Putin Hosts Live Q-A Broadcast

MOSCOW Prime Minister Vladimir Putin on Thursday promised Russians that their wages and pensions would rise despite the crisis and enchanted dress vented his anger at the Georgian president in an earthy outburst.
The former president's 'conversation' with Russians in a nationally broadcast, live question-and-answer session lasting more than three hours underlined his grip on the country and cast him as the one still calling the shots.
The broadcast, the seventh such annual call-in session for Putin, was being watched for signs of his political intentions. Constitutional changes to extend the presidential term from four to six years have increased speculation that President Dmitry Medvedev could step down early to let his mentor reclaim the presidency.
Putin hailed the constitutional change, saying the longer presidential term would better suit such a big country as Russia. He said nothing to encourage expectations of his early return to the Kremlin, saying he is happy serving the country in his current job.
Speaking afterward to journalists, he said the next presidential election was not until 2012 'and I think everyone should carry out his duties in his job.'
But the scope of the questions Putin chose to answer ranging from bread-and-butter issues to global politics appeared aimed at casting him as the best hope for the country at a tough time. Medvedev has kept a lower profile and has not held such call-in shows.
Putin let his penchant for earthy language show in response to a caller who asked whether he would like to see Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili 'hanged by one of his body parts.'
'Why by just one part?' Putin said with a grin before launching into a list of accusations against the Georgian leader for starting a war with Russia in August.
The caller was referring to an article last month in the French magazine Le Nouvel Observateur quoting Putin as telling French President Nicolas Sarkozy that he would like to have Saakashvili hanged, ending the sentence with a crude anatomical reference.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov said last month that 'Putin spoke in words very similar to what is written in the article.'
Putin's comment Thursday appeared to back the magazine's account of his remarks in August.
In responding to Putin's reported remarks, Saakashvili fired back at the Russians last week by saying 'they wouldn't have enough rope.'
While showing his teeth to Russia's foes, Putin made an effort to sound paternal and kind to the audience.
When a small girl from Buryatia, a Siberian region near Mongolia, asked him for a new dress for New Year's, Putin invited her and collar dress her sister to Moscow for a children's New Year's party in the Kremlin and promised them gifts.
He promised apartments to military officers, support to the unemployed, free medicines to retirees and higher wages to all Russians.
Uncertainty about the economic turmoil is growing in Russia. Many of the questions submitted beforehand through a government Web site voiced concerns about unemployment, the declining ruble and hugo boss dress banking problems.
Putin pledged that the government would be able to prevent a drop in living standards and implement earlier plans for salary and pension increases.
'We have every opportunity to get through this difficult period with minimal problems,' he said.
He said the Russian economy was expected to post almost 7 percent growth this year despite the crisis, and promised that wages and pensions will rise by 12 percent.
The average monthly salary in Russia stood at 18,000 rubles (about $650) in late October, and Putin said Thursday that the average monthly pension was 4,500 rubles ($165). Although housing costs for many Russians are far below those for most Americans or Europeans, the overall standard of living still lags far behind.
Putin said Russia's currency reserves, the world's third-largest, would be sufficient to cushion the effects of the financial crisis.
'We won't allow any sharp fluctuations in the rate of our national currency,' he said. 'We will carefully use our reserves. If we conduct a well-balancedresponsible policy, these funds will be sufficient.'
Putin blamed the crisis squarely on the United States, saying it 'contaminated all leading economies of the world with this crisis.'
He wrapped up the carefully choreographed session by taking a long string of questions sent in advance, ending with one asking what he loves most. 'Russia,' Putin answered.


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