Part 2 -- FULL TRANSCRIPT
00:00
Charlie Rose: President Vladimir Putin of Russia. It took place on September 20th in Moscow. We talked of many things. He gave us an opportunity to have an engaging conversation about him and how he sees Russia and Russia's role in the world. He also gave us an opportunity to have a further conversationafter the interview when he invited us in for appetizers which turned into dinner. And there was a further consideration of all the topics we've been talking about. But now the conversation followed by an analysis of his visit to the United States. Are people in Russia fearful of you?
00:52
Vladimir Putin: I think not. I perceive from the facts that most people trust me if they vote for me at the election, and this is the most important thing. It places enormous responsibility on me -- colossal. And I'm grateful to people for this trust, but, at the same time, I feel this huge burden of responsibility for doing what I do and for the results of my work.
01:24
Charlie Rose: Well, as you know, in America -- you're much talked about in America. There is much conversation, more so than any --
01:37
Vladimir Putin: Maybe they have nothing else to do in Americabut to talk about me.
01:44
Charlie Rose: No, no, no. Or maybe they're curious people. Or maybe you're an interesting character, maybe that's what it is.But they see, first of all, a strong leader who presents himself in a strong way. They know of a former KGB agent who came back and got into politics in St. Petersburg, and became deputy mayor and then came to Moscow. And the interesting thing is they see these images of you bare-chested on a horse.And they say, there is a man who carefully cultivates his imageof strength. I'm asking --
02:36
Vladimir Putin: You know, I'm convinced that a person whooccupies my post must provide a positive example to people, and those areas where he can do this, he's obligated to do this.In our country in the 1990s and early 2000s, we had a verysevere situation with the social sphere. The security system was destroyed, a lot of problems emerged that we still to this day cannot effectively resolve fully in the sphere of healthcare, in the development of sports. And I think that a healthy lifestyle is extremely important. And it's the foundation of the resolution of many crucial problems including the health of the nation. It's impossible to solve the healthcare problems of millions of people only by using pills. People need to have the habits or passion or there even has to be a fashion of healthy lifestyle, sports. So I believe that this is the right thing when, not only I but other colleagues like heads of government, ministries and legislators of the state Duma when, as today, for example, they participate in the two distance marathon races, when they attend soccer matches, when they participate in sports competitions themselves. So this is, well, including from -- this is where the love of millions of people of sports comes from. I think it's extremely important.
04:35
Charlie Rose: May I suggest -- I hear you and that is important -- but may I suggest, also, you do like the image that youpresent, bare-chested on horseback as a strong leader. That's who you want to be seen as for your people and for the world.
04:58
Vladimir Putin: I want everybody to know that Russia as a whole and the leadership of Russia in particular are somethingeffective and properly functioning. That altogether, Russia, both the country itself and these institutions, its leaders are healthy people, competent people who are ready to cooperate with our partners wherever they are, whether in the field of sports, politics or cooperation in the fight against these threats. I think that there is only positive in this.
05:31
Charlie Rose: Well, it's appropriate to believe that you would believe in a strong leader because you believe in a strong central government and you suggested what happens whenyou don't have that. Are you curious about America? More than simply another nation that you have to deal with? Because they're curious about you as I suggested. Are you curious? Are you watching the Republican political debates?
05:51
Vladimir Putin: Well, I wouldn't say I watch them daily, no. But, of course, we're curious about what's going on in the U.S. It's a major world power, an economic and military leader, so, of course, America exerts great influence on the situation in the world in general. And, of course, we're interested in what's going on. And we keep a close watch. But I don't watch the internal political saga on an everyday basis. I would say, more likely, no.
06:14
Charlie Rose: Yes. Because if you watch that, I mean Donald Trump says -- you know who he is -- he said he would like to meet you because he thinks the two of you would get along.Donald Trump.
06:24
Vladimir Putin: Yes, I heard that. I heard that. Well, we'll be glad to have any contact with the next president of the United States, any person who gains the trust of the American people can count on the fact that we will work with him.
06:47
Charlie Rose: Marco Rubio is running for the Republicannomination and he said some terrible things about you, youknow -- this is political debate and in a political campaign -- understand. He said that you were like a gangster. He was attacking you because he wanted to have -- and attacking Russia.
07:17
Vladimir Putin: How can I be a gangster if I work for the KGB?That simply has no basis in reality.
07:23
Charlie Rose: What do you admire most about America?
07:25
Vladimir Putin: I like the creativity.
07:27
Charlie Rose: Creativity.
07:30
Vladimir Putin: Creativity when it comes to your tackling problems. Their openness because it allows them to unleash the inner potential of their people and, thanks to that, America has obtained such great results in developing their country.
07:49
Charlie Rose: Russia had Sputnik. You were there before the United States. Russia has extraordinary astrophysicists.Russia has extraordinary leaders in medicine and in science and in physics. I mean do you hope that what you can do is restore that leadership and create the same kind of innovation that you just admired America for? And how will you do that?
08:27
Vladimir Putin: We shouldn't lose what was created in theprevious decades and we should create the very conditions forshowing the potential of our people because we're a verytalented people. We have a very good basis which you mentioned. You said that you love Russian culture. I think that's a great basis for internal development. You've just mentioned our achievements in science and many other areas. We must support that. We must create conditions for people to develop freely, for them to feel confident that they're able to realize their potential. And I'm confident that we will have an effect on the consistent development of science, of high-techtechnologies and of the economy and the country overall.
09:24
Charlie Rose: In America, the Supreme Court -- as you know,there's been some controversy here about gay rights -- inAmerica the Supreme Court declared it a constitutional right for same-sex marriage. Do you applaud America and the Supreme Court for doing that? Do you think that's a good idea to make it a constitutional right for same-sex marriage?
09:45
Vladimir Putin: Well, you know, I think that's not a homogeneous group of people. Some representatives of the non-traditional sexual orientation, for example, speak out against the adoption of children by such couples. They themselves are against it. So do you think these people are less democratic than other representatives of this community, this gay community who support child adoption by gay couples? Most likely not but that's simply their take on the issue. The problem of sexual minorities in Russia has been deliberately exaggerated from the outside for political reasons.I believe without any good reason. We don't have any such problem.
10:39
Charlie Rose: OK. Help us understand.
10:46
Vladimir Putin: Well, I'll explain it for you. It's well known that, in four states in America, homosexual orientation is a crime.Whether that's good or bad isn't the issue. We know there is a ruling of the Supreme Court, but this problem did not disappear. It's not completely removed from American legislation. But we don't have that.
11:11
Charlie Rose: So you would condemn that?
11:14
Vladimir Putin: Yes, I condemn that. I believe that there should not be any criminal prosecution or any other prosecution or infringement of people's rights on the basis of their race, ethnicity, religious or sexual orientation. That should be excluded in the modern world. We don't have that. If my memory doesn't fail me, we had Article 120 of the CriminalCode of the RSFSR which had prosecutions on the basis of homosexuality. We've abolished all of that. We have no persecution at all. People of non-traditional sexual orientation live in peace. They work, they get promoted, they get state awards for their achievements in science and the arts and other areas. They receive medals. I personally have awarded them medals. But this is what the question was, a ban on propaganda of homosexuality among minors. I don't see anything undemocratic in this legal act. I only perceive from the fact that we should leave children in peace. We should give them a chance to grow, tow realize who they are and to decide for themselves who is this person, what does he consider himself to be, a man or woman? Do they want to live in a normal, natural marriage or a non- traditional one? That's all.We simply don't observe here any infringement of the rights ofpeople of non-traditional sexual orientation. I believe this has been a deliberate exaggeration with the purpose of making a group of people from Russia for the purpose of making an enemy of Russia, for political consideration. I believe this is one of the lines of attack against Russia.
12:54
Charlie Rose: From where?
12:56
Vladimir Putin: From the side of those who do that. Look and see who does this.
13:00
Charlie Rose: You're saying that as far as you're concerned,there is as much recognition for gay rights and gay marriage as there is in the United States? That's your position?
13:09
Vladimir Putin: We do not only recognize but we ensure their rights. In Russia, equal rights are guaranteed for everyone,including for people of non-traditional sexual orientation.
13:19
Charlie Rose: Ukraine. You and I have talked about Ukraine before. Many believe that, as a result of what happened in Ukraine and Crimea, the United States and the West imposed sanctions, and those sanctions have hurt Russia. And that you believe by reemerging and in trying to be a positive force around the world and in Syria, that it might somehow lessen the focus on Ukraine.
13:36
Vladimir Putin: So do you mean that will help somehow distractattention from the Ukrainian crisis?
13:40
Charlie Rose: Yes.
13:42
Vladimir Putin: Our actions in Syria are aimed at distracting? Is that what you mean? No. Ukraine is a separate and major issue for us. Syria is a different issue, and I told you why.
13:52
Charlie Rose: Right, right.
13:54
Vladimir Putin: We don't want the disintegration of Syria. We don't want the return of terrorists and of those who engage in warfare coming back to Russia. So there is a whole complexity of problems. When it comes to Ukraine, that's a separate issue; it's our closest neighbor. We've always said it's our brother country. It's not only the Slavs -- our languages are similar. We have common history, common culture, common religion andmany things in common. What I believe is absolutely inadmissible is the resolution of internal political issues in the former USSR republics through color revolutions, through coup d'etat, through unconstitutional removal of power. That is totally unacceptable. Our partners in the United States supported those who ousted Yanukovych.
16:13
Charlie Rose: You believe that the United States had somethingto do with the ousting of Yanukovych and he had to flee to Russia?
16:22
Vladimir Putin: How do I know that for sure? I know those people who live in Ukraine. We have thousands of contacts with them. We know where and when and who met with someone and who worked with those who ousted Yanukovych.How they were supported, how much they were paid, how theywere trained, where, in which countries and who thoseinstructors were. We know everything, and our American partners don't try to conceal that anyway. They said, yes, well, we did. We did train them, and we spent that much money, and now it amounts to $5 billion. So --
16:53
Charlie Rose: Yes, but I mean you're suggesting that --
16:56
Vladimir Putin: Nobody's even arguing against that.
16:58
Charlie Rose: You respect the sovereignty of Ukraine?
17:00
Vladimir Putin: Sure, but we want other countries to respectthe sovereignty of other countries and Ukraine in particular.Respect for sovereignty means to not allow unconstitutionalaction and coup d'etat, the removal of legitimate power.
17:22
Charlie Rose: How will the renewal of legitimate power takeplace in your judgment? How will that come about and what role will Russia play?
17:40
Vladimir Putin: Russia has not taken part and is not going totake part in any actions aimed at removing the legitimate government. What I'm saying is that somebody does that, the result is very difficult to deal with. In Libya, we've seen the disintegration of the state. In Iraq we've seen th territory has been filled with terrorists. In Syria the situation is unfolding the same way. In Afghanistan, you very well know what thesituation looks like. What happened in Ukraine? The coup d'etat led to a civil war. Many citizens of Ukraine did not have trust in Yanukovych, that's true. But they should have gone to the elections and elected a new leader not commit the removal of power. But after the coup d'etat somebody supported that,somebody liked it but somebody did not and those who did notlike it were treated with (INAUDIBLE) force.
18:26
Charlie Rose: I repeat -- what are you prepared to do?
18:28
Vladimir Putin: Let me tell you. If your question is about that I believe Russia and other international actors, those who are more actively engaged in the resolution of the Ukrainian crisis, I mean Germany and France, the so-called Normandy Four, of course with the active engagement of the United States. And in that direction we have intensified our dialogue in this sphere.We all should strive for full and unconditional implementationof the Minsk Agreements. The Minsk Agreements must be fulfilled.
18:51
Charlie Rose: But that's exactly what John Kerry said yesterdaycoming out of a meeting with the British foreign minister. He mentioned after Syria, Ukraine. And he said, we have to have a full implementation of the Minsk Agreements. So you and John Kerry are just like this? You agree -- implement the Minsk Agreements.
19:16
Vladimir Putin: In full. In full. Could you please have enough patience and not interrupt me for two minutes? Can I ask you to please present this without cuts? Can you do this? Do you have enough power to do this, to present it without cuts?
20:01
Charlie Rose: Yes.
20:11
Vladimir Putin: The implementation of the Minsk Agreements means there are several articles, but I'll speak about the main point so that the situation in Ukraine changes fundamentally.There should be political reform. That's first. There should be constitutional changes. That's what's set forth in the Minsk Agreements. Then most important, the Minsk Agreements states this should be done in coordination with Donetsk and Luhansk. And that is a matter of principle. Ukraine -- there are reforms introduced in the constitution in the first lead (ph). But there's been no coordination with Luhansk and Donetsk at all.And no one even intends to coordinate anything with them.That's point one. Point two: it stated in the Minsk Agreements that there should be the implementation of the law. The law was already passed in Ukraine of the special self-governing status of those territories. They've adopted this law; itsimplementation has been postponed. That means that the Minsk Agreements are not fulfilled on this point. And third, there should have been the amnesty law. How can one engage in a dialogue with people from Donbass and Luhansk and Donetsk if they're all being prosecuted, they're all being brought legal charges against them? That's why the Minsk Agreements say that a law on amnesty must be adopted, but it's not been adopted. And there are other points as well. For example, conducting local elections. It's been written in the Minsk Agreements to adopt a law on local elections upon coordination with Donetsk and Luhansk. Ukraine has adopted the law on local elections. The representatives of Donetsk and Luhansk sent their proposals on this law three times but nobody will even talk to them. The Minsk Agreements say with coordination with Donetsk and Luhansk. That's why I respect and love Mr. Kerry. He is an extremely experienced diplomat, very experienced diplomat. He told me that he was against Star Wars back in the past and it was the right thing to do because maybe if he was the one who adopted decisions on ABM he probably wouldn't have any conflicts on ABM right now. But if one side says we've done this, that and that; we'vecomplied with the Minsk Agreements -- that's not truebecause all these points must be implemented in coordinationwith Donetsk and Luhansk. There has been no coordination so far. As for the implementation of the already adopted law on the special self- governance of these territories, the MinskAgreements say within 30 days nothing has been done yet. It's been postponed. The entering into the force of this law has been postponed. That's why we advocate the full and unconditional implementation of the Minsk Agreements by both sides, not as interpreted by one of the sides but as it's written down in the Minsk Agreements.
24:10
Charlie Rose: You really believe that?
24:13
Vladimir Putin: There is nothing to believe, actually. It's written on paper. You just need to read it. It's written in coordination with Donetsk and Luhansk. Read the document for yourself and I'm telling you there has been no coordination at all. It was written to adopt the law on the special status within 30 days but the law has not been enforced. So who's not implementing the Minsk Agreements?
24:42
Charlie Rose: You've mentioned the Secretary of State. He also said that it's important not only to implement the Minsk Agreement but also for separatists to give up the idea of independent elections. John Kerry said that yesterday.
24:55
Vladimir Putin: Well, yes, I know the position of our U.S. friends and here's what I want to say in this regard. I just mentioned this. I see I'm forced to repeat it. The Minsk Agreements say that a law on local elections must be passed in coordination with do Donetsk and Luhansk. So what happens in reality? The Kiev authorities did adopt the law on their own without any coordination or negotiations with Donetsk and Luhansk inspite of the fact that Donetsk and Luhansk sent their draftthree times. There was no dialogue at all. They've adopted this on their own without any consultation. Moreover, the law that was adopted by Kiev says that in these territories there will not be elections at all. How are we to understand this? In fact, they themselves have provoked the representative of Donetsk and Luhansk to schedule their own elections. That's all there is to it.
25:59
Charlie Rose: OK.
26:02
Vladimir Putin: So we're ready together with Mr. erry to discuss all of this but we need to prod both sides to implement where they put their signatures to rather than to pass off assomething good what they've done on their own initiative.
26:15
Charlie Rose: I hear you but I wanted to repeat that becauseSecretary Kerry emphasized separatist elections. I did hear you. Here is what I think.
26:25
Vladimir Putin: Well, he's being cunning. As Secretary of State and as a diplomat he's being cunning. It's quite normal for his profession and for his work. All diplomats are quite cunning. So is he.
26:37
Charlie Rose: You would never do that, would you?
26:40
Vladimir Putin: No, I would never do that. I'm not a diplomat.
26:43
Charlie Rose: What are you? How do you see yourself?
26:47
Vladimir Putin: I'm a human being. I'm a citizen of the Russian Federation. I'm a Russian.
26:54
Charlie Rose: You also have said that the worst thing thathappened last century was the collapse of the Soviet Empire.There are those who look at Ukraine, especially Ukraine andGeorgia, and they believe that you do not want to recreate theSoviet Empire, but you do want to recreate a sphere ofinfluence which you think Russia deserves because of therelationship that has existed. Why are you smiling? Why?
27:28
Vladimir Putin: You're making me happy because we're alwayssuspected of some ambition, and they always try to distortsomething or hint at something. I indeed said that I believe that the collapse of the USSR was a huge tragedy of the 20th century. You know why?
27:47
Charlie Rose: Why?
27:50
Vladimir Putin: Because, first of all, in a single instant, 25million Russian people found themselves beyond the borders of the Russian Federation. Here they have been living within the borders of a unified state and always, traditionally, the Soviet Union had been called Russia, Soviet Russia. Well, this was Greater Russia. Then all of a sudden the USSR collapsed, just overnight, in fact -- right? And it's turned out that, in former Soviet republics, there were people, Russian people numbering 25 million. They had been living in a single country and, all of a sudden, we turned out to be abroad. You can imagine how many problems arose. First of all, there were everyday problems, economic problems, social problems, the separation of families -- you can't list them all. Do you think it's normal that 25 million people, Russian people wound up abroad all of a sudden? Russia has turned out to be the largest divided nation in the world today. Is that not a problem? Well, not for you, but it's a problem for me.
29:07
Charlie Rose: And what do you intend to do about it?
29:11
Vladimir Putin: What we want to do is use modern civilizedprocesses to preserve at least, at a minimum, the commonhumanitarian space to make it so that these state borders donot get in the way so that people can communicate freelyamong themselves so that we can develop our economies jointly. We want to take advantage of those benefits of the former USSR that we've inherited. What are these benefits?Joint infrastructure, a unified railroad system, a unifiedhighway system, a unified energy system and, finally, if I daresay it, the great Russian language which unites all former republics of the Soviet Union and which gives us evidence (INAUDIBLE) advantages when promoting integration projects in the territory of the post-Soviet space. You've probably heard that we first established the Customs Union and then we've transformed it into the Eurasian Economic Union. So when people can communicate freely and move freely, whenworkforces, goods, services and capital move freely, there areno state lines when we have our common rules and legalregulation in the social sphere, for example. Then this is quite enough. People must feel free.
30:35
Charlie Rose: But do you have to use and show military force toaccomplish that objective?
30:44
Vladimir Putin: No, of course not.
30:47
Charlie Rose: You have a military presence on the border of Ukraine and some even argue that there have been Russiantroops in Ukraine.
30:56
Vladimir Putin: Well, you have a military presence in Europe.
30:58
Charlie Rose: Yes.
31:01
Vladimir Putin: The tactical nuclear weapons of the UnitedStates are in Europe. Let's not forget that. What does that mean? Does it mean that you've occupied Germany or that yourenounced the occupation of Germany after World War II andthen you have only transformed the occupation forces into NATO forces? One could put it that way, but we're not putting it that way. And if we have our military forces on our border, on our territory, on the border with some state, you believe this isa crime?
31:38
Charlie Rose: I didn't say a crime.
31:42
Vladimir Putin: Well, in order to run these activities that I've told you about -- this economic, humanitarian and social integration -- military force would not be needed at all. We've built our Customs Union, the Eurasian Economic Union not with force but through seeking a compromise. This is a complicated process -- a difficult, long-standing process through negotiations and through the search for a compromise on mutually beneficial and acceptable conditions, with the exception that we would create for our people and for our economies more effective advantages in world markets and in the international arena in general.
32:23
Charlie Rose: So while we're talking about this, tell me about the Baltic States and your intentions towards the Baltic States.
32:29
Vladimir Putin: Well, we would like to build friendly relationswith them. There are a lot of Russian people living there who remained after the Soviet Union. They're violated there. Their rights have been violated. You know that in many Baltic States, they have invented some new thing, an international law. This has been the case up until now regarding citizenship. A citizen, foreigner, person without citizenship and dual nationals -- that is people with dual citizenship. The Baltic States have invented something totally new. Do you know what they call them? They call them non-citizens. They call people who have been living for decades in the territory of the Baltic States and who have been deprived of a whole number of political rights -- they cannot take part in elections. Their political and social rights are restricted, and everyone keeps silent about this as if this is the way it's supposed to be. And of course, this cannot help but provoke an appropriate response. But I perceive from the fact that our colleagues both in the U.S. and the European Union will base on today's principles of humanitarian law and will proceed from modern principles of humanitarian law and will ensure the political liberties and rights for all people, including for those people who are living in the territory of Baltic States after the collapse of the USSR. But when it comes to economic ties, we have stable, very developed contracts with these countries, you know. But there are some things -- how can I put this more delicately -- that bother me and make me sad. We're all talking about the need to have a rapprochement, to bring our positions closer, about the need to integrate economically, politically. So as for the Baltic States, we had a single energy system. The Baltic States were naturally part of this common power system of the Soviet Union. Now what are they doing? Everyone's talking about rapprochement, Russia and the European Union. What actually happens in practice now is that they plan to remove the Baltic States from this unified energy system of the former Soviet Union and hook them up to the European system. So what does that mean for us in practice? It means that among some of our regions in the Russian Federation, there will be some zones where there will be no electric power line because before, it went through the Baltic countries. And so it means that, once again, spending billions of U.S. dollars, this system must be built from scratch just as our European partners will have to spend billions of dollars to hook up the Baltic States to their energy grid. Why? Why when we're striving for some sort of joint work and integration, not in words but in practice, why do this? And this is what's happening along many lines. They say one thing, but they do something quite different. I think that this all comes from growing pains, and I believe that common sense will finally prevail, if not here, on other issues.We're all interested in developing openly without any prejudice.The Baltic states above all and, for them, this is moreimportant for them than Russia itself. Take one of the countries, Lithuania, for instance, in the Soviet era. Do you know what the population was? 3.4 million people; and now, I checked the latest references, 1.4 million. Where did the people go? In that country, yes, over half the citizens left the country. Can you imagine what would happen if half the American population left the U.S.? It would be a disaster. What does that tell us? That tells us that the links that were lost above all in the economy have a negative impact on them and on Russia as well. That's why I'm deeply convinced that we should abandon the phobias of the past, we should look ahead and act based on the international law to build good, neighborly relations on an equal footing.
37:40
Charlie Rose: And eliminate sanctions?
37:43
Vladimir Putin: Well, if someone likes to work so much throughusing sanctions, go ahead, you can do that but it's harmful. It goes against international law, as I've mentioned first of all.Secondly, tell me where the policy of imposing sanctions hasbeen effective? Nowhere -- especially with regard to a country like Russia.
38:01
Charlie Rose: Even your friends worry about the Russian economy because of sanctions first but also declining oilprices, you know. Is that a huge challenge for you? Is that a troubling, global economic reality?
38:20
Vladimir Putin: You know, as I said, sanctions are illegal actions which violate the principles of the world economy, the principles of the WTO, the United Nations, because sanctions can be introduced only by the decision of the U.N. Security Council because, unilaterally, that is a violation of international law. Well, let's leave it aside. Of course, sanctions are harmful.But they're not the main reason for the slump in the growth ofthe Russian economy or other problems related to inflation.The main reason for us, really, is the drop in prices on the world market for our traditional export commodities such as oil and gas and some other goods. When it comes to sanctions, they add to the negative side. They do have an influence one way or another although they don't have a capital fundamental importance for our economy.
39:23
Charlie Rose: You can survive sanctions?
39:27
Vladimir Putin: Well, that goes without saying. No doubt. It's beyond discussion. There is even a certain positive side to it.Do you know what the advantage is? It's many things, especially when it comes to high technologies. We used to prefer to buy them, to use our petro dollars. But now, since these sanctions are imposed, we either can't buy these technologies or we fear that something may be closed off to us and now we're forced to introduce entire programs fordeveloping our own high-tech economy in industry,manufacturing and science. And that's, in fact, something we would have to do, anyway, but it was difficult for us before because our own domestic markets were flooded with foreign goods. So in the WTO, it was difficult to support our local manufacturers. But now that the sanctions have been imposed, our partners have voluntarily left our market. Now we have a chance for developments.
40:39
Charlie Rose: Let me have two more questions.
40:42
Vladimir Putin: Of course, you have the floor.
40:46
Charlie Rose: You have been president, prime minister, president. How long do you want to serve and what do youwant to be your legacy? One question.
41:02
Vladimir Putin: Well, how long? That depends on two things.First of all, unquestionably, there are regulations provided for by the constitution, and they will never be violated by me for certain. But I'm not sure I should fully exercise all theseconstitutional rights. That will depend on the specific situation in the country and the world -- well, on my own sentiments about it.
41:32
Charlie Rose: And what do you want your legacy to be?
41:36
Vladimir Putin: That Russia should be effective, competitive, should have a sustainable economy with a developed social and political system that is flexible both in regard to changes within and around the country.
41:49
Charlie Rose: And should play a major role in the world that it lives?
41:59
Vladimir Putin: It should be competitive, as I said, and should be in a position to defend its own interests and to influence those processes which are significant to it.
42:11
Charlie Rose: Many say you're all-powerful here in Russia.Many say you're all-powerful. They believe that you can have anything you want, anything. What do you want? Tell America, tell the world what Vladimir Putin wants.
42:30
Vladimir Putin: I want for Russia to be as I just described it.That's really my main desire. I want people to be happy and that our partners all over the world would want to and would strive to develop relations with Russia.
42:51
Charlie Rose: Thank you.