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Caucasus/Russia/Central Asia

Russian President Accuses NATO of Attempting to Replace UN

2008-03-09

Russian President Vladimir Putin says NATO's continued enlargement creates the impression that the alliance is trying to replace the United Nations.

Replace one useless organization with another? He might be on to something ...

He made his remarks on Saturday at a joint press conference in Moscow with German Chancellor Angela Merkel who is visiting Russia. Ms. Merkel sad NATO is purely a defensive alliance.

The German leader also met with President-elect Dmitri Medvedev who is to be inaugurated in May. She is the first Western head of state to meet Mr. Medvedev since he was elected on March 2.

President Putin warned that his successor will defend Russia's interests as staunchly as he has and that Russia's partners should not expect to find him any easier.

Germany and Russia have disagreed over a range of issues in recent years, including Kosovo's independence, Iran's nuclear program and Russia's energy policy. The German chancellor has criticized Russia's human-rights and media-freedom record. She has also questioned the fairness of Russia's presidential election.

President Putin has opposed a possible admission of former Soviet republics Ukraine and Georgia to NATO, saying that many people in those countries are against joining the Western alliance. He has also disagreed with Germany over U.S. plans to deploy a missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.
Here's a little hint Mr. Putin... in addition to NATO, we also maintain SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe.) Think about that. CAREFULLY...

Posted by:Free Radical

#5 If I was looking for a drop-in replacement for the UN, I would get one of those circus cars, the kind with an endless stream of clowns coming out of it.

Posted by: SteveS 2008-03-09 22:54

#4 I never thought about it, but he has a good idea there. Thanks Pooty!

Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-03-09 10:53

#3 Actually, Putin has a point. The UNSC only has legitimacy when it represents the world powers.

But right now, it both needs to be pruned and enlarged with the changed structure of power in the world.

Since it refuses to change, then another organization that *does* represent the new power structure will supplant it.

Thus the only question that remains is who belongs in the new organization. Membership has to be based on three things: Economic and military power, and the willingness to project that power.

Based on this, I see the new veto members arrangement as being the US, Russia, China, India, the EU and Japan (if these last two develop their military and are willing to deploy them.)

Added to this are those blocs that are missing one of the three elements. A South American nations bloc, an African nations bloc, and an Oceanic and non-aligned bloc. They can vote, but not veto.

Posted by: Anonymoose 2008-03-09 10:18

#2 I have always believed the truest test of American power and admiration vis a vis the anti-Americanism you read about is to have us unilaterally and immediately disengage from NATO and the UN. Then lets see how much we are missed and who comes hat in hand to apologize. For starters, Rummy's "Old Europe", then the Saudis and their bosom buddies, then all of Africa as well as those hand-biters in South America.

Posted by: Jack is Back! 2008-03-09 09:48

#1 It's dead Jim.

Posted by: Procopius2k 2008-03-09 09:39

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