>> rose: funding for "charlie rose" has been provided by: american express. >> rose: additional funding provided by: >> and by bloomberg, a provider of multimedia news and information services worldwide. captioning sponsored by rose communications from our studios in new york city, this is charlie rose. >> rose: tonight vladimir putin, i want to moscow on the weekend of september 18 for an exclusive interview with the president of russia. it took place at the state

residence outside of moscow lasted an hour 40 minutes. shot by our crews at 60 minutes. he was expansion. >> we support the legitimate government of syria. furthermore it's my deep conviction that any actions to the contrary in order to destroy the government can create a situation that you can witness now in the other countries of the region or in other regions of the word. for instance in libya where all the state institutions are disintegrated. we see a similar situation regrettably in iraq and there's no other solution whatsoever to the syrian crises than the legal structure and rendering help in fighting terrorism. >> rose: there were no gownd rules requested by vladimir putin or his staff. they only asked the interview be ts entirety on this program.n after the interview concluded

president putin invited me and my colleagues for tea. tea turned into appetizers and appetizers turned into dinner. among other things we talk board of director politics and life. accompanying were my "60 minutes" colleague jeff -- aired last night on the 48th season premier of 60 minutes. earlier today both president obama and president putin spoke at the united nations. president obama was first. >> when a dictator slaughters tens or thousands of his own people that's not the matter of intern affairs. it brings human suffering on an order of magnitude that affects us all. compromise will be required to end the fighting and ultimately stamp out isis. realism requires a managed transition, away from assad and to a new leader. >> rose: president obama's speech was followed later by the

speech of president putin. >> it is an enormous mistake to refuse to cooperate with the syrian government and its armed forces fighting terrorism face to face. we should find a way that no one about president assad forces truly fighting the islamic state and other terrorists organizations in syria. >> rose: this afternoon the two men met at the united nations to talk about their differences and their common purpose. >> the expansion military invention in syria left president obama little choice but to sit down with vladimir putin for the first time in more than two years. >> rose: as i mentioned the interview with president putin was for one hour 40 minutes, a remarkable amount of time for a conversation with the head of state. here is part one of the unedited

conversation recorded on sunday afternoon at a building near his residents outside moscow. part two will air tomorrow night. our conversation with 60 60 mis will be recorded and broadcast on sunday. you will speak to the united nations with a much anticipated address. first time you've been there in a number of years. what will you say to the u.n., to america, to the world?

>> as our interview will be broadcast before my address, it's believe it's not wise to speak about everything that i am going to say but i'll give you the general outline. i recall the history of the united nations and what i can say is that the decision to create this organization was made here in our country. in fact at the yalta conference, the decision was made in the soviet union, russia the soviet union and russia as the successor of the ussr is a founding nation and a security councilmember. sure i'll have to say a few words about the current situation and how about international relations are shaping up today. the united nations remains the only universal international organization which is charged with maintaining international peace and security. in that sense there's absolutely no alternative tight. clearly it has to adapt to a

changing word at what pace and what should be changed exactly. and of course i'll have to not just that i'll have to, i'll definitely avail myself of the opportunity to speak from this international rostrum to give the russian vision of the future of this organization and the international community. >> rose: let's much anticipation that you will speak about the threat of isis. and that your presence in syria is related to that. what is the purpose of the presence in syria and how does that relate to the challenge of isis? >> i believe, i'm pretty certain

that virtually everyone speaking from the united nations platform is going to talk about the fight, about the need to fight terrorism. and i can't avoid this issue either. regarding our as you put it presence in syria, as of today, it's taken the form of supplying weapons to the syrian government, training personnel and providing humanitarian assistance to the syrian people. today terrorism is a threat for many states in the world. a large number of people suffer from their criminal activities. hundreds and thousands, millions of people suffer from terrorism. and we're all tasked can joining efforts in order to overcome this common interest. in regards to our as you said presence in syria. today it's expressed in the form of supplying weapons to the syrian government, training the

personnel, rendering humanitarian systems to the syrian people. we proceed from the u.n. charter which means from the fundamental principles of international law under which any existence, including military, can and should be rendered exclusively to a legitimate government of the country with their consent or at their request or upon the decision of the u.n. security council. in this case we're dealing with a request from the syrian government to render them military and technical assistance which we're doing in the framework of lawful international contract. >> rose: secretary of state john kerry said the united states welcomes your assistance in the battle against isis. others have taken note of the fact that these are plane,

anti-aircraft systems. and those are for use against the conventional army, not extremists. >> there is only one legitimate conventional army and that is the army of the president syria, assad and he's facing according to the interpretation some of our international partners the opposition. but in fact really bashar assad is dealing with terrorists organizations. but in fact, really, in real life the army of bashar al-assad, you know about the hearings taken place in the senate if i'm not mistaken where the military of the pentagon reported to the senators what have been done by the united states in order to train the combat units of the opposition forces. they first happened the goal to

train five to 6,000 troops, then 12,000. then it turned out this train and prepared all the troops but the only number fighting were four or five men and all the others with american weapons defected to isis. that's the first point. secondly, i believe that providing aid to illegitimate organizations is not in line with interknow law, we support only legitimate government organizations. in this regard, we propose to coordinate with the countries in the region to create a certain coordinated framework. i personally informed the president of turkey, the king of jordan, saudi arabia and also informed the united states and mr. kerry whom you just mentioned, had a substantive

talk with our foreign minister. and our military people have been in contact and we would be glad if we could find a common platform for joined action against the terrorists. >> rose: so you would like to join the united states in the fight against isis, that's part of why you're there. others think that while that hey be part of your goal that you're trying to save the assad administration because they've been losing ground and the war has not bee going well for them and you're to rescue them.

>> correct, that's the case. and i've already said it twice during our talk. i'll repeat it for the third time. we support the legitimate government of syria. and furthermore, it's my deep conviction that any actions to the contrary, in order to destroy the legitimate government, will create a situation which you can witness now in the other countries of the region. or in other regions of the world. for instance in libya where all the state institutions are disintegrated. we see a similar situation regretly in iraq and there's no other solution whatsoever to the syrian crises than strengthening the existing legal government structures and rendering them help in fighting terrorism. but at the same time urging them to engage in positive dialogue with the rash part of the opposition and conducting political reform. >> rose: as you know, some of

the coalition partners want to see assad go first before they will support. >> i'd like to advise them and recommend to them the following. they should send this wish to the syrian people and not to assad. it's only the syrian people inside the country who are entitled to decide who should govern their country and how and what principles. i believe anything from the outside is harmful and contrary to international law. >> rose: we talked about that before. president assad, do you support him, do you support what he is doing in syria and what is happening to those syrian people, those millions millions

of rejeeps re-- refugees and te thousands of people being killed many by his own force. >> well tell me, do you think those who support armed opposition and terrorists organizations only in order to outs assad and not concerned what will happen outside after the institutions have been totally demolished in that country. we've already been through that. i've already mentioned libya. just now it was quite recently the united states actively helped to destroy the state institution whether they were good or bad. that's a separate issue. but now they're destroyed and now the united states have suffered great losses. the death of their ambassador for instance. you see what it leads es to.

that's why we support the legitimate state structures. but i want to repeat this once again in the hope that the needed political reforms be taken and introduced in syria. you said repeatedly assad was fighting against his own people. look at those who control 60% of the territory in syria. where is the civilized opposition. 60% of the territory is controlled either by isis or boy others such as al nursa they are recognized as terrorist organizations by the united states, other states and the united nations. they and no one else controls 60% of the syrian territories.

>> rose: so what you're worried about is what might happen assad. you're worried about anarchy. you look at the threat of isis. are they different, are they unique, are they terrorist organizations? >> well, yes, it's turned into a unique organization because it has become global. indeed they have the came to build a caliphate from porridge cull to pakistan. they claim islamic is mecca and medina. their activities are activism stretched far beyond the territories they control. as for the refugees the countries of origin of refugees include not only syria, libya who is running from the central african country where islamists

also rule there. afghanistan from iraq. are these only refugees running from syria or have you decided that refugees are escaping syria only as a result of those actions that assad is committing to protect his own state. why don't you think these refugees are fleeing across tease of terrorists and by isil who are beheading people burning people alive drowning them alive, who are destroying the union model of world culture, people are escaping from that. above all from that. and of course from combat operations as well that's clear. but these would never have taken place if there had been no financial and arm support to these terrorist groups from the outside. i have the impression that someone who wants to take advantage either isis as a whole or some of these devices to oust assad and think about later how to get rid of isis. it's a complicated task and i think virtually impossible to

carry out. >> rose: do you feel they'll come to russia? is russia a fear that you have that this does not stop now it could come to russia, it could come throughout europe and even the united states. you have to zip -- step in because no one doing what's necessary to lead the charge against isis. >> well, few have really taken serious steps to fight this threat. in fact no serious or effective steps have been taken. we've heard of the effectiveness of the actions of our american partners during the report of the pentagon and the united states senate. it has to be said frankly this is a very low level of effectiveness. i'm not trying at all to be sarcastic, i'm not trying to call someone out or point

fingers. we propose cooperation, we offer to united our efforts. as to whether we're afraid or not, well we have nothing to be afraid of. we're in our own country and we control the situation in our country. but we've been down a very hard road fighting terrorism, international terrorism in the north caucuses. that's the first point. and the second thing is that we know for sure that in the territory of syria today, there are fighters, at least 2,000 and maybe more than 2,000 from russia and other x soviet rub. and of course the threat of their return to russia is better to hip assad get rid of them there instead of here. >> rose: you're staying you stepped in because you did not think the job was being done and you listened what happened to the u.s. senate and you heard the results and you said russia must act and i vladimir putin

must a. >> well we do act and we've always been acting in this direction. we've been cooperating with many countries. we continue this cooperation including with the united states of america. formation that's needed by the intelligence decisions of the u.s. to maintain secure for u.s. citizens both in u.s. and abroad. i believe today such a level of coordination is not enough. we need to work more closely together. >> rose: but you believe that the way to do it is what? what's the strategy that you are recommending other than simply supporting the assad regime? >> well yes, i've already said this.

we need to help assad's army because besides his army no one is fighting isis in syria. i want you and your audience to finally realize that no one except for assad's army is fighting isis and other terrorist groups now in syria. no one is fighting them in syria. and these insignificant attacks from the air including the bombings by the u.s. don't bring any tangible solution to the issue. there must be work on the ground after the bombing. it must be coordinated. we need to understand which attacks and where they must be launched and who will come after these strikes are made on the territory. in syria, there is no other force beside the army of bashar al-assad. >> rose: are you prepared to put russian combat troops on the ground in syria if it's necessary to defeat isil?

>> russia will not participate in any troop operation in the territory of syria or in any other state. at least we don't plan it of today but we look at our work with both president assad and other countries. >> rose: what does that mean? >> it mains that our military service men will not participate in combat operations directly. they will not fight. we will support the army of assad. >> rose: air strikes? >> i mean war. combat operations in syria. the infantry, the motorized troops. >> rose: what else is going

to be required? because i come back to the problem that many people look at. they believe that assad helps isis. that his reprehensible conduct against the syrian people using barrel bombs and worse, is a recruiting tool for isis. and that he was removed, transitioned at some point. it would be better in the fight against isis, al nusra and others. >> i can tell you this is an active measure by enemies of assad that is anti-syrian propaganda. there's nothing in common between assad and ice ill. they have nothing in common. they're fighting each other.

assad and his army is indeed the only force fighting isil. >> rose: but there were reports earlier in the year that you were presented or you -- prepared or you seem to be pulling back your support from him and what you wanted to see was a negotiated political transition. >> we will we think issues of political nature in any can you tell country including sear jaw must be decided by the syrian people first of all. but we are ready to provide assistance to the official authorities in syria and to the rational opposition so they can find some common points and agree on the political future of their country. that's why we've organized the series of meetings between the representatives of the opposition and the representatives of assad's government.

we participated in the geneva conference and we're ready to act in this direction in both sides for the opposition to negotiate through peaceful means. >> rose: here's what the washington post said. in the vacuum of american leadership, the vacuum of american leadership has stepped russian president vladimir putin who has dispatched troops and equipment to syria in an effort to force the world to accept his solution to the war, which is the creation of a new coalition to fight the islamic state that include in the coalition the assad government. the interesting thing they're saying is that you have moved into a vacuum of american leadership. "the washington post."

>> well, we're not filling the vacuum of american leadership, we're trying to prevent the creation of the vacuum in the government of syria in general. because as soon as government agencies are destroyed in a given state or a given country, that's when a power vacuum occurs. and at that moment, it would be instantly filled with terrorists. that's the case in libya and that was the case in iraq. that was the case in some other countries and somalia, and this is the case in afghanistan as well. for us, there's no question of any fight with the american leadership at all. >> rose: well the vacuum for leadership. it seems to be, knowing you, you have said that a strong centralized government is in the dna of russia. and you have a huge fear, as you

suggest, anarchy maybe in syria of no strong government can. that's the fear that vladimir putin had. >> i'm saying if there's no government at all there will be anarchy and vacuum and this vacuum and anarchy will rapidly transform into terrorism. well take a rock for example. there was a well-known figure, saddam hussein. whether he was good or bad, you've probably forgotten that. at some stage the u.s. was capitalling very actively with sadaam when he was fighting iraq. you helped helped him with hummers, plight -- others,

political cover was provided. then something happened and you eliminated saddam. by eliminating disawd hussein they e lame nated the iraq government and former people. thousands of iraqi servicemen which was part of the sunni elite of the state were thrown out on the street. nobody thought about them. now they're filling the ranks of isil. that's what we're fighting against. we're not against a country showing leadership somewhere. we're against thoughtless actions that result in negative situations that are hard to correct. >> rose: as you know, at least the visit to moscow was the leader of the troops forces from iran. suleimany. general suleimany. what role will he play and accrued forces in syria and what

did you two decides necessary? >> i've already said that all countries of the region must unite their efforts in the figt against common threat in terrorism in general and isis in particular. this refers to iranian and saudi arabia. despite the fact that relations between these two countries are not at their best. but isis poses a threat to both states. there are issues with regards to the kurds. but the settlement of the situation i believe is of interest for all. our task is to unite these efforts and fight the common enemy. >> much is being read into this, including this. that this is a new effort for russia to take a leadership role

in the middle east and that it represents a new strategy by you. is it? >> no, no not really. we've already mentioned what makes us provide growing support to assad's government and think about the prospects of the situation in the region. i've already told you. you've asked me. i've answered you about more than 2000 fighters are in the territory of syria from the former soviet republic. there's a threat they'll return to us. instead of waiting for their return we should hip isis fight them in the syrian territory. this is motivation which pushes us to provide assistance to assad. in general we want the situation in the region to stabilize.

so that there will be no new somalia cases there. because it's close to our borders. we want to develop normal relations with these countries. we've traditionally had good relations with the middle eastern countries and we hope this will continue in the future. >> rose: but your pride in russia means you would like to see russia play a bigger role in the world and this is just one example. >> well it's not an end in itself. i'm proud of russia, that's true. and i believe that the overall majority in my country leaves russia and respects it. we have something to be proud 6, we have russian culture, russian history. we have ground to believe in the future of our country.

but we don't have any obsession with being a super power in the international arena. we're involved in only one thing, defending our fundamental interest. >> rose: but you are in part a major power because of the nuclear weapons you have? you are a force to be reckoned with. >> well, i hope so. i definitely hope so. otherwise why do we have those weapons at all. we've proceeded from the premise that nuclear weapons or other weapons are the means to defend our sovereignty and legitimate interests. if not the means for aggressive behavior or for implementing some non-existent imperialist ambition.

>> rose: when you go to new york to the u.n., will you request a meeting with president obama? >> such meetings are planned beforehand. president obama i believe during such events does not have a second to spare. there are an enormous number of delegations from all over the world. >> rose: a second to spare for the president of russia? >> well, that's his choice. we're always open to any contact on the highest level at the highest levels of ministries, agencies, intelligent services. but if the president fines a few minutes to meet me, that will be great. i'll be happy to meet with him. but if due to circumstances he's not able to do that, well nothing to worry about. we'll have a chance to speak at

the group of 20 meeting. >> rose: oh, come on. come on. you like to disoint -- to sit down with the president and say look i have a plan for syria. not only can we see what we can do with sear seer -- syria but on other things. >> on such matters, the eyes are, well you know the thing is such serious matters are discussed, the i's are dotted at the highest level between the president but they're prepared by ministry and military agencies, by military agencies if necessary. in they're ready to meet theen there's a point. if they're not at the final stage we can meet with president obama, talk to each other and shake hand. i believe i'm ready for this

contact always. >> rose: if you're going there to make a big speech you want the president of the united states to fully be on board as much as he can. he wants you to pick up the phone, call up and say, as you did after our conversation in st. petersburg. you telephoned the president. telephone the president again and let's make sure we spend some time. the issues are too critical and two of us can do better than one. >> well, you're right, i did call president obama about these very issues, that's true. and that's the usual practice of our interaction. there's nothing extraordinary. let pea repeat. any meetings prepared as a rule by our staff we're ready. but i'm telling you for the they are time now that does not depend oust. that does not depend oust. if the americans want to meet,

we'll have a meeting. >> rose: you made no preparation, none, because you deal with these things every day you have no preparation to meet with the president of the united states nor does he. it's diplomatic nicety you're suggesting. but i hear you. you're prepared to meet him. >> how many years have been working as a journalist. >> rose: more years than i want to remember. >> it's difficult for me to give you advice as to what you're prepared for or not prepared for. why do you think you can give me advice in regard to what i'm ready for or not when it's not my first term as president. but that's not what's most important. what's most important is that russia, the president of russia and all my colleagues are ready to engage in these contacts at the highest level, at the government level, at the level of the ministry. we're ready to go as far as our

american colleagues are ready to go. so, and by the way, the u.n. platform was created for compromise, to engage in negotiation. definitely, if we use this platform, that will be good. >> rose: let me ask you this. what do you think of president obama? what's your evaluation of him? >> i don't think i'm entitled to give any views regarding the president of the united states. that's up to the american people. we have good personal relations. we're quite frank with each other. our relations are business-like. i believe that's quite sufficient to e. -- to comply h our functions. >> rose: do you believe his activities in foreign affairs reflects a weakness, a weakness?

>> i don't think so at all. you know, i believe that in any country and in the united states ially more than any other country, political factors are used for don't stick political battles. in the u.s. the presidential campaign is coming up soon so they're playing either the russian card or some other. all sorts of accusations are made against political awe points. there are many lines of attacker accusations of weakerness, incompetence or something else. i don't think that's the case and i don't intend to get involved in domestic american skirmish. >> rose: okay, but let me ask you this.

do you think he listens to you? >> well, i think we listen to each other in a way especially when it goes to something that doesn't go counter to our own ideas what we should or should not do. but anyway i think we have a dialogue, we hear each other. >> rose: you hear each other. do you think he considers russia, you said you're not a super power, he considers russia an equal and considers you an equal which is the way you want to be? >> well, you ask him. he's your president. how could i know what he thinks. let me repeat. we have a relationship on an equal footing both in terms of interpersonal relations and our relations as people are equal.

we're respectful of each other at least. and our professional contacts are at a good working level. how can i know wat the president of the united states, of france, the chance her of germany, the president of japan or the chairman of the state council of china are thinking. we don't look at what we think they do but i look at their actions. >> rose: i know. of course. but you enjoy the work, you enjoy representing russia and you know, you've been an intelligence officer. intelligence officers know how to read other people. that's part of the job, yes? >> it used to be. used to be. now i have a different job and that's been for quite sometime -- >> rose: there is no such thing as a former kgb man. once a kgb man, always a kgb

man. >> not a single stage our lives passes without a trace. no matter what we're involved in, no matter what we do. all this knowledge we acquire, all this experience will always remain with us and we carry it further and will use it somehow. in a sense yes, they are right. >> rose: the c.i.a. operative once selves to -- said to me through the training you have, you have to, you have to charm people. >> yes, yes. if the c.i.a. told you, well if the c.i.a. told you then that's the way it is because they're not bad specialists. >> rose: think outloud for me, though. think outloud because this is

important. how can the united states and russia cooperate in the interest of a better world? think outloud. >> we're always thinking about that. one of the areas of our cooperation which is extremely today for millions of people on the planet is our common joining of forces and our common effort in countering terror. the other phenomena of this kind combating drug traffic.

>> rose: like where. >> in all the regions of the w. now what you said, you mentioned russia and the united states are the greatest nuclear powers. that places additional responsibility on our shoulders. we manage to work together along certain lines, we get along. especially when it comes to iran's nuclear program. we work together, after all. and in general we have attained quite positive results. >> rose: how does that work this because the president has often cited you for the systems you gave to reaching a final accord. what did you do? what did the negotiators contribute. >> well, as strange as that may

seem, the interests of the united states and russia do sometimes coincide. and in this case, when i just told you that we have a particular responsibility incumbent upon us for the non-proliferation of wmvs in this area, which our interests do precisely coincide. that'stogether with the united states beef been engaged with intensive work with the resolution of this issue. but russia was guided not only by those considerations but also by the fact that iran is our neighbor. it's our traditional partner. and that's why we wanted the situation around iran to be normalized. we believe that after normalization and a resolution of this problem, the security situation in the middle east will strengthen. in that regard, our evaluation

of iran's nuclear program pretty much coincides with america's. >> rose: as you know the republicans are running for president. and it's a big debate and they all are against the iran nuclear deal. what would you tell them? >> i've already said that. if you want me to repeat it, i k i'm confident that the agreements correspond to the interests of international security. and strength instance the situation in the region. it puts definite serious barriers in the way of the wmv proliferation because the iaea will fully and comprehensively monitor the situation. and that normalizes the situation in the middle east in general because that helps us to instruct normal business-like partners and political relations with all the countries in the region. >> rose: you have a

popularity rating. in russia. that would make every politician in the world envious. why are you so popular? >> there's something i have in common with every citizen of russia, the love of our motherland. >> rose: many of us were moved by the emotional moment at the time of the world war ii memory. because of the sacrifices russia had made. and you knew the scene with the picture of your father with tears in your eyes. >> yes, my family suffered severe losses during the second

world war. my relatives in general, that's true. well, in my father's family, there were five brothers i believe. i think four of them tied. on my mother's side the picture was pretty much the same. russia has bad, has suffered great losses. and of course we can't forget that. and we must not forget that. not to put blame on somebody, but to prevent anything like this from happening again in the future. we must remember about this and we pay a great deal of respect to veterans, including u.s. vet venezuela and they were in the parade and we remember great sacrifices by great britain and china we remember this. we believe that's the joint common between naziism. this helps overcome the great

difficulties we're facing today. >> rose: that's what you want to rekindle a sense that partnership with america against common enemies? >> well not against common enemies, but in each other's interests. >> rose: while you're also popular, as you know, and forgive me but there are many people who are critical of russia as you know. they say that it's more autocratic and less democratic. they say that politico journalists and opponents have been killed in russia. they say your power is unchallenged and they say that power and absolute power corrupts absolutely. what do you say to those people who worry about the climate, the atmosphere in russia?

>> there can be no democracy without implementation of the law and compliance with the law. everyone must observe the laws. this is the most important thing which we must bear in mind. no one must forget that. as for those strategic events such as the death of people including journalists unfortunately they do occur in all countries of the world. if they happen in our country we do the utmost to find the criminals and punish them. we do this in all directions but the most important thing is we will continue to improve our political system for people to feel every citizen can feel. that they do influence the country. anhe society so that the authorities would feel responsible with regard to those people who trust them during election campaigns. >> rose: as you well know, if you are the leaderrer of this country insist the rule of law be, if you insist that justice

be done, if you because of your power, then it could go awe of a -- a long way to that. >> well a lot can be done. not everyone concedes with everything from the very start. look here. how long did it take the democratic process to develop in the united states? since the very beginning of the creation of the united states. do you believe that everything is perfect now from the point of view of democracy? if it were perfect, there would be no problem in ferguson, right. there would be no other problems with a similar nature. there would be no abuse by the police. but our task is to see all these problems and to react properly in due time. this is the same case in russia. a lot of problems. >> rose: so the people who killed yemsov will be prosecuted to the fullest?

>> yes. i said it right away. a single page in our modern history, today's history and criminals must be prosecuted and punished. or probably this can not be done in a second, but we have had other examples of crimes of this kind. and finally in the end, despite the fact that these investigations continue for quite a long time, it concluded in a due manner. >> rose: you know that i as meyer russia and its culture very much, its literature, its music. it is a large country, a big country. and many people, including stalin had said russia needs a strong authoritative figure. they worship stalin said that kind of figure. was stalin right? >> no, he was wrong. i don't remember him saying that

so i can't confirm those quotes. russia as any other country in the world needs just principles for structure rather than dictators. russia meets these principles and respond to these changes inside the country and outside the country. that's what russia has. >> rose: but there is the tradition of strong leadership here. of all those people, who do you -- >> well you know, in most european countries, there's parliament tree, japan has it. each country has its enspecial features and intra ditionz which are reflected in today and will

be reflected in the future. we also have such traditions in russia but we're not talking about some strong figure but of course such a figure is needed in the leadership but we need to find an explanation of who this strong man is. is it a dictator or someone who acts within his duty by the law and for the sake of the interest of the major part of the population. if that is in a principle way, that is a totally different situation. so i believe that russia does use such people like i've mentioned. second class. russia needs that much more -- >> rose: as you know, some have called you a tzar.

>> well, what of it? you know people call me different you names. >> rose: does the name fit? >> no, it doesn't fit me. you know we have a saying. call me a pot if you want just don't put me in the oven. it doesn't matter what you are called by your friend or political opponent. what's important is what you yourself think about what you must do for the interest of the country which has entrusted you with such a position, with such a post as the head of the russian state. >> rose: are people in russia fearful of you? >> i think not. >> rose: part one of my two-part interview of president putin of russia. tomorrow night, part two.

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announcer: a kqed television production. woman: it kind of was, like, the bang that set off the night. man: that is the funkiest restaurant. thomas: the honey walnut prawns will make your insides smile. woman #2: more tortillas, please! man #2: what is comfort food if it isn't gluten and grease? man #3: i love crème brûlée. woman #3: the octopus should have been, like, quadrapus, because it was really small. sbrocco: and you know that when you split something, all the calories evaporate, and then there's none. whalen: that's right.