No more wars, cold or real one, vows Putin

(L to R) Chinese President Hu Jintao, Ludmila Putin, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Luxemburg Prime Minister Jean-Claude Juncker, US President George W. Bush, his wife Laure, Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Sing and other heads of state walk to the place for a family picture after a joint wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldiers on Monday near the Kremlin in Moscow, during the celebrations marking the 60th anniversary of the Allied victory over Nazi Germany in WW II. Nearly 60 heads of state and government and other leading international dignitaries took part in the festivities in Moscow. PHOTO: AFP

In a keynote speech at a Red Square parade attended by over 50 leaders including US President George W. Bush, he recalled the horrors of the 1939-45 conflict.

Putin, who has been criticised by some in the West notably over Russia's human rights record in tackling "terrorists" in Chechyna, said the modern world faces new threats which require a joint international stand.

"It is our duty to defend a world order based on security and justice and on a new culture of relations among nations that will not allow a repeat of any war, neither 'cold' nor 'hot'."

United Nations Secretary Gen-eral Kofi Annan and Chinese President Hu Jintao were also among the leaders and other international dignitaries in Russia for the events, which took place amid massive security efforts.

But while the official programme centred on the Allied victory 60 years ago, the run-up to the celebration was marred by bitter debate over what happened in the subsequent decades until the Soviet breakup in 1991.

In Monday's address, Putin hailed reconciliation between Russia and Germany as "one of the most important post-war achievements" in Europe. German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder was also among participants at the parade.

The tension between Moscow and some Western capitals has been fuelled notably by concern over Russia's commitment to democratic standards and support for rights including for example media freedom.

President Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin aired their differences on democracy and Moscow's ties with its neighbours on Sunday but top aides insisted the talks were amicable and open.

The two presidents met for over an hour at Putin's country house west of Moscow then dined, as the Russian leader prepared to play host on Monday to dozens of world dignitaries at a parade on the 60th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany.

Earlier Putin said in a taped interview with the US network CBS the United States should examine its own democratic shortcomings before criticising Moscow.

"In Russia, the president is elected through the direct vote of the whole population. That might be even more democratic," said Putin in an interview broadcast late Sunday on CBS' "60 Minutes" programme.

By contrast, in the United States, voters cast their ballots to "elect the electors and then they vote for the presidential candidates."