Kremlin candidate offers cheap oil, more democracy
· Kasyanov is first to enter race for 2008 presidency
· Ex-PM makes right signals to Washington and Europe
Nick Paton Walsh in Moscow
Mikhail Kasyanov, who will contend the Russian presidency in 2008, yesterday vowed to cut
the price the west pays for Russian oil, adding he thought a "fair price" was as
little as $20 a barrel.
The former prime minister, sacked by Vladimir Putin in February last
year, is so far the only politician to say he will run in the 2008 presidential vote. Mr
Putin has said he will not change the constitution to stand for a third term and has yet
to name a preferred successor, creating a vacuum Mr Kasyanov has stepped up early to fill.
In his first interview with foreign media since announcing his
candidacy, Mr Kasyanov said he would use the huge surplus from high oil prices to improve
pipelines. He said: "Such projects would help lower the price of oil and gas on the
market." A "fair price", he said, is $20-$25 a barrel. The price is now
$63. "The world needs to think about alternative sources of energy, but use what we
have now."
Analysts may view the move as an appeal for support in Washington or
Brussels, whose economies are threatened by high oil prices. Western governments are also
concerned at growing authoritarianism and state control over the economy.
"Russia is a European state - an inseparable part of Europe,"
Mr Kasyanov said. "I believe in principles of human rights, democracy and a free
market economy." He said western countries were based on "these principles -
they are our friends" and that democratic liberals in Russia must unite around one
presidential candidate.
He said he left a brief spell in business to return to politics last
year because Russia's economic growth and political pluralism was shrinking fast: "If
you said this would be happening to me in spring last year, I would not believe you."
He said most Russians are "concerned by poverty. But they have to understand their
wealth in great measure depends on economic freedoms and democratic development".
He said his priorities included an independent judiciary and the
restoration of elections for regional governors, cancelled last year in favour of personal
appointments. He also said he would ensure that one nationwide TV channel was in private
hands. "This is very important in restoring real pluralism and could permit the
population, even if they vote in the wrong candidate, to change him four years
later."
He said corruption had become endemic in the past two years. "All
aspects of life are subject to corruption. Many businessmen have told me there used to be
some issues not affected by corruption but that now there is no decision [in government]
that you cannot get for money."
He did not accuse the Putin administration of fostering graft, only
that the fight against corruption is not a priority. Since he hinted at his political
ambitions, he has himself been hit by corruption claims, which he denies. "I have a
flat, a house for my family and some real estate for business purposes," he said.
The Guardian, October 19, 2005
http://www.guardian.co.uk/
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