Putin: USA pushed Georgia to war to make Russia look like an enemy

Answering the question about a possibility of Russia’s exclusion from the G8 club, Putin called into question the G8’s effective activities without Russia in such fields as the struggle against terrorism, drugs, infectious diseases and the prevention of WMDs proliferation.

“I think that one should not think about it and one should not frighten anyone with it. It is not frightening at all. One should only try to analyze the situation properly, look into the future and establish normal relations treating each other’s interests with respect,” Putin said.

Putin added that Russia still hopes for close cooperation with other states although it should be equitable cooperation.

“We want to live in peace and consent. We want to work normally in all directions – on the international security, disarmament, anti-terrorist and anti-drug struggle, on the Iranian and North Korean nuclear issue, we are ready for all of this,” Putin said.

“But we want this work to be honest, open, based on partnership, not selfishness,” the Russian premier said.

Putin believes that Russia can cease its cooperation with the West on the Iranian nuclear program under certain circumstances.

“If no one wants to talk to us on these issues and if cooperation with Russia is not required at this point – well, they can work there alone for god’s sake,” he said.

Putin was particularly emphatic expressing his opinion about the state-run Western media providing false information about the conflict in South Ossetia.

“As for the perception of the events in South Ossetia by the general public, it largely depends on how politicians can manipulate the media and how they can affect the public opinion in the world. Our US colleagues are definitely a lot better at that than we are,” Putin told CNN.

Putin exemplified his point of view with the interview of the US girl of Ossetian origin, Amanda Kokoyeva, and her aunt on Fox News.

“He [the host] was constantly interrupting her. As soon as he did not like what she was saying, he began to interrupt her, he started to cough and croak. He was ready to poop his pants and do it so expressively to make them break off. Is this the honest and objective presentation of information? Is this what they call information? No, this is not. This is misinformation,” Putin said.