Russian President pours fresh scorn on turkey for downing Russian jet

Russian President Vladimir Putin has opened his annual news conference, one of the keynote events of the Russian political year. 

His 11th appearance to date comes in a year which saw post-Soviet Russia launch its first war outside Europe, with its intervention in Syria.

Low oil prices and Western sanctions over Ukraine have hit the economy.But foreign debt is low and the private sector is proving resourceful.

Critics say civil liberties have been steadily eroded under Mr Putin, who is now in his third term as President since 2000.

He remains one of the world's most recognizable politicians, and has topped the list of The World's Most Powerful People compiled by Forbes magazine for the third year running.

On other issues raised at the news conference, President Putin praised Sepp Blatter and suggested the suspended head of Fifa should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

He said Russia was against doping as it "destroyed the principle of competitive sport", and anyone found guilty should be punished.

Denied Russian regular troops were deployed in rebel-held eastern Ukraine but said there could be "people there who were carrying out certain tasks including in the military sphere"

Brushed aside media reports about one of his daughters, saying both lived in Russia and were "not involved in politics or business".

Predicted economic growth in Russia the new year of 0.7%, rising to 1.9% in 2017 and 2.4% in 2018, based on oil at $50 a barrel.

Russia deployed its air force to Syria in September in support of President Bashar al-Assad and has been carrying out air strikes on his opponents.

Its intervention has been heavily criticised by Turkey, the US and Gulf Arab states.

Mr Putin said the downing of the Russian jet by Turkish warplanes on the Syria-Turkey border was a "hostile act" but Russia was "not the country" to run away.

He said he saw "no prospect" of ties improving with Turkey which Russia has put under sanctions - under its current leaders.

There was, he said, a "creeping Islamisation of Turkey that would have Ataturk rolling in his grave".

The remark appeared to be aimed at President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, whose AKP party, with its Islamist roots, has been accused of seeking to dismantle the secular state founded by Kemal Ataturk.

Mr Putin said Turkish officials should have picked up the phone to talk to Russia about their concerns that air strikes in Syria were hitting Turkmen rebels.

Mr Putin insisted his country's economy was recovering.

While oil prices had fallen sharply, he said, manufacturing had shown slight growth and there was a healthy trade balance in agriculture.

"Our economy depends on oil and gas prices, we expected Brent to be worth $100 per barrel, but then it was $50, but this was an optimistic prediction too, our forecasts have to be amended again," Mr Putin said.

"GDP is falling, inflation is 12.3%, incomes, investment are falling too but the peak of the economic crisis is over."

Mr Putin is known for his marathon performances at his news conferences, where he frequently uses hard-hitting, colourful language.

This year's event lasted three hours and seven minutes - three minutes shorter than last year's.





SOURCE: BBC News