Commenting on the situation around Russia’s largest oil company YUKOS, Mr. Putin said that there would be no de-privatisation or revision of privatisation results. He said the final decision on the YUKOS case could only be made by court. The Russian President stressed that one and all should learn the skill of living by the law and observing the law of the country. There should be a clear understanding that all citizens should observe the law at all times, and not only when taken by the throat, he stressed.

Mr. Putin admitted that the YUKOS affair had prompted the latest reshuffle in the Presidential Administration. “The situation we are talking about, became kind of catalyst for the solution of these staff questions,” he said.

Commenting on the resignation of his chief of staff Alexander Voloshin last week, Mr. Putin said that “this would happen sooner or later”. Mr. Voloshin, who was appointed to this position by Boris Yeltsin, “is a good manager and a very decent man”, Vladimir Putin said, “but as far back as four years ago, I introduced a person to him who was to replace him in this position. He knew it and, in fact, he himself prepared that man to replace him.”

On Iraq, Mr. Putin said Russia was not considering the possibility of sending its troops to this country. He noted that Russia had been against a military operation in Iraq from the beginning, and it would be incorrect to send troops to Iraq at this point. The Russian leader also expressed condolences for the American soldiers who have been killed in Iraq recently.

Speaking about nuclear security issues, Mr. Putin said that all nuclear nations were enhancing their potential, and Russia would do the same. At the same time, he remarked that “the international law has established clear criteria for the possibility of using force”. According to the President, force can only be use with the sanction of the UN Security Council.

Mr. Putin also addressed religious issues. When asked about the possibility of Pope John Paul II’s visit to Russia, he said that one of his main goals was to help organize this visit and contribute to the unification of the Christian world. Mr. Putin stressed that the unification of European Christians was important for Russia, as it would help “preserve the Christian culture, identity and faith”.

The Russian President stressed that Italy would remain a privileged partner for Russia, both in economic and political terms. He added that Russia saw the European Union as its largest economic and political partner.