberal opposition and centralised its power. In turn, Western hopes for Russia's course expressed when it was brought into the G8 in 1997 have given way to open criticism.

As it readies to host the big G8 feast, Russia's relations with the West are ironically at their lowest point since the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999.

In just the past two months, US Vice President Dick Cheney has accused Russia of using its energy exports as a ''tool of blackmail and intimidation'' against its neighbours. Putin hit back, comparing the United States to an insatiable wolf.

Russian officials appear resigned too to not agreeing with the United States on entry to the World Trade Organisation by the time of the summit. ''It will not be a tragedy if the final deal comes later,'' Kremlin official Sergei Prikhodko said.

Putin has his script ready if he is assailed on democracy or over ''frozen conflicts'' where former Soviet allies Georgia and Moldova accuse Moscow of backing separatist forces.

Charge us with human rights violations, and we'll bring up abuses in the US Guantanamo Bay prison, the Kremlin line goes.

Press us on 'frozen conflicts' and we'll ask our Western partners to justify their support for Kosovo independence.

Commentators say it is a sign of Russia's growing self- confidence that Putin is prepared to take on criticism in St Petersburg -- even from his old friend, Bush.

REUTERS