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14/02/2005: "Ivanov"

Russia is concerned about the activity on its territory of US government-financed programs ostensibly aimed at promoting democracy and civil society, said Sergei Ivanov, Defence Minister, Russian Federation.

"Democracy is not a potato that you can transplant from one kitchen garden to another. I believe that in recent years democracy in Russia has been developing normally. We are prepared to calmly move further in this direction, developing democracy and integrating into the global economic system, but while doing so we prefer to be masters of our own house."

Many Russians say US government funds and private financing from US groups and individuals played a decisive role in the outcome of the Ukraine election. Washington has said that it did not back any candidate but merely sought to support a Western-style democratic process there.

In an interview published Friday in a Russian newspaper, the new US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said the United States intended to support development of civil society and democracy in Russia through non-governmental organizations.

When asked about his attitude to "color revolutions" (Georgia's "rose revolution" and Ukraine's "orange revolution"), Mr. Ivanov expressed confidence that "none of the CIS countries would want revolutionary upheavals." "All want stability. The use of extra-parliamentary methods and street protests hardly meets long-term interests of any country's stability," said Mr. Ivanov. He does not think that "color revolutions" are a democratic way of changing power.

"Do you think that the change of power in Georgia that took place in the streets is truly democratic? Do you think that such values and principles are laid down in the documents of the Council of Europe and the OSCE?" said Mr. Ivanov.