Exclusive -- Putin Talks Sochi 2014

(ATR) Russian President Vladimir Putin spent 90 minutes with journalists on Friday to talk about the Sochi Olympics, now just two weeks away.

He downplays the cost of the Games and challenges critics to provide evidence regarding corruption charges. He spent nearly 20 minutes answering questions about the controversy over the country’s anti-gay propaganda law.

Putin says he wants security to be as unobtrusive as possible but says it is necessary to guard the games against the threat of terror. On more personal notes, he talks about expectations for the Russian hockey team at the Olympics and what these Games mean to Russia.

The rare and exclusive roundtable with Putin took place in Sochi on January 17. It included Around the Rings, BBC, ABC, CCTV, and two of Russia’s major TV networks. The Russian president reportedly has not granted interviews with foreign media in about three years. He was relaxed and dressed business casual as befitted the venue: the snow-covered Olympics biathlon center near Krasnaya Polyana in the mountains east of Sochi.

Under rules set by the president’s press office, no more than 90 seconds of his comments were to be used immediately after the roundtable. Those remarks on security and the importance of the Games to Russia were selected by the journalists following the event. As of noon Moscow time on January 19, the entire roundtable is embargo-free with a polished transcript of the simultaneous translation made available by Putin’s office.

The full transcript of the roundtable is available here in English and Russian.

Here are highlights of the day. Putin's quotes are in italics.

Cost of the Games

The roundtable launched with a question from Around the Rings on the cost of bringing the Winter Olympics to Sochi and whether the expense is worth it. Putin said costs are lower than the $50 billion estimate that’s been widely reported-- $6.9 billion is the figure he mentioned. And he says money spent is an investment in reaching some goals for the future of the southern region of Russia where Sochi is located.

"The first and the most important one was to develop the South of the country, and primarily its infrastructure. And – to my mind – we have made a real progress here since a completely new transport, energy and environment infrastructure has been set up. In terms of current emissions into atmosphere and those of 2007, today when the project is nearly over the amount of air pollutants is half its 2007 size. We have achieved that result due to the use of a more eco-friendly fuel in electric power sector, two new gas pipelines and eight or nine electrical substations, as well as a cleanup of two constantly fuming dumps in the area of big Sochi and a new transport infrastructure. All those measures helped to ease the environmental burden. Let’s admit that it is crucial for a resort.

"The second task we were focused on was to re-establish training bases for high-ranking athletes. After the collapse of the Soviet Union Russia lost nearly all its training facilities in regions of middle-altitude mountains. All of them are not ours anymore; they are either Georgian or Armenian, or Kazakhstani, I mean the Medeu skating rink. It is shameful and embarrassing but our ice skating professionals had to hold the Russian national championship in Berlin due to the lack of appropriate skating rinks. Then, we also lost all facilities related to ski jumping. Today we have built a few centers, some of them beyond Sochi. But two new Sochi ski jumps are totally unique in a technical sense; for purposes of Olympic training we have also constructed the most sophisticated ski jumps in some other regions.

"Finally, the third task was to create a new mountain cluster in order to transform this part of the Russian Federation into a resort which can be used in any season, in winter and in summer. I think that we have accomplished this task as well."

No-Pressure Security

President Putin acknowledges the threat of terrorism to the Olympics and says it cannot be ignored. Putin vows visitors will not feel under pressure nor will security dampen the mood.

"… (W)e will try to make sure that security measures do not seem an imposition, are not too conspicuous and do not put pressure on the athletes taking part in the Olympic Games and the guests and journalists present there. But at the same time we will do our best to make these measures effective.

Security is to be ensured by some 40 thousand law enforcement and special services officers. Of course, we will draw on the experience acquired during similar events in other regions of the world and in other countries. It means that we will protect our air and sea space, as well as the mountain cluster. I hope that it will be arranged so that it will not be evident and, as I have already said, will not, so to say, depress the participants in the Olympic Games."

Protests versus Propaganda

The Russian president says there is a difference between protests and propaganda in regards to how Russia may treat people, including athletes, who might want to speak out against the country’s so-called anti-gay propaganda law. And he says being gay in Russia is not against the law, as it is in 70 other nations.

"I would like to draw your attention to the fact, that in Russia, as opposed to one-third of the world’s countries, there is no criminal liability for homosexuality. Seventy countries of the world have criminal liability for homosexuality, and seven countries out of these 70 enforce death penalty for homosexuality. And what does that mean? Does it mean that we should cancel all major sport events in those countries? I guess not.

"The Soviet Union had criminal liability for homosexuality, today’s Russia doesn’t have such criminal liability. In our country, all people are absolutely equal regardless of their religion, sex, ethnicity, or sexual orientation. Everybody is equal. We have recently only passed a law prohibiting propaganda, and not of homosexuality only, but of homosexuality and child abuse, child sexual abuse. But this has nothing in common with persecuting individuals for their sexual orientation. And there is a world of difference between these things. So there is no danger for individuals of this non-traditional sexual orientation who are planning to come to the Games as guests or participants."

Corruption Charges Not Supported

Accusations that corruption has inflated the cost of the Games are not backed by evidence, says Putin. He says those who have proof should come forward. He dismissed reports that International Ski Federation president and IOC member Gian-Franco Kasper is alleging corruption in Sochi.

"First, the Swiss did not say that. Of course, we are not uninterested in what our partners say in the world, especially, on the Olympic movement. I have seen the verbatim report of his meeting with some journalists, your colleagues tried to drag him to this topic, and I understand journalists, it is their work – always drag out ‘hot’ topics. But the Swiss specialist, the President, as I understand, of the International Ski Federation, he did not say that, as it seemed to me in the report, this is the first.

"Second, if anyone has concrete data on instances of corruption related to the implementation of the Sochi Olympics Project, we ask to furnish us with objective data. We will be glad and grateful and we will use this information to put things right in this sphere.

"What are instances of corruption? In this case they mean theft of public funds with the help of state officials, in whose hands these funds fall. If anyone has such information, give these findings to us, please. I repeat once again, we will be grateful. But besides talks, no one furnishes us with anything."

Amnesties Not Tied to Games

Putin says the prominent amnesties handed down late last year are not linked to any effort on his part to improve the international image of Russia ahead of the Olympics. In fact, he says, the amnesties are the work of the Russian parliament and not him.

"We adopted the Amnesty Law not in connection with the Olympics, but in honor of the 20th Anniversary of the Russian Constitution. That is in the first place.

"In the second place, in accordance with our law the decision on the amnesty (is) not made by the President. It is an exclusive prerogative of the Parliament. It is not me who made the decision on the amnesty, but the Parliament. So I even ‘can not make a forced smile’.

"It is not my merit, but the merit of the deputies of the State Duma of the Russian Federation. But I certainly support this initiative and believe that it is correct. And in this connection I would like to note that we are probably record-holders as for the number of amnesties is concerned."

Going to the Games

While we will see a lot of Putin at the Sochi Olympics, he says he will have to balance being a spectator with his duties as president. He says he plans to see alpine skiing, figure skating, biathlon, and hockey. And he says he has high hopes for the Russian men’s ice hockey team, which has missed the podium for two consecutive Olympics.

"I should be honest; it does matter. Not for me personally, not to satisfy any ambition. Rather, it is important for the millions of our ice hockey fans. Ice hockey has traditionally been very popular in this country, and although it has been viewed as a Canadian sport, I believe it to be equally a Russian one. We are very grateful to Canadians for having invented this game, as well as to those who brought it to this country. It would be no exaggeration to say that ice hockey is loved by millions of people, with thousands of hundreds of people playing it and millions of people watching the matches.

"Certainly, ice hockey matches are always spectacular and memorable. I would like to stress that in ice hockey, just like in any other sport, we expect success and victory, yet what is most important is that excellence and character are demonstrated. It would be the main result that our sports and particularly ice hockey fans see that our athletes have made the best of their character, excellence and talent. Then nobody will reproach them for a failure to achieve a desired result."

The Meaning of Sochi to Russia

Speaking with pride and determination in his voice, Putin says the Sochi Olympics are part of the country’s emergence from the troubled time. He says the Games show Russia is a place with the capacity and skill to host major events.

"As you know, there is a strong connection between the Olympic Games, the progress in sport, and a successful development of a country in general, because great sport achievements are mostly a result of effective economic and social policies. Russia wanted to host the Olympic Games in 1994 and in early 2000s, but I believe it was obvious to both Russia and the International Olympic Committee that it was very hard for the country due to pure economic reasons.

"There is also a certain moral aspect here and there is no need to be ashamed of it. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, after the dark and, let us be honest, bloody events in the Caucasus, the society had a negative and pessimistic attitude. We have to pull ourselves together and realise that we can deliver large-scale projects on time and with high standards of quality, and by projects I mean not only stronger defence potential, but also developments in the humanitarian sphere, including in the sport of records.

"I believe that all this is a step in the right direction, as it strengthens the morale of the nation, as well as its social and health care sectors and creates conditions for future development."

Written and reported by Ed Hulain Sochi

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