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Putin 'charms' Martin; host of radio show unimpressed Like other Western leaders, Canada's PM criticized for failing to challenge Russia By MARK MacKINNON Wednesday, October 13, 2004 - Page A23 MOSCOW -- After chatting with Prime Minister Paul Martin for nearly 40 minutes on his live talk-radio show, Alexei Venediktov couldn't hide his disillusionment. The editor-in-chief of the feisty Echo of Moscow radio station, one of the last bastions of press freedom in President Vladimir Putin's Russia, has interviewed many statesmen in his time: Bill Clinton, Jacques Chirac, Gerhard Schroeder, Mikhail Gorbachev and others. At a time when the Kremlin is tightening its grip, democrats are looking to the West to support Russian democrats, Mr. Venediktov said. But he complained that like many other leaders who have passed through his studio, Mr. Martin backed away from his chance to take a stand. "It's always the same. They always say they are the partners of Russia. I think that partners must criticize the negative aspects of their partners. And here, he did not criticize," Mr. Venediktov said, moments after he and the Prime Minister went off the air. "I wasn't even disappointed; I was ready for his answers. They were just like Chirac's and Schroeder's." Mr. Martin told reporters Monday that he had challenged Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Fradkov on topics such as human rights and the erosion of democracy during their face-to-face talks, and that he was prepared to do the same with Mr. Putin. But the Canadian leader toned down his message substantially for yesterday's talks at the Kremlin. The two leaders signed a statement condemning the recent school hostage-taking in Beslan and promising further co-operation in fighting terrorism, "while observing international legal norms concerning human rights and refugees' rights." But the statement made no mention of the five-year-old war in the breakaway Russian republic of Chechnya, or of Mr. Martin's stated concern about Kremlin restrictions on personal, political and media freedoms, enacted under the guise of fighting terrorism. Mr. Martin said he discussed such issues privately with Mr. Putin, who he said "accepted" that individual rights need to be protected if Russia is to become a true democracy and market economy. "I find . . . that he is a world leader who understands exactly where he is going and what he has to do to support his country," Mr. Martin later told Echo of Moscow. "Certainly, on the basis of my discussions with President Putin, he is very, very much aware of the absolute importance of the government supporting the fundamental freedoms." Mr. Venediktov complained that Mr. Martin appeared "charmed" by Mr. Putin and had apparently backed away from challenging him on sensitive issues. The Prime Minister and President met for almost four hours yesterday at Mr. Putin's marbled Kremlin offices, including a working lunch, and discussed topics ranging from the Kyoto climate-change treaty and Arctic sovereignty to fishing limits and, briefly, Washington's proposed missile-defence shield. Mr. Martin said he received Mr. Putin's support for his pet project of creating a G-20 group of leaders that would supplement the existing G-8, drawing in regional powers such as China, India, South Africa and Brazil. It was considered a "working visit," and involved less ceremony than former prime minister Jean Chrétien's 2002 Team Canada trip to Moscow. There was no honour guard at the airport Monday, and while Mr. Putin joined Mr. Martin to make yesterday's joint statement on terrorism, he took no press questions. Mr. Martin faced the media alone later. Mr. Putin said Canada is "a major and important partner of Russia in the world arena," but asserted that the "very meagre" trade between the two countries -- just $700-million last year -- needs to be increased. Mr. Martin surprised some observers by not asking Mr. Putin about the ongoing legal assault against the Yukos oil company, which has spooked foreign investors. The company's former chief executive, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, has been in jail for almost a year on tax evasion charges that many see as punishment for his political opposition to Mr. Putin. The company is on the verge of being sold off in chunks, and there is speculation that a state-controlled company will be involved, in effect renationalizing a substantial portion of Russia's oil industry. Mr. Martin said the topic simply did not come up yesterday. "It's very disappointing," said Robert Amsterdam, a Canadian lawyer who is defending Mr. Khodorkovsky. "The Canadian Prime Minister, by his attendance here, is assisting in a whitewash. Not just in terms of Yukos, but in terms of the post-Beslan [electoral] reforms." Mr. Venediktov added that foreign leaders don't seem to grasp well the gravity of the situation facing Russia's democrats. He said he expects Mr. Putin, who has already overseen the pro-Kremlin takeover of all of Russia's national television stations, will eventually shut down his radio station too. "For four years, I've been waiting for him to close Echo of Moscow. We're ready. We're always ready."