NOVO-OGAREVO, June 13, (RIA Novosti) - Vladimir Putin warned against using criticism of Russian democratic institutions for interfering in its internal affairs.
Putin said after talks with Blair that he knew about different opinions concerning the assertion of Russian democratic institutions.
"We know about criticism of events in Chechnya. The UK heard out such criticism with regard to Northern Ireland," Putin said.
"Russia, which reacts attentively to well-wishing criticism, objects to the use of such criticism for solving other countries' problems and for interfering in its affairs," Putin stressed.
"The CIS must be an area of cooperation, not rivalry. We must help CIS countries to solve economic problems and those of democracy," Putin noted.
"Russia considers the CIS situation to be important. Britain thinks the same with regard to Africa," he said.
"I hope my colleagues and I will continue to objectively assess the situation there," Putin said.
Moscow relations with some CIS countries are not easy. Nevertheless, some of them must be supported by the international community. Some of them rank among poorest countries in the world, he said.
Such countries as Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Georgia and Moldova are really in need of a support, he said.
