Putin says he respects President Obama and is always open for contacts

MOSCOW, September 28. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin said in an interview with the U.S. mass media he respects President Barack Obama and is open for contacts.

"I repeat we have peer-to-peer interpersonal relationships, we respect each other in any case and we have business contacts at quite a good working level," Putin told U.S. TV anchorman Charlie Rose in an interview for the CBS and PBS channels. "And what do the American President, the French President, the German Chancellor, the Japanese Prime Minister or the Chinese Premier of the State Council or the Chinese President think, how do I know? We judge not by what seems to us, but by what people do."

When asked about his meeting with President Obama, the Russian leader noted that the matter was not in mutual willingness or unwillingness to meet. "Meetings of this kind are arranged in advance," he said. "I know that during such events every second, let alone minutes, of President Obama's day are scheduled, there are many delegations from all over the world."

"We are always open for contacts of any kind: at the highest level, at the level of ministries and agencies, at the level of special services, if necessary," Putin underscored.

He noted that such serious matters that concerned actions that may ultimately influence the world "can be finalised only at the top level between the presidents, but before that preparations are needed with preliminary consultations between foreign ministers, defence ministries, and special services."

"This means a lot of work and if this work is ready to be completed, then it makes sense to meet and complete it," the Russian president said. "If our colleagues have not approached the final stage, President Obama and I can meet, shake hands and discuss current issues, we - and I am personally - are always ready for such contacts."

Putin said he had exchanged telephone calls with his U.S. counterpart more than once "on various issues." Such calls, in his words, had been initiated both by himself and President Obama. "This is part of our regular contacts, there is nothing unusual or extraordinary about it," he noted.

According to the Russian leader, the United Nations platform "was created precisely for this, to seek compromise, to communicate with one another."

"What is most important is that Russia - the President of Russia, its Government and all my colleagues - we are ready for these contacts at the highest level, at the level of governments, ministries, agencies. We are ready to go as far as our American partners," Putin stressed.

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