MOSCOW, October 31 (RIA Novosti) - President Vladimir Putin gave a wide-ranging interview to the Dutch television channel Nederland 1 and the German financial newspaper NRC Handelsblatt Monday on the eve of his state visit to the Netherlands.
Putin said Russia is a very promising partner for Europe and that it and Europe should cooperate closely, but "what forms this integration takes will depend on future generations."
When asked whether Russia would be interested in joining the European Union, Putin said, "if you invite us, we'll think about it. Thank you very much, I'm glad to hear this question.... I would be happy if this happened."
However, the president said it would be inappropriate for Russia to approach the EU with such a request.
Putin also urged the world community to strip terrorists of all support and prevent the spread of terrorism around the world and spoke against any attempts to enter negotiations with terrorists and offer them political asylum in exchange for their mercy.
"Any attention to them [terrorists] on the part of the media, any double-standard interpretation of their motives and results of their activity means nothing but the political and administrative support of terrorist actions," Putin said.
Putin also said he did not have the intention, or the possibility, of controlling the Russian media.
"The most important thing is for us to provide economic independence among the media, so that they do not serve economic groups or oligarchs, but work in the interests of society," he said.
He did however say Russia has significant problems with freedom of speech and that the country's rank of 138th in the Reporters Without Borders World Press Freedom ranking should be noted.
Putin also noted that manufacturing industries, rather than high oil prices, are the driving force behind Russia's economic growth these days.
"We've had our economy grow dramatically in the past five years. [The annual growth rate] is about 7%. This is in no small measure due to the favorable situation on foreign markets. In recent years, we've been getting a substantial contribution from manufacturing sectors."
Speaking about the stir that former Yukos head Mikhail Khodorkovsky's case caused in the world media, the president said, "if you managed to make a fortune worth billions of dollars in five to six years, I assure you that you would cause any stir protecting your interests in Europe and the world."
He said Khodorkovsky had caused damage to Russian citizens, his foreign partners and investors and that the oil tycoon's actions had boosted corruption.
Putin refused to reveal what he intended to do when his second presidential term expires in 2008. He said he though it was not a good omen to speak about the future.
He also proposed studying the Netherlands' liberal experience, including the legalization of euthanasia and marijuana in order to decide the proper course for Russia adding that each country should proceed from its traditions and cultural features.
