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Russia to launch nuclear deterrence exercise: Putin

PLA Daily 2004-02-13

MOSCOW, Feb. 12 (Xinhua) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that Russia will hold a large-scale exercise for its nuclear deterrence forces soon.

Long-suspended for lack of funding, the exercise will not pose any threat to the world which "should see our military power as an element of strategic security," Putin said during a meeting with his campaign staff.

Putin said the current military-strategic balance of forces in the world "is maintained largely due to the power and level of development of Russia's strategic nuclear deterrence forces," Interfax news agency reported.

The nuclear force "is one of the key elements of our security" and the issue of nuclear security "has been and will always be in the focus of the attention of Russia's political leaders," Putin was quoted by Itar-Tass as saying.

Russia should "maintain our nuclear might, and we shall do it without fail," said Putin, adding that Russia had adopted a plan to develop its nuclear force before 2010.

Russia on Thursday kicked off its canvassing season for the upcoming presidential election on March 14.

The seven registered presidential candidates will enjoy free airtime on several Russian TV channels and radio stations during the one-month period. They are also entitled to additional paid-for airtime, according to Russian electoral law.

But candidate Ivan Rybkin, who reappeared Tuesday after going missing for five days, has said he might not enter the election contest, Interfax reported.

Rybkin, former head of the Security Council under ex-President Boris Yeltsin, said Thursday during a trip to London that he is still considering his position and may make a final decision before the end of the week.

Putin, widely tipped to beat his six other presidential rivals and win a second four-year term, met with his campaign representatives Thursday to brief them about the work he has done and future plans.

He said what was most notable over the past few years in Russia was that the country has attained financial independence and stabilization of the national currency.

The state leader also hailed the restoration of constitutional order in the country.

Putin promised to "increase people's quality of life" based on a powerful Russian economy and called law-enforcement departments to intensify anti-terrorist campaigns to protect people's rights and interests.

The president also urged the government to continue working to lay a legal and economic foundation for a "genuinely free and responsible media."

Putin repeated his opposition to the latest proposed constitutional amendment aimed at extending the presidential term from four years to seven years.