http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=11742475&PageNum=0
Itar-Tass
July 24, 2007
London’s suggestion is colonial thinking remnant –
Putin
ZAVIDOVO (Tver region) - President Vladimir Putin has
described as a colonial thinking remnant the British
suggestion that Russia should change the constitution
and extradite businessman Andrei Lugovoi, who is
suspected of killing former Federal Security Service
officer Alexander Litvinenko.
“What is the problem inflated by our British partners?
There was a tragedy, and Mr. Litvinenko died in
London. They have claims to one of our citizens,
Lugovoi, and want us to extradite him,” Putin told
representatives of youth movements on Tuesday.
“At the same time, 30 people wanted by Russian law
enforcement agencies on suspicion of serious and very
serious crimes are hiding in London. They never
planned to extradite those people. They had similar
problems, although of a lesser scale, with the United
States, France and other countries. They do not
transfer anywhere the people hiding on their
territory, including those suspected and charged with
terrorism,” Putin said.
“Meanwhile, they make some excessive claims to other
countries, including us. They are giving advice,
which, to my mind, is insulting to our people; they
are suggesting that we should change the
constitution,” Putin said.
“They should change their mentality, not our
constitution, because their suggestions are a remnant
of colonial thinking,” he said.
“They have forgotten that Britain is no longer a
colonial state. Thanks God, Russia has never been a
British colony. Such recommendations are
self-insulting, as they display the mentality of the
past century. One must respect partners, and partners
will have respect for one,” Putin said.
London calls Lugovoi the main suspect in the
Litvinenko case and demands his transfer. The Russian
Prosecutor General’s Office refers to the
constitution, which prohibits Russian authorities to
extradite Russian citizens, and says that materials
supplied from London are insufficient for bringing
charges against Lugovoi.
Serbian News Network - SNN
[email protected]
http://www.antic.org/
