West 'takes note' of Putin victory

BELGIUM: Western powers greeted Vladimir Putin's presidential election victory with resignation Monday, while leaders in Asia and the Balkans openly congratulated the Russian strongman on his return to the Kremlin.

The European Union's chief diplomat Catherine Ashton said the bloc merely "took note" of the outcome of Sunday's vote while there were assurances from the EU's most powerful members that they wanted to work with Moscow.

Syria meanwhile hailed what it called a "remarkable" victory by Putin in gratitude for Russia's refusal to join the chorus of criticism of Bashar al-Assad's brutal crackdown on the opposition.

The European responses were shaped by a report from international observers, led by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which said the campaign was skewed in favour of Putin and the ballot marred by irregularities.

"The EU takes note of the preliminary results of the presidential elections and the clear victory of Vladimir Putin," Ashton said in a statement which also called on Russia to address polling "shortcomings" identified by observers.

"The EU looks forward to working with the incoming Russian president and the new government in full support of our shared modernisation agenda, which we see as covering both economic and political reforms," Ashton said.

AFP