Putin calls the West on its hypocrisy. (not that he's so great, it just that he lacks the arrogent pretentions of the West)

Putin puts policy bluntly to EU

By Vladimir Isachenkov

VOLZHSKY UTYOS, Russia -- President Vladimir Putin, emboldened by Russia's vast oil and natural gas wealth, bluntly rejected European criticism of his crackdown on political foes, saying Friday that "like it or not," Russia's Western neighbors would have to accept it as a partner.

"Both Russia and the EU are interested in the development of relations with each other, and they will develop whether we like it or not," Putin said apparently referring to Europe's growing reliance on Russian energy resources.

Putin questioned whether Europe was really concerned about the human-rights records of its allies -- citing the alleged abuse of terrorist suspects at the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

The summit produced no new agreements and failed to make progress on commercial, security and other issues.

Putin's remarks signal that he sees no need to mollify foreign critics of his political course, which opponents say has concentrated power in the Kremlin and muzzled dissent.

The Russian leader also assailed the EU for failing to respond to the death of a Russian citizen during clashes between police and ethnic Russian protesters in Estonia. The clashes erupted over the removal of a monument to a Soviet soldier from Tallinn, the capital, to another location.

European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso told reporters that democracy and rule of law are "sacred principles for the EU."

"It's very important for all European countries, and Russia is a European country, ... to ensure the full respect of those principles and values," he said.

But Barroso also reaffirmed the EU's support for Russia's bid to join the World Trade Organization, a statement that appeared to reflect a softening of the group's stance after recent warnings from the EU that Moscow's candidacy was in jeopardy.

There were other glimmers of agreement. Putin and the EU leaders pointed to progress in trade and economic ties and plans for future cooperation. They also pledged to extend EU-Russia work on cross-border trade, visa issues and scientific and technical cooperation.

"We need each other, we are open for an honest dialogue between Russia and the EU," Putin said. "It's totally wrong to say we couldn't agree on a single issue."

Original article posted here.