Gates dismisses Putin remarks as blunt spy talk

MUNICH, Germany, Feb 11 (Reuters) US Defense Secretary Robert Gates today dismissed as the blunt talk of an old spy accusations by Russian President Vladimir Putin that the United States sought to force its will on the world.

''Many of you have backgrounds in diplomacy or politics,'' the former CIA director told the Munich Security Conference. ''I have, like your second speaker yesterday, a starkly different background -- a career in the spy business. And, I guess, old spies have a habit of blunt speaking.

''We all face many common problems and challenges that must be addressed in partnership with other countries, including Russia,'' Gates said.

He said he accepted an invitation from Putin to visit Russia.

''One Cold War was quite enough,'' Gates said.

Putin yesterday offered some of his harshest comments against the United States in seven years in power, attacking the concept of a ''unipolar'' world dominated by Washington.

His remarks came amid continuing disagreement between Russia and the United States over the Iraq war and the nuclear ambitions of Iran and North Korea.

Gates, who studied the Soviet Union and Russia as a career CIA analyst, also raised concerns today about Russia's arms transfers and ''its temptation to use energy resources for political coercion,'' policies he said could threaten international stability.

REUTERS SY MIR KP1507