Russian opposition leader Mikhail Kasyanov calls for foreign policy 'built on common values'

MOSCOW -- Mikhail Kasyanov served as Russian prime minister from 2000 to 2004. Friendly to the West and outspoken on the need for democratic reform, Kasyanov was stripped of his job as then-President Vladimir V. Putin gradually centralized power. Since then, Kasyanov has taken up a prominent position among Russia's dwindling opposition, running for president this year until the Central Election Commission accused him of forging signatures and banned his candidacy. The Times interviewed him this week in his office, following a similar question-and-answer session with Russian nationalist Aleksandr Dugin that appeared last Thursday.

Russia is more powerful now, with natural resources and more diplomatic clout. Do you think there's something to be said for Russia behaving more aggressively toward the rest of the world and doing more to put its own interests forward?

We need to develop a different foreign policy built on common values between us and the other countries of the civilized world. The problem with the current authorities is that they say, cynically, "We are guided by the same values." But in reality, they are doing quite the opposite. Problems that could have been resolved in recent years have not been resolved, such as the spread of nuclear weapons and nuclear technology into the hands of North Korea and Iran and others. Such as providing stable supplies of energy and fuel on a predictable basis. Russia must guarantee that the energy sector will develop in such a way that governments and leaders of other countries, democratically elected by their peoples, will be able to promise their people that supplies of energy will always be available at market prices.

Many in the West believe that Moscow deliberately provoked a confrontation over Georgia's breakaway republics. Who do you believe is responsible for the eruption of armed conflict?

The Russian Federation relentlessly provoked the conflict in every way, and unfortunately the Georgian leadership gave in and used armed force. In response, the Russian Federation, instead of fulfilling its peacekeeping mandate, started a large-scale war against the independent sovereign state of Georgia. Not only the disproportionate use of force, but in fact a full-scale war.

What was the strategic purpose in recognizing the independence of Abkhazia and South Ossetia? Russia is, so far, almost alone in the recognition.