<tit>
MORE MONEY, LESS SECURITY<stl>Accomplishments and failures of Putin's era
<aut>Georgy Ilyichev
<src>Izvestia, February 14, 2006, p. 2
<sum>Putin's era is not over yet but sociologists believe it is already possible to gauge the changes it has brought about. The All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center ran an opinion poll on the subject.</sum>
<cov>Unquestionable changes
Unquestionable changes for the better took place in three spheres of life of the ten examined, according to the outcome of the poll conducted in 153 settlements of 46 Russian regions. These three spheres are quite important. Better living standards are the main accomplishment. More than every second respondent (54%) believe that life became easier (from a financial standpoint, that is) under Putin, and 45% more admitted to having found additional income. Inflation and the price-rise remain a major problem but it is easier now to boost one's income, respondents say. In other words, economic liberalism carries the day on the level of private life.
Two other changes for the better are reported in the sphere of international relations and in the matter of Chechnya. Correspondingly 54% and 50% appraised the president's performance in these spheres as impeccable.
The respondents were noticeably more critical of the authorities in the matters of law and order, individual security, and ethnic relations. It should be noted that the Russians who do not think that law enforcement agencies could protect them from the underworld outnumber the ones who compliment the police and secret services 8% only. All the same, every third Russian does not think that the president who promised the country to restore order in all spheres of life has kept his promises. They do not think that our streets are any safer now than they were in the crime-ridden early 1990's.
As a matter of fact, every fifth respondent interprets the undeniable increase of chauvinism in society as a change for the better, but one third of the population is worried by the episodes of ethnic hatred.
It was answers to the question concerning democracy that stunned sociologists of the All-Russian Public Opinion Research Center. The majority of the population does not share the opinion that Russia under Putin is widening the gap between itself and democracy, the point of view spread in the West and in the domestic human rights community.
Every fourth respondent is convinced that the situation with human rights in the country in the last six years improved. Only 14% of the respondents said that it had deteriorated, and 43% said that no changes at all had taken place.
<tit>"PUTIN IS TAKING THE LEAD"
<stl>The West is prepared to accept Russia's explanations at face value
<aut>Yevgeny Bai
<src>Izvestia, February 14, 2006, p. 4
<sum>An interview with Andrei Denisov, Russian Representative to the UN, on the invitation to HAMAS leaders to come to Moscow.</sum>
<cov>Russia does not regard HAMAS as a terrorist organization
"Putin is taking the lead," a West European diplomat at the UN said. "Everybody understands that the Americans will have to contact HAMAS sooner or later because it was elevated to the corridors of power in a free and fair election. On the other hand, there are laws in the United States that do not permit the US Administration to deal with the organizations recognized as terrorist. Russia in the meanwhile does not regard HAMAS as a terrorist organization. The situation being what it is, Moscow decided to seize the initiative and fill the vacuum. This is another episode of the strategy of an international go-between Russia is using in the situation with Iran."
Question: What will the Russian authorities discuss with HAMAS?
Andrei Denisov: HAMAS' triumph in the election is a hard fact of life we have to accept. We have never had contacts with this organization. They became possible only when it won the election in Palestine. The door to dialogue must be left open.
This is what Russia is going to say to HAMAS. First, it must abstain from terrorist activities now. Second, it should recognize Israel as a sovereign state, its neighbor, and political partner. Third, HAMAS should abandon its radical views in favor of a political settlement of the conflict together with the Middle East Quartet and countries of the region including Israel.
Question: What does Russia think about financial aid to Palestine? Should it remain on the former level?
Andrei Denisov: Very many in Palestine do not belong to HAMAS. They support it because they think it capable of solving socioeconomic problems of the autonomy. These men are doctors, teachers, engineers, lawyers... We cannot ignore them, we have to work with them helping them to retain order and run the autonomy effectively. The situation being what it is withdrawal of international financial aid will be counterproductive. Ordinary Palestinians will take it as a challenge.
Question: How does Moscow expect to reconcile HAMAS and the West?
Andrei Denisov: We understand both parties and call for discretion on both sides. That's what the talks in Moscow will be about.
RVR
