By KUNA
Moscow : Russian President Vladimir Putin reiterd on Friday that his country would take counter-measures to defend the national security but will not be drawn into a new wave of arms race.
Putin said in a speech to the State Council here today that the wave of the arms race and military and political challenges as well as the lack of response by NATO to search for compromise solutions forces Russia to take defensive action to protect its national security.
Putin noted that the Western countries invest up their technology and spend billions of dollars to develop offensive and defensive systems, where their spending on military purposes is double what Russia spends.
Putin reviewed the achievements made by Russia in the last eight years, pointing in particular to the promotion of the unity and sovereignty of the Russian territories and deterring international terrorism which aims to dismantle Russia with the support from outside parties and the restoration of the independence of the political decision.
Putin also pointed to the improvement of living conditions of the population and the high rate of income that doubled as well as pensions.
He noted that the gross domestic product had risen by 8.1 percent during the last year, but called at the same time for the need to transform Russia into a remarkable center of finance and Technology.